Single Action revolvers. Why?

P

Pond James Pond

New member
I've never fired one, I've never held one, only seen them online.

So, owners/fans....
What is the attraction.?

Why would you get an SA only if a DA/SA revolver can also give you an SA trigger as well as the option of DA?

Is it the look?
Is the trigger smoother?
Are the calibres bigger/different?

Please explain!!
 
I enjoy shooting all of my revolvers SA. I'm not big on a long, DA trigger pull. Therefore, SA makes sense for me, and I really like the Colt SAA style platform. Some of it is aesthetic, and historic, but I also find mine to be accurate, reliable and fun to shoot.
 
I can come up with several reasons why I personaly prefer a single action over anything else most of the time.

1. Size, and weight. (My .41 Mag will carry in a blet holster very comfortably even with its 6.5 inch barrel. It is thinner, and lighter than a Double action of same caliber, also a great bit stronger as well.) A single action can be chambered in some very potent rounds, and still be of the hip packing size, that will still go into a belt holster.

2. Fewer moving parts, and simpler design. Less things to go wrong, and esier to work on if I have to do it myself.

3. Plow handles point more naturaly for me. I cut teeth shooting single actions so it could be just a me thing.

4. I like shooting single actions. (Part of it was watching my grampa whom happened to at one point in his life be a trick shooter in a wild west show. Also I loved watching westers while I was growing up. (Still do today as well.)

I have never had anyone that shot one of my single actions that did not have a huge grin on thier face when they got done shooting it. The grin always got bigger when I offered to let them shoot another cylinder full of it. Not a single one has ever refused to shoot it again.
 
Most SA revolvers are patterned after the Colt Single Action Army which offers certain advantages over a DA revolver. Because there is no swing-out cylinder, the frame does not have to have a portion milled out to accomodate a yoke/crane (different manufacturers call this part by different names). As such, the frame of a SA revolver is stronger than that of a DA revolver equal in size and weight. This means that for a given amount of strength, a SA revolver can be made smaller and lighter than a DA revolver of the same material.

There is also the question of feel and balance. The shape of the frame on a SA revolver and a DA revolver is different because more internal room is required to accomodate the DA mechanism. Many people find the balance and pointing characteristics of a SA revolver to be second to none. Also, the grip shape of a SA revolver is actually meant to let the gun roll up in your hand during recoil while that of a DA revolver is meant to keep the grip in place as much as possible. While movement of the grip in the shooter's hand is detrimental to fast follow-up shots with a DA revolver, it does reduce the felt recoil in a SA revolver by splitting the recoil impulse into two directions: back and up.

Finally, the most common uses for a SA revolver: hunting, cowboy action shooting, nostalgia, and fun at the range simply do not require DA capability. While the use of a SA revolver for self-defense or uniformed duty isn't completely unheard of today, it is quite rare with most people choosing either a DA revolver or semi-automatic for tasks which may require fast follow-up shots and/or speedy reloading.
 
As opposed to a semi or DA, you can twirl them around like a drunken cowboy with less chance of blowing your face off. I'm not recommending you do this, but few things in life give me more pleasure than throwing a forward spin on my Heratage 22 with a nine inch barrel, and pulling back the hammer letting a round go off in less than a second. If I can hit bottle at 10-15 paces while doing this, I smile for about a week afterwards. Reckless? Yeah, but what's life without a bit of risk-laced gun-time-fun-time?!
 
Very accurate...on June 27, 2002, K. Denson, armed with an 1858 SA Remington Army black powder revolver, shot an intruder...one shot thru the heart.

Also quicker shooters...by fanning the hammer, a skilled SA shooter can out-shoot a DA revolver.
 
For me it's the egronomics on a SA. I have both SA and DA and right now it's a tie between one of each as to my most accurate but a SA is more comfortable and natural to me to shoot.
 
Is there anything else???? Really? That is how I feel about it. I am not military or LE, so SA fits my needs perfectly. I don't mind plugging the shells in one at a time or ejecting them one at a time. No need for speed. I like pulling the o' hammer back every time and then have a nice 3# trigger pull. No need for any of the cases to hit the ground either.... Just a simple, reliable, mechanism that is down to earth accurate shooting. I can target shoot, hunt, varmint hunt, Silhouette shoot, woods SD, even use it as a house gun (as they were used for 'many years' successfully). Plus they look good (and look right too compared to say a S&W), feel good, shoot good, and pack on the hip well while fishing/hiking/etc.... What more can you ask? The perfect utility weapon in my books. Saturday I did some Cap&Ball shooting with a Ruger Old Army, which is very fun too. Another fun aspect of SA shooting. Nope don't see any need to use a DA revolver or semi-auto pistol (bottom of the list) in my world. Been using SA since I was a kid, and will keep using them till I pass on. Oh, of course the history and nostalgia that goes with SA shooting is wonderful too. Plus they are a 'bit' safer as you must pull the hammer back before you can shoot it. So .... What is there not to like?????

Have I tried DA? Yes. Have I tried semi-auto? Yes. Don't see the big deal. I do have a .44Spec Bulldog for CC because of it's size though. Easy packer for in town where you need concealment. Also, I do have a semi-auto Mark II .22 because me kids like it :rolleyes:, and I don't have pick up the cases, so I'll keep it around. Had a Super Redhawk, but it was useless for packing, so finally sold it. Traded for a original Vaquero in .45 Colt instead. That has seen a 'ton' more use than the SRH ever did.

Well that is how 'I' see it :D . Keep your powder dry....
 
Also quicker shooters...by fanning the hammer, a skilled SA shooter can out-shoot a DA revolver.
Click to expand...

If you're Bob Munden with a modified revolver. Do it much with a factory model and you'll have an expensive paper weight.
 
I have never held or shot a DA revolver that felt as good in the hand as an SA wheelgun.

I love the looks better for sure, and the history, but they feel in my hand and I how I shoot them is the clincher for me.
 
its a classic thing. Everyone goes weak in the knees when a classic car like a model J deusenberg, mint model a or t rolls by. or a really nice 39 packard rolls along..


the most important thing is not the handhold being so natural, or the ability to change grips so much, or the ability have fun with it. its the relation of the sight plane to the grip when you hold it up. lots of adjustable sight da revolvers are kinda wierd on the eyes when compared to the saa
 
well if you remember black and white tv, hoppy, gene and roy or even just john wayne then you would know.
seriously a single action 45 feels like a natural extension of your hand. excerpt for the 1911 i have never held a gun in my hand that felt so seemless and pointed so naturaly. i love my single action six guns and wouldn't even feel out of place using one today as a cc handgun.
 
If it wasn't for watching westerns growing up I would have little to no interest in SA's. Also if it wasn't for limited funds I would have several SA's. They are just plain old cool, now I just need to save up for a Vaquero in .45 colt.
 
There is just no way to describe the cool factor of a SA revolver.

I've been shooting Ruger SA's for a long time and I love it.

Take the plunge and buy one and you'll see what we're talking about.

The fun level is sky high! ;)
 
I would suggest you look at one and make up your own mind. Many really like them as they handle felt recoil differently relative to most double action revolvers. It is nice to have a choice in this country.
 
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