DAO

[SSN Vet]

Some love it. Some hate it.

If you have owned one, please post specific reasons why you do/don't like it.

Any one have a DAK Sig? The 239 DAK/SAS looks pretty portable.

 

[v35]

I don't think it's as simple as that. I consider my HK DAO an ideal defense weapon because you don't have to think about the trigger, just pull it and it's guaranteed to go bang. Having never been in a position in which I've had to use it who knows what my state of mind will be. Under duress, I don't want to fumble with cocking a gun or thumbing the safety or which the two servicable hands that I now posess will be able to do either when time is of the essence.

I wouldn't want to use it in competition and it's not a particularly fun range gun though. Just brain-dead simple and accurate.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I love the SIG DAK.

I have a S&W 4043 (which is DAO). Its OK.

I have a Sphinx semi-compact DAO. Its OK. Great trigger, but I shoot a DA/SA model better.

I have a Kahr P9. Its got a good trigger and It's my main carry gun. I like it a lot.

I haven't found too many DAO guns that I really like. The DAK is one of them, the Kahr P9 is another..

 

[Alan Fud]

I've got one and it is definitely a nice gun ...

... but it's a bit thick for a single stack. It's as thick as the 229 which is a double stack ...

 

[MrTuffPaws]

I am one of the rear ones, being that I like DAO triggers better than SA of DA/SA.

IMO, you have more control with a DAO over a SA, and I don't like the two different triggers of the DA/SA. Plus, my PT145 MilPro has such a nice trigger, why would you want to mess it up by going to SA

 

[obiwan1]

My issued duty weapon is DAO so my choice is easy. I carry DAO off duty as well so I don't have to think about what I'm carrying and what I have to do to make it go bang. Actually I like my H&KUSPcLEM and Kahr K40. Both accurate and very controllable. No safeties to forget. Just point and pull.

 

[MCgunner]

I like 'em (true DAO, not Safe Action) for safety (hammer down safe when carrying) and the fact that the manual of operation is like my revolvers, just draw and fire. Since I carry revolvers a lot, I don't want to have multiple systems for my carry, KISS.

I think guys who never learn to shoot a DA revolver properly and learn on something like a Ruger Mk2 or something, hate 'em because they require effort to learn. It's the couch potato generation, ya know. Once you learn to shoot DA, you love it for its speed, simplicity, and accuracy, but it must be mastered.

To me, DAO triggers on autoloaders are smoother than DAO revolvers. The trigger doesn't have to rotate a cylinder, just draw back the hammer and release it. If you can't shoot a DA revolver, stick with a single action or safe action auto, unless you wanna spend the time and practice to become proficient with the DA. Don't tell me you can't cause I have seen this guy named Jerry Miculeck shoot. I've also known some very good PPC shooters. Old school, ya know?

 

[Marshall]

Plus, my PT145 MilPro has such a nice trigger, why would you want to mess it up by going to SA

I think this is the first time I have heard someone say that.

Don't get me wrong, I fully understand the reason behind the DAO trigger. But, to say that going to SA is messing up a trigger, I must say.......... HUH?

 

[Jkwas]

I don't think it's as simple as that. I consider my HK DAO an ideal defense weapon because you don't have to think about the trigger, just pull it and it's guaranteed to go bang. Having never been in a position in which I've had to use it who knows what my state of mind will be. Under duress, I don't want to fumble with cocking a gun or thumbing the safety or which the two servicable hands that I now posess will be able to do either when time is of the essence.

I don't have an HK, but +1 to everything else. Also, I have a taurus milpro 111 and it has the best trigger out of any gun I have. About 6lbs and nice and crisp. Same trigger each shot. It's more like shooting a revolver in DA than shooting an auto. BTW my carry piece is a revolver.

 

[Z_Infidel]

I'm a 1911 guy, but I also shoot double action revolvers a lot. I have tried some DA/SA pistols that were very nice guns but I just never warmed up to DA/SA.

Recently my wife chose a DA/SA S&W 457 (.45ACP) pistol as hers. After talking it over with her I sent it to S&W and had them convert it to DAO and tune the action. When I got it back I installed a set of Wolff reduced-power springs in it. The DAO trigger is nice and smooth, and about as light as I would want on a gun with no safety. It is perfect for my wife as it has a safe DAO trigger but is simple to operate (point and shoot) and has a remarkably smooth trigger pull. Sometimes I shoot it just for the fun of something different. Then I happily go back to my 1911...

 

[Bobo]

DA for self-defense (carry)
SA for target

 

[Lou22]

Bobo's got it right. My Ruger P90 is only for the range. I only CC DAO autos or revolvers. To me that's the safe way as I pocket carry. I also have a Taurus PT145 Mil Pro and consider it to have a very good trigger, along with my Kahr PM9 9mm. I sometimes carry one or the other, depending on pocket size. For real small pockets I have a Keltec P3AT, which has a not so good, but usable trigger.

Lou

 

[SSGMike]

My trusty Kel-Tec P11's trigger is smooth, and it feels exactly the same every time. No safeties to worry with - the trigger requires a long, deliberate action (stroke) to operate, so that is the safety in itself. I appreciate the DAO style trigger in both autos and revolvers.

