Why a single action

Why A Single Action?

I have seen a lot of answers in this thread, Cowboyness, Looks, Speed, Accuracy, Strength, Cost and others.

My reason (coming from years of carrying one hunting and in other outdoor activities) is a little different.

Having carried one while on horseback for years, in Colorado hunting and in Louisiana, is while trying to control a horse and a weapon at the same time, you want a gun that fires ONLY WHEN YOU are ready!.

With the double action, (or wizbang auto loader), if your horse shies from what you are going to shoot (snake, mountain lion, wild hog or what ever) or if you trip, or fall, your hands natural reflex is to make a fist, that squeezes the trigger cocking the DA revolver and firing a round when you are probably not aiming at your intended target.

With a single action you have to manually cock the weapon before you fire, hence you are more likely to be in the position of ready for the gun to discharge.

The same applies to 4wheelers, or motorcycles, hiking or whatever, if something HAPPENS to surprise you,(sudden bump or jolt, mis-step, trip or fall) unless you have the hammer cocked when it happens, you still have a safe weapon that is not going to discharge accidentally.

For what it is worth, for daily concealed carry, I carry a Glock .40.
But when outdoors out in the woods, it is always a single action.

Just my 2 cents on the subject.
 
Most of the higher powered revolvers used for hunting are single action. I am not a big expert on the subject, but I can tell you that I can shoot my BFR in 480 Ruger much more comfortably than my Ruger SRH in 480 Ruger.

Somebody must know something I didn't.

It is nice to dump out all 5 or 6 or more rounds in one motion with a DA revolver. Also easier for me to tell I'm loaded, but I have always been a fan of DA revolvers and only recently been using single actions in the larger calibers.
 
I found I was always shooting my DA revolvers in SA mode, so I sold them and went with an SA. I don't like long DA pulls on any pistol, revolver or semi-auto.
 
With the double action, (or wizbang auto loader), if your horse shies from what you are going to shoot (snake, mountain lion, wild hog or what ever) or if you trip, or fall, your hands natural reflex is to make a fist, that squeezes the trigger cocking the DA revolver and firing a round when you are probably not aiming at your intended target.

With a single action you have to manually cock the weapon before you fire, hence you are more likely to be in the position of ready for the gun to discharge.

The same applies to 4wheelers, or motorcycles, hiking or whatever, if something HAPPENS to surprise you,(sudden bump or jolt, mis-step, trip or fall) unless you have the hammer cocked when it happens, you still have a safe weapon that is not going to discharge accidentally.
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That all sounds logical. Now, if we can just find some statistics that show that there are more accidents per capita using horses, motorcycles, and four-wheelers, with double-actions than with single-actions, we will all be convinced. I have never had a double-action (or single-action) fire on its own yet. In short, sounds like a whole lot of theory, not much evidence.
 
FrankenMauser, a "good starting point" would be gunbroker, gunsamerica, or budsgunshop - which moot the geographic distance between bezoar and me.

That would also happen to be how I picked up my .44's.
 
That all sounds logical. Now, if we can just find some statistics that show that there are more accidents per capita using horses, motorcycles, and four-wheelers, with double-actions than with single-actions, we will all be convinced. I have never had a double-action (or single-action) fire on its own yet. In short, sounds like a whole lot of theory, not much evidence.
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Here are two video examples of what n5lyc is talking about, albeit not on horses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuCOFDo02r8

http://www.military.com/video/guns/recoil/girl-double-taps-sw-500-revolver/1255361250001/


This simply isn't going to happen with a single action revolver.


It's also possible, (not likely but still possible) to have the trigger snag something while being holstered (read of a few instances of this happening to LEO's) and firing off a round. Again, this can't happen with a single action revolver (unless it was cocked) Even a snagged hammer isn't going to fire a modern Ruger.

IMO it's hard to argue it's not a safer design.
 
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..or if you trip, or fall, your hands natural reflex is to make a fist,...
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I don't need to see statistics to be convinced of this, as I have, a few times in my life, fallen while holding a firearm. The one time it happened when my finger was inside the triggerguard, the most important thing in my life at that moment was NOT pulling the trigger, no matter what. I took a couple good lumps because of my focus on not accidently firing. And I can also clearly recall the spills when I was holding a gun and did not have my finger in the triggerguard. One does tend to grip the gun firmly, without thinking.

I don't think the point is that DA guns are any less safe in any practical way, only that in the remote possibility of you or anything accidently pulling the trigger, there is a small chance the gun could fire. (hence the safety rule about fingers and triggers).

With an uncocked single action revolver, no amount of pulling the trigger can fire the gun. But SA revolvers are not without their own safety significant issues as well. Up until the advent of transfer bar SAs, the rule of "empty chamber under the hammer" was VITAL for safe carry. With a loaded round under the (down) hammer, a moderate blow could fire the gun. Lots of old time cowpokes limped, for just that reason. Had to do with stirrups, and cinches...

