chrisintexas
New member
Please suggest how to master the DA in a DA/SA pistol. The first shot I mean the DA is a challenge for me.
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how to master first pull - DA in a DA/SA pistol
- Thread starter chrisintexas
- Start date
Tucker 1371
New member
Make sure you are not tightening your grip as you press the trigger to the rear. Position your trigger finger so that it is pulling as straight back as possible, not curling the gun to the right or pushing it to the left (vice versa if you are shooting left handed). Relax, focus on your front sight, equal height and equal edit light all the way through the trigger pull.
*edit- by not tightening your grip I mean make sure the only thing flexing is your trigger finger. The rest of your firing hand should maintain the same grip pressure as you had before you started pressing the trigger.
*edit- by not tightening your grip I mean make sure the only thing flexing is your trigger finger. The rest of your firing hand should maintain the same grip pressure as you had before you started pressing the trigger.
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sigarms228
New member
What pistol are you using? Some pistols frankly have a poor and very heavy DA trigger especially out of the box. Most hammer fired pistols can have the DA trigger pull vastly improved with an easy hammer spring swap such as the Beretta "D" spring and of course rounds fired through the pistol will improve trigger action. I like a smooth DA trigger pull around 8 - 9 LBs. Also do not stage the DA trigger pull but do a smooth consistent trigger press all the way through with no jerking. Dry firing DA only will also help with the goal that the sight picture does not move off target through the trigger press.
Ernest Langdon has some videos that may help. Dry firing DA only practice certainly can help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsoX26OhDCY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZplH6zreQI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nod5qLlSGUM
Of course a good grip is needed. I like the high tang 360 grip as Travis Haley demonstrates.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMzQIHN-LiI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY6gwhj5qpY
Ernest Langdon has some videos that may help. Dry firing DA only practice certainly can help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsoX26OhDCY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZplH6zreQI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nod5qLlSGUM
Of course a good grip is needed. I like the high tang 360 grip as Travis Haley demonstrates.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMzQIHN-LiI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY6gwhj5qpY
Cosmodragoon
New member
I don't know that it's a trick but strength and training matter. Double action is double action, whether it's on a DA/SA, a DAO, or a DA revolver. So work on your hand and finger strength, which will help in all your shooting. Make sure you've got a good stance. Keep improving and keep practicing. Proper and patient repetition is the key to success.
If you really want a trick, practice moving your trigger finger in isolation. During the trigger pull, pretend that you are a statue with one live finger.
If you'd rather listen to a professional instructor, Grant Cunningham offers some easy and effective tips in this excellent video on grasp pressure and double-action shooting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Ov9ANaQBI
If you really want a trick, practice moving your trigger finger in isolation. During the trigger pull, pretend that you are a statue with one live finger.
If you'd rather listen to a professional instructor, Grant Cunningham offers some easy and effective tips in this excellent video on grasp pressure and double-action shooting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Ov9ANaQBI
Constant dry fire is your best bet. It lets you work on the basics and helps build the proper muscle tone. Just practice holding your sight alignment as you stroke the trigger. It wont be long before youre breaking the shot with no movement in the sights.
When shooting live rounds, decock after each shot and work on your DA shot until you have it down, which, if youve been dry firing, shouldnt be very long at all.
Unless youre dealing with one of the surplus ComBloc guns with the horrendous DA triggers, most of the current DA/DAO guns Ive owned and shot, all had decent triggers with no need of modification. In reality, modifications just tend to make you more reliant on them, when they really are not necessary at all.
When shooting live rounds, decock after each shot and work on your DA shot until you have it down, which, if youve been dry firing, shouldnt be very long at all.
Unless youre dealing with one of the surplus ComBloc guns with the horrendous DA triggers, most of the current DA/DAO guns Ive owned and shot, all had decent triggers with no need of modification. In reality, modifications just tend to make you more reliant on them, when they really are not necessary at all.
Please suggest how to master the DA in a DA/SA pistol. The first shot I mean the DA is a challenge for me.
I focus on the front sight and use the same constant smooth squeeze I use for every other shot.
Shooting DA/SA pistols really is a non-issue.
g.willikers
New member
A DA/SA auto loader is a goofy design.
Never did understand the need and don't have any.
A DA only would make more sense, more like a trusty revolver.
A smooth DA trigger can be very good, without the confusion.
Instead of struggling with it, maybe trade it for something else.
Lots of good choices out there.
That'll show it who's boss.
Like a DA/SA that can be used cocked and locked even for the first round.
Never did understand the need and don't have any.
A DA only would make more sense, more like a trusty revolver.
A smooth DA trigger can be very good, without the confusion.
Instead of struggling with it, maybe trade it for something else.
Lots of good choices out there.
That'll show it who's boss.
Like a DA/SA that can be used cocked and locked even for the first round.
Roland Thunder
New member
Please delete, duplicate
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Roland Thunder
New member
No Mas
I have given up on DA/SA guns. I sold my Sig 226 because I couldn't shoot it very well. I then bought a Sig 320 and have no regrets. I even tried the highly touted CZ 75B but couldn't shoot it very well either.
As far as getting another DA/SA gun, it's No Mas
I have given up on DA/SA guns. I sold my Sig 226 because I couldn't shoot it very well. I then bought a Sig 320 and have no regrets. I even tried the highly touted CZ 75B but couldn't shoot it very well either.
As far as getting another DA/SA gun, it's No Mas
Tucker 1371
New member
The point of a DA/SA gun is to have a "safety" that doesn't have to be disengaged manually. IMO it's a heck of a lot safer than the 5.5lb Glock trigger or other striker fired designs. It also provides a second strike capability in the case of a stubborn primer not wanting to ignite.