 

[dmallind]

I assume he means the SA XD trigger, which is indeed not that good, rather than say an SA 1911 Limited Match trigger, which is rather nice.

The PT145 for a DAO has a fairly smooth trigger and is well known for it. Long, but smooth.

Personally I'm not a fan of true DAO. While I am sure the limitation is mine, I've never seen the appeal of a longer, heavier trigger pull than is necessary. Glocks are safe enough for me - don't pull the trigger and they're as safe as anything

 

[MCgunner]

I have a P90 and P85 and carry them now and then. I like DA/SA, too, and prefer a decocker to a decocker/safety. My P90 is a DC model. It is a fantastic weapon and I carry it in a Milt Sparks Summer Special, but in summer when I can't wear a vest or something over the shirt, I carry my Kel Tec P11 DAO and live happy, or my Taurus snubbie.

That P90 has such a super trigger and is so accurate, it's just a natural to me. The SA is a little heavy, about 6 lbs, the DA is a little light, about 8 lbs, so the transition from DA to SA isn't a big deal. I've been doing it a while and I'm used to it. I've shot so much competition with it, I'm just kind of one with it. It's just a little bulky and heavy at 33 ounces unloaded for an all day, full time carry piece. The P11 is accurate, points naturally, and is 14 ounces and 11 rounds of +P firepower. It don't bulge under just a T shirt either. Can't argue with that, really. So it gets a LOT of carry.

 

[wally]

When that first shot has got to count, make mine SA. But I'll take a DAO over DA/SA guns as I really don't like the variation between first and second shot.

My first five full sized autoloaders (S&W 59, Beretta 92FS SIG P226, SIG P220, & S&W 669) were all DA/SA because as a newbie I believed all the crap I'd been told about the 1911. I've quit buying DA/SA guns unless they'll also do cocked and locked.

--wally.

 

[Marshall]

I with Wally, give me single action cocked and locked anytime. The only DA trigger I have felt that was worth a crap is the LDA of Para's.

 

[Accord]

I love my Sig 229 DAK, the trigger is like a warm knife going through a stick of butter.

 

[kngflp]

My first pistol was a CZ 75 DAO. After shooting it a ton and changing out the hammer springs to a 16lb, the trigger is quite nice. Long but smooth like a revolver. This is the gun that I learned to shoot with. After a year or so and some IDPA I thought if I got a SA or a SA/DA I would see some improvements. I bought another CZ 75 SA/DA and I still shoot the DAO gun better.

 

[Srigs]

I only carry DAO guns! I have a couple S&W DAO and like a lot and couple by Kel-tec. The Smith guns are partially cocked so easy to shoot the Kel-tecs are not at all but smooth out nice once you get use to the long trigger pull. I like them due to no thinking about safeties are required just draw, point and pull for fast easy self defense shooting.

My DA/SA guns I use for target use mainly but have the best shooting handgun is my Model 15 K-frame.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I am one of the rear ones, being that I like DAO triggers better than SA of DA/SA.

IMO, you have more control with a DAO over a SA, and I don't like the two different triggers of the DA/SA. Plus, my PT145 MilPro has such a nice trigger, why would you want to mess it up by going to SA

What if you have a DA/SA gun that allows cocked-and-locked? I've got several. Then you have a single-type trigger and a much more CONTROLLABLE trigger, too.

A true SHORT-STROKE DAO is nice, and my P9 is close. But the only DAO I really, really like is the SIG DAK. The rest seem to be big compromises.

 

[DunedinDragon]

I have a DAO (Taurus Mil-Pro), DA/SA (Sig P220), DA that feels like SA (Glock 19), and SAO (Sig GSR 1911).

I don't mind the DAO, but it's not my preferred trigger by any means. I've tried the DAK trigger and really can't say it's all that much different from the Taurus. I very much like the whole idea of point and shoot (without an external safety), but I much prefer the thought of a DA/SA trigger. Even though it's not a consistent pull for all shots, I can overcome that situation through training at the range (I shoot series of either two or four shots then decock).

The DA trigger is good for having that last moment to consider your actions, but once you've taken the shot there's really no more reason for DA IMHO.

 

[Ivy Mike]

I own a FN Forty-Nine in .40.
This pistol is a true DAO, striker fired weapon. Has been totally reliable. A little large to carry everyday though. I originally bought it because the ergonomics are fantastic and the gun is quite accurate. I like that I don't even have to think about what mode I'm carrying in. I know it will always go bang with a pull of its 10-11lb trigger. The trigger isn't too bad either and I've never minded a heavier pull...I own a Makarov fer crying out loud.
However, I've noticed that it is doing more sitting lately while the Makarov gets chosen for daily carry and the CZ75B goes to the range more frequently.
I'll probably sell the FN for a nice steel or alloy framed .45 or 10mm.
I'd love a CZ97B or maybe a Sig P220. Then again, I've noticed a couple S&W 1076s around lately.
Who knows...:banghead: