Correct.
DA/SA = double action/single action aka "traditional double action"
SFA = striker fired action
LEM = HK's proprietary quasi-DAO hammer fired action
DAK = SIG's proprietary quasi-DAO hammer fired action
DAO = double action only
SAO = single action only aka "cocked & locked"
Last edited by JV_; 05-23-2012 at 08:34 AM. Reason: fixed quote
Todd,
Good write up.
There's one thing that I think you didn't touch on:
How easy it is to shoot DA once you learn the technique. All the sudden, DA/SA starts looking like an advantage to a shooter that is trained on it, because you've got this awesome, true rolling break DA pull with zero stacking or inconsistency throughout the pull which actually makes it pretty easy to shoot accurately; this, compared to LEM, SA or SFA where there will always be a "wall" at the end of the trigger pull that you must compress past without disrupting the sights.
Something I've noticed. I asked you about it over dinner and confirmed, but you didn't mention here how most people consider the DA pull to be very easy (as in, easier than other triggers) to shoot accurately once they learn the technique. To have that along with the safety margin created by a long, heavy pull that you mentioned is a win-win combination.
Last edited by TGS; 05-23-2012 at 10:32 AM.
Depends on what kind.
USP or HK45?
Slide mounted cluster**** ala Beretta or S&W 3rd gen? I can not positively/reliably disengage that safety arrangement with my firing hand thumb. The way I was taught in the USMC to cope with this is to disengage the safety upon coming into the compressed ready using the support-hand in a "knife hands" fashion, and from the motion of disengaging the safety continuing to roll that hand into the grip for the presentation. We had to carry with the safety on, and I'm not a big fan of just leaving the safety off and hoping it's still off when you need to shoot.
I actually really like DA/SA guns, as nothing is as awesome as that light single action pull. On some guns, the DA is EXTREMELY smooth, which leads to amazing accuracy once you learn how to operate the trigger. My CZ 75 SP01 with a light trigger gave me unbelievable accuracy at 25m, it was awesome. Even after almost 13,000 rounds, I haven't been able to match the pure accuracy I got out of it at 25m slow fire (anything at speed is a totally different story though).
I'm not trying to hijack the thread, but I know that Todd/Ben is reading this so I'll ask. What is the best way to get max accuracy out of a trigger with more of a solid break. On my PPQ, the trigger reset is unreal and the trigger is light, BUT the actual break isn't rolling, it's completely solid. Sometimes at 25m, this leads me to throw a shot a little out of the 8" zone. Any advice, techniques, etc?
http://thedownzerojourney.wordpress.com/
I was taught to shoot on a Glock, and sung the praises of the SFA trigger for a long time. Then I started shooting a DA/SA P226 and changed my tune. My preference if I were picking a gun now would be DA/SA.
Great write-up Todd. Can you post it to the articles tab on the main site?
I've always felt that the difficulties of the DA/SA trigger were vastly overstated. I use DA/SA in all my semi-autos, both for carry and competition. It is unfortunate some trainers and competitors are so dogmatic in their thinking.