Do you fire double action?

[Redlegvzv]

I shoot almost exclusively Double Action. Occasionally I will shoot single action. Developing the skill to shoot a revolver in double action well is a big part of the fascination of revolvers, at least for me.

 

[UncleEd]

Posters who report shooting almost exclusively
DA pretty much sum up the "science" of getting
the most out of a revolver: accuracy and speed.

ContinentalOp covers in most detail the points
that are necessary to a successful DA shooter.

 

[AJR337]

Personally speaking, it comes down to the purpose of the gun.

If it's intended to be used for defensive purposes, then double action is appropriate...if hunting, then single action, etc., etc...

Currently, my two smiths are shorter barreled "defensive" revolvers, so double action...only.

 

[silentflyer]

Almost never, single action 8 3/8" barrels at targets at 25,50 and 100 yards or more.

 

[Drm50]

I shoot 99.5% single action. I have S&Ws that have never been shot DA.

 

[Bumpus13]

I'll estimate that I shoot about 70% to 30% in favor of D/A

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I have noticed that 25 yard point-of-impact is consistently several inches higher in the single-action mode vs. double-action. Cartridge, barrel length, frame size, and other factors don't seem to make much, if any, difference. Most persons grip a handgun considerably tighter when using a two-handed hold, keeping the barrel from rising as much at the instant of recoil making point-of-impact lower than with a one-handed hold. Granted, not a scientific explanation and perhaps a flawed one but based on personal experience.

Same here, although choice of ammo can make a difference for me.

I usually shoot DA, although I do shoot SA with my M43 and M17, and occasionally with some of my revolvers that still have hammer spurs.

 

[JohnRippert]

DA except for distance.

 

[NYlakesider]

What I've found is pulling through the DA pull as smoothly, and as quickly, as possible gives me better accuracy than trying to pull slowly. It's actually harder to hold the sights steady when pulling DA triggers slowly. But if I pull the trigger while maintaining a good balance of speed and smoothness, with no hesitation, and pull straight through, I get better results.

It also helps if I let my trigger finger slide across the trigger face a bit as I pull the trigger while maintaining front-to-back pressure on the grip with my shooting hand (not milking the grip). If I'm shooting two-handed, I use my support hand to grip with side-to-side pressure.

Even when shooting from the retention position, when I can't see the sights, I still try to maintain both trigger speed and smoothness. Though with any close-range, quick-fire self defense practice I'm not as focused on the mechanics as I am on getting rounds on target. Which is why I always include focus on those mechanics when I practice at the range or do dry fire practice at home, to help build "muscle memory" so I don't have to think about it.

I totally agree with the bolded above. My guns are modded by me to get a good decent dependable trigger. I started doing my guns in the 70s long before the cheater spring kits came out. I was instructed in how to do good safe work by a LEO friend that was the RO and approved S&W armorer of a 100 man town force.

Its all in the timing both your trigger pull and your time between shots. My serious shooting is long over, but in my heyday of shooting (master class) I had a few people tell me "watching you shoot is like watching a machine, so consistent''

 

[steelslaver]

Mostly double action, My carry guns don't have spurs. Get S&W 22 revolver and go through a couple bricks of ammo a week until it is a reflex. Many years ago I worked a camp job out in the middle of the bad lands. One week off, one week off days then a week of nights. On nights I would get up every after noon and go out in the sage brush away from camp with a model 18 and go through box after box of 22s. I got ones that came 50 in a cardboard box with a nylon tray. I had those trays scattered all over and would shot the trays from what ever distance I saw them, Always double action. Best thing I ever did to improve my revolver shooting. More than shooting PPC, and it helped my scores in that.

 

[DS-10-SPEED]

I agree that shooting DA can make you a better shooter, once I develop the DA rhythm it's easier for me to stabilize the front sight and stay on target. I pretty much only shoot SA when sighting in a new gun or maybe a longer shot when hunting. I too like the DA speed shooting sports.

20 year old video but I can still do it.

 

[wproct]

I shoot my double-action revolvers almost exclusively in single action mode. I do so for two reasons, first is for accuracy sake and secondly I know that it puts less wear on cylinder locking notches and other components. I have to add to this that all of my shooting is casual target and plinking shooting. If I were to use my revolvers for home defense and personal protection I would need to add double action shooting to my shooting regimen.

 

[reccpd101]

Like Steelslaver, I practically wore out a Model 18 in my early LE days and it greatly improved my shooting. Now I still shoot a Model 34 & 63 J frame in practice since I mostly carry J frame 38s and I close out my practice by firing them.

Practice makes perfect and the more the better. I tell my students in training that finishing the class is the start not the finish of their firearms
preparation.

