DAO vs DA/SA

[Blackbarry]

I've been wondering what the advantage of a DAO semi has over the DA/SA. I get that DAO semi's have the identical trigger feel each and every time. I also understand that each shot must be intentional. But for this degree of safety, the trade-off in accuracy is the result. I'm not considering shooting targets where there is no adrenaline flowing and rapidity of shots is irrelevant. I suppose some Law Enforcement Agencies demand the greater level of safety for the public, but for the life of me I fail to see DAO as an EDC. Opinions????

 

[P71]

DAO is a relic of police instructors and administrators who wanted the closest thing they could get to a revolver, which is what they learned on.

As for CCW, DAO pistols typically do not have a manual safety, eliminating the possibility of accidentally leaving the safety on during the first shot. They usually also don't have the spur on the hammer, so there is less to catch onto clothing when drawing. On 3rd Gen Smiths, the lack of a manual safety permits the gun to be a bit thinner in the back of the slide.

 

[oldman10mm]

DA/SA-draw,dis-engage safety,pull trigger
DAO-draw,pull trigger.

My 5946 is my 15shot revolver,my 6946 is my 12shot revolver.

 

[Arik]

Same trigger pull is a large bonus

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[Arik]

DA/SA-draw,dis-engage safety,pull trigger
DAO-draw,pull trigger.

My 5946 is my 15shot revolver,my 6946 is my 12shot revolver.

DA/SA-draw, pull trigger
DAO-draw, pull trigger

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[rwt1405]

Same trigger pull is a large bonus

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Exactly Arik!

For me, I got rid of all of my DA/SA pistols back in the early 1990's, as the transition from DA to SA required me to change my hold (I may be the only person that experienced this, but for me, it was real).

Once I bought my 3953 and 5946 (both in 1991 I believe), I found them to be perfect for my needs, and the sell off of all of my DA/SA pistols began.

 

[Arik]

Exactly Arik!

For me, I got rid of all of my DA/SA pistols back in the early 1990's, as the transition from DA to SA required me to change my hold (I may be the only person that experienced this, but for me, it was real).

Once I bought my 3953 and 5946 (both in 1991 I believe), I found them to be perfect for my needs, and the sell off of all of my DA/SA pistols began.

I still have a few but their not my primary or even secondary guns. I use them to keep profic with DA/SA but nothing more

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[lhump1961]

I don't find that I lose any accuracy with DAO's. In fact I can group the DAO's as well as the TDA's but I also learned on revolvers. I am comfortable with either as a carry gun but the DAO's are slimmer.

The key is practice. No matter what I bring to the range for fun over half of my rounds are with a 3rd gen single stack DAO or TDA. The rest may be 1911's, PPK's or revolvers, ect. I always finish with a carry gun to keep that familiarity.

Whatever you choose is fine...shoot it regularly and you will be good to go.

 

[4T5GUY]

I can not agree at all, that a DAO is a trade off of safety for
accuracy. Some of my most accurate pistols are DAO. Even a
"novice" shooting them , with a little time, can shoot them very
accurately. Most people, (used to DA/SA's,) are very surprised that the DAO's can be so easy and natural to shoot well.
Others with little or no shooting experience, just accept them and end up shooting them well and liking them.

 

[bigwheelzip]

I'm not considering shooting targets where there is no adrenaline flowing and rapidity of shots is irrelevant.

I prefer DA/SA now as well, after carrying every other action type first. I don't believe it or any other type is a best choice in general, just what I'm comfortable using for carry with my skill level.

 

[silversnake]

Much prefer DAO. Do not want to mess with an external safety, decocker, two trigger pulls, etc. I like to keep my guns as simple as possible, I figure if I ever need to use one I will have enough on my mind already.

 

[Tanners Owner]

For me, it depends on the gun. I have better success w/ my CZ DA/SA guns than I do with my SIGs. Not terribly worse, but noticeable to me.

I too shoot revolvers and compete w/ them in IDPA, so DA or DAO is no big deal for me.

I do have a SiG 250 that has an amazing DAO trigger, but I do better w/ the CZs.

 

[Wise_A]

If you have trigger control down, a good DAO doesn't shoot any worse than a single-action. In fact, it can be faster and more accurate. That said--they reward good technique, but can be quite unforgiving of bad habits. If you try to stage DAO, or do anything other than a linear increase in pressure, you'll have a rough time.

There's a tendency to equate "lighter" and "shorter" with "better"--and it's simply not true.

