Double or single action?

[scooter123]

Unless I'm tuning the sights for a new load I do my shooting in Double Action. If you practice shooting in Double Action properly it will ALWAYS improve your trigger skills and that improved skill will transfer to any type of trigger. BTW, properly is one continuous stroke of the trigger, if you "stage" the trigger you may as well be shooting in single action.

 

[chief38]

When I'm Target Shooting I always shoot SA with one of my K , L, or N Frames, but when I am practicing SD shooting with my 2" Chief's Special M60-7 or M65, I shoot DA.

Basically, shoot the way you need to for the specific situation and do practice both. Most SD situations would probably require DA and most Target shooting would be better (from an accuracy stand point) in SA mode. Total familiarization with both is the way to go IMHO.

 

[Maze 686]

Just wondering how most of you guys shoot your revolvers? I fully understand the difference but am curious as to which method you guys most use.

I recently started to shoot double action more, partially because of fairly recent purchase of a 340pd, but now I find myself trying it more with my 686 and 629. I find it more challenging so there fore slightly more enjoyable

So what do you choose?

I shoot both, mainly because I own both.
If you are finding DA a challenge.

Try a slow press of the trigger while you listen for the clicks. If you can hear all three clicks the trigger break will surprise you and as long as you were on target the shot should be amazingly accurate. Dry fire it first and listen, the slower the better.

 

[steelslaver]

I am a double action guy. Only exception is when I want to do a long range shot or a rest for an accuracy test. With practice DA can be very accurate and I agree that the mental discipline on a DA trigger pull transfers to all triggers. I no longer "think" about it. I believe it has helped me a lot on moving targets with a rifle. When my brain sees the correct alignment I just think NOW.

I don't know how DA is harder on a revolver Might cause a bit of wear on the mechanisms involved that might affect something after a few million trigger pulls. SA cocking still uses the hand, the ratchet and etc. Only difference would be the surface areas involved in the hammer moving the trigger back instead of the trigger the hammer and mostly they will just smooth each other. The cylinder probably has more inertia turning into the locking bolt in a quick single action cock than a smooth double action pull. I'll worry about in in another 20,000 or so rounds.

 

[Arik]

I goof off with SA but for practice it's DA only.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Brian41]

I shoot my J frames DA as they have bobbed hammers and distance is close. Most of the time I shoot my bigger guns SA as they are mostly for hunting or plinking. It's all what I want a particular gun for. My J frames I carry so want a reasonable ability to hit my targets yet a little faster than SA provides.

 

[PlaytheAces]

If I'm feelin' good - double action.

If the arthritis is visiting - whatever it takes.

 

[brucev]

Re: DA and wear. Take any NIB S&W K/L/N frame revolver and shoot it extensively in SA. Cock the revolver in a normal deliberate manner. Over a period of time, there will almost certainly be a line on the cylinder typical of S&W revolvers. That will be about all one will notice. Possibly there will be some end shake, depending on the caliber and number of rounds fired.

Now take that same revolver and shoot it extensively in DA. You will note some battering of the locking notch on the cylinder. That again is typical of S&W revolvers. If one shoots DA in a hurry, i.e., combat mode, the battering will be more quickly noted. It will be seen on the N-frames more quickly than the K-frames.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I shoot my revolvers a lot and 99% is DA. About the only time I shoot SA is to accuracy test a new bullet/load or at fifty yards with one of my long tom 8-3/8" jobbers. Now this does not apply to my SA revolvers or semi auto pistols, try as I might they will not pull through without cocking the dang things first! Got a smoking deal on a neutered M-64 that wouldn't sell because of it at a LGS!

 

[Fishinfool]

Back when I carried a revolver for a living, and ammo was free, I shot D/A only, as that was how we qualified, and made sense for defensive use. You can get pretty good shooting D/A with enough practice mastering trigger control.

That said, most of my revolver shooting these days is single action, as it provides a little more precision for long range shots. I still practice D/A some, but these days I carry semi-auto's for self defense, no longer compete in PPC / Bowling pin matches, and use my revolvers mostly for range and hunting use.

If a revolver is to be used for self defense, I thing mastering D/A is a must. Like on old CSP Firearms instructor used to tell us, "Stwoke the twigger, stwoke the twigger". He talked with a lisp. New guys would snicker at it, then he would draw his issue model 66, loaded with full house 357's, and empty a cylinder full into a steel gong at 50 yards, D/A - sounded like a machine gun he was so fast. No more snickering..

Larry

 

[wbraswell]

Mostly single action. I like hitting what I aim at.

 

[ozo]

I wouldn't even consider DA when hunting with a revolver.

 

[wildenout]

I shoot double action WAY more, and practice that way. But on occasion, when at the range with friends or myself, I will use single action to make "an incredible shot" haha.

 

[4011]

We had to shoot double action period. I did fine up close but as we got farther from the target I would need to slip a single action in to get the score up. Sometimes I got caught and had to go try again. Range officer would just say if you would carry the Glock it would all work Ok. I held on to my 686 till my last year then was forced to change. He was right!

 

[Kinman]

The only revolvers I have that I shoot anymore are used for target shooting or plinking. I always shoot single action and on one of my K-38s have the double action sear removed, it fires single action only. Whenever I shoot my 629 Mountain Revolver I shoot it single action. I am much more confident of my first shot when shooting single action and I do understand that practice makes perfect. For someone in a law enforcement line of work that is still carrying a revolver as his service weapon I should think practice with double action might be the best method for them. I suppose the same argument is found with those that carry striker fired semi autos that have no single action and those that can carry cocked and locked with a full safety and decocker device.

 

[s2harry]

Mostly single

most of my life single action but now a lot of double action. When in Vegas thoe some double action till the money runs low then single action untill the wife gives me more......dont ask

 

[dcxplant]

M29, SA.
M686, DA and SA, although lately more DA than SA.

 

[dpote]

Double action only on DA revolvers.

 

[walkin jack]

I expect most folks are more accurate shooting SA, I know I am but I try to spend as much time shooting DA as I do SA. I agree 100% with the idea that if you practice enough you can shoot as well if not better DA.

At my time in life I don't suppose it makes a lot of difference how I shoot anymore but I do like to come home with good targets (2 jagged holes, one in the head and one in center mass)