"You'll never need single-action in self defense..." is that true?

[stantheman86]

Lets be honest, unless you're trained and have experience in real world gunfights you're going to be lucky to hit at any range longer than spitting distance......let's stop candy coating and pipe dreaming
The vast majority of people who CC aren't trained or experienced enough to shoot and hit beyond "across the room" distance with a revolver in either SA or DA.
Plus if it's a two way firing range and you've got someone doing their best to put holes in your body do you really think you're going to have any chance to take aim and hit a target with a cocked revolver?
The best most of us will be able to do is point shoot , get rounds going at the threat(s) and hope to come out alive.

 

[one eye joe]

No one can know in advance what kind of shot you may have to make in a self defense situation. I think the 638 is a wise choice. It is as snag free as the 642 but allows you to cock the hammer. I've trained to make 25yd head shots with a model 36 and it is not all that hard. Dave

I AGREEE WITH BH BAXTER. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF EACH OF US COULD PREDICT THE SCENARIO IN WHICH WE WOULD BE FORCED TO USE OUR WEAPON TO SAVE A LIFE, BUT IT CAN'T BE DONE. THE 638 DOES HAVE AN ADVANTAGE OVER THE 642, IN THAT IT GIVES YOU ANOTHER OPTION……
THE ADDITION OF A SET OF CT LASER GRIPS TO YOUR 638 IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD SUGGEST. THEY GIVE YOU SEVERAL OTHER OPTIONS. THE PRESENCE OF A RED DOT ON A SHOOTERS CHEST MAY BE ENOUGH TO CONVINCE HIM TO DROP HIS WEAPON. THIS MIGHT SAVE YOU THE TRAUMA AND GRIEF ASSOCIATED WITH KILLING A MAN. THE RED DOT GIVES YOU A GREATER FIELD OF VISION (IF YOU HAVE NOT TRAINED YOURSELF TO SHOOT WITH BOTH EYES OPEN) RAPID ACQUISITION OF A MOVING TARGET, AND THE ABILITY TO STAY ON IT--EVEN IF YOU ARE MOVING. THE FACT THAT THE WEAPON DOES NOT HAVE TO BE HELD IN LINE WITH YOUR HEAD TO AIM IT, GIVES YOU A GREAT DEAL OF FLEXIBILITY AND SAFETY FROM RETURN FIRE. I CAN ENVISION SCENARIOS WHEREIN YOU MIGHT LOOK OVER A BARRIER, WHILE YOU ENGAGED THE TARGET FROM AROUND THE SIDE OF THE BARRIER. (LIKE THE END OF A STONE WALL, OR THE TOP OR BOTTOM OF AN ELEVATOR IN A MALL.) IF HE RETURNED FIRE AT YOUR LASER, HE WOULD BE LUCKY TO EVEN HIT YOUR HAND OR THE GUN, WITH THE LASER BLAZING IN HIS VISION (IF YOU HAD IT ON HIS FACE, ESP) BEFORE YOU DROPPED HIM. MASSAD AYOOB TURNED ME ONTO LASER GRIPS DURING A 2 DAY TRAINING SESSION THAT I TOOK WITH HIM, SOME YEARS AGO. HE HAD A SET ON HIS PERSONAL J FRAME. (GOOD ENUFF FOR MAS--GOOD ENUFF FOR ME) THE ADDED ADVANTAGE IS THAT YOU OVERCOME ONE WEAKNESS OF THE J FRAMES--THE RELATIVELY POOR SIGHT PICTURE, IN COMPARISON TO THE K/L OR N FRAMES WITH LONGER SIGHT RADII AND BIG ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS…...

 

[66snub]

I'm not going to jump into either side of this because I'm sensing a little bit of underlying flame that might jump off. Neutral like Sweden, OK?

I had a chance to handle a buddy's j frame that had crimson trace grips and, while I was sighting with it, I noticed something very enlightening. This information is merely food-for-thought, so take it for what its worth.

As I was sighting it, I noticed that, in distances that were at the far end of the spectrum for ranges I felt comfortable in aiming and shooting a J frame (15 yards+) I noticed the dot wandered all over the place. That is precisely what the muzzle of my gun was doing as I aimed it. The short barrel, tiny sights, and heavy trigger would all work against me if I went ahead and shot it right then. But, I also realize that this is a training issue, as I admit to you all now that I shoot J frames very little.

I am certain that there are a few forum members here that could possibly outshoot me with their J frames when I am shooting a full size gun. All I'm saying is, to anyone that is curious what the muzzle of your gun is doing at extended (for you) ranges, attach a laser to it and watch what the dot is doing. Just a suggestion...

 

[deriter]

Yes I too have handled a hand gun fitted with a laser and I was amazed/shocked at how much the red dot was moving around. And it got worse the farther out I sighted.

 

[one eye joe]

I'm not going to jump into either side of this because I'm sensing a little bit of underlying flame that might jump off. Neutral like Sweden, OK?

I had a chance to handle a buddy's j frame that had crimson trace grips and, while I was sighting with it, I noticed something very enlightening. This information is merely food-for-thought, so take it for what its worth.

As I was sighting it, I noticed that, in distances that were at the far end of the spectrum for ranges I felt comfortable in aiming and shooting a J frame (15 yards+) I noticed the dot wandered all over the place. That is precisely what the muzzle of my gun was doing as I aimed it. The short barrel, tiny sights, and heavy trigger would all work against me if I went ahead and shot it right then. But, I also realize that this is a training issue, as I admit to you all now that I shoot J frames very little.