 

[rwsmith]

Opinion:

When I started with semis I got everything in DAO, for simplicity and safety, because everybody in my family isn't as keen as learning the ins and outs as I am.

Also, the two purposes to have a semi to me were SD and training at the range. I'm a revolver guy. But defense situations from not wo well trained people need a DAO, hence guns like the Shield and my Kel Tec. DAO is the way to for SD in untrained users.

As I shot, I found out that SA and SA/DA guns are GREAT to shoot and easier to shoot well. I have a hammer semi of an unmentionable brand but the fact that I can empty the mag all in SA, or have the first shot DA and the rest SA, is pretty fantastic to me. I'd like to have more of these in my collection.

PS: I think the Shield has a really good DAO trigger that feels something like bad SA trigger.

My third gen has a long, but smooth DAO trigger.

The Kel tec trigger is long and hard....period.

And BTW. They are making inexpensive but good 1911s so you can get a good shooter for less.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Out of 150 + revolvers I've had over the years, maybe a half dozen were DA only. Of those, almost all were traded off and or converted to SA/DA . I still have one competition tuned 686SSR that is DAO (but not likely for long.) Not saying there is anything wrong with them but this is a hobby ( for me) about "likes and wants". I just never could warm up to the limitation the impose myself.

 

[KSDeputy]

After my sheriff's office transitioned from revolvers to the model 645, and later the model 4506, we received extensive training on the new pistol. It, and all but two of my pistols, are DA/SA and I prefer them that way. I never use the safety as these are as safe as revolvers. I would not want or own a DAO pistol. All of my revolvers are DAO, unless cocked and shot single action. I am used to those, but wouldn't want that in a pistol. I also like an external hammer on all of my handguns.

 

[mrmike7189]

A DAO pistol can be safely holstered after firing. A DA/SA needs to be decocked first. If you forget , you could have an accidental discharge when holstering. I prefer DAO for self defense needs..

 

[Blackbarry]

I don't find that I lose any accuracy with DAO's. In fact I can group the DAO's as well as the TDA's but I also learned on revolvers. I am comfortable with either as a carry gun but the DAO's are slimmer.

The key is practice. No matter what I bring to the range for fun over half of my rounds are with a 3rd gen single stack DAO or TDA. The rest may be 1911's, PPK's or revolvers, ect. I always finish with a carry gun to keep that familiarity.

Whatever you choose is fine...shoot it regularly and you will be good to go.

There is a reason why the revolver is rarely, if ever, used in NRA Bullseye matches. The DAO of the revolver just can't compete with the accuracy of a semi-auto in SA mode at 5 shots/10 seconds (rapid fire). And you'll never see a DAO semi in these competitions.

 

[epj]

There is a reason why the revolver is rarely, if ever, used in NRA Bullseye matches. The DAO of the revolver just can't compete with the accuracy of a semi-auto in SA mode at 5 shots/10 seconds (rapid fire). And you'll never see a DAO semi in these competitions.

I certainly used to use a revolver, a 6" M19, in bullseye competition. Fired SA only of course. 10 seconds for 5 shots, really for 4 shots, is child's play.

 

[hardluk1]

Theres good DA triggers and some that are not so good . I have passed on a few DAO s&w pistols both well used and like new do to the one thing they have on common , a heavy trigger pull . I did carry a snub nose with a well tuned 7lb DA trigger for years then kahrs for 12 years . Stock triggers run around 7lb and smooth but tend to lighten up a little bit more after a few hundred rounds then change the striker spring for a wolff RP spring for a about a 5lb+ pull that makes all other DAO triggers second class at best .

One of our daughters carries a Sig P250sc that's also a DAO hammer fired pistol with a stock 6.5lb trigger .

Those are the reasons I will continue to avoid buying a S&W DAO pistols do to those heavy triggers as I have yet to find one with even a reasonably lite trigger pull.

I never was a da/sa pistol fan for carry and its taken me 40 years to buy and keep it around after finding a s&w 669 at my local general store for sale . I first assumed had been tuned up but is stock with no gunsmith marks on it and S&W never had it come back for anything.

Even with all new springs in it the DA pull is a smooth 8lb7oz and SA pull is 3lb 4oz and makes for an easy pistol to shoot well and gets some carry time .

Even as nice as it is I still prefer a lite same pull trigger every time trigger and have a p320c with a low 4lb trigger pull that is my primary EDC .