Ive never given this much thought untill now. I have DA revolvers and semi autos as well as DA/SA as well as Glocks. I really think that changing between the triggers reduces my control. I find I shoot my DA's fairly accurate yet when I switch to either SA or Glock trigger being lighter I get careless with trigger control. I guess Ive always used the excuse of spray and pray but I think its just lack of focus. I think its just so easy to pull the trigger that I dont concetrate as much with the fundamentals. I think the DA forces me to slow down and concentrate on technique. With the DA I have to slow down to focus on smooth pull. Where as when I change to the lighter triggers I am guilty of snatching the trigger. I dont fault the trigger types I fault the trigger puller. Just realized thought I would share does anyone else notice. Do you find you shoot one type better than others?
Differences between trigger types
- Thread starter camsdaddy
- Start date
sigcurious
New member
I still shoot SA much better, but I only have two pistols both of which are da/sa. But I fail myself in practicing, and don't to strings of DA shots often enough, so DA trigger pulls are 1/10th or less of my shots fired. Which reminds me, I should do some serious work on that and utilize those decockers more often. 
Sparks1957
New member
I've been working on those DA skills with my Sigs lately, using the decocker with every shot. Combined with the Crimson Trace grips, it has been interesting to watch my trigger control evolve with time and practice.
I'd recommend anyone with DA/SA pistols to try this... once you master the DA stuff, the rest is easy
I'd recommend anyone with DA/SA pistols to try this... once you master the DA stuff, the rest is easy
Something I learned about DAO triggers. I picked up a Ruger LCP, and if you have ever owned one you already know.... loooongg hard trigger pull. I can shoot the LCP almost as accurate as any SA/1911 pistol. I think the long, stiff trigger makes me concentrate and take more time in pulling the shot. I spend more time now shooting revolvers in DA mode... it's good practice.
Clifford L. Hughes
New member
Camsdaddy:
There's no reason why you can't master the different types of triggers. All that it takes is a lot of dry firing. Place a kitchen chair a bout ten feet from a blank white wall and rest your pistol on it while you practice getting a firm uniform grip. After you have a firm uniform girp raise the pistol and aquire good sight alingment. Now, practice proper trigger finger placement and the releasing of the trigger without the sights moving from the trigger release. Using a blank wall will let you know if you are jerking the trigger. Don't expect that one dry firing secesson will solve your problem: snapping is continueous endover and worth the effort.
Semper Fi.
Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
There's no reason why you can't master the different types of triggers. All that it takes is a lot of dry firing. Place a kitchen chair a bout ten feet from a blank white wall and rest your pistol on it while you practice getting a firm uniform grip. After you have a firm uniform girp raise the pistol and aquire good sight alingment. Now, practice proper trigger finger placement and the releasing of the trigger without the sights moving from the trigger release. Using a blank wall will let you know if you are jerking the trigger. Don't expect that one dry firing secesson will solve your problem: snapping is continueous endover and worth the effort.
Semper Fi.
Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
I've been shooting SA triggers, and not just SA triggers, but tuned 1911 SA triggers, almost every week for many years, so anything else feels slow and clunky. I try to put some rounds through DA revolvers every year, but just don't really see the need to wrestle with the substandard triggers on most other handguns. All the shooting that I do requires speed, so I don't like to mess with stuff that requires me to slow down.
Yes, for many of us - that own a variety of guns - having different triggers is an issue - and yes, I shoot some way better than others ...until I adapt in the range session to what I'm trying to do.
In my case ... I have a lot of S&W revolvers ...in 2", 3", 4", 6" and 8 3/8" barrels and in calibers of .22, .38, .357 mag and .44 mag ...and Sig Sauers in 239's and 226's in 9mm and .40S&W but all DA/SA triggers at least --- and a variety of 1911's in 9mm, .40S&W and .45 acp in 4" and 5" ...
Transitioning from one 1911 to another ( even an all stainless 5" gun in 9mm to a .45 acp in an all stainless 5" gun ) is real easy. I shoot them both very well. But if I switch to a 4" alloy frame gun in 9mm or .45acp it takes me 6 or 8 rounds to get the "feel" back... If I drop down to a 3" gun ...it takes more time ...especially in "rapid fire" on follow-up shots...
Same issues on revolvers ...weight, barrel length in .357 are pretty good - but going from a 2" to a 6" is a big jump / and even though triggers are all about the same - grips are different / so its still a transition... When I move up to the .44 mag ...the transition takes a few rounds ( especially in a 3" barrel mode .44 mag )
On my Sig's - the 239 (single stack) and the 226's double stack ...are way different / and it might take me 25 rounds to get it together .... Changing from one to the other in 9mm is pretty easy ...its tougher on .40 S&W ( especially in the small 239 model ).