I don't see DA vs SA revolvers as an either or proposition. I mean, ok, if you only have one gun, it is, but if you have one kind, the only thing stopping you from having and using the other is you. I love Ruger SAs. I love S&W N frames, too. And I'm rather fond of a Colt Agent .38 snub I've got. ( I like lots of other things too) each does something better than the others, and each doesn't so something as well as the others. No good cook only has one knife in the kitchen, or one pan. And while I don't golf, I've never seen golfers without a whole bag of clubs.

I like single action revolvers for the same reason I like manual transmissions. For the pleasure of operating the machinery. Fahrvegnugen becomes Shiessenvergnugen when I am shooting a single action.
 
FrankenMauser, a "good starting point" would be gunbroker, gunsamerica, or budsgunshop - which moot the geographic distance between bezoar and me.

That would also happen to be how I picked up my .44's.
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Those are options, not requirements.

Not everyone is willing buy a firearm with the decision based solely on photos, with their only possible recourse being unfriendly or non-existent return policies.


Can't you just accept that the guy shared an opinion, and that his personal preferences about buying firearms may differ from yours?
 
To explain my post, most small gunstores are contracted out and only carry/order firearms from a particular vendor. As a result you have to search far and wide to find a non chain store that will do a special order/online transfer for you.

To make it worse there are only two in my area that will do so. The problem is store a will only do a special order. Thus if you want to buy a super redhawk, you have to wait till the store find ones online for 4-500 dollars. and then when it arrives at teh store, you have to purchase it as rugers listed msrp, plus pay a special order fee.

Store B only deals with two or three websites. ironically these websites all charge the manufacturers msrp as stated in the companies website. Plus you get to pay a special order fee.

So you might get the super redhawk for a mere 500 at your local stores, but i have to pay rugers msrp of 900-1000 depending on finish and barrel length. plus 100 to do the special order.
 
Here are two video examples of what n5lyc is talking about, albeit not on horses
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Nor on a motorcycle, four-wheeler, nor any injury. Just inexperienced shooters with an extreme example of excessive power in a handgun novices could not control. Nevertheless there is some slight advantage to having a .500 S&W in a single-action instead of a double action...safer for the roof of a range and any passing sea gull. On the other hand, look how many people have been shot in the leg/foot with a single-action by cocking it when drawing. If you say that is fault of practice not of design, then it would be just as valid an argument to say that about the "double-taps" in the videos.
Or, you could rationalize in the instances of double-tap .500 S&W, just don't buy one.
 
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Why a single action
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Because thumb-cocking the hammer on that smoke-wagon is so much fun.

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Doesn't that look like fun?
 
Because my daddy and granddaddy used single actions and that's what I learned on.

Why a single action for me? No other reason than stated above. I love DAs too but almost always go to a SA for field carry.
 
I own a 357 S&W Talo and a 460XVR. I dont own any other revolvers. My experience with SA is a old Colt in 45 and a mid 70s SBH. I always ask the question why SA to people who shoot them. I am told that the SA is easier to handle the heavy recoil. I guess I never learned the trick to managing SA recoil. For me I shoot my DA as SA 99.9% of the time. IMO the recoil is much more manageable in the DA grip. I wouldnt knock anybodies choice, even if it was a Rhino. If it wasnt such a pia to get a pistol in NJ I might buy a SA just to practice and see what all the rage is. For now I will keep tapping 10 rings with my clunky SA's.
BTW- the trigger in both of my S&W is excellent out of the box. Crisp and light
I should add that most of my semi autos are SA, but thats a horse of a different breed.
 
I've always had a SA of some caliber allmy life. They just feel natureal to me! I only find the reloading frustrating bit I don't plan on extended shot count gunfights.
My muscles automaticlly cycle the SA9 especaally carrying only 5 shots) I do it automaticlly.
Presentlly I own a .357 Vaquero and shoot it pretty well
I just bought a Model 36 and a Model 10 to update myself and moreso to lern DA shooting
reloads are pretty easy from a carry strip. You can even do 2 at a time.
The main thing is consistant trigger finger placement. I keep putting my finger where it pulls the groups apart ather than being consistant. My triggers are ribbed and hurt after a long session. I have considered getting them grund smootth to help. What do you guys think? Another thing, without even thinking, I was attractedd to fixed sight frames just like my old SA's I like the advantage of adjustable sights on my long barreled SIngle Six! It gives room to zero the loads
I have a LOT to learn about D/A shooting and maybe someday I will get as good at it as I am ith my SA's All ittakes is pratice, pretice!
BPDave
 
Its also far far cheaper to do customizing on a single action.

Just see what it would cost to get that nice sw 45 long colt da/sa revolver a second cylinder in 45 acp. YOu could buy a new saa from a lot of places for what it would cost.
 
I have owned SA revolvers for 50 years....always loved them....and have 3 of them now. The gun is usually stronger, able to shoot larger calibers and for hunting and or plinking, you just don't need DA speed. I feel perfectly armed with my SA while hiking, camping or leaving it handy for HD.
 
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