Double Action Shooting

[mcb]

Sort of silly thread. This is with regard to your revolvers that are capable of double action firing. So for the moment set your single action only revolvers mentally to the side. What percentage of your double action revolver shooting is double action vs single action? This is in general across all uses you may employ your double action revolvers in. If you would be so inclined you can tell us more specifics about you DA vs SA use for particular application like CCW, competition, hunting etc.

 

[Jim Watson]

Just for fun, my applications for a revolver are IDPA REV and CCW, shooting DA all the time.
My only use for SA in a DA/SA revolver is over the chronograph.
It has been a good while since I shot CAS and had to use a single action.

 

[bigpower491]

I mostly target shoot revolvers, so single action for me.
I carry automatics, although a carry revolver may be in my future

 

[mcb]

My own use it's nearly all double action. Spend a decade shooting USPSA and IDPA with a revolver and that is basically 100% double action shooting has me very comfortable with DA. In most situation my double action shooting is actually more accurate than single action shooting at least out to about 50 yards. I do still use single action rarely. Mostly when when shooting over a rest diagnosing accuracy issues with a new load or maybe when chrono graphing a new load. Even hunting or varmint control I almost always shoot double action.

 

[shoobe01]

As close to 100% as I can recall though the gun (the one revolver I am down to) still has the SA notch. I have thought of turning it into a proper 70s gunfighter with no spur and no SA notch but I have lots of ideas and projects.

Agree with mcb, I am a combat shooting type, had a couple DAO autoloaders which I shot very very well before metal frames became not a thing, so I shoot DA revolver just fine. If there's a precision shot I am probably better staging the trigger than thumb cocking, so I do.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Very close to 100%.

I even use my hunting Redhawk near exclusively DA and always DA for hunting since that is what I am most used to.

I don’t own a single action because I could never warm up to being locked into single action when I had carry revolvers that were DAO and I wanted to maintain similar manual of arms

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

After watching Massads video. Im going to shoot more often in D/A. My son shoots all the time in D/A. And he is better shot than me with hand guns.

 

[doubleh]

I am a 10 percenter. I only shoot revolvers at the range and most are SA only but the habit just carries over to the three lonesome DA/SA revolvers I own and seldom shoot.

 

[JohnKSa]

The revolver I am most likely to have at the range is a DA .22LR that I have for two main reasons. First of all, it's really fun to shoot. Second, the DA trigger is smooth but pretty stiff and so it makes a really good trainer for trigger technique. I think I have shot it SA some, but I shoot it almost exclusively DA.

 

[chicharrones]

It’s a split of my DA/SA revolvers whether they are centerfire or rimfire.

My centerfire shooting is mostly DAO, while my rimfire shooting is mostly SAO.

 

[defjon]

I practice defensive shooting double action, I carry a 642 but I practice staging the trigger.

After my defensive drills I will always thumb cock and precision shoot and ring the steel at the rifle ranges (both with 686 2.5 and 642!) Just to make sure my eyes can still reach out!

Single action or staging a double action is a skill worth honing if you're a revolver shooter.

 

[.38 Special]

Interesting question. For me, it really depends on the gun and purpose. My defensive guns are very rarely fired SA, and in fact most of them are DAO - either bought that way or made so after the fact. I can see cocking the piece for a 50 yard shot at a rifle-wielding madman, but otherwise, I just don't see a reason for SA defensive shooting.

The huge majority of my shooting is purely for sport, though. I enjoy trying to clean a rack of plates at warp speed, or dumping a cylinder and a speed load into a big target close up, and of course a light, smooth DA trigger is just the ticket for that game. I also enjoy a bit of artillery practice, trying to drop a bullet into a ridiculously distant target, and a perfect SA pull is the obvious answer there.

I'm not sure I've ever taken a DA shot at a game animal. There was a pig I gut shot, as a very young and inexperienced fellow, and I emptied the gun at him as he ran. I was so excited that I honestly have no idea if those shots were DA or SA.

