Can someone please help me to understand the difference between the trigger types? I understand that a revolver's double action trigger allows you to cock the hammer with an initial heavier tigger pull and then fire the first round, and then subsequent firings have a lighter trigger pull. Is this correct? I'm also kind of confused about the different trigger types on semi-autos and how they function. I'm a noob and trying to get as much info as I can before I begin looking at guns and going to a range and shooting. Thanks for any help.
Understanding double action trigger vs. single action and DA/SA
- Thread starter JeffDilla
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close but no cigar.
a SA trigger - pulling the hammer back, to a cocked position rotates the cylinder aligning the next chamber with the firing pin/trigger and the barrel. Pulling the trigger releases the hammer to impact the cartridge and fires the gun.
a DA trigger - pulling the trigger, pulls the hammer back, rotates the cylinder aligning the next chamber with the firing pin/trigger and the barrel. Pulling the trigger releases the hammer to impact the cartridge and fires the gun.
a SA trigger - pulling the hammer back, to a cocked position rotates the cylinder aligning the next chamber with the firing pin/trigger and the barrel. Pulling the trigger releases the hammer to impact the cartridge and fires the gun.
a DA trigger - pulling the trigger, pulls the hammer back, rotates the cylinder aligning the next chamber with the firing pin/trigger and the barrel. Pulling the trigger releases the hammer to impact the cartridge and fires the gun.
Double action in revolvers, basicaly is a long, somewhat stiffer trigger pull that cocks , revolves and fires the revolver. Most double action revolvers will fire single action too(But not all).
Single action revolvers, and double action revolvers fired single action; the revolvers hammer is manually cocked, a light(er) pull on the trigger fires the gun.
The deal can get strange on semi-autos. A DA semi-auto generaly means a pull on the trigger cocks and fires the pistol, however subsequent shots will be single action as the slide recocks and reloads the pistol automaticaly.
A single action semi-auto must have the hammer cocked to fire, pistol will fire and reload and recock irtself.
Then there is the Glocks and clones, and DA only semi-autos, other striker fired autos, various mixes of the basic operating system. Most of these pistols cock themselves when you chamber a round, some partialy cock, and trigger cock when fired like a DA.
The key to any of them is the trigger. Learn your basic gun safty rules, they will apply to about any firearm, long or short.
Ask about any of the firearms you shoot, and learn the function and operation of it. I've been shooting various long and short guns for years and still have questions about function and safe use!
Be careful, the trigger is the key, no finger on the trigger, and gun is was less likely to fire. Learn the individual guns, many types and styles still in use, and invented daily.
If your new, best bet is to start with a DA revolver. But any handgun will do if you obey the safty rules.
Buy quality handguns! Junk is fine for occasional use, but if it don't work it don't work. Buy quality firearms and you will be much happier in the longrun.
Single action revolvers, and double action revolvers fired single action; the revolvers hammer is manually cocked, a light(er) pull on the trigger fires the gun.
The deal can get strange on semi-autos. A DA semi-auto generaly means a pull on the trigger cocks and fires the pistol, however subsequent shots will be single action as the slide recocks and reloads the pistol automaticaly.
A single action semi-auto must have the hammer cocked to fire, pistol will fire and reload and recock irtself.
Then there is the Glocks and clones, and DA only semi-autos, other striker fired autos, various mixes of the basic operating system. Most of these pistols cock themselves when you chamber a round, some partialy cock, and trigger cock when fired like a DA.
The key to any of them is the trigger. Learn your basic gun safty rules, they will apply to about any firearm, long or short.
Ask about any of the firearms you shoot, and learn the function and operation of it. I've been shooting various long and short guns for years and still have questions about function and safe use!
Be careful, the trigger is the key, no finger on the trigger, and gun is was less likely to fire. Learn the individual guns, many types and styles still in use, and invented daily.
If your new, best bet is to start with a DA revolver. But any handgun will do if you obey the safty rules.
Buy quality handguns! Junk is fine for occasional use, but if it don't work it don't work. Buy quality firearms and you will be much happier in the longrun.
Unfortunately there are two different definitions of double action and single action. It seems that the most popular way to define the terms today is to focus on what the trigger does.
In double action, the trigger performs TWO functions, it cocks the hammer AND it releases the hammer to fire the weapon.
