2ndamd
Member
Gosh. I can't really remember shooting SA. I know I have but, I would say 99.5% of the time I shoot DA. Even with full power .357 and .44 magnum loads.
New to revolvers... does anyone actually shoot DA?
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RevolvingCylinder
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adweisbe, I was referring to the smoothness. I don't care if the trigger is long or heavy. It's the way the trigger feels while being pulled. I have yet to see a Sig or Walther have anywhere near as smooth as a trigger as an older used Smith & Wesson(or Colt for that matter) revolver. I guess it's just my personal preferance.
Unisaw
Member
I shoot my revolvers DA about 99.9% of the time. The only time in recent years I can remember shooting one SA was about 6 months ago when I was trying to hit a small target at 50 yards with my SP101 snubby.
I dry fire a lot. I also use a gripmaster hand exerciser every morning.
I dry fire a lot. I also use a gripmaster hand exerciser every morning.
MrTuffPaws
Member
I only shoot SA when I am sighting my revolver in. DA the rest. Considering it is my HD handgun, DA makes sense.
SDC
Member
If you want to hit with speed, you have to learn how to shoot DA; some of my best "moments" in IPSC revolver division revolve (bad pun, I know) around being able to place two accurate shots into multiple moving targets, while people with $2000 single-action semis couldn't manage the same. That said, I have found the ability to switch to single-action on a long-range plate or popper useful 
johndoe1027
Member
DA all the time unless I'm going for crazy accuracy at the range. My CCW has a bobbed hammer so no SA for that one at all. I'll bob the hammer on the new CCW as well when I get the cash.
It takes a lot of practice and a trigger job helps as well. You just have to stay focused on the front sight as you pull and keep it aligned through the pull. I know, easier said than done....
It takes a lot of practice and a trigger job helps as well. You just have to stay focused on the front sight as you pull and keep it aligned through the pull. I know, easier said than done....
ronto
Member
I have a DAO (spurless) for CCW and wouldn't want SA. I like to practice with the action I'll need for SD.
True...a lot of dry-firing helps. Don't know if it's the action actually smoothing out or my trigger finger getting stronger...Probably a combination of both.
True...a lot of dry-firing helps. Don't know if it's the action actually smoothing out or my trigger finger getting stronger...Probably a combination of both.
BoneDigger
Member
DA
Since I mainly plan to use mine for defense against critters while hunting, I don't think I will have time to shoot SA. So, most of my practice is DA.
Todd
Since I mainly plan to use mine for defense against critters while hunting, I don't think I will have time to shoot SA. So, most of my practice is DA.
Todd
Grow stronger. Until I really began to practice with DA it felt awkward and slow. Now that my hand is stronger I rarely shoot SA unless I'm trying to shoot at a longer distance or am shooting from a table.
I am probably still at my most accurate shooting slow single action but my double action has improved considerably since purchasing my first revolver and dry firing weekly (if not more). My range time is extremely limited and I try to find ways to practice at home without firing a single shot.
I am probably still at my most accurate shooting slow single action but my double action has improved considerably since purchasing my first revolver and dry firing weekly (if not more). My range time is extremely limited and I try to find ways to practice at home without firing a single shot.
MCgunner
Member
I can put a SA gun into action pretty quick if a toothy critter threatens me. They are accurate, too. I don't wanna wait until the critter is on top of me to shoot. I'd rather get on him 50 yards out. If we had a lot of grizzlies around here, I'd own a Freedom Arms .454 Casull. I like the way single actions recoil in big calibers. But, since there ain't no bears in the eastern half of Texas, this is all just speculation.
I had to go to DAO after getting trigger finger in both thumbs from using SA!Took about 6 months to get good at it;now i shoot better DAO than i did SA and it's more fun.For target practice,i pull to the first stage,hesitate,then pull through smoothly.For defense training with my carry gun,i just pull thru smoothly.
?jad0110
Member
I rarely shoot SA myself. Only to sight in a gun, that's about it. You will be surprised by how quickly your DA shooting improves if you are patient.
