double vs single vs double/single

[ccsniper]

Which do you prefer and why? I personally am a big fan of double/single action with no safety and only a decocker, or a DOA because I think safeties could get in the way if I ever need to use the gun in defense.

Your opinions?

 

[doc2rn]

I practice both with my revolvers so it doesnt matter much to me. Single or double its all good, but since you are talking about autos I grew up with a DOA so I am biased.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Um, I don't do revolvers

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Safeties don't get in the way. You practice your draw so the strong hand thumb is automatically on the safety, trigger finger indexed along the side of the dust cover. When you fire, you simply close your hand.

 

[Guillermo]

just so everyone is on the same page, let us define our terms

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=248556

I loath the trigger on DA autos. The first is long and spongy and the rest are single action.

I do not like DAO autos because the theory that in order to make them all the same you have to mess them all up is just a bad idea.

What do I like?
Single action autos and Striker Fire. (and, of course, double action revolvers)

Why? all the trigger pulls are the same. So give me a 1911 or a Springfield XD and I am happy.

 

[9mmepiphany]

My current preferred gun is a DA/SA...because it gives me the most flexibility when teaching.

I can demonstrate the DA trigger stroke and show them why it isn't any slower or less accurate than a SA trigger stroke. Students gain different insights about trigger control when presented with both systems.

For my most common style of practice, competition or defense, the DA/SA gives up very little to other systems...plus it is what I've carried as a duty weapon for enough years to feel comfortable with.

It has been my experience that many students do very well with the Sig DAK or H&K LEM triggers (DAO) when first starting out as opposed to a 1911 trigger (SAO). I've found that a good compromise trigger is the Glock NY-1 with a 3.5lb connector/sear.

A short SA trigger like that on a 1911 covers a lot of trigger control faults of beginning students, because they can cheat when trying to make a round go off...but it limits their progress/learning of trigger control

 

[OregonJohnny]

My favorite handgun design - the Beretta 92 - is double/single with decocker/safety. This is the platform I am most familiar and comfortable with. As my primary home defense weapon, I like the long double-action trigger pull for the first shot (yes, yes, finger off trigger until ready to shoot, but human error, adrenaline...)

Having said all that, I do most of my shooting in single-action mode with my double/single guns. With the Beretta, I'll do the occasional draw - double-action shot - decock - reholster - repeat.

Preference for target practice, plinking, all-around shooting: single-action.

Preference for a home defense or carry gun: double-action only, or DA/SA.

 

[Oceans]

In an auto, I want DA/SA. That first shot is the ALL important shot(at least in combat pistol encounters, not bowling pin matches), and I'm not crazy on thumbing off side safetys before I can fire. Too much is made about the "transition to single action" after firing that first shot in double action. If you train with your firearm, you wont have any problem. If you think not, watch a youtube of that Texan with his 92fs at an IDPA meet.

 

[JohnBiltz]

I don't like DAO. After that I am not a fan of safeties. A 1911 works if you train for it to muscle memory but I think a lot of people are fooling themselves on that at the lower level of training. I owned DA/SA and I think it works fine. I carry Glocks and am careful when I holster. I would not mind one with a grip safety which is not to say I'd sell the ones I have to buy one.

 

[30mag]

I have a CZ-75b. It is DA/SA. I chose it because I wanted to keep my carry options open. I can carry cocked and locked or one in the chamber with the hammer down.

I have decided that I like hammer down carry best.
I don't like cocked and locked because I don't like the safety on if I need to shoot at something. With hammer down, I just have to pull the trigger if I need to shoot.

 

[jad0110]

My personal favorites are DA revolvers. As long as the action is smooth and the release is clean, I'm all good.

In autos, I'll take a smooth DA or SA, but I've never done well with DA/SA. That transition gets me every time. But to each his own.

 

[Rexster]

I prefer either all-DA or all-SA, in that order, but with no great preference either way, though I can make DA/SA work, and actually appreciate the challenge of using one of my DA/SA SIGs during an occasional range session, to see if I still have the knack. I actually mostly carry DAK SIGs and DA revolvers, the latter of which I virtually always shoot DA. An elderly family member in the house consumes much of my time, and ammo is not cheap, so my range time is limited, so I have put away my 1911 for the present, and concentrate on DA shooting.

 

[ccsniper]

, but since you are talking about autos I grew up with a DOA so I am biased.

actually, since there are single action revolvers and DOA revolvers, they can fit in this conversation as well.

