HD/Range gun. DA/SA vs SA+Safety vs Striker

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bm303

New member
Hey everyone, I am in the market for a handgun for home defense and range fun. I've narrowed it down for each category for my favorite handguns. First off, I don't shoot well in DA at all. So I am leaning more toward cocked and locked vs Striker fired platforms.

My favorite DA/SA and cocked+locked gun is the CZ-75 SP-01.

My favorite striker fired that I have tried is the Sig P320.

For having fun at the range and otherwise sitting in a safe at home, what platform would you prefer?

Here are my basic thoughts:

Of course the most important thing here is fundamental trigger safety on my part. At 4 am if I am awoken from a deep sleep I am trying to think about what platform is going to be most foolproof for engaging a BG but also offers a good level of overall safety. I do intend on mounting a light on whichever handgun I choose.

If I am cocked and locked and I am identifying a threat, is my safety still engaged while IDing? Do I disengage the safety immediately prior to engaging a target? If so, that could be a minor tactical disadvantage.

Is a striker fired gun such as the P320 any safer than a CZ-75 in SA with the safety off?

Is it normal to lose significant accuracy in DA for the first shot from 7 yards? The DA/SA platform seems like the best of both worlds but I just cannot get my DA shot accuracy anywhere near my SA accuracy.

Thanks everyone. Happy Easter.
 
I don't really have a preference. I really like all the actions and guns you mentioned for the purposes you mentioned. Whatever you choose just get to the range with it so its operation is second nature to you. If DA is a problem for you have you considered some one on one time with an instructor?
Happy Easter as well !!
 
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Find a Walther P99 with a broken in trigger, it may change your whole worldview of DA triggers.
It gives you a DA/SA with decocker with a very very good DA pull once broken in.
The SA is better than the pull on a PPQ.
 
DA takes practice. There's no getting around it. I did most of my learning on DA/SA and DA revolvers. I honestly think back then my trigger control was better cause it had to be. These days I use striker fired "safe-action" type pistols. I'm faster with them and it takes less practice to maintain a skill level.

As far as what is "safer". We've had more discussions than I can count on this forum about that. I'll echo what some said above and say find a good instructor that can give you some face to face insight.
 
I've settled on DA/SA for home defense. In a panic situation at 3:00am, I want the long, deliberate DA trigger pull. I'm sure someone will come along quickly and preach about keeping your finger off the trigger, but people react in unanticipated ways in high stress situations.

I use the Beretta PX4 full size 9mm as my home defense pistol. I keep a full mag and one in the chamber with the gun de-cocked. Every time I go to the range, I practice my DA trigger pulls. One thing I've found is that getting the gun on target and making a steady, deliberate trigger pull works best. Not slow, just steady and deliberate. If I try to slowly pull the trigger and anticipate the break point, I'll wind up jerking the trigger right before the break and being off target.
 
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I have a Sig SP2022 for home defense. Like GoPappy has said. I like that there is no safety to worry about. I decided against a mounted light and keep a flashlight stored nearby.
 
I personally like a DA/SA pistol for home defense and the extra margin of safety the long and heavy first pull affords. However becoming proficient at DA trigger pull does take some practice and it helps greatly if the pistol has a nice DA trigger pull.

Here is an article on the different trigger pulls available and advantages and disadvantages of each. See link below for details.

http://pistol-training.com/archives/8549

I find this part interesting based on his professional observations:

Even the biggest advocates of “always keeping a finger off a trigger until a decision to shoot has been made” are caught regularly sub-consciously “touching” the trigger. We see this all the time in training, at matches, and it occurs all the time on the street. It is often a result of dealing with fear. Most people are not very experienced with dealing with extreme fear, and extreme stress (and it is not like a shooting match, it is like seeing a Tractor Trailer rig coming at you in your lane). Touching the trigger makes people feel better. Kind of like a child with their security blanket
Click to expand...
 
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I like DA/SA w/ manual safety for home security. With the hammer down, safety on and my thumb on the back of the hammer I feel quite safe slipping my HK45C into the waistband of my jeans if something goes bump in the night. The DA takes a lot of practice with an HK, but at 7 yards I'm only an inch or 2 low in DA.

I could live with a Sig DA/SA too. They have a nice decocker. The Sigs have the least difference in POI between DA and SA for me because of the smooth DA stroke.

With a striker gun you need a holster. Even with a proper holster I wasn't at ease holstering my Glocks during IDPA, let alone during a stressful situation.

The only thing I didn't like about my CZ 75B was the lack of decocker. I never liked the idea of loading a mag and decocking by pulling the trigger under stress.
 
striker fired--glock 19 or 23 or HK vp9 in the home walther ccp for carry

MHO-- I do not want to mess with a safety when seconds count

another option is a H+K p30 with an lem trigger and no safety
 
The solution for me is to grab a revolver. The long REALLY heavy DA pull allows me to access the situation before the bang. Plus the possibility of. .357 going "down range" is a nice sense of security.
 
My preference is striker fired (my HD guns are Glock).

That said, for your concern I would say SA/DA is probably the most advantageous. If you have time to wake up/assess the situation, you can always thumb the hammer back and run your SA trigger.

