"You'll never need single-action in self defense..." is that true?

[brian9000]

Hello all, first post here.

I just bought a SW 638. I went with this over the 642 for the option of cocking it single action.

I keep reading forums where people say you will only ever use a revolver in double action for self defense.

Honestly, though, I don't know how true that is.

My concern, and the reason for getting a carry gun, is less about being worried about attempted muggings or random one-on-one or multiple-on-one violent situations. I don't go many "dangerous" places. Yes, it could happen.

However, my larger concern is that you never know where someone is going to snap and go nuts. Someone whips out a gun and starts shooting people in a store, a theater, a restaurant, a crowded room, and nobody else is armed or able.

If I'm across the room or in a part of the room currently not getting shot, I need the next shot to really, really count. Particularly if there's not a great body shot due to angle.

In this situation, I would want to be able to get the psycho in the head from 10 or 15 yards if I need to (maybe considered unrealistic with a snubnose J by a lot of folks, but plenty of people on Youtube can do it and in a trapped mass shooting life/death situation you wouldn't have much other choice.)

And so I think buying and carrying a gun that enables you to take half a second longer to put it in single action is reasonable and logical.

I guess I'm asking the forum to show me where I'm being unreasonable or unlogical.

Thoughts, opinions?

Thanks all,

 

[bhbaxter]

No one can know in advance what kind of shot you may have to make in a self defense situation. I think the 638 is a wise choice. It is as snag free as the 642 but allows you to cock the hammer. I've trained to make 25yd head shots with a model 36 and it is not all that hard. Dave

 

[CO_Kid]

Never say never. But honestly, there aren't many situations where one would need a single action shot over a double action shot.

 

[Will2]

I shoot my 649 double action most of the time. After 2 years I shoot it more acturately in double action. Seems like I can anticipate the hammer break better.

Will

 

[wrhk33]

With myself I would be afraid of my thumb slipping while trying to cock that tiny hammer spur..

 

[Guitarmageddon]

See, now I read the thread title and thought I would come here to see the debate over carrying this guy for self defense...

 

[Bozz10mm]

I would have no qualms about even using a SA only revolver for self defense. Just practice the draw and cock until muscle memory kicks in and it becomes second nature. Plan on using it single action every time. JMHO.

BTW, welcome to the forum.

 

[Edmo]

You might find a set of Crimson Trace laser grips will stretch your accuracy with a J frame. Of course your bad guy could see the source of the laser if you take your time.

Edmo

 

[JAREDSHS]

BRIAN9000:

Congratulations on your new 638. I praise you for wanting to protect yourself and those around you. Let the decisions that you have allready made continue to guide your self training. I believe that confidence in the firearm choices we make go a long in keeping us alive in times of a dire emergency. Keep up what you are doing and stay safe.

 

[brucev]

At hard off the muzzle range, DA is the way to go. If the criminal is at a distance... say over 15 yds. away, SA will most certainly allow more precision, but time will be what is in most limited supply. If time permits, SA would allow you to better place the round. But at any distance in a legitimate SD incident DA is far faster. You can always fire more than one round.

 

[The Big D]

I do believe you have already overthought CCW. If you envision the bad guy/girl standing still and not continuing his/her actions whilst you draw, cock, take steady aim, and fire you will very likely be disappointed.

A component of my yearly LEOSA training is timed fire from barricade positions at the 15 and 25 yard lines. I do believe using a barricade (at least concealment...possibly cover) which can steady your aim is far more of a practical solution than SA fire.

BTW, my primary carry gun is a j-frame 642 or 60-NY1. Of course, neither gun can be cocked.

Welcome to the Forum.

Be safe.

 

[MichiganScott]

If you can't shoot head size groups at 10-15 yards DA, you need more practice.

As an old guy that can't see iron sights as well as I used to, I now practice point shooting without the sights. I've found that a ten yards my groups are actually smaller without the sights than they are if I attempt to use them, even single action.

 

[loknload]

I only have one single action revolver in my collection,it's my Ruger Black Hawk which I carry as as sidearm while hunting. All my others SA/DA and sometimes I just like to take my time calling a shot!
Does this make sense?

 

[Big Cholla]

I agree with the OP because all serious social encounters are one of a kind and you are never certain that your equipment has all the possibilities covered. I too do not want to eliminate the ability to quietly thumb cock my handgun and take a very carefully aimed first shot. Because of this I have replaced the bobbed hammer on any handgun equipped with one with an eared hammer. Tactically it just makes sense to have as many options open to one as possible. ......... Big Cholla

 

[ironhead7544]

You can learn to shoot DA just as accurately as SA but it takes a bit of practice.

