A case for single action shooting
- Thread starter Trooper Joe
- Start date
bedbugbilly
New member
Maybee it's because I learned pistol shooting with SA '51 Navies, but when I discovered cartridge handguns and ended up with my pre 10 M & P, Colt Army Special and Model 36 J Frames, I continued to shoot in SA. DA was like a foreign language. However, I practice the DA and still do - and I can see using it in a close up SD situation or if rapid fire is called for ny the situation. So, I feel that being adept at the DA is a necessary skill to have - but my experiences in using a DA revolver on the farm for a critter - or critters - the double handed grip and using the left thumb to cock was always sufficient to get a second or third shot off quickly - IMHO. BUT . . . Was not LE and having to work during the time when LEOs were still being issued revolvers and the perps had discovered semi-auto handguns. In a nutshell - your post is interesting Trooper Joe and I see the point you are discussing - a good post! Thank you for posting it.
peacefulgary
New member
I, personally, have never known anyone who shoots a revolver better DA rather than SA.
reynolds357
New member
Nice! How old is it?
reynolds357
New member
Other than Jerry Miculek, me either.
reynolds357
New member
Slow fire accuracy.
made in 1979.
peacefulgary said:
reynolds357 said:
When I was shooting a lot, my DA target accuracy was at least as good as my SA accuracy.
Double action, 5 rounds, 15 yards:
Same gun, ammo & distance. Shot single action:
25 yards, double action:
A little DA trigger control demo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmy5mkjpUNI
...and for balance, a little DA speed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNFerCV3W4Y
Last edited:
Montana Jon
New member
I shoot my revolvers just like when I shot my 1911's, hammer back in SA because it's the most accurate way to shoot.
stinkeypete
New member
Mr. Borland is showing two things:
1. Good target shooting
2. Why the old S&W target revolvers were and are so prized. Great triggers and excellent accuracy. Modern manufacturers don’t want you to see targets like he is showing because
There is more profit selling plastic semi-autos with horrible triggers. Simply support “self defense” where the pistol sits in a drawer unfired its whole life, competition where people blaze away at huge steel dinner plates, or fellas shooting at 5 yards at something the size of a file cabinet. More profit. Making a really fine revolver is expensive and not as profitable.
That said, I love my Ruger single actions for field use. Especially in .44 Magnum class and up where you want a heavier pistol anyhow.
For target, competition has shown that the edge is to well made semi-autos, especially when cost of a tuned gun is factored in. That means maybe by a few points.
And “you kids get orfa my lawn”
1. Good target shooting
2. Why the old S&W target revolvers were and are so prized. Great triggers and excellent accuracy. Modern manufacturers don’t want you to see targets like he is showing because
There is more profit selling plastic semi-autos with horrible triggers. Simply support “self defense” where the pistol sits in a drawer unfired its whole life, competition where people blaze away at huge steel dinner plates, or fellas shooting at 5 yards at something the size of a file cabinet. More profit. Making a really fine revolver is expensive and not as profitable.
That said, I love my Ruger single actions for field use. Especially in .44 Magnum class and up where you want a heavier pistol anyhow.
For target, competition has shown that the edge is to well made semi-autos, especially when cost of a tuned gun is factored in. That means maybe by a few points.
And “you kids get orfa my lawn”
stinkeypete said:
More that, while the SA trigger is generally associated with target accuracy, the DA trigger can be plenty accurate as well, and it's not, IMO, the strict "target vs shortrangedefendyourlife" dichotomy they're often boxed into.
stinkeypete said:
A bit OT, but "plastic semi-autos" aren't designed to be target pistols, and they do what they're designed to do pretty well, and there's a strong market for that. They'd be a poor choice for a Bullseye match, of course, but in the hands of a competent shooter, a service-sized polymer striker-fired pistol is more accurate than they're often given credit for.
In the right gun it CAN be. And in guns like S&Ws with their generally very good DA triggers its easier to be good shooting DA accurately.
BUT, there are lots of DA guns out there that aren't as good as good S&Ws.
Some of them have DA triggers so bad that they are really only useful for "shortrangedefendyourlife" so, that's the box I put those guns in.
Single action trigger pulls are easier to fire accurately for the average Joe, who has not practiced much double action, but very good work can be done shooting double action, if the gun has a good smooth action. For someone who wants to get good shooting double action, I suggest buying a nice used Smith and Wesson K22
The reason cops and private citizens who carry a revolver for self-defense need to learn good double action skills is because of the liability of unintentionally firing a shot, with a cocked pistol. That's why a lot of police departments went to double action only modifications to their revolvers in the years leading up to the adoption of semi-autos.
The reason cops and private citizens who carry a revolver for self-defense need to learn good double action skills is because of the liability of unintentionally firing a shot, with a cocked pistol. That's why a lot of police departments went to double action only modifications to their revolvers in the years leading up to the adoption of semi-autos.
while the liability certainly exists, I don't think it to be a major concern of citizens carrying revolvers for defense, the way it is for police departments. The primary reason is that police FREQUENTLY hold suspects at gun point, while armed citizens do it much, much less often.