P5 Guy
Member
I do always.
RecoilRob
Member
A tip that helped me DA is remembering that the sights only need to be aligned on target the instant the hammer falls.
Fast DA shooting involves trigger cocking the piece in recoil...which actually helps bring the muzzle back down to the target. Either hesitating your pull an instant until the sights are aligned where you want them or timing the pull to achieve same results in VERY accurate DA fire.
Ruger revolvers seem particularly good at this technique. Mine allow my finger-tip to contact the trigger guard just before they break. I can quickly snap the trigger back and stop when the finger touches....then squeeze the round off just about the same as SA.
Also, being good at DA involves practice and TRAINING. Not just going to the range and firing some rounds. I use a Ruger GP-100 for practice and dry fire 100 times with each hand as fast as I can (about 4 per second). At first, you will be slowing WAY down before you reach 100, but with practice and increasing strength, you will find your pulling speed staying quick until the end. Or, don't stop training until you CAN do the 100 without noticeable slowdown.
Once you have that kind of trigger strength, you will find DA a piece of cake.
Fast DA shooting involves trigger cocking the piece in recoil...which actually helps bring the muzzle back down to the target. Either hesitating your pull an instant until the sights are aligned where you want them or timing the pull to achieve same results in VERY accurate DA fire.
Ruger revolvers seem particularly good at this technique. Mine allow my finger-tip to contact the trigger guard just before they break. I can quickly snap the trigger back and stop when the finger touches....then squeeze the round off just about the same as SA.
Also, being good at DA involves practice and TRAINING. Not just going to the range and firing some rounds. I use a Ruger GP-100 for practice and dry fire 100 times with each hand as fast as I can (about 4 per second). At first, you will be slowing WAY down before you reach 100, but with practice and increasing strength, you will find your pulling speed staying quick until the end. Or, don't stop training until you CAN do the 100 without noticeable slowdown.
Once you have that kind of trigger strength, you will find DA a piece of cake.
gyp_c2
Member
well...
You might wanna' try dry firing at least 100 times a day. By the time you get to 2-3000, you'll notice a big improvement. Have someone polish it up a little and voila'...
Watch some Jerry Miculek sometime...
On the big N-frame, you can change stocks around for smaller ones. Also, they can be cut down to a round butt for a huge increase in fun-time!
You might wanna' try dry firing at least 100 times a day. By the time you get to 2-3000, you'll notice a big improvement. Have someone polish it up a little and voila'...
Watch some Jerry Miculek sometime...
On the big N-frame, you can change stocks around for smaller ones. Also, they can be cut down to a round butt for a huge increase in fun-time!
XavierBreath
Member
I shoot DA revolvers double action about 99% of the time. I only shoot them SA when I want to compare the two, to show myself how well I can shoot DA with a particular revolver.
Gaining accuracy in DA is a result of understanding the importance of trigger control in shooting. Accuracy is about trigger control. Any monkey can align sights, given enough time and incentive. Marksmanship comes from holding them in alignment while pulling the trigger to sear release. That involves being able to move the index finger independently from all your other fingers, and from your metacarpels themselves. It is a learned skill that comes with practice, but one must undestand what he is trying to accomplish to do it.
Rather than concentrating on sight alignment, instead, dry fire with your eyes closed, concentrating on an even trigger pull, same pressure, all the way to sear release. What you want is an even, steady pull to the rear. Not too fast, not too slow. Concentrate on eveness of speed, not the speed itself. Next, balance a penny on the top of your barrel and do the same, eyes open. It's easier if you have a sight rail. Finally, when you can pull the trigger without wiggling the muzzle around, align the sights and do it again. You will find a rhythm to it, that allows you to pull the trigger evenly. At first you will be able to do it well only at one speed, then you simply take the rhythm and speed it up.
You will find the S&W, Ruger and Colt triggers to be decidedly different. There are even differences in DA triggers produced at different times, ie The Pre-war M&P vs the Model 10.