To me, the best snubbie is a 3 inch with adjustable sights. Had a 3 inch M36 with heavy barrel and 1/8 inch sights, SB, that was OK too.

Having been in LE, I like to have a carry piece that I can make goods hits with at 50 yards if I have to.

I used to use the 2 inch M38 for a BUG. Had too much of a problem with debris getting into the action and locking it up. I would prefer the inside hammer for that type of carry.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Hello all, first post here.

I just bought a SW 638. I went with this over the 642 for the option of cocking it single action.

I keep reading forums where people say you will only ever use a revolver in double action for self defense.

Honestly, though, I don't know how true that is.

My concern, and the reason for getting a carry gun, is less about being worried about attempted muggings or random one-on-one or multiple-on-one violent situations. I don't go many "dangerous" places. Yes, it could happen.

However, my larger concern is that you never know where someone is going to snap and go nuts. Someone whips out a gun and starts shooting people in a store, a theater, a restaurant, a crowded room, and nobody else is armed or able.

If I'm across the room or in a part of the room currently not getting shot, I need the next shot to really, really count. Particularly if there's not a great body shot due to angle.

In this situation, I would want to be able to get the psycho in the head from 10 or 15 yards if I need to (maybe considered unrealistic with a snubnose J by a lot of folks, but plenty of people on Youtube can do it and in a trapped mass shooting life/death situation you wouldn't have much other choice.)

And so I think buying and carrying a gun that enables you to take half a second longer to put it in single action is reasonable and logical.

I guess I'm asking the forum to show me where I'm being unreasonable or unlogical.

Thoughts, opinions?

Thanks all,

Just MY opinion, but here it is.

I think that your logic and your choice of gun are both good. I think that you may be on the verge of finding one right answer. However, there are others. You will have to practice and test yourself to find out what is best for you for that scenario, and with more practice, the answer may change.

Myself, I find that my accuracy with DAO is good, usually as good as SA, but perhaps slower in some cases. SA may also lead to a premature discharge in a stressful situation. I'm talking primarily about letting the shot off at the target a bit earlier than intended, but it could even be before you get on target. This has a lot to do with the size of the grips in relation to your hand. I have some revolvers that I would worry about with their grips and my hand, and others that would probably be OK. Because I can shoot well DA, I would probably never cock any of my traditional DA revolvers in that situation, but if you are comfortable doing that, based on your experience and practice, maybe it's a good thing.

This is something to work out for yourself, but you probably shouldn't underestimate the possibility of severe trembling in a life-or-death situation. A solid grip and a DA pull are much more likely to work in this situation.

 

[Rpg]

Single action is a full time feature of my favorite sd weapon: the Colt 1911.

My favorite sd revolver is the M38.

Learning to use the sa feature of a revolver with speed requires specific technique and lots of practice: things many shooters don't know - in terms of technique - and don't practice with the objrectve of acquiring the speed necessary to make sa a viable sd option in a revolver.

 

[Watchdog]

Single action is a full time feature of my favorite sd weapon: the Colt 1911.

Exactly. Funny thing, though. Even though I know my 1911s are technically single-action, it's hard for me to think of them that way. I mean, you carry cocked and locked, the gun is ready to go, just like a DA revolver. You pull the trigger, it fires. One shot right after another, just like a DA. I guess maybe it's considered single-action because the pistol has to "cock itself" after each shot? But this just sounds like semantics to me.

 

[madmikeb]

I would never consider using a revolver SA in a defense situation. I think that you would be asking for trouble as the potential for an AD goes way up. As a civilian carrying for defense once you get outside close range the question of the shooting being justifiable or not comes up. Could you have avoided the shooting somehow?

I shoot all my revolvers DA and shoot matches to keep my skills in practice. I'm capable of A zone head shots at 10-15 yards and center of mass at 25, all rapid fire double action. Beyond that I would question the need to shoot. The stress of an actual confrontation pretty much negates all practice in matches but you have to have a degree of confidence in you skills.

For law enforcement the situation changes but I'm not a hero and if I can avoid a shooting by any means necessary I will. Beyond 25 yards there may very well be other courses of action.

This being said my preferred carry gun is a 1911 in condition one in the cold weather and a 640 Pro Series in warmer weather so with a 1911 I will shoot SA!

 

[Rpg]

Exactly. Funny thing, though. Even though I know my 1911s are technically single-action, it's hard for me to think of them that way. I mean, you carry cocked and locked, the gun is ready to go, just like a DA revolver. You pull the trigger, it fires. One shot right after another, just like a DA. I guess maybe it's considered single-action because the pistol has to "cock itself" after each shot? But this just sounds like semantics to me.

The distinction is the lovely, crisp, light trigger and the enhanced shoot ability it allows in comparison to either striker fired pistols or da pistols and revolvers.