Does anybody else NOT shoot single actions well?

[cslinger]

I am a reasonably experienced shooter who shoots well enough to know when he doesn't shoot well enough so to speak.

That being said traditional wisdom is a good single action trigger is almost always a boon to shooting accurately and is much easier to teach new folks with.

So why is it I can't shoot a single action automatic worth a spit? I pulled out the ole' 1911 this weekend and once again confirmed that I shoot a good double action trigger much better and much more naturally then a single action trigger. The gun in question is a box stock Colt 1911, so the trigger is good, not match/custom good but by no means bad.

At any rate I am just thinking out loud. Anybody else find that they fly in the face of accepted logic.

I do ok with Glock' safe action and Springfield's XD long single action but give me a 1911 or a Highpower trigger and my brain, finger and eyes become distant cousins at best. I also have a hard time with the newer generation of light double actions, even though they are Glock like in functioning.

Give me a good smooth double action any day.

Chris the only gunny who doesn't shoot 1911s well and never has liked the Hi-Power, or the heretic for short.

 

[easyg]

I think that you must be the "exception that proves the rule".
I've never known anyone, experienced or not, that shot better DA than SA.

How do you do with revolvers?
Do you shoot revolvers better DA than SA?

 

[AndyC]

I'll give it a good home

 

[grimjaw]

It's not the action that gets me, it's the fixed sights that many single action revolvers come with standard. Semi-auto pistols I don't have much problem with.

jm

 

[Hoppy590]

i shoot SA much better than DA. in all platforms.

my only downside is the small sites on most small frame revolvers

 

[Chem Geek]

I shoot DA better, but that's probably due to lack of practice. I shoot revolvers better in SA, but can shoot the DA pretty well. I don't own a SA so that's probably part of it.

 

[wally]

Accurate shooting is a matter of timing the shot for when the sights are in alignment with the target. Better shooters have smaller amplitude and lower frequency "wander" but its always there. Its why dry-fire can improve your shooting -- practice timing the "click" with the proper sight alignment while working on reducing the wander.

Experienced DA shooters anticipate the long pull and time the shot "right" switching to a SA with its short pull throws off the timing.

I'm betting you'd be a better SA than DA shooter eventually if you worked on your SA shooting some.

My brother-in-law coming from revolvers actually shot better groups with my SIG P226 decocking after every shot as opposed to shooting all SA the first time he shot it. Now that he's got one, he's happy with the DA first shot but is tighter with the remaining SA shots than he ever was DA only.

They make DAO autos, although I don't think any really make accomplished DA revolver shooters truly happy.

--wally.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Wally said,

Accurate shooting is a matter of timing the shot for when the sights are in alignment with the target. Better shooters have smaller amplitude and lower frequency "wander" but its always there. Its why dry-fire can improve your shooting -- practice timing the "click" with the proper sight alignment while working on reducing the wander.

Experienced DA shooters anticipate the long pull and time the shot "right" switching to a SA with its short pull throws off the timing.

They make DAO autos, although I don't think any really make accomplished DA revolver shooters truly happy.


Well said. I have tried to get that point across for years. It is a matter of timing the wobble. I carried a Taurus 605 for 10 years and switched to a Kahr .40 S&W which is DAO. The transition was seamless. I own single action semi-autos but would only carry them on an outing, not for daily SD.