If you have an immediate emergency, you do not have to worry about sufficient muscle memory for disengaging a safety. In such a situation, even a long DA pull will probably suffice as your danger will likely be close and immediate, precision will not be your concern (probably).

Whichever way you go, practice is the most important part. Yes your DA first shot might be less accurate at speed, but if you spend time on it you can be every bit as accurate as you need to be. Same with disengaging a safety. I find that I still swipe the imaginary thumb safety off my Glocks, just because I've shot 1911's for so many years.
 
Serious question for Glock guys.
If you're awakened in the middle of the night, situation unknown, what do you do with a Glock?
Keep it your hand the whole time?
Slip it into your jeans without a holster?
Hide it in a drawer?
Or do you have a holster & belt ready to go?
 
My CZ p-09 is my go to gun for HD, SA/DA is perfect, no need for a holster just lay it on my head board.

Typical first shot with DA at 15 yards with the plates ends up in a strike, and it's just goofy easy to knock down the next 19 plates in SA. If I wanted cocked and locked that would be easy also.

My 09 has a much better trigger than my omega 75, that and the night sights and 20 rounds make it an easy choice.
 
I feel quite safe slipping my HK45C into the waistband of my jeans if something goes bump in the night.
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You sleep in jeans?

If you're awakened in the middle of the night, situation unknown, what do you do with a Glock?
Keep it your hand the whole time?
Click to expand...
Don't own a Glock but have several similar MOA guns and yes it's kept in my hand no matter what gun is in the nightstand safe.

To the OP pick something and train, all systems have good points and bad training to minimize the bad points is a software problem, changing hardware just changes your deficiencies.
 
Serious question for Glock guys.
If you're awakened in the middle of the night, situation unknown, what do you do with a Glock?
Click to expand...

If the gun is not in a holster, on my person and under my direct control, the chamber is empty with a loaded magazine. This is for nightstand or glove box use or even when in the safe. I treat any DA/SA, SA, or revolver exactly the same. No matter which action you use bad stuff can happen if the gun is not in a secure holster. The difference between the 5.5 lb DOA trigger pull on my Glock isn't that much different than the 8 lb DA trigger pull on my Sig, Beretta, or any other pistol.

If the gun is un holstered it is FASTER to simply pick up the gun and quickly chamber a round than to try to get the gun out of a holster that you aren't wearing. Either is a 2 handed operation. This pretty much rules out revolvers for me.
 
I keep my SD/CCW pistol locked up in a Sentry Quick Access safe under the bed when I am sleeping. Just a personal choice based on my individual situation. I would need to be fully awake to get to my pistol and I am fine with that.
 
DA takes practice. There's no getting around it. I did most of my learning on DA/SA and DA revolvers. I honestly think back then my trigger control was better cause it had to be. These days I use striker fired "safe-action" type pistols. I'm faster with them and it takes less practice to maintain a skill level.

As far as what is "safer". We've had more discussions than I can count on this forum about that. I'll echo what some said above and say find a good instructor that can give you some face to face insight.
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Exactly what TunnelRat says here, I might add there are striker-fired pistols, you can get an HK P30, P2000, or USP LEM DAO trigger variant pistol, a SAO 1911 or BHP, or DA/SA always works in a pistol or revolver. Just practice hitting your target with your EDC or HD gun so that the manual of arms becomes part of your muscle memory!
 
I love my SP01, when I was in the market for a new 9mm I gave the P320 a look. Did not like the trigger. It was light and smooth but the break was just... weird. Crunchy almost. I passed.

I actually use my Sp01 for everything a handgun can do. Night stand, EDC, SHTF and hopefully competition here soon. The only time I can't carry it is when I'm going to the gym. Then I steal my fiancee's Glock 42 :D

I'd say if it's just for range use and nightstand duty go with the SP01, it's a sweet shooter and mine's been 100% reliable not counting a malfunction had because I didn't clean the factory grease out of the magazines. And if yours is like mine it came with night sights from the factory, a plus for a HD gun.
 
Serious question for Glock guys.
If you're awakened in the middle of the night, situation unknown, what do you do with a Glock?
Keep it your hand the whole time?
Click to expand...

Yes.

By the time I get out of bed, I'm awake, so I am not worried about investigating said situation AND keeping my finger off the trigger (unless I need to pull said trigger).

I mean, it is still a 5.5 lb trigger, and proper firearms discipline is still the word of the day.
 
I've never cared much for DA/SA guns, but plenty of gun people just love 'em. I think the platform you pick is really a personal decision. I like consistent trigger pulls every time no matter the pull weight, and stick to SAO, DAO and only shoot my revolvers in DA. I recently picked up an M&P and it has replaced all other guns in the home defense role. You can't do much better than a light polymer framed full size striker fired 9mm that carries 15-17 in the magazine and has no thumb safety to fuss with, but again, it's not for everyone. I'm a light sleeper and still don't have a gun within arms reach while I'm sleeping. I'd have to get up and run to the next room to grab the nearest one. Our youngest cat is a terror during the night and I don't want guns sitting out for her to inadvertently manipulate next to my head! If the gun is not in my cabinet, it is loaded with one in the pipe, truly loaded.
 
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