Double Action with .357 Magnum

[chase45]

I shoot worse groups with SA until Im warmed up with a few. With double action and the heavier pull it makes me load my grip. When using SA I catch myself being weak with my grip. I shoot mostly DA with my revolvers

 

[Tabby Lynn]

So, I recently tried out a new indoor range near where I live. I really enjoyed it. I rented a rifle range so I could sight in my Marlin but then set a target at 15 yards to practice defensive fire with the 686.

I fired a cylinder of my carry loads just to use up the rounds that had been carried for a long time. Then a full box of 50 FMJ ammo 357. All shots were double action and I tried to realistically simulate how much time would be spent aiming in a real situation.

My target didn’t look as pretty as it usually would with single action shooting and careful aiming but after a couple cylinders I was confident I wasn’t pulling rounds too badly and most shots would have stopped a bad guy.

I didn’t even think about recoil and time between shots was faster than I think would be needed. So Im certain full magnum loads fired double action will be like butter with the added adrenaline of a real situation.

I encourage all my friends that carry to shoot this way some of the time even though it feels like wasting ammunition.

There is a technique to firing a double action revolver, double action. When initially pressing the trigger as the hammer comes back it finds a point where it is suddenly easier to press, this is close to where the hammer would be if firing single action. If you practice double action and get used to the initial heavy pull, but are able to slow down, and take a millisecond to quit with the heavy press and lighten up and continue with the basic principles, breath, aim, continue with the press and fire you will find that shooting double action is not much different from, single action.

I have been a firearms instructor for some 50+ years both military and NRA. Nothing beats practice. especially when shooting a double action revolver. The technique mentioned above works as well dry firing, as well as live fire. Once mastered, shooting double action becomes natural.

Other things to practice and master are shooting off hand, with the off eye as well as cross eyed.

Practice makes perfect.

 

[Buford57]

Single action is for effect.

In the movies it's scarier to point a cocked gun at you than one that's not.

And it gives the sound effects guy something do.

 

[Harv 24]

I have often read and subscribe to the theory, that under duress, you will only be at 50% of your peak performance.

I also subscribe to the mantra of "You will not rise to the occasion, but default to your level of training."

My cold draw from concealment is usually around 2.5 sec., once I have a few warm ups, it shrinks to around 1.5sec.

My guess is under duress, my draw will not be 1.5 sec.

 

[djohns6]

I was a Reserve Police Officer back in the 80's . During firearms qualification the Range Officer threatened us with our lives if he saw anybody cock the hammer on our revolver . I have kept the practice of DAO to this day .

 

[HARLEY0]

So, I recently tried out a new indoor range near where I live. I really enjoyed it. I rented a rifle range so I could sight in my Marlin but then set a target at 15 yards to practice defensive fire with the 686.

I fired a cylinder of my carry loads just to use up the rounds that had been carried for a long time. Then a full box of 50 FMJ ammo 357. All shots were double action and I tried to realistically simulate how much time would be spent aiming in a real situation.

My target didn’t look as pretty as it usually would with single action shooting and careful aiming but after a couple cylinders I was confident I wasn’t pulling rounds too badly and most shots would have stopped a bad guy.

I didn’t even think about recoil and time between shots was faster than I think would be needed. So Im certain full magnum loads fired double action will be like butter with the added adrenaline of a real situation.

I encourage all my friends that carry to shoot this way some of the time even though it feels like wasting ammunition.

.357's are great pistols! Do not use reloaded ammo for 'my carry loads' Use only factory loads! (There have been court cases were a person shot someone using hand loads and the got in trouble because it was said they were loading their ammo hot to kill someone. Find a .357 factory load - HP or soft point. Practice with it and use it. If you reload, make your rounds approximately the same as the factory loads. Practice with it. BUT use only factory loads to carry!

 

[sniper]

I used to shoot my Model 19 mostly single action, until I got into shooting IPSC. Haven't gone back since.

 

[WDW44]

So, I recently tried out a new indoor range near where I live. I really enjoyed it. I rented a rifle range so I could sight in my Marlin but then set a target at 15 yards to practice defensive fire with the 686.

I fired a cylinder of my carry loads just to use up the rounds that had been carried for a long time. Then a full box of 50 FMJ ammo 357. All shots were double action and I tried to realistically simulate how much time would be spent aiming in a real situation.

My target didn’t look as pretty as it usually would with single action shooting and careful aiming but after a couple cylinders I was confident I wasn’t pulling rounds too badly and most shots would have stopped a bad guy.

I didn’t even think about recoil and time between shots was faster than I think would be needed. So Im certain full magnum loads fired double action will be like butter with the added adrenaline of a real situation.

I encourage all my friends that carry to shoot this way some of the time even though it feels like wasting ammunition.

I started shooting DA revolvers in 1972. All I used were S&W .38 or .357 mags. By the time I was in my mid 20's (1973-75) I was getting good and starting to reload. In 2 more years I was getting invited to shoot in US Marshall INVITATION only matches. On some of those I shot a self customized S&W 29 with a 3" barrel and round butt k-frame grips. I won much of the match with 44 handloads going about 850fps. Once while handgun hunting for jack rabbits and cottentails with a couple of friends, and with 2 jacks in one hand and 2 cottens in the other I kicked up a cottentail, dropped the right hand game drew my model 19 and double action shot the hoping bunny before he had covered 7 feet. Clean head shot with just trained reflexes. My two friends were astounded at my speed and accuracy.
I say all that to say this. THAT is how you become very good with a revolver in DA mode. I used to practice with wax bullets and shooting wooden blocks off the back of my drawing hand like Bill Jordan used to do. Block on hand, drop hand, pull revolver and hit the block before it hit the ground. At one time it was almost boringly fun to do! I shot 200 to 250 rounds a day for many years.
Later as a LEO the quick draw and accurate shots saved my bacon a couple of times.
Now, having said all that, remember this, "The older I get, the better I was!" LOL
Regards, WDW44

 

[Rocketmedic40]

Agree 100%.
DA is how DA revolvers are best employed.
My favorite revolver is a DAO NY-1 model 64.
Also shoot a 986 in steel challenge.

A bit late, but are the parts to DAO a model 64 available?

 

[loony888]

I think it's more the sound of the gun being cocked and the dramatic pause (and cheesy one-liner) that make the "single action" effect so common in movies.

"Well, We're not just gonna let you walk outta here........."

 

[daverich4]

.357's are great pistols! Do not use reloaded ammo for 'my carry loads' Use only factory loads! (There have been court cases were a person shot someone using hand loads and the got in trouble because it was said they were loading their ammo hot to kill someone.

Would it be possible for you to link to a case where this was true? I’ve never never found a single example of this happening.

 

[rockquarry]

Would it be possible for you to link to a case where this was true? I’ve never never found a single example of this happening.

It may not have happened and may be of no consequence, but many enjoy bringing it up, like so many other concealed carry topics.