I've come to prefer DA/SA guns over SAO or striker. To me, it's the best balance of safety and a decent trigger. I also prefer the reset on my CZ75 to that on my Colt. The CZs reset is a bit long but it is hard to feel the reset on most 1911s I've shot.
As for the OPs question:
There are two things you can easily do to improve your guns DA pull. One is to change the mainspring out for a lighter one. Be careful doing this because if you go too light you will start getting light primer strikes, no Bueno for a defensive gun. I suggest googling what the lightest weight you can go for your gun is and still be reliable.
The other thing you can do is buy some 1000 or 1500 grit sandpaper (or both) from Auto Zone and polish up the hammer strut on your gun. It's not very difficult to do at all and if you go slow and don't remove any metal you won't mess anything up. Very easy DIY gunsmithing, don't be intimidated by it. This will smooth out the DA pull, it won't decrease the weight.
I've come to prefer DA/SA guns over SAO or striker. To me, it's the best balance of safety and a decent trigger. I also prefer the reset on my CZ75 to that on my Colt. The CZs reset is a bit long but it is hard to feel the reset on most 1911s I've shot.
As for the OPs question:
There are two things you can easily do to improve your guns DA pull. One is to change the mainspring out for a lighter one. Be careful doing this because if you go too light you will start getting light primer strikes, no Bueno for a defensive gun. I suggest googling what the lightest weight you can go for your gun is and still be reliable.
The other thing you can do is buy some 1000 or 1500 grit sandpaper (or both) from Auto Zone and polish up the hammer strut on your gun. It's not very difficult to do at all and if you go slow and don't remove any metal you won't mess anything up. Very easy DIY gunsmithing, don't be intimidated by it. This will smooth out the DA pull, it won't decrease the weight.
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I'd focus on the DA/SA transition.
My practice would go: Draw and dryfire a DA shot, followed by one SA "press". Decock, reholster and repeat.
On the live range- same deal, just with ammo. Analyze what your hits look like. Dipping low left on the da shot? If you're struggling, it might be time to do some more dry firing DA only until it's second nature, then go back to the DA/SA.
I shot a S&W 645 in a couple of stages, and I liked it, even though the DA/SA was new to me.
My practice would go: Draw and dryfire a DA shot, followed by one SA "press". Decock, reholster and repeat.
On the live range- same deal, just with ammo. Analyze what your hits look like. Dipping low left on the da shot? If you're struggling, it might be time to do some more dry firing DA only until it's second nature, then go back to the DA/SA.
I shot a S&W 645 in a couple of stages, and I liked it, even though the DA/SA was new to me.
Snap cap and a cheap laser pointer affixed to the gun somehow (tape or rubber bands will work and a piece of cloth will keep from scratching the gun) then practice stroking the trigger without moving the pointer off target.
A few thousand times should do and as a bonus you won't need to.
A few thousand times should do and as a bonus you won't need to.
One is to change the mainspring out for a lighter one. Be careful doing this because if you go too light you will start getting light primer strikes, no Bueno for a defensive gun. I suggest googling what the lightest weight you can go for your gun is and still be reliable.
The other thing you can do is buy some 1000 or 1500 grit sandpaper (or both) from Auto Zone and polish up the hammer strut on your gun.
I learned that the best DA trigger control practice is to dry-fire / live-fire in about a 10 to 1 ratio using a revolver with a smooth DA trigger, in two steps by "prepping" the DA pull back to the wall just before the break and then breaking the shot with a smooth stroke. I can shoot DA "OK" with a semi but I have yet to find a semiautomatic that I can shoot in DA as well as I can shoot a revolver in DA.
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Tactical Jackalope
New member
What I'd do, is holster the gun. Draw shoot 1 round in DA, de-cock, reholster, repeat. Both with live rounds and snap caps. Eventually move up to 1-3 shots. Do that a lot.
g.willikers
New member
That would still be my choice for a DA/SA auto.I even tried the highly touted CZ 75B but couldn't shoot it very well either.
Carry it cocked and locked and still have the second strike capability if needed.
How well does your pistol fit your hand? If the thing doesn't fit your hand properly you'll never be able to shoot to well. None of 'em fit my hand so I don't have one either. Don't exactly feel left out either.
You had a trigger job done? While dry firing is good practice for breathing, sight picture and trigger control it is not a substitute for a good trigger.
"...smooth DA trigger..." That's parts wear, not smoothing.
You had a trigger job done? While dry firing is good practice for breathing, sight picture and trigger control it is not a substitute for a good trigger.
"...smooth DA trigger..." That's parts wear, not smoothing.
cc-hangfire
New member
Not being flippant, but -as mentioned above - practice. It comes with hand strength and practice. You will hear revolver shooters who master that DA pull say that it helps all their shooting. That's true because mastering trigger control and maintaining the sight picture throughout the long, heavier pull makes SA or lighter striker triggers easy by comparison. If funds allow, get a revolver and practice - the less expensive brands (Charter, Rossi, Taurus) are better for this use since they generally have heavier triggers than S&W or Ruger. Dry fire it a bunch (using snap caps) & shoot it some too.
I have a Radom P64 trainer (no firing pin channel, observation port in the chamber) with a 19# DA pull that I use regularly for dry fire practice. Compared to that, anything else seems light. I'm not a great shooter but I usually surprise my friends by shooting their little guns - think Ruger LCP - better than they can.
I have a Radom P64 trainer (no firing pin channel, observation port in the chamber) with a 19# DA pull that I use regularly for dry fire practice. Compared to that, anything else seems light. I'm not a great shooter but I usually surprise my friends by shooting their little guns - think Ruger LCP - better than they can.
...sight picture and trigger control it is not a substitute for a good trigger
I had to read that one over a few times, proper sight alignment, sight picture and trigger control are the ONLY things you need to worry about to shoot a pistol accurately!