some questions about single action/double action pistols? - General discussion Forums

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Author	Message
Kiss Members 103 posts Location: Liechtenstein Occupation: Historiographer Age:	#48474 2008-05-20 19:52 GMT
	1. SIMPLE(I CANT STRESS THIS ENOUGH) explination of the two 2. which would you recomend and why 3.when firing the two, wat differences,if any, would i notice


LostMarbles Members 115 posts Location: Bermuda Occupation: Fitter Age:	#48475 2008-05-20 21:06 GMT
	Simple? Single-you have to pull the hammer back until it locks before you pull the trigger to fire. Double-you just pull the trigger back until the hammer drops. Single-Double-you can fire it either way. . . . Single would probably be more accurate; Double will probably be faster getting the first shot off. This also depends on which gun you are shooting,too. 'Nuff Said!

CatNap Members 114 posts Location: Rwanda Occupation: Snake charmer Age:	#48476 2008-05-20 21:23 GMT
	there both very simple, I prefer the double action, you can use it single or double.. they shoot the same so it really dont matter

Style Members 120 posts Location: Algeria Occupation: karate teacherLaborer Age:	#48477 2008-05-20 21:46 GMT
	1- single action: you have to cock the hammer before firing the first shot double action: just pull the trigger and the hammer cocks and falls automatically 2- recommendation depends on whether you are referring to semi-automatic pistols or revolvers. with revolvers, double action is much better. it is faster, and safer--a single action trigger on a revolver has a very light trigger pull and under stressful situations, you may accidentally shoot somebody that no longer needs shooting and get yourself in trouble. with semi-automatic pistols, both SA and DA have their advantages. SA has a shorter, crisper trigger pull, but will typically come with an external safety. DA has a longer trigger pull, but typically no external safety to fool with if you have to draw for self defense. I would recommend the springfield XD--it is TECHNICALLY a single action trigger, while having only a grip safety and trigger safety (basically if your holding the gun with your finger on the trigger the safety is off), though the new .45's come with a manual safety if you prefer one. the XD comes in 9mm, .40, .45, and .357 sig. they're relatively cheap, while still being easy to use and very reliable. 3-the biggest difference you'll notice when firing the two is trigger travel and trigger weight. the double action has a longer, heavier trigger pull, while single action has a shorter, lighter trigger pull. with practice (as you should be doing anyway!) the trigger pull really doesn't matter.

EgyptianWonder Members 99 posts Location: Djibouti Occupation: Biographer Age:	#48478 2008-05-20 23:38 GMT
	The terms "single action" and "double action" refer to what job the trigger on the gun does. On a single action, once the hammer is pulled to its rearmost position, the trigger is pulled and it releases the hammer. Releasing the hammer is the only thing the trigger does on the gun, hense the name "single action". On a double action, as the trigger is pulled, it pushes the hammer to its rearmost position and then releases the hammer. The trigger C o c k s the hammer and releases the hammer, hense the name "double action" The above is true of single action revolvers and double action revolvers. Many semi auto pistol works the same way. Which trigger I would recommend depends on what I am wanting to do with the gun. I compete, sometimes, in IPSC shooting. This is a fast paced competion and I use a "Single Action" style 1911 gun (Colt 1911). The trigger is short, crisp, and set for about 4 1/2 pounds. The trigger is the same for each shot and the short, light, trigger pull enhances accuracy. My last duty gun was a H&K USP, 45acp. The first shot was double action and subsequeant shots were single action. The first pull of the trigger was spongy, long, and somewhat heavy. It was not really adjustable. The advantage was I did not have to carry the gun with the hammer c o c k e d to the rear (like the 1911) but I still had the ability to fire the gun if I had to. Disadvantage was the trigger pull was not consistant; I went from spongy, long and heavy to short and not so heavy. I had to train myself to use the trigger. There are autos that fire ONLY double action. Again the triggers tend to have a long pull, be somewhat heavy and spongy feeling. In addition to single action and double action, you have "striker fired". Guns like the Glock and My concealed carry gun, a Taurus 145, are striker fired. There is no hammer for the trigger to c o c k. Instead the trigger compresses the firing pin against its spring and then releases it. This results in a somewhat spongy feeling trigger, but not quite as long a trigger pull.

SpeedDemon Members 115 posts Location: Trinidad And Tobago Occupation: Researcher Age:	#48479 2008-05-20 23:48 GMT
	get a double action Double action, you can just pull the trigger and it will fire. If you want, you can cock the hammer with your thumb, which makes the trigger pull shorter and lighter, but you don't have to. Single action, you have to cock the hammer EVERY SINGLE TIME EVERY SINGLE SHOT. The trigger does a SINGLE ACTION, which is release the hammer. Double action, the trigger does two things, cocks the hammer, releases the hammer.

Jordan Members 121 posts Location: Greece Occupation: Valet Age:	#48480 2008-05-21 00:55 GMT
	Single actions means that the gun preforms one movement, in this case it drops the hammer on the firing pin. Double does two movements it cocks the hammer/striker and the drops it on the firing pin. This concept applies to both semi automatic pistols and revorlvers. I noticed that in a revolver the trigger pull is harder in double action, that is why some people prefer to manually cock it first as if it were a single action revolver. I think people do this for the bigger caliber revolvers i.e. .44 mag, .454 casull, .50 S&W, etc The first time I shot a Beretta 92 FS (9x19mm) (DA) and a .45ACP 1911 Kimber (SA) i noticed that the trigger pull was harder on the first round being shot through the Beretta. Because the 1911 design is of single action, the trigger pulls on the kimber were constant.

Erin Members 118 posts Location: Luxembourg Occupation: Floor manager Age:	#48481 2008-05-21 10:19 GMT
	1. Single Action (SA) - the trigger has a "single action" of releasing the hammer, allowing it to strike the firing pin / primer. The pistol's hammer must be be coc ked by either a thumb or a recoiling slide before it can be fired in SA mode. Examples: Colt Single Action Army, 1911-style automatics, Browning Buckmark .22 Target Pistol. Double Action (DA) - the trigger has two (double) actions: 1 - cocking the hammer; 2 - releasing the hammer (firing). Examples: Smith & Wesson DA Revolvers, DA/SA Pistols: Beretta, Sig Sauer, H&K. 2. I prefer consistent trigger pulls, either DA Only (DAO) or SA Only (SAO). a DA/SA pistol like the traditional Sig Sauer (non-DAK) or Beretta makes you transition between two different trigger pulls, making rapid shooting more difficult. Striker-fired pistols like the Glock, Springfield XD, or S&W M&P are also a great option. Their mechanisms differ slightly, but they are essentially DAO pistols from the user's perspective. I currently carry a Glock 19 9mm. 1911 style pistols are great, but just be sure you are willing to develop the muscle memory for flipping off the safety if it's going to be used as a defensive weapon. I consider these experts' weapons and don't recommend them for causal shooters. 3. Single action pulls are typically light and short - about 3-6 lbs of pressure required to fire with very little physical movement of the trigger. Double action pulls are long and heavy - 8+ lbs, requiring the trigger to travel a longer path to both cock and fire te weapon.