DAO question??

[T1]

I am quite fond of the 4000 series semi auto pistols. Especially all stainless. I"m thinking about getting a 4046tsw, but I like the SA/DA feature of my 4006tsw. I don't want a heavy trigger pull. So my questions
1.Does anyone get tried of the DAO trigger pull? It it that bad?
2.Does the smaller hammer without the dove tail make the gun DAO? (Does the slide not catch it on the way back, or is it something else internal?) I wouldn't mind another 4006, but I'm finding a lot of police trade-ins on Gunbroker (4046). I also see a lot of unexposed hammers and I want to know if it means it's DAO. A listing on gunbroker said otherwise so I'm not sure how to know.
Sorry if I've confused anyone.

 

[snw19_357]

1-No! I am new to the DAOs, being a SA/DA person myself. But, I hated the long DA pull of a traditional so I added a 2nd gen hammer for the half-cock. The "DA" trigger pull from half-cock is much less. Which is where a DAO fires from, it just won't stay cocked in single action.
2-No, although it has nothing to do with the size of the hammer, it is the hammer that makes it DAO, the notches missing from it that don't allow it to lock fully cocked. There are many 2nd and 3rd gen S&W pistols with bobbed hammers so they appear unexposed. The hammer of a DAO (unless fully at rest) will stick out of the back of the slide, but it is totally rounded.

 

[T1]

Oh, I understand better now. Explain a little more on the half cock. On my 4006tsw the slide will cock the hammer 100% (ready for single action pull) while yours is at half. Yours is still DAO, but half cocked with the new hammer?

 

[KurtC]

Some DAO pistols, such as the Beretta D models and the S&W Chief Special D models, fire with a full stroke of the trigger moving a resting hammer. Much like the first stroke of a DA/SA model, only a bit lighter.

The standard Smith DAO fires from a partially cocked hammer, with a shorter trigger pull. Half the work is done for you by the slide. When you pull the trigger, you finish cocking and releasing the hammer. It is very similar to the method used on Kahrs and Glocks (striker, instead of hammer). These guns have neither a single action or a full double action, just a nice compromise in between.

 

[wj klein]

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but why would anyone want a DAO pistol? What "need" was meant by producing them in the first place? Try as I might I just can't logic my way thru that one.

 

[ab4ka]

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but why would anyone want a DAO pistol? What "need" was meant by producing them in the first place? Try as I might I just can't logic my way thru that one.

in order to have a consistent trigger stroke, more like shooting a revolver, instead of one heavy then a bunch of light ones.

 

[tpd223]

I prefer the DAO guns normally as I much prefer my guns to only have one trigger pull. I carried a 5906/5903 system on duty for nearly 20 years, and shot the Taurus and Beretta 92 system 9mms for more years than that, so my traditional DA auto experience is not small.

Some very experienced folks, Jim Cirillo comes to mind, preferred the DAO system on the S&W 3rd gen guns.

 

[snw19_357]

Yours is still DAO, but half cocked with the new hammer?

No. It was just like your 4006. When I replaced the hammer with a 2nd gen hammer (that has the half-cock notch) it allowed the shorter first trigger pull [more like the frame mounted decockers (1076, 5926, etc.)]. It is still a traditional SA/DA pistol. It can be fired with the hammer at full rest (DA) or with the reduced trigger pull of the half-cock (similar to the DAO pull). After the first round it has the SA trigger pull.

 

[andyo5]

DAO Smiths handle and shoot like revolvers. The DA pull is a bit lighter, though. You can reduce the pull with Wolfe mainsprings.
I have a 4586 which I love. It handles like my revolvers. I shoot DA revolvers very well.

 

[rdc]

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but why would anyone want a DAO pistol? What "need" was meant by producing them in the first place? Try as I might I just can't logic my way thru that one.

They have no safeties as the DA is the safety as well as your noggin. Funny no one questions the logic of the XD, Glock, 24/7, Sigma or M&P.

 

[Cruiser RN]

I have a CS9 which I had DAO converted because I am a 15+ year revolver guy and like my trigger pull consistent with all my guns.Prior to DAO Conversion the 1st DAO trigger pull is quite long and heavy.After the conversion the hammer always appears 1/4 to half cocked @ all times and the notch to engage the trigger into single action is no longer there.As a result the length of the DAO pull is a bit shorter and smoother when compared to pre conversion.Carmine the S+W Armorer who did the work,made my CS9 trigger just as smooth as my 640 357 Magnum DAO revolver.I also like the idea of the safety/decocker being removed because the safety on my gun is located between my ears.My friend had a nasty habit of carrying his 3913 with the safety engaged.I would tell him is isn't a good idea because the motion to go live is the opposite of his 1911.When he needed to access his gun in a defensive situation the other party ran but he discovered the safety was still on when the event was over...Mike

 

[T1]

Thanks everyone. I am learning a lot! Feel free to keep it comin'!

 

[Scotter260]

I too prefer DAOs. Part of my reasoning is that my wife's housegun is a Ruger 93DAO which is one of three models she has to qualify with at her place of employment, the other two being 89DAOs and 95DAOs. If I ever have to leave her without her pistol I can give her another DAO and tell her, "It works just like YOUR pistol." She's not a fan of superfluous external levers and such.

In my experience you'll also be able to find a DAO variant of a normally DA/SA pistol much cheaper because it seems DAOs aren't as popular.

Finally, the DAOs I've experienced all have trigger pulls that are smoother and just a bit lighter than their DA/SA counterparts. Again, this is within my limited scope of experience so take it FWIW.

 

[Bullman]

I have become accustomed to the Glock trigger, but I still love my Smiths, so I have been thinking of having at least my .45s converted to DAO. I might just leave the 10s alone and look for a 1086.

 

[dgludwig]

Quote:... instead of one heavy then a bunch of light ones.

But I like the "bunch of light ones"!

 

[jdh]

One reason for the DAO was to ease the transition from a revolver to a pistol in police service.