DA or SA what do you prefer ?
- Thread starter 1911crazy
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788Ham
Member
I'm leaning toward DA. I just got my SP 101 back from the smith, had an action job done on it, as smooth as the DA is now, might be a convert!
Scipio Africanus
Member
DA fro me, with more coming. However, a Ruger Blackhawk Convertible in .45 is in my future.
madcratebuilder
Member
These Smith revolvers do have a sweet trigger. I can't decide if my M27 or M14 has the better trigger. I don't plan on giving up any SA's though.
Lately my favorite has been this old .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 5th Change. Pretty crusty when I got my mitts on it, it cleaned up OK. Must have lived in a sock drawer as the barrel is pristine. Very nice shooter, if I keep this up I'll have to buy some .32 dies.
M2 Carbine
member
DA for speed. SA for accuracy.
Although I have a number of DAO handguns and I practice DA a good bit I don't don't especially like DA.
Although I have a number of DAO handguns and I practice DA a good bit I don't don't especially like DA.
biohazurd
Member
Double action for carry, range, ect... Single action when hunting or out in the mountains and the range. Just personal preference.
NM Mountainman
Member
I have owned and fired both SA and DA revolvers in .22 LR, .357 mag, and .44 mag. Most of my revolver shooting has been in the SA mode even when I'm using a DA revolver. This is especially true when shooting full power magnum loads.
The main advantages of a DA revolver are: (1) ease of reloading (2) variety of grip styles and sizes offered, (3) potentially faster followup shots, and (4) with some brands and designs, it's easier to quickly verify that the cylinder is completely empty.
There are no practical, structural, or design advantages inherent in the SA only revolver except one feature which is considered an advantage by some shooters: A heavy recoiling magnum with the traditional Colt Peacemaker style grip will allow the revolver to roll upwards and backward in your hand. Many shooters find this way of dealing with the heavy recoil of a magnum cartridge to be less painful and disruptive to their shooting. The other advantage to a SA revolver is cosmetic. The main reason most shooters buy them is because of their nostalgic association with the Old West, with Western movies (and TV shows), and with the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting. But there is virtually no important way in which SA revolvers excel over DA revolvers.
With some brands of revolvers, like Ruger, an SA revolver will weigh less and cost less than a DA revolver in the same caliber. But the difference is usually not significant enough to have much of an influence in deciding which revolver to purchase.
Years ago, a few old timers liked to claim that SA revolvers were simpler, stronger, more rugged, more accurate, or more reliable than DA revolvers. There was never any evidence to support these claims, although it may be true that most SA designs employ fewer parts than most DA designs. It is also true that some 19th century DA revolvers were more complicated, more fragile, and less reliable than their SA cousins.
But there is nothing inherent in the design of the best DA revolvers which makes them less strong, sturdy, or reliable than the best SA revolvers. The only reason that the SA design still survives is because of the nostalgia connection. That being true, the best modern SA revolvers use a sound design which makes them quite well adapted to the role of hunting and some styles of target competition. Their design disadvantages are relatively minor in these contexts, and SA revolvers often serve quite well in these roles.
The main advantages of a DA revolver are: (1) ease of reloading (2) variety of grip styles and sizes offered, (3) potentially faster followup shots, and (4) with some brands and designs, it's easier to quickly verify that the cylinder is completely empty.
There are no practical, structural, or design advantages inherent in the SA only revolver except one feature which is considered an advantage by some shooters: A heavy recoiling magnum with the traditional Colt Peacemaker style grip will allow the revolver to roll upwards and backward in your hand. Many shooters find this way of dealing with the heavy recoil of a magnum cartridge to be less painful and disruptive to their shooting. The other advantage to a SA revolver is cosmetic. The main reason most shooters buy them is because of their nostalgic association with the Old West, with Western movies (and TV shows), and with the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting. But there is virtually no important way in which SA revolvers excel over DA revolvers.
