I didn't realize until I read a large number of posts here how some folks have a preference for shooting single- vs. double-action.

So, do you have a preference?

Double. I especially prefer to shoot double action with my Centennial models

I prefer shooting DA but there is just something about a model 14 that makes me cock the hammer and shoot it SA.

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"I gots to know"

I would say 90% of my shooting is double action. When I first started shooting double for a while, I actually forgot my single action trigger finger position. I now make a conscious effort to shoot single action on occasion to keep the form and be able to use it on command.

Here's some double action from last weekend with my 620...pretty good for me at abot 40ft

Depending on the game, I can play either way.
Carry its strictly DAO, 3953 or 640-2.
Switch shooter maybe?

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I only shoot DA. All my target guns have really good trigger pulls in the 6 to 6.5 pound range except for 2 that are 5 pounds. When you have a DA like that, it's easier to shoot well DA than SA.

For target shooting my 44 Spl's and target M14 it's SA.
All the rest, depends, SA & DA.
Nice to have a choice....

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

I shoot them single-action most of the time at the range or when plinking in the field. I do dedicate some time to double-action shooting.

I like choices.

Targets, I shoot a lot of single and some double just to keep me honed.

About half of my training though, is DA when I'm in self defense mode. There a quick shot to the center of mass will do instead of a bullseye. Especially if I can put a string of them in the C.O.M. shooting double action.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

It depends on what gun I'm shooting and what the intention of shooting said gun is.

If I am practicing for SD/HD and using the guns I typically use for such purposes, then i will shoot them DA. However if I am shooting a "designated target gun" I will shoot SA unless I'm shooting something like PPC.

Only double action for me. If I ever have the misfortune to have to use my gun for self/home defense, I don't want my automatic response to be one of fumbling for the hammer when those precious few seconds are needed to acquire a target & pull the trigger.

Depends on what I'm shooting, where I'm shooting and why I'm shooting.

DA until my finger gets tired, then switch to SA.

After an accident forced me to re-learn how to shoot starting lefty with wrist braces on each hand it was the only way to go. SA kept changing my grip. Now back to shooting right again, or left if I want, I am a MUCH better shooter than before. IMO if you want to fire SA, cock the hammer with your weak hand, it keeps the grip in the same position for me & is faster once learned. Using shooting as physical (hand) therapy was much more fun & interesting.

If you are carrying a revolver for self-defense...... double action skill is critical and the way one should be shooting out to about 20-25yds.

Single action IMO is for bullseye..... hunting ......... and precision long shots.

Self-defense shooting at 20-25 yards? VERY rare I think, for non-LEO's.

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Stay protected my friends.

I also follow the weak hand hammer cock school of thought as nacho grande stated .I sat in on an expert giving a pistol self defense demonstration a year or so ago .I watched as this expert ran through several magazines with a Glock in 9mm and went on to explain tne importance of quick mag changes ect ect .When ased a question about it he said anyone who chooses a revolver for self defense should go DA only for practicle self defense purposes.After the class I had to ask him which scenerio these civilian non police citizens were more likely to face 1 a gang of armed attackers where they may need to fire a 14 round automatic dry and reload 3or4 times or possibly put a guaranteed stopping shot in the head of a home invader with a knife to a loved ones throat .Not to practice single action prescision shooting with a revolver with that capability is just like having that automatic but not practicing magazine changes you aren't learning the complete capability if your firearm .So I practice both ways then again what do I know I was trained by old school cop who was trained by older school cops who said you must be able to hit your target with both hands or either hand and if you aren't confident of a hit on target you do not pull that trigger ,spray and pray us what they use to call it and it was only for the movies .You must be proficient to what ever your maximum range is either way and most importantly you must be realistic in your own abilities .Im not saying I'm correct just saying that's how I was started 43 years ago by serious men who took their revolver skill serious .

True...... but I use to qualify at those ranges DOA...... and better to have a skill set and not need it ....... than need it and ...... well you know the rest!

I carry a M49 and do most of my practice in DA, but usually shoot a cylinder or two SA. I like to remain familiar with all the features of my gun.

My Smiths have a single action capability?

When did that happen?

Double action. My primary gun interest is for self defense, and even if my revolvers had single action capability (they're both Centennials) I would stick with double action. Plus, over time I found that I tend to shoot DA better. I'm not sure what it is, exactly, but I think it has to do with the "roll" of the trigger giving me a better compressed "surprise break".

Up close double action, after about 15 yards I switch off to single action. I do shoot 18 per range session at the 25 yard line double action. That is the furthest we need to qualify from, and some course of fire specify 25 yard line at double action.

