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  • Amishman44

    Master
    Rating - 98.2%
    54   1   0
    Dec 30, 2009
    3,891
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    Woodburn
    Single-Action (SA) means you have to 'cock' (manually draw the hammer back with your thumb) prior to pulling the trigger (firing the pistol). Typically, they look like the old western revolvers where you had to cock the gun each time prior to firing. Trigger pull is very short with this type of revolver and accuracy tends to be very high as your trigger pull tends to be very nominal in this manner.

    Double-Action (DA) means that when you pull the trigger, the hammer is drawn back as you pull the trigger, and then drops to fire the round when it reaches the end point of the trigger pull. Typical of a modern revolver whereas you can simply pull the trigger to draw the hammer back and fire the weapon. While this constitutes a rather long (and sometimes harder or stiffer) trigger pull, you will be much faster in firing the weapon. However, giving up some accuracy is common, especially for new shooters. Most modern revolvers can be fired in SA or DA mode, however you chose. Trigger pulls will run in the 8#-12# range for a DA revolver.

    Double-Action-Only (DAO) means that the hammer is 'shrouded' or completely enclosed within the gun frame and that the gun will only fire in a double-action method (examples are the Ruger LCR, the Smith & Wesson 642, and the Taurus 850 models). Most DAO's are either .38 Special or .357 Mag. I have an LCR that has the sweeeeeetest trigger pull. With practice, shooting a DAO revolver can be a lot of fun.

    Colt and other 1911 models tend to be SA semi-automatic pistols (with Para-Ordanance being the exception) and are typically reknown as being one of the most accurate .45 caliber weapons around.

    Most of the 'Striker-Fired' pistols, Glock, Springfield XD, S&W Sigma, etc. are typically somewhere in between a SA and DA trigger pull for both weight (stiffness) and travel distance (length of pull). But with practice, one can easily overcome these differences. :twocents:

    Hope this helps. :rockwoot:
     
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