With some brands of revolvers, like Ruger, an SA revolver will weigh less and cost less than a DA revolver in the same caliber. But the difference is usually not significant enough to have much of an influence in deciding which revolver to purchase.
Years ago, a few old timers liked to claim that SA revolvers were simpler, stronger, more rugged, more accurate, or more reliable than DA revolvers. There was never any evidence to support these claims, although it may be true that most SA designs employ fewer parts than most DA designs. It is also true that some 19th century DA revolvers were more complicated, more fragile, and less reliable than their SA cousins.
But there is nothing inherent in the design of the best DA revolvers which makes them less strong, sturdy, or reliable than the best SA revolvers. The only reason that the SA design still survives is because of the nostalgia connection. That being true, the best modern SA revolvers use a sound design which makes them quite well adapted to the role of hunting and some styles of target competition. Their design disadvantages are relatively minor in these contexts, and SA revolvers often serve quite well in these roles.
Red Cent
Member
NMM, one could use the total reverse of your argument and, like your post, would be, arguably, true.
As a cowboy shooter for the past 12 years, I do like the nostalgia. However, I have owned SAs for over 50 years. I own the steel guns, the plastic guns, the old guns, but I carry a metal semi.
The SA, DA, auto argument continues.
As a cowboy shooter for the past 12 years, I do like the nostalgia. However, I have owned SAs for over 50 years. I own the steel guns, the plastic guns, the old guns, but I carry a metal semi.
The SA, DA, auto argument continues.
NM Mountainman
Member
Red Cent,
It is not my intention to disparage SA revolvers. As far as I know there are no finer revolvers built than the Freedom Arms SA revolvers, and many high quality SA revolvers have also been built by Ruger, Colt, and other makers. There is no reason for anyone to think that DA revolvers shoot better or are in any way better than SA revolvers.
My experience with big bore revolvers has been mostly in Met. Sil. and big game hunting with .44 mag revolvers, with both DA and SA and revolvers. In those shooting sports, the best DA and the best SA revolvers are equally suitable. If a SA revolver fits and feels best in a shooter's hand, I would certainly not discourage him from buying or using a SA revolver for hunting, Sil, or CAS.
The DA revolver is more convenient and faster to load and unload for most shooters. That could be an important advantage for SD use, but for most sporting purposes, I see the SA and DA as being equivalent in terms of shootability, inherent accuracy, quality, durability, and reliability in the field.
In decades past, some SA fans sought to prove the superiority of the strength, durability, and reliability of SA revolvers over DA revolvers. I don't think there is any reason for either SA or DA fans to feel their guns are superior.
While I do think the Old West heritage, history, movies, and TV shows are among the main reasons that SA revolvers remain popular, I'm also aware that many DA fans initially became interested in DA revolvers as a result of watching Dirty Harry and other police action movies.
It is not my intention to disparage SA revolvers. As far as I know there are no finer revolvers built than the Freedom Arms SA revolvers, and many high quality SA revolvers have also been built by Ruger, Colt, and other makers. There is no reason for anyone to think that DA revolvers shoot better or are in any way better than SA revolvers.
My experience with big bore revolvers has been mostly in Met. Sil. and big game hunting with .44 mag revolvers, with both DA and SA and revolvers. In those shooting sports, the best DA and the best SA revolvers are equally suitable. If a SA revolver fits and feels best in a shooter's hand, I would certainly not discourage him from buying or using a SA revolver for hunting, Sil, or CAS.
The DA revolver is more convenient and faster to load and unload for most shooters. That could be an important advantage for SD use, but for most sporting purposes, I see the SA and DA as being equivalent in terms of shootability, inherent accuracy, quality, durability, and reliability in the field.
In decades past, some SA fans sought to prove the superiority of the strength, durability, and reliability of SA revolvers over DA revolvers. I don't think there is any reason for either SA or DA fans to feel their guns are superior.
