Single or Double Action which do you prefer?

[DFW1911]

Since I carry a revolver for SD I train DA most all of the time. As stated by another poster, in the event I need to use my revolver for SD it's highly probable that it will be in DA.

I've found that by shooting DA I've developed very good (at least to me) trigger control, sighting skills, and decent (yet accurate) speed.

When it comes to target shooting I like SA.

 

[Stainz]

I started with SAs... c&b bp, actually. My first cf revolver was a Ruger BH conv in .45 - to shoot up my stash of .45 ACPs from my G21, which I sold over eleven years ago. I had to shoot .45 Colts - then 'had' to have a DA .45 Colt. Enamored by the engineering of the Ruger SRH .454 Casull's materials, I got one for .45 Colt - then had to shoot .454s - wow! DA was neat - I could shoot - handheld over sand bags - DA - Hornady 240gr XTP .454 Casulls (2000 fps & 2,130 ft-lb) - at 44yd indoors and get five of six (My rules - I allow a flier!) in 1.5in. That range closed - I joined an outdoor range - and repeated it at 50yd and 1 5/8" for 5 of 6.

I never could duplicate that in anything loaded with .45 Colts - anyone's .45 Colts. My Ruger SAs initially had wide variances and small exit bores - I finally reamed all of them. Sadly, only the custom makers - and F.A. - make proper .45 Colt chambers - the rest of the industry still uses the 'black powder' spec - oversized chambers. Other calibers are more capable - still, I found the answer to generally better DA shooting seven years ago - my first S&W - a new 625-7 ('01) Mountain Gun in .45 Colt. I got a local, ie, crude, trigger job - thankfully, fixable with new Wolff springs. Wow - DA is better! That is the key - a new revolver needs to break in and have a rudimentary trigger job, possibly including lighter springs, before DA shooting will have a chance at equalling SA shooting accuracy.

I find it entertaining to watch others shoot my S&Ws. The first shot, no matter what I tell them, is SA. Then - a DA shot that breaks unexpectedly - and who knows where it went. By the last shot, there is a smile - and well placed shot. This is true for a friend with his revolvers going back four decades - Colts, Rugers, and S&Ws - all with OEM triggers - and different. Mine are all S&Ws - and, sure, my 5-shot 642 or 296 stages a bit differently than my 8-shooter 627s - but not that differently. The key to good DA shooting is a good trigger - for my money, in a S&W. Other than a few CCWs, mine are primarily plinkers.

I shoot DA better... and no longer own anything but S&W revolvers. YMMV.

Stainz

 

[DougDubya]

I like revolver actions that end in E. (ie: both single and double)

There's a place for both of them.

 

[D R Greysun]

Single or Double Action which do you prefer?
Ive been married so long Im use to double action now.....I cant remember the single action days....
OK no more kidding around I prefer single...because Im a better shot.
No matter how much I practice I just cant shoot DA very well....the exception
is my old Colt Diamondback .38...can shoot it DA and hit what I aim at.

To put your question in perspective I offer:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=468068
and ask. Which would you prefer? I prefer to shoot single action revolvers but recognize their limitations. Minute of paper, single action, minute of danger, I'll go with double action thank you very much.

D R

 

[Ala Dan]

Single action, unless of course I'm in a fight for my life~!

 

[Marvin KNox]

My revolvers are for carry purposes only. They are "hammerless" models.

When I had extensive trigger work done on them I had most of the SA "notch" removed. I only left enough of that to allow for precise sight in shooting and to prevent the guns from going out of time too easily.

I'm of the opinion that getting into the habit of shooting a DA/SA carry revolver from the SA point is a bad habit to get into. I practice and shoot with a continuous pull through at the range and when practicing at home with the laser on the wall.

 

[MCgunner]

I like revolver actions that end in E. (ie: both single and double)

There's a place for both of them.

This I agree with. While DA is the way for self defense, I do many more things with revolvers than just carry concealed for self defense. Actually, I mostly carry a DAO auto concealed. I think autos beat revolvers hands down and six ways to sunday for self defense. More firepower, faster reloads, easier to carry those reloads, and 9mm in a pocket pushing 410 ft lbs in a 14 ounce gun and STILL comfortable to shoot with not a lot of muzzle flash.

So, if all you carry for is self defense and you're serious as a heart attack about self defense, why ain't you carrying an auto? I carry my revolver when I'm fishing or outdoors usually because it's stainless and can shoot single action when I need to. That's my pocket revolver's niche. In the concrete jungle, I'll normally go with an auto, DA or DAO. First shot is always DA just like my revolver. Keeps practice simple. Switching to a condition one single action might be a little much since I carry revolvers a lot.

 

[BCRider]

I've shot my Model 19 in a few speed steel matches. I quickly found that DA is much faster to use.

Also one day at the paper poking range I shot groups of 6 each in single and double. I shocked myself by getting a tighter group in DA. Time to shoot was pretty much the same for both.

Mind you I've got a Wolff spring kit in the thing with the lightest option return block spring trimmed down for an even lighter pull. The DA pull is down to around 6.5 to 7'ish lbs as I recall from measuring it many months ago. SA pull was spot on at 2 lbs.