DA/SA vs. DAO for Conceal Guns

[Flip]

Hi All,

As usual, I'm looking for your opinions on Double Action / Single Action (DA/SA) vs. Double Action Only (DAO) for a conceal gun. You 1911 guys are welcome to chime in as well.

If possible, I'd like to hear data (if you have it) or anecdotal evidence for why you your action is better overall or at least for you.

Thanks in advance, I've learned a lot from you guys


Flip

[gunshop guy]

There is not correct or incorrect answer to this question. A big part of this is your preference. Are you experienced with handguns? The biggest difference is going to come in your follow-up shots. With a DAO every shot will have the same trigger pull. With a DA/SA, your first pull will be heavier and follow up shots will have a lighter trigger pull. If you have a twitchy trigger finger, or are prone to shaking when adrenaline starts flowing, you may want to stick with a DAO. Ther reason is that in a stress situation you may fire a second round and not realize it. My advice is to shoot several firearms and decide what suits you best. For me, I switch between DA/SA, DAO, and SAO. My favorite carry guns are my 1911 and my hammered .38SPL (welcome to carry dichotomy).

[jac714]

I am primarily a 1911 guy but on occasion carry a DAO revolver. If you are not going to carry a SAO my opinion is that you should carry a DAO. The two distinctly different actions on the same gun tends to be more difficult to deal with.

I have heard that mastering the two different trigger pulls is difficult.

I tend to think the Safe action (Glock, XD, S&W M&P) type guns, SAO, or DAO are a better choice for a defence gun and that would largely depend on personal taste.

Good Luck.

[rtk]

I would say go with what works for you, I don't think one really has any advantage over the other. If you do decide to use both at one time or another make sure that you take time to get back in the swing of the different trigger pulls that they have so that you do not have any surprises at a critical moment

rtk

[nyffman]

There are a bunch of 1911 guys here who are comfortable with carrying cocked and locked. I'm not to that point but I do like the light trigger pull. My primary carry gun is SA/DA. I don't need to remember the safety since I carry with the hammer down in DA. ,I worry about the safety lever being bumped off by accident carrying a 1911 or similar but it's apparantly not a problem. Probably a good holster that does a good job of covering everything that should be covered would make that a nonfactor. I just like the simple point and click. The smallest guns available for carry, however seem to be all DAO. Here I'm thinking of Kahr, Taurus, Kel Tec, Beretta, etc. gunshopguy gives a good synopsis. As far as the difficulty in handling two different trigger pulls in SA/SA, I haven't seen that as a problem, however, anyone who saw me shoot at the last steel shoot may disagree.

[Srigs]

All my carry guns are draw, point and click interface of DAO. No difference in any of the guns on how they work and manual of arms.

My choice and one that works for me.

[Pat Cannon]

I've gone with strictly DAO revolvers myself, because they're the most idiot-resistant setup there is, and I've noticed that if I'm flustered I can become pretty darn dumb.

[Aquaholic]

I've gone with strictly DAO revolvers myself, because they're the most idiot-resistant setup there is, and I've noticed that if I'm flustered I can become pretty darn dumb.

That doesn't sound like Pat! He'd never admit he's not perfect!

OK buddy, what'd you do with REAL Pat??

[cobb]

I've gone with strictly DAO revolvers myself, because they're the most idiot-resistant setup there is, and I've noticed that if I'm flustered I can become pretty darn dumb.

That's one of the best explanations yet and I would say very true in many cases.

[Pat Cannon]

I've gone with strictly DAO revolvers myself, because they're the most idiot-resistant setup there is, and I've noticed that if I'm flustered I can become pretty darn dumb.

That doesn't sound like Pat! He'd never admit he's not perfect!

OK buddy, what'd you do with REAL Pat??

Hey, in the immortal words of Dirty Harry, "A man's gotta know his limitations".

One of the factors leading to my current thinking is: after driving manual transmission vehicles for almost forty years, about once a year or so, if something distracts my attention, I'll still take my foot off the clutch before I turn off the ignition, or (just did this yesterday) park the car and have it roll because I left it out of gear (really should fix my hand brake).

[Srigs]

I've gone with strictly DAO revolvers myself, because they're the most idiot-resistant setup there is, and I've noticed that if I'm flustered I can become pretty darn dumb.

That doesn't sound like Pat! He'd never admit he's not perfect!

OK buddy, what'd you do with REAL Pat??

Hey, in the immortal words of Dirty Harry, "A man's gotta know his limitations".

One of the factors leading to my current thinking is: after driving manual transmission vehicles for almost forty years, about once a year or so, if something distracts my attention, I'll still take my foot off the clutch before I turn off the ignition, or (just did this yesterday) park the car and have it roll because I left it out of gear (really should fix my hand brake).

I love that quote. I drive a manual tranny most of the time and when I drive the auto in the truck I sometimes try to push in the clutch Oh well... simpler the better.

[goalie]

I shoot striker-fired, DAO, or single-action handguns that have one consistent trigger-pull much better from the leather (or kydex) than SA-DA handguns.

The transition between the long pull and the short pull throws me off, and I won't carry an handgun for self-defense that has a safety engaged.

IMO, just carry what YOU shoot well.

[sigdoc]

I started shooting pistols with Sigs in DA/SA, but gravitated to DAO and in the case of my P229, DAK triggers. Because of my comfort and practice with DAO/DAK triggers I found that when I started to shoot revolvers in self defense mode (DA) I found the long DA trigger pull they have to be familiar and easy. I like to stick with one manual of arms, point and shoot. It works for me.

[Brian@ITC]

Personally I do not care for the 1911 style guns. So, it would probably be a SIG DAO/DAK. The 250 has a pretty sweet trigger pull as well. It isn't much heavier than my Glock trigger pull.

Train hard, train often, and train REALISTICALLY!!!
_______________
Brian K. LaMaster
President-Innovative Tactical Concepts, LLC
Instructor-Counter Force
Modern Warrior Talk
"High Impact Training"
“Serious tactics for serious situations!”
Check our Advanced Pistol Fighting Course out in the April 2008 issue of SWAT Magazine!

[Fast351]

I think it's personal preference.

IMO, there are two types of trigger pulls, the same every time, and DA/SA. My preference is the same every time. I actually like shooting some of the guns that are DA/SA (love my P220) but I don't shoot it as well as my Glock or even a revolver.

After watching a LOT of people shooting in IDPA, I have come to the conclusion that most people shoot a "same trigger every time" gun better. There are a few that have mastered DA/SA, but it's an acquired skill you have to work at. I, like Pat, know my limitations, which is why I carry a Glock or a revolver.