Learning trigger control on the uncompromising DA revolver will benefit your shooting of all fireams. This is why the venerable K-22/Model 17 or 18 is a gun loved by many marksmen, and why it commands the price it does in the marketplace. It allows for a lot of cheap shooting with a great DA revolver, using immediate feedback to develop trigger control.
Gaining accuracy in DA is a result of understanding the importance of trigger control in shooting. Accuracy is about trigger control. Any monkey can align sights, given enough time and incentive. Marksmanship comes from holding them in alignment while pulling the trigger to sear release. That involves being able to move the index finger independently from all your other fingers, and from your metacarpels themselves. It is a learned skill that comes with practice, but one must undestand what he is trying to accomplish to do it.
Rather than concentrating on sight alignment, instead, dry fire with your eyes closed, concentrating on an even trigger pull, same pressure, all the way to sear release. What you want is an even, steady pull to the rear. Not too fast, not too slow. Concentrate on eveness of speed, not the speed itself. Next, balance a penny on the top of your barrel and do the same, eyes open. It's easier if you have a sight rail. Finally, when you can pull the trigger without wiggling the muzzle around, align the sights and do it again. You will find a rhythm to it, that allows you to pull the trigger evenly. At first you will be able to do it well only at one speed, then you simply take the rhythm and speed it up.
You will find the S&W, Ruger and Colt triggers to be decidedly different. There are even differences in DA triggers produced at different times, ie The Pre-war M&P vs the Model 10.
Learning trigger control on the uncompromising DA revolver will benefit your shooting of all fireams. This is why the venerable K-22/Model 17 or 18 is a gun loved by many marksmen, and why it commands the price it does in the marketplace. It allows for a lot of cheap shooting with a great DA revolver, using immediate feedback to develop trigger control.
QuestionEverything
Member
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2006
- Messages
- 178
Thanks for the advice, everyone. All the revolvers I've shot have been range guns (Ruger GP100, SW 686 and some smaller guns from those makers) with really gritty triggers. I don't own a revolver at the moment but I think their ergonomics and operation are lots of fun and I appreciate the edge in power that .357 offers so it's likely I'll get one sometime down the road. When I do I'll put your tips into practice.
kmrcstintn
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- Joined
- Jan 5, 2006
- Messages
- 1,236
I'll have to tip-toe around this one...I do not believe in SA for defensive situations...
personally, I shoot my DA revolvers in DA mode in excess of 90% of the time; most of the year my DA revolvers are set up for defense work;
I also use a DA .357 magnum revolver as a hunting sidearm and I set it up to shoot SA at @ 25 yards just before and during hunting season;
the one revolver I have that is DA all the time is my S&W 642 snubby which has an internal hammer and cannot be cocked to shoot in SA; this revolver is catgorized as 'DAO'
personally, I shoot my DA revolvers in DA mode in excess of 90% of the time; most of the year my DA revolvers are set up for defense work;
I also use a DA .357 magnum revolver as a hunting sidearm and I set it up to shoot SA at @ 25 yards just before and during hunting season;
the one revolver I have that is DA all the time is my S&W 642 snubby which has an internal hammer and cannot be cocked to shoot in SA; this revolver is catgorized as 'DAO'
I took the dime on the barrel tip that I learned from the board last night and ran with it a little bit. Once I put my kids to bed, I went out to the garage with my SP101. After making sure for the 10th time it was unloaded, I put the dime on the barrel and did my dry firing drill while walking. I really dont know what inspired this but after 15 minutes or so I could hold that snubbie pretty damn steady in full stride while making a smooth trigger pull. Fun stuff.....
MCgunner
Member
I hate those walking/shooting stages they set up in IDPA. LOL I haven't really determined how I should walk while shooting. I sort of stutter step, usually. I think if a real life scenario, I'd be on a dead run until I hit cover, then start shooting from barracade. I'm not sure there is wisdom in walking in the open while shooting. But, that's another thread I guess.
Interesting practicing with the dime thing, though. You must have to kind of glide, sort of like MJ's moon walk? LOL- Status
