In my personal experiences I've found that the same caliber gun in a SA seems to recoil less because I hold a SA lightly, the way they were designed so be held. They are meant to rotate in your hand but for most people that feels uncomfortable because it feels like the gun wants to squirt out of your hand and also we have gotten so used to putting a death grip on them trying to fight the recoil it doesn't seem like the correct way to hold them.
Usually a DA has a larger grip and is in a different position on the frame and also a different angle. They design the grip to be held differently than the SA which doesn't rotate nearly as much as the SA. Even though you're shooting the same bullet weight, the same velocity out of a gun that might be similiar weight they will feel totally different, some prefer a SA others a DA, usually everyone has their preference and tends to stick to either type of action. I've never found a need for a DA, I think the SA might be a tad more difficult to learn to master but they can be incredibly accurate after getting used to them. Some prefer a DA for hunting but you'd be surprised how fast that hammer can be thumbed back when needed, just watch those cowboy shooters... make a believer out of you.
TO each their own.... you just gotta try each type out and see what you like best..
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