If I were to mix in a Glock or Beretta ...or anything with a different set of controls and a way different trigger ...transition is even worse.
But having a lot of guns to shoot / collect is fun too ...
I do depend on my 1911's as my primary defense platform ...and I stay with a 5" gun for defense ..in .45 acp / so I focus my training there ...where most of the other guns I have and shoot ...are more for fun and variety ...and training the grandkids...and just because !! If I were just focusing on defensive training - whatever platform you decide is your best option ( ideally what you shoot the best ) is where you should focus your training ...and grip, and controls, and feel of triggers, etc ...so you get the most out of your training. But shooting just one gun / or one platform ...is a little boring...
I tend to take groups of guns to the range ...make it a 1911 day ( say three 1911's one in 9mm, one in .40S&W and one in .45 acp ../ or make it a revolver day - say all K frame S&W's a 4" in .22, a 4" in .357 mag and a 6" in .357 mag ...and stay with one holster ...and run thru my courses of fire ..and evaluate myself on each step --- getting out of holster on target, 1 shot on target ...then 2 shots on target ---then triple taps. Then 1 shot - reload - 1 shot ....then double taps with a reload ...then triple taps with a reload. I usually end each gun - with a 6 shot slow fire group at 30 feet ( until I can cover that 6 shots with a 50 cent piece ) - or work to that goal at least. Somedays I'm ok / someday's I'm pretty good ...and someday's I suck ...which means I get to go back to the range a few days later and work on cleaning it up !!
In my case ... I have a lot of S&W revolvers ...in 2", 3", 4", 6" and 8 3/8" barrels and in calibers of .22, .38, .357 mag and .44 mag ...and Sig Sauers in 239's and 226's in 9mm and .40S&W but all DA/SA triggers at least --- and a variety of 1911's in 9mm, .40S&W and .45 acp in 4" and 5" ...
Transitioning from one 1911 to another ( even an all stainless 5" gun in 9mm to a .45 acp in an all stainless 5" gun ) is real easy. I shoot them both very well. But if I switch to a 4" alloy frame gun in 9mm or .45acp it takes me 6 or 8 rounds to get the "feel" back... If I drop down to a 3" gun ...it takes more time ...especially in "rapid fire" on follow-up shots...
Same issues on revolvers ...weight, barrel length in .357 are pretty good - but going from a 2" to a 6" is a big jump / and even though triggers are all about the same - grips are different / so its still a transition... When I move up to the .44 mag ...the transition takes a few rounds ( especially in a 3" barrel mode .44 mag )
On my Sig's - the 239 (single stack) and the 226's double stack ...are way different / and it might take me 25 rounds to get it together .... Changing from one to the other in 9mm is pretty easy ...its tougher on .40 S&W ( especially in the small 239 model ).
If I were to mix in a Glock or Beretta ...or anything with a different set of controls and a way different trigger ...transition is even worse.
But having a lot of guns to shoot / collect is fun too ...
I do depend on my 1911's as my primary defense platform ...and I stay with a 5" gun for defense ..in .45 acp / so I focus my training there ...where most of the other guns I have and shoot ...are more for fun and variety ...and training the grandkids...and just because !! If I were just focusing on defensive training - whatever platform you decide is your best option ( ideally what you shoot the best ) is where you should focus your training ...and grip, and controls, and feel of triggers, etc ...so you get the most out of your training. But shooting just one gun / or one platform ...is a little boring...
I tend to take groups of guns to the range ...make it a 1911 day ( say three 1911's one in 9mm, one in .40S&W and one in .45 acp ../ or make it a revolver day - say all K frame S&W's a 4" in .22, a 4" in .357 mag and a 6" in .357 mag ...and stay with one holster ...and run thru my courses of fire ..and evaluate myself on each step --- getting out of holster on target, 1 shot on target ...then 2 shots on target ---then triple taps. Then 1 shot - reload - 1 shot ....then double taps with a reload ...then triple taps with a reload. I usually end each gun - with a 6 shot slow fire group at 30 feet ( until I can cover that 6 shots with a 50 cent piece ) - or work to that goal at least. Somedays I'm ok / someday's I'm pretty good ...and someday's I suck ...which means I get to go back to the range a few days later and work on cleaning it up !!