DAO pistols (not striker fired)

[stansdds]

I have only one DAO pistol, a S&W 6946. When I purchased it, it was a whole lot less expensive than a Glock, less expensive than the M&P (which was still a new and somewhat unproven design when I bought the 6946), and pretty much less expensive than any other DAO or striker fired pistol at the time. Mine is blessed with a MIM fire control group and has a very smooth pull that is around 8 pounds. I'd have to work at it to cause a negligent discharge and that is a feature that keeps it from being traded for a plastic pistol.

No DA-SA transition to master. No safety to fumble. A smooth and consistent trigger pull. Simple to operate and maintain. I just see little need in my going to a striker fired pistol unless I want something smaller. Sadly, 3953's are much harder to find than 3913's and 3913's are pretty rare items these days.

 

[Roller Delayed]

I think there were a couple of things at work:

1. Glock practically gave guns away to LE. They made money by reselling the trade ins. That was hard to compete with.

2. An actual DA trigger on an auto is more difficult to control than a DA revolver, due to the shape of the grips and the low return spring weight on the auto.

3. It just don't seem cool to have the slide cycling back and forth and not get your mainspring cocked for the trouble.

Which is probably why the "DAO" guns that actually had any police popularity outside the 92D aren't real DAO. The 5946, Kahr, DAK, etc all rely on partially cocking the mainspring. The DAK is unusual in having second strike, which only works because the hammer has two reset points. The short trigger reset wasn't originally intended to be used for fast firing - it's the pickup for second strike.

But you do see some actual DAO Sigs, SW990s, Ruger Ps and USPs that were cop guns for sale.

 

[hardluk1]

I don't worry about why some LE agency picks anything firearm or ammo related . Seems like more times than not common sense has little to do with choices made .

 

[Faulkner]

I'm glad some of you don't have input to my department on what I carry. Some misinformation and oft repeated internet lore about how firearms are picked for LE posted in this thread.

 

[Old Corp]

Anyone who's spent time shooting revolvers knows all about 'staging' the trigger in DA shooting. Once mastered, it's as accurate as shooting SA.

In the wide variety of PC-themed DAO autos, very few have triggers that stage like a good S&W K or L frame. Whole different animal.
Way back when my department was first transitioning to autos, they too narrowed the choice down to the M1076 and 1086.
I was glad they selected the 1076, and later the 4566, aka 'The Brick'.

 

[Wise_A]

But...why stage when it takes longer? If you have that kind of time, cock it.

Or, just learn to shoot double-action by pulling through. This is why we bought S&Ws instead of awful Colts. It's not hard, you just have to not suck.

 

[armenius]

A nice DAO pistol that unfortunately make it and only 500 made was the Colt Z40 which was a joint venture of Colt and CZ. Nothing but a trigger and hammer to worry about.The trigger pull was unbelievably smooth. If you can find one try it.

 

[armenius]

Didn't make it....sorry

 

[sig_230]

I have long considered the small pocket revolvers as my best option as a civilian for personal protection and so have found the transition to the latest generation of small DAO pocket pistols natural and smooth. My experience with the new ones I will admit is somewhat limited, a few years rather than too many decades but so far I find I actually tend to pocket one of the newer little pistols rather than my Chief's Special or Lemon Squeezer Centennial or Detective Special or even the newer 642 and others. All the new pocket pistols are smaller, lighter, easier to conceal and with smoother and lighter triggers than my snub nose revolvers. Add in they all hold at least one and mostly two rounds more ammunition than the wheelies.


Modern 380 ammo is not the same as what was generally available a quarter century or more ago and since I have owned and still own some more experienced 380 pistols the transition to the newer versions of ammo was also pretty smooth and simple. And the newer little pocket pistols seem to be as tolerant of different style bullets as the most forgiving of the older ones.


As much as I hate to admit it, I've become a DAO Pistol convert, joined the choir, drank the Koolaid. I do have some limits. I still find the recoil cocked hammer or firing pin silly unless there is also a full trigger controlled hammer/firing pin capability included as with the conventional DA/SA. That's likely simply a familiarity factor, I have no real issues with pistols like the 1911 or Browning Hi Power yet find myself uncomfortable with my Ruger LCP or HS2K. But it is still there. That system seems like a Rube Goldberg solution for a non-existent problem. I find the trigger on my Beretta Pico and Remington RM380 and even the S&W M&P Bodyguard 380 as smooth and light and crisp as the LCP and without that really annoying LCP double reset.

 

[Mrnurse]

"Whats a Safety switch and DAO" said the Glock to its owner.

 

[malph]

The Smith 3rd gen DAOs achieved some success with law enforcement. They never really caught on with the civilian market.

It was the perceived safety advantage and easier transition from revolvers that drove it. Once again, those things were more attractive to institutional buyers and civilians.

Once those institutions moved to plastic guns...the metal framed DAOs lost their main market.

The Smith DAOs, especially the earlier ones, were ahead of their time. A consistent trigger pull, hammer fired, flat with better capacity than a revolver, they have something to offer, even today.

A civilian concealed carrier, could do a lot worse than a 3953.

 

[malph]

The Smith 3rd gen DAOs achieved some success with law enforcement. They never really caught on with the civilian market.

It was the perceived safety advantage and easier transition from revolvers that drove it. Once again, those things were more attractive to institutional buyers and civilians.

Once those institutions moved to plastic guns...the metal framed DAOs lost their main market.

The Smith DAOs, especially the earlier ones, were ahead of their time. A consistent trigger pull, hammer fired, flat with better capacity than a revolver, they have something to offer, even today.

A civilian concealed carrier, could do a lot worse than a 3953.

I meant "institutional buyers THAN civilians". Sorry.

 

[URIT]

Local politics played a big part in what the politicians with badges and their overlords would permit for their agency. Even agencies that allowed their officers a personal choice of sidearm limited those choices.

As a long time revolver shooter, I found the transition from revolver to S&W DAO pistols to be easy. I like the trigger on the DAOs which reminds me of the 19-4 I carried on my duty belt for nearly a quarter century.

Now, I own seven S&W Gen3 DAO pistols in 9mm and .40 S&W. I have twice as many TDAs in my safe but may add more DAOs if the price is right.

Most of the time I carry either a 3953 or 4053.