 

[LHRGunslinger]

Single Action. Lighter trigger pull = more accurate shot placement.

 

[foolsgold80z]

Most of my carry experience has been CZ platform so I have to say DA/SA decocker.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Single Action. Lighter trigger pull = more accurate shot placement.

In my experience in training interested shooters
Lighter trigger pull - agreed
More accurate shot placement - not always, not even usually...unless you're talking about precision shooting

 

[Dr.Rob]

Single action.

Lots of DA/SA guns have a horrible trigger. Can't stand the DA trigger of my Pa-63. Ditto for my Seecamp action DA 1911 (though that's a full custom, it never worked quite right.)

 

[David E]

I do not like DAO autos....

What do I like?
Single action autos and Striker Fire. (and, of course, double action revolvers)

Why? all the trigger pulls are the same.

All the trigger pulls are the same on a DAO auto, too.

The well versed pistoleer masters all three.

 

[Packman]

I grew up shooting single action revolvers, and I MUCH prefer a single action trigger. Given the preference, at the range, that's what I want.

However, on a carry gun, I don't want extraneous safeties. So, make my carry guns DA/SA. That way I can have my nice single action trigger most of the time at the range, but I can still have my gun be shootable immediately after the draw.

I like to have my cake and eat it too.

 

[giggitygiggity]

I am partial to the Glock DAO. However, I agree that the DA/SA, such as a lot of the Sigs is a good option. Basically, anything without a safety and that doesnt have a heavy (over 6lbs) trigger pull for every shot is preferred. You don't want to fumble with safeties when you need to shoot. Moreover, you don't want DAO guns with heavy or long trigger pulls that you can't shoot accurately.

 

[Rexster]

A Glock is not DAO; it has a shorter reset that a DA/SA SIG, for example. If the shooter lets the trigger go fully forward, it can be shot in a DAO-ish mode, but only as a default. "Catching the link" is one term used for finding that short reset; it is in there, if you look for it.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

You don't want to fumble with safeties when you need to shoot

.
Who fumbles with safties?

That's like sayng you don't want to fumble wth a trgger when you need to shoot.

 

[Marshall]

What do I like?
Single action autos and Striker Fire. (and, of course, double action revolvers)

+1!

 

[Zerodefect]

Which do you prefer and why? I personally am a big fan of double/single action with no safety and only a decocker, or a DOA because I think safeties could get in the way if I ever need to use the gun in defense.

Your opinions?

I prefer SA, then Striker fired DAO.

SA- 1911, and 1911's only. There are other SA guns out there. But I hate safety levers on pistols with a passion. With the proper, firm, grip; the 1911 safeties are easy to flick off and shoot without any thought.

And then there is that 1911 trigger. Better than most of my rifle triggers.

By far the finest pistols I own, but not the most often carried. Too bad the production 1911's I own/owned all get spanked baddly by my Glock across the board. (performance, relibility, corrosion resistance, carry ergos)

But a Semi-custom personally customized a little, or a full custom, with a good hard finish is a much nicer weapon than my Glock. But that's at $2000+. My Dan Wesson out shoots my G23, my Kimber CDP deosn't.


DAO- I like the Glock trigger the best. At least it shoots the best. At a bench it feels terrible, but ironicly, it shoots quite competitively. The Kahr DAO trigger is a bit safer and smoother, but lacks the shooting performance of the Glock.

Keltec and J-frames have a DAO trigger that's too long IMO.

My Glock 23 and Kahr p380 spend more time on my hip than my best 1911. But the 1911 is more often carried at night and weekends anyways.


DA/SA
My P95 and the 92fs type I've tried had the worst DA trigger I've ever sampled, followed by the worst SA trigger pull ever. An enigma? How can one gun have two incredibly poor triggers.

That slow DAO first pull really slows my 1st shot from a draw. If that shot even hits my target. That terrible first pull is why I'll never shoot a DA/SA seriously ever again. I use my p95 for training newbs only now because it's easy on the hands. Then I step them up to a more evolved weapon system.

Usually too big and heavy, with odd safeties. SIG's seem to have allmost OK triggers, but I haven't seen one run well enough to form a good opinion.

Except for mouseguns, I'm 1911 and Glock only.

 

[Onward Allusion]

DAO is my favorite by far. I enjoy the consistency of the longer trigger pull. For SD/HD it lowers the risk of inadvertent double taps or AD due to the adrenaline rush. I don't like safeties and that's why I shoot Glock, Sigma, 5946 and DA revolvers.