Well as I started "short gun" shooting in 1972 and the revolver was king I of course bought a couple revolvers as my first guns.

Shot bulls eye till it bored me to death and then switched my shooting into PPC. I shot normal revolver and what was called "off duty or snub nosed class , max 2.1/2 bbl). Did not take me long to figure out that why learn two different styles of shooting. Learn to shoot DA and practice that exclusively. My buddy was a armorer for out local 120 man cop shop and he showed me how to do S&W revolver work. (this was in the era before spring kits and you learned how to bend springs or cut them down)

Got the trigger pull and the smoothness factor much improved and shooting DA was very comfortable.

My daily carry gun is now a Ruger LCR concealed hammer and its a good DA only weapon and I'm very comfortable with it.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

There's the correct answer right there. I shoot my SA guns in... SA. I shoot my DAO guns... in DA! I shoot my DA/SA guns both ways!

But I am old and my bullseye target shooting roots go way back a lot farther than my "self-defense" roots... so I voted SA and yes I know I am in the minority.

As I understand it the smooth double action on the S&W Model 10 contributed to ending of the Colt Official Police as a major player as a police service weapon. The Colt Official Police production ended in 1969. Prior to the 1960's the handgun training for LEO involved a lot of single action shooting. The Colt is excellent in this regard. Police agencies moved to a practical combat course training which was double action. The Colt Official Police has a slight "hitch" in the trigger pull before the hammer falls - the S&W does not. By the late 60's the S&W revolvers had overtaken Colt as the primary LEO revolver.

I have both and can tell the difference. I never carried a Colt during my career - only the Model 10.

It depends on what I'm doing. I'll shoot SA when testing ammo for accuracy or shooting longer distances, but any defensive type shooting is DA.

If the guns only came one way and I got to choose, I'd choose DA.

For accuracy it's single action. I never gave this much thought. For a very fast follow up second shot double action would be the way to go. I need to do more DA practice.

I can barely shoot SA anymore. Accustomed to working a long, heavy trigger quickly, with short travel gives me the "chicken finger".

Depends on the type of shooting. For stand up Bullseye shooting-which is how I learned to shoot-SA only.

Do I prefer Single action revolvers over double action revolvers or do I prefer to shoot single action with a double action revolver or do I prefer to shoot a double action revolver double action..if so then the answer is Yes... Well, Maybe...sometimes....I'm confused, what was the question...never mind my head hurts.
Excedrin Time !
Gary

Every S&W revolver I own is S.A/D.A capable. Most of them have never been fired in S.A. mode. The D.A. trigger action is one of Smith & Wesson's greatest attributes.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

Double action for me. Since all of my revolvers are potential carry pieces, I like to make sure that I'm proficient with them all DA. I don't believe I would have time to pull back the hammer if I had to, heaven forbid, use my gun in an effort to save my life or others.

They are made double action for a reason. Single action is fine for bulls-eye work at a range, I suppose, but my double action revolvers are fighting handguns, not target toys, and the long trigger pull is there to ensure that I don't press the trigger by accident.

The last thing anyone needs to do is cock his/her revolver like a TV gunsel and say "FREEZE" only to cause the gun to go off in error.

Actually, my favorite EDC is a 2" Model 64 customized wonder gun (wonderful, that is) that is double action only.

Cut my teeth as a cop, and in PPC and pin shooting with DA revolvers, so that is how I shot my DA revolvers 95% of the time. A good DA shooter gives up little in accuracy compared to someone who shoots SA.

These days, my primary use of DA revolvers is range use and hunting, and so I now shoot 95% SA, though I do a little DA work to keep from getting too rusty. When hunting, the slightly greater precision of that glass rod breaking S&W SA trigger pull just makes sense.

I hardly ever carry a DA revolver for self defense anymore, preferring semi's for that role.

I firmly believe that if your primary purpose of carrying a DA revolver is self defense, then you should really only shoot DA, saving SA for accuracy / load testing.

Larry

Whatever I practice the most with is what I tend to be best at, go figure.

8 3/8" barrels and target shooting and hunting at 25,50,75, and 100 yards, it's SA 98% of the time.

DA
586-8 S&W

7lb DA
2.5 SA

Attached Images

20171019_214905.jpg (96.0 KB, 15 views)

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40 yrs Millwright Machinist

I shoot all my DA revolvers DA.

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K & N S&W revolvers

I shoot double action more accurately than single action, and I shoot well.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

ive always shot DA with either hand.....

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There's nowt so queer as folk