In single action, the trigger performs only ONE funtion, to release the hammer to fire the weapon. Hence, some action must be taken beforehand to cock the hammer, either by using the thumb (in a single action revolver) or by racking the slide (in a single action semi auto).
A DA/SA has both types of triggers. A cartridge can be loaded into the chamber and then the weapon can be decocked, meaning the hammer comes almost to rest. The first pull of the trigger performs two functions, the first to cock (or re-cock) the hammer, the second to release the hammer. Because the slide will now move back on its own under recoil, it cocks the hammer, so the subsequent trigger pull is single action.
There are now semiautos called Double Action Only, or DAO. This means that even though the slide has come back, the hammer does not stay cocked. So your trigger is ALWAYS cocking the hammer and releasing it. These are usually striker fired handguns, so technically their is no hammer, but rather a striker. The concept is the same.
In double action, the trigger performs TWO functions, it cocks the hammer AND it releases the hammer to fire the weapon.
In single action, the trigger performs only ONE funtion, to release the hammer to fire the weapon. Hence, some action must be taken beforehand to cock the hammer, either by using the thumb (in a single action revolver) or by racking the slide (in a single action semi auto).
A DA/SA has both types of triggers. A cartridge can be loaded into the chamber and then the weapon can be decocked, meaning the hammer comes almost to rest. The first pull of the trigger performs two functions, the first to cock (or re-cock) the hammer, the second to release the hammer. Because the slide will now move back on its own under recoil, it cocks the hammer, so the subsequent trigger pull is single action.
There are now semiautos called Double Action Only, or DAO. This means that even though the slide has come back, the hammer does not stay cocked. So your trigger is ALWAYS cocking the hammer and releasing it. These are usually striker fired handguns, so technically their is no hammer, but rather a striker. The concept is the same.
Drgong
Member
+1 on what the others said, but I will put in what I would say anyways.
Revolvers and Autoloaders have Single actions and double actions are not the same.
A double action in a revolver takes a long pull, as one has to pull the hammer back, and then fire the gun. If the revolver has a hammer, one can pull back the hammer and have a light, sharp trigger that is very accurate to fire.
Note, some older revolvers, such as the Colt SAA (Single Action Army) one has to pull back the hammer each time. And on the hammerless revolvers one has to do the Double action pull each time (but there is no hammer to be snagged)
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In Autoloaders such as my Browning Hi Power, one has to pull back the hammer for the first shot, but the loading action pulls the hammer back so that the hammer is automaticly pulled back for the next shot. This is the SAO.
Then you have the DA/SA autoloaders, these you can pull the hammer back for a light pull, or shoot them with the hammer down with a longer pull, and the cycle action pulls the hammer back so the next shot has a light pull.
then there are the glocks which are hammerless striker fired types,(Double action only) and each pull is the same.
Revolvers and Autoloaders have Single actions and double actions are not the same.
A double action in a revolver takes a long pull, as one has to pull the hammer back, and then fire the gun. If the revolver has a hammer, one can pull back the hammer and have a light, sharp trigger that is very accurate to fire.
Note, some older revolvers, such as the Colt SAA (Single Action Army) one has to pull back the hammer each time. And on the hammerless revolvers one has to do the Double action pull each time (but there is no hammer to be snagged)
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In Autoloaders such as my Browning Hi Power, one has to pull back the hammer for the first shot, but the loading action pulls the hammer back so that the hammer is automaticly pulled back for the next shot. This is the SAO.
Then you have the DA/SA autoloaders, these you can pull the hammer back for a light pull, or shoot them with the hammer down with a longer pull, and the cycle action pulls the hammer back so the next shot has a light pull.
then there are the glocks which are hammerless striker fired types,(Double action only) and each pull is the same.
Shawn Dodson
Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2002
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- 3,228
"DA/SA" is dumbed-down terminology for those who don't understand how a DA automatic pistol functions.
The pistol is equipped with a DA trigger. It cocks and drops the hammer, just like a DA revolver.
When the slide cycles it automatically cocks the hammer and subsequent shots are fired in SA mode.
The hammer of a DA automatic can also be manually cocked to fire in SA mode just like a DA revolver.
Depending on the particular pistol, and it's manual safety features, it may or may not be carried "cocked and locked" to fire in SA mode (for example, some Taurus DA automatics can be carried "cocked and locked"). Most DA auto pistols are equipped with a hammer drop safety or a decocker.
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