While I do think the Old West heritage, history, movies, and TV shows are among the main reasons that SA revolvers remain popular, I'm also aware that many DA fans initially became interested in DA revolvers as a result of watching Dirty Harry and other police action movies.
iLikeOldgunsIlikeNewGuns
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Depends on the day! I have both and love both! As others have said, there is something just outright majestic about a single-action revolver, and I would be wary of the guy who carries one, as he will make his shots COUNT. The single-action pull on my 629-2 however, seriously rivals the trigger pull on all single actions I have ever fired, it is so smooth, and still has the DA option of course, as others have mentioned. For carry, I'll stick to my gp-100 and 629-2 as long as i'm in 'civilization,' but I do consider my Super Blackhawk, SAA clones, and .45LC-converted cap n ball, when I'm out in nature.
roaddog28
Member
I suppose DA for defense. But I like my two single actions for range work. A Ruger single six 6.5 and a Blackhawk 4 5/8 barrel 357/9mm.
Howard
Howard
nice looking pistolThese Smith revolvers do have a sweet trigger. I can't decide if my M27 or M14 has the better trigger. I don't plan on giving up any SA's though.
Lately my favorite has been this old .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1903 5th Change. Pretty crusty when I got my mitts on it, it cleaned up OK. Must have lived in a sock drawer as the barrel is pristine. Very nice shooter, if I keep this up I'll have to buy some .32 dies.
bergmen
Member.
I have a new model 83 in .454 Casull (just shot it today as a matter of fact). These magnificent revolvers are absolutely in a class by themselves, there is virtually nothing else out there even close. They are spendy (I choked a bit when I placed the order, nine weeks to deliver ARO) but you will swear they are a bargain once you shoot it a few times.
I got a .45 Colt cylinder to go with it:
Dan
I just won this one on Gunbroker. It will be my first single action. Hope it will be as good as everyone says it is.
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bergmen
Member.
^^^ Outstanding! If you reload, you can tailor the loads to your liking. I started out with 30 grains of W296 under a 240 grain Hornady XTP-MAG and I am now at 35 grains of W296. That's the load right there. It will stop everybody shooting on the range to see what the heck is going on no matter what they are shooting.
Congratulations!
Dan
Congratulations!
Dan
^^^ Thanks, I do reload and plan on ordering brass and dies as soon as it ships. I load H110 in all my magnum rounds, so I figured I would just use that. There is a company close to me that makes lead bullets. I was thinking about getting their 340 grain bullets, but they make quite a selection of 45 caliber bullets.
huntsman
Member
My interest in wheel guns is limited and only SA everything else is DA and DA/SA semi-autos.
Jonah71
Member
Same here. I do have more DA's than SA, but that's only because I've ran accross better deals on DA than SA. Love my old '72 BH 3 screw. I'm sure I could improve my accuracy by changing the grips, but I just can't seem to get around to it. But then, it's not exactly a daily carry gun and I don't hunt anymore so why bother?
MCgunner
Member
SA for outdoor use (strength and power in a lighter gun than an X frame or even N frame) and DA for carry, self defense. Self defense is a serious business. If you can't shoot DA, you need more practice. In the same way a green belt in Karate is not ready for prime time, if you can't shoot a DA gun, don't consider self defense with a firearm. JMHO, though.
Perhaps you'd like a 1911 better than a revolver? Still takes practice, though. All handguns take practice if you're going to protect yourself and your family with one. Hunting, well, there is no reason to even have DA capability for hunting as you won't use it. Some think the SA of a DA gun is more precise, less lock time, but I've never found I could shoot my DA guns single action any better than my single action guns. My blackhawks are tack drivers.
Perhaps you'd like a 1911 better than a revolver? Still takes practice, though. All handguns take practice if you're going to protect yourself and your family with one. Hunting, well, there is no reason to even have DA capability for hunting as you won't use it. Some think the SA of a DA gun is more precise, less lock time, but I've never found I could shoot my DA guns single action any better than my single action guns. My blackhawks are tack drivers.
that was stupid i would not rather SA cause like you say you get both with DAi was wondering what is more popular with the people i would probably take a single action cause i hate the long DA pull :banghead: just me though
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