 

[reccpd101]

BTW

BTW, If any one has a shooter grade Model 18 to let go, I'm in the market and appearance is not an issue.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I shoot everything D/A. Even Metallic Silhouette from 50 to 200 meters with a 44 mag. If your gun has a good D/A trigger (all of mine do), it's actually easier to shoot well that way than S/A, once you get used to it.

If I try to shoot S/A, or stage the trigger on D/A, I'm more likely to pull the shot slightly than with just a smooth, controlled, D/A pull right through. On S/A, I tend to pull too hard, being used to D/A, and hit to the right. If staging the D/A pull, I find it is harder to get the trigger moving again once it stops. Everyone has their own way of doing things that they are comfortable with. This is my way. I don't think badly of anyone else for doing it their way.

 

[Kurusu]

Almost never. Ancient injury in my index finger makes it tough. But I trained it, and can do it if the need arises.

 

[rockquarry]

BTW, If any one has a shooter grade Model 18 to let go, I'm in the market and appearance is not an issue.

I haven't looked for a Model 18 in a long time but there should be a lot of these around as they were made for many years. I like all the S&W and Colt .22 revolvers and the Model 18 will shoot at least as well as any of them including the Model 17 with its longer barrel.

 

[AzShooter]

I shoot everything DA. Most of my revolvers have been set up for DA only. My carry gun is the only one that still has the spur on the hammer but I still shoot it double action.

With different techniques DA is easy to master.

 

[THE STEE]

I have a model 10-5 smith, trigger breaks at 1.7 lbs only double action. ppc special no thumb rest on hammer. wicked shooting pistol.. love taking it out

 

[CajunBass]

Not as much as I should, but what the heck. I'm just having fun and converting ammo into noise mostly.

 

[Old cop]

DA Most out to 15 yards, then SA at distance. Here's a DA drill I use for my 340PD (EDC): Using a standard paper plate @ three, five & seven yards empty the gun as fast as possible, reload w/a speedloader or speedstrip and repeat. The goal is to keep all ten rounds on the plate, tight groups are unimportant.

 

[wrangler5]

As a kid in the 1950s I learned to shoot SA only - Hi Standard Sentinel and then a K22, sometimes a family friend's I-frame 22/32 (which I remember as having a longer-than-4" barrel but it was a long time ago.) For all of 'em the policy was that DA was inaccurate and wasted valuable ammunition. (Remington green box std vel was $0.50/box, $5/brick - sigh. I think I still have one box.)

When I began carrying a J frame, and shooting a K frame in IDPA matches, I started to learn DA shooting. My daily carry guns have been hammerless J frames (mostly) for years now, a 442 then a 640 and most recently a 632. But I still like the humpbacks (49 and 638) and would pay a LOT for a humpback 32 Magnum without a lock if they'd ever made one. Just because their SA mode makes it easier for me to hit steel reliably past 25-30 yards at the range - you know, to amaze my friends and mystify my enemies.

 

[686-380]

I do both DA and SA

Mostly double action. I like to keep familiar with how light my S&W revolvers single action is...just in case. I wouldn't want a situation portrayed in "Pulp Fiction", where a negligent discharge kills someone.

Plus, single action is just plain fun

I LOVE my S&W revolvers in SA!!

 

[Oracle]

Single action for sighting in a new gun or after adding a red dot or scope, it makes the process less time consuming.

Once I am satisfied I switch to double action and then do any adjustments to the sights or scopes needed. I am not a young man, there is a small POI difference between single action and double action, there shouldn't be but I haven't been able to completely eliminate those couple of inches. So, I don't beat myself up over it, life is too short to sweat it.

From then on, double action only.

 

[joel0711]

What OLDSTER said!!

 

[Fastbolt]

I shoot my single action revolvers in single action, and my double action (and DAO) revolvers in double action.

Every once in a great while while I'll thumb cock one of my DA revolvers to shoot out SA at 75-100yds, but the bulk of my practice drills nowadays are kept at 50yds and closer.

 

[federali]

Double Action Only

All my qualification fire and practice before we transitioned to autoloaders was fired double action. I can share two things for double action competence: The revolver's action must be smooth for its entire travel, not necessarily light as the gun must fire every time. And, in his book, "Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting," The late Ed McGivern said that the trigger must travel forward at the same speed it travels rearward. This was probably the single most valuable piece of information in his book. Once I grasped that concept, I proceeded to shoot perfect scores, right or left handed, and never went back to single action fire except for sighting in and accuracy testing.

 

[Fastbolt]

Consider that trigger-cocking was considered a significant development and a very practical advantage over thumb-cocking revolvers.

 

[zzclancy]

Double action

Only double action.

Always shoot double action with all my revolvers.

 

[Tanners Owner]

Only DA for me. I shot revolvers exclusively for a while in IDPA and learned to master the DA trigger.