Purely in time spent, I'd say I'm probably 50/50 DA/SA in the sporting field, and roughly 99.9% DA while "training". In terms of rounds expended, though, it's be essentially 100% DA for defensive practice, and probably 80% DA for fun.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

Depends on the gun. The Python rarely gets shot DA...partly because I can't shoot that thing worth a darn DA. OTOH SA is excellent so that's how it gets shot.

The 586 is another one with an excellent SA, so I shoot it SA. DA is OK, but SA is great.

I shoot the Security Sixes DA because I'm more accurate DA with those guns. Same thing with the CAs.

The Smith M37 gets shot mostly SA. Recoil is fierce enough that I need the time to recover. Same thing with the Redhawk.

The SP101 has a weird sight picture. Sorting it out takes time. Shoot that one SA, but don't shoot it much.
Bob

 

[mcb]

The funny/sad thing is the best single action trigger I currently own is on my S&W 625. Its measure just a touch over 1 lbs ( the trigger return spring makes is hard to get a clean measurement without the trigger slapping trigger pull gauge) with zero over travel and a very crisp break. It rivals the Timney in my Rem 700 and yet I almost never use it in single action. It was my USPSA gun for a few years and that meant lots of double action (its got the best double action of all my revolvers too). One of these days I will have to work up a really accurate load for it and make better use of that extraordinary trigger but what can you do...

 

[GRIZ22]

Rarely shoot SA. Do use SA when shooting 50 yds or more.

I used to shoot at a metal IPSC at 100 yds with a 640 (DAO) with wadcutters. I could ding it 5 out of 5 times in my prime.

 

[JTHunter]

Most of my handguns are DA, even my .380, but it is the only one that I shoot more DA than SA.
My Ruger Single Six (.22LR/Mag) is SA only but the GP-100 is both. For accuracy, the GP-100 gets shot SA but in a defensive situation, the first shot is likely to be SA.
Two other handguns, a Colt Jr. (.25 ACP) and a 1903 (.32 ACP) are SA only but neither gets shot much.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

More than 90% of my DA revolver shooting is all DA but I can't say it's 100%

 

[WrongHanded]

I like to get at least a few rounds in shooting SA on any range trip with a DA revolver. But because it's a double action, I generally prefer to shoot them that way.

 

[Jonesy814]

I rarely shoot my DA/SA revolvers in single action. I have shot double action for so long that I do better that way. Also offhand. Almost never shoot handguns from a bench/ bag. Shot my friends model 17 last weekend, double action, standing at 30 feet

 

[.38 Special]

The funny/sad thing is the best single action trigger I currently own is on my S&W 625. Its measure just a touch over 1 lbs ( the trigger return spring makes is hard to get a clean measurement without the trigger slapping trigger pull gauge) with zero over travel and a very crisp break. It rivals the Timney in my Rem 700 and yet I almost never use it in single action. It was my USPSA gun for a few years and that meant lots of double action (its got the best double action of all my revolvers too). One of these days I will have to work up a really accurate load for it and make better use of that extraordinary trigger but what can you do...

S&W still know how to make a perfect SA trigger...

 

[Walkalong]

I shoot DA sometimes with my play guns, but most of my DA work is done with a revolver that might be carried. The DA on my 3" 696 is sweet, pretty good on my 2 1/2" 686.

 

[J-Bar]

I shoot my ccw J frame double action because that's how it would be shot if I need it for defense. My other revolvers are shot mostly single action because that S&W trigger is a sensual pleasure.

 

[trackskippy]

DAO for me.

 

[NeroM]

Shoot mostly SA, however it depends upon target or mission.
The week ago, I was harrowing a hay lot, occasionally a mole would scoot out aside of the tractor, shot a couple with an M10 in DA.
A few days before, there was a troublesome raccoon who had been making an awful mess of the garbage cans, got tired of picking up the mess. Just before dark - there was the troublesome raider - had M25 ready. First shot was SA, follow up DA. Not sure why the DA follow up was needed.

 

[cfullgraf]

I shoot mostly single action.

But, a number of years ago I decided to get proficient with my S&W 642 and H&K P30SK-V3 (I know, not a revolver). I did lots of practicing with the guns to get comfortable with the DA trigger.

I have not been shooting as much of late but I do practice some with the DA triggers when I do shoot.