I am certain that there are a few forum members here that could possibly outshoot me with their J frames when I am shooting a full size gun. All I'm saying is, to anyone that is curious what the muzzle of your gun is doing at extended (for you) ranges, attach a laser to it and watch what the dot is doing. Just a suggestion...

66 SNUB, THE ABSENCE OF A LASER SIMPLY ALLOWS YOU TO WALLOW IN DENIAL, AND BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY HOLDING THE GUN ON TARGET AT THOSE LONG RANGES. WHEN YOU WALK DOWN RANGE TO CHECK YOUR TARGET, THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW. IF YOU EVER WISH TO BECOME A BETTER SHOOTER, YOU MUST CONFRONT REALITY, AND TRY TO WORK ON YOUR TECHNIQUE. EVERY SHOOTER SHOULD KNOW WHAT THEIR MUZZLE IS DOING, AT ANY DISTANCE THAT THEY CONTEMPLATE SHOOTING. THAT DETERMINES WHERE THE ROUNDS ARE GOING TO GO ! ! ! ONE OF THE THINGS AN INSTRUCTOR LIKE MYSELF WILL TELL YOU, WHEN TEACHING YOU TO SHOOT A HANDGUN, IS TO "FOCUS ON YOUR FRONT SIGHT". THAT IS WHERE THE ROUNDS ARE GOING TO GO. MARKSMANSHIP IS PREDICATED UPON DEVELOPING THE ABILITY TO PLACE THE ROUNDS WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO GO. YOU CANNOT MERELY WISH THEM THERE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT LASER GRIPS WERE DESIGNED PARTICULARLY TO BE USED IN LONG RANGE SHOOTING--ALTHOUGH THEY WILL HELP YOU TO IMPROVE CONTROL AT ANY RANGE. THE QUALITY OF MAKING SHOOTER ERROR BRUTALLY EVIDENT CAN ALSO BE SAID OF A RED DOT OR A PISTOL SCOPE , WITH MAGNIFICATION, THAT REALLY DEMONSTRATES EVERY LITTLE MOVEMENT OF YOUR GUN. NOT REALIZING HOW BAD YOU ARE IS NOT GOING TO HELP YOU IMPROVE. AND YES--THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE FORUM THAT CAN SHOOT J FRAMES BETTER THAN MOST OF US CAN SHOOT ANYTHING ELSE. THEY DID NOT GET THAT WAY BY NOT KNOWING WHAT THEIR MUZZLE WAS DOING WHILE THEY WERE PULLING THE TRIGGER….

 

[chief38]

brian9000:

While it is more likely that you will need a revolver up close and personal and would simply squeeze off a double action shot, there are some situations that might warrant a carefully aimed single action shot.

For example if you are exchanging shots with a Perp within your home or business and you are shooting across a room from behind a desk or piece of furniture. At 20 - 30 feet I'd personally like the option of taking a single action aimed shot than simply squeezing off a double action shot. If I had multiple intruders and only had 5 shots in my gun, I would like to fire them carefully and not waste any. Yes I do carry a re-load, but rather not re-load if I did not have to. Yes I do practice D/A shooting with my M60 but I shoot more accurately S/A.

So while many fellas here do bob their Hammers and use D/A only revolvers, I do not. I'll stick to my standard S/A - D/A revolver and always have the option at my disposal. YMMV

 

[sgtsandman]

There is nothing wrong with carrying a revolver that is capable of being fired single action. You never know when you might need that feature and it's better to have it an not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[gen3guy]

On road trips, my primary is a Glock 22 and my "backup" is a .45 Colt Blackhawk.

 

[fredj338]

Even with autoloaders, police departments seem to prefer double action only or DAO. In a felonious emergency, you will do on the street what you have been trained to do in practice, or what you have been allowed to do or have gotten away with in training.

.

Mostly because of the poor weapon skills many LEO exhibit. Of course going to a 12# trigger isn't helping their shooting much either.

 

[cracker57]

I did not think I would be posting on this topic as I for self defense use a bottom feeder and have little experience with the revolvers for SD.
I do use a double action 44 revolver for hunting and I did shoot a pig that didn't like that fact to much and came straight after me I shot him again at about 20 ft, this all happened very quickly and I do remember cocking the hammer to shoot single action, Muscle memory took over.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

I think my revolver goes into S/A mode on its way to being on target and getting fired automatically.....auto pilot.

 

[REM 3200]

The distinction is the lovely, crisp, light trigger and the enhanced shoot ability it allows in comparison to either striker fired pistols or da pistols and revolvers.

Nothing like a 1911 trigger!

 

[dogngun]

I really don't like "never"...

Back in the pre 1970's, police were taught to use DA for close range emergency quick shooting, and SA for any actual aimed fire.

I like that concept and that's how I trained and how I would shoot when carrying a revolver.

FAR more accurate.

 

[Old cop]

It's probably true that you'll never use the single action mode in self defense, but I used it once w/my Model 38. We hit a deer early one morning and I used the single action to dispatch the poor critter on a lonely country road.

 

[waffles]

You'll almost certainly never use your CCW at all either. If you like having the option (and I do, I loved my 638 and will definitely be looking for a 38 or 49 soon), go for it. Certainly makes it more fun for a range gun, and assuming you're not paying much for it why not. The only beef I have with it is that there's no non-trigger pulling way to decock it should you cock the hammer.