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DAO vs SAO in semi autos. Which do you prefer and why?

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  • DAO vs SAO in semi autos. Which do you prefer and why?

    • DAO

      Votes: 4 16.0%
    • SAO

      Votes: 21 84.0%

    • Total voters
      25

    DyeF9

    In Thrust We Trust
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    Jan 25, 2019
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    Red Oak TX
    If I don't rack the slide on my PPQ, it won't fire.
    How can that be considered a DA?
    Because when you pull the trigger it compresses the spring before the trigger breaks, releasing the striker. It's a technicality in my opinion. Runs too much like a single action for me to actually take that definition of striker fired pistols being DA seriously.

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
    Lynx Defense
     

    oldag

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    Feb 19, 2015
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    Using 1911's, of course I prefer SAO with a manual safety.

    The former because I prefer the lower trigger pull of SA.
     

    ZX9RCAM

    Over the Rainbow bridge...
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    2   0   0
    May 14, 2008
    59,740
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    The Woodlands, Tx.
    Because when you pull the trigger it compresses the spring before the trigger breaks, releasing the striker. It's a technicality in my opinion. Runs too much like a single action for me to actually take that definition of striker fired pistols being DA seriously.

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

    I actually immediately my post, but you quoted as I originally phrased it.
     

    unicom

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    May 19, 2016
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    I agree with Dawico. Glock safe action for me too


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    txinvestigator

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    May 28, 2008
    14,204
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    Ft Worth, TX
    I am 58 years old and starting shooting in the early 70's on revolvers, where we shot DA only. I entered LE in 1983 and was issued a S&W Revolver. I always shot high scores because my father was an LE instructor and I learned proper habits as a child.

    My first personally owned semi-auto was an S&W 59. DA/SA. I learned to shoot it as well as the revolver, but the transition from DA to SA was a bitch. In 1987 my PD allowed those who desired to switch to the Beretta 92FS, same operation as the S&W. I observed that many would just throw out that first DA shot so that they could get to the SA pull. When we ran drills the first shot was always "thrown" if you will. I carried the 92 until I switched to a 1911.

    If a person trains from the safe-on position with a 1911, they are no more likely to forget to deactivate the safety than they are to forget to press the trigger. Having a consistent trigger press is important from a training and proficiency standpoint.

    That said, I attended a TFTT class once where there was a SWAT guy with a beat-the-hell-up 92 that out shot everyone. Training-training-training...

    I began to instruct in 1998, and it is my observation over those 21 years that I can do better with a student, in less time, if they have a handgun with a consistent trigger press, whether that be a single action only, DAO or striker fired handgun.
     

    oldag

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    Feb 19, 2015
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    I am 58 years old and starting shooting in the early 70's on revolvers, where we shot DA only. I entered LE in 1983 and was issued a S&W Revolver. I always shot high scores because my father was an LE instructor and I learned proper habits as a child.

    My first personally owned semi-auto was an S&W 59. DA/SA. I learned to shoot it as well as the revolver, but the transition from DA to SA was a bitch. In 1987 my PD allowed those who desired to switch to the Beretta 92FS, same operation as the S&W. I observed that many would just throw out that first DA shot so that they could get to the SA pull. When we ran drills the first shot was always "thrown" if you will. I carried the 92 until I switched to a 1911.

    If a person trains from the safe-on position with a 1911, they are no more likely to forget to deactivate the safety than they are to forget to press the trigger. Having a consistent trigger press is important from a training and proficiency standpoint.

    That said, I attended a TFTT class once where there was a SWAT guy with a beat-the-hell-up 92 that out shot everyone. Training-training-training...

    I began to instruct in 1998, and it is my observation over those 21 years that I can do better with a student, in less time, if they have a handgun with a consistent trigger press, whether that be a single action only, DAO or striker fired handgun.

    I admire those who shoot great with a revolver. I just have never fully mastered the DA pull to my satisfaction.
     

    jrbfishn

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    Aug 9, 2013
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    south of killeen
    I think that how well the gun fits the shooter and how smooth and consistent the trigger pull is has more to do wth accuracy than being SAO/DAO. I have shot some DAO pistols very well but prefer SAO. And some SAO pistols that I am better off throwing at you than trying to shoot you.
    Carry and shoot what fits you best.

    Sent by an idjit coffeeholic from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
     

    txinvestigator

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    May 28, 2008
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    Ft Worth, TX
    I admire those who shoot great with a revolver. I just have never fully mastered the DA pull to my satisfaction.

    Dad had a great drill for developing a smooth DA press.

    Load two rounds, one on either side of the cylinder, turn cylinder and close while looking to the side.

    Prepare to fire from low ready

    On command aim and press the trigger, slowly and smoothly, twice, regardless if it goes click/click, click/bang or bang/click. (you can probably see the casing in the cylinder, but the goal is to not let the barrel dip if it goes click.

    Stay in shooting position

    Repeat two more times for a total of three (6 trigger presses)

    Now open the cylinder and without removing the spent casings, load two more (not side by side), rotate the cylinder, close and repeat

    Open the cylinder and add two more, repeat.

    With just 6 rounds fired you have made 18 trigger presses. 150 trigger presses out of 50 rounds.

    With this drill you will have instant feedback if you anticipate the recoil (the MAJOR error handgun shooters make). Many shooters can SEE the result of anticipating recoil when they fire because of where the round impacts. However, they often don't get it that they are anticipating. Having the handgun go "click" as the barrel dips offers immediate, quantifiable feedback.

    I probably did this drill thousands of times in my youth, and when I take the revolver to the range still I do this drill. Having a solid double action press translate to a better single action press
     

    TheDan

    deplorable malcontent scofflaw
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    8   0   0
    Nov 11, 2008
    27,552
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    Austin - Rockdale
    If I don't rack the slide on my PPQ, it won't drop the firing pin.
    How can that be considered a DA?
    Striker fired guns fall somewhere on a spectrum of DA to SA depending on their design. Some are DAO, but most have a certain amount of pre-cock and use the movement of the trigger to finish cocking the striker. Some aftermarket sears will make them effectively SAO. Then you have a few that are normally SA, but have DA capability. Fun stuff...
     

    zackmars

    Free 1911 refinishing
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    0   0   0
    Nov 4, 2015
    5,609
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    Texas
    Yes
    20190417_140821.jpg
     

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    SQLGeek

    Muh state lines
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    4   0   0
    Sep 22, 2017
    9,591
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    Richmond
    It's called dry firing :P

    No kidding. :)

    The devil being in the details though means it's dry firing with two live rounds mixed in.... It's like training on semi-autos with snap caps mixed in with live rounds to diagnose flinching.
     

    kenboyles72

    Active Member
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    0   0   0
    Oct 15, 2017
    545
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    Gladewater,TX
    I have a Taurus PT140 Mil Pro that I converted to DAO. One, it would be handled roughly and that pistol was one of the recall models, I just eliminated a safety issue. Plus I liked to have second strike capability if needed. My new EDC is a Taurus G2C, which is DA/SA. I like the lighter pull on the SA, yet still have 2 strike ability. If I had to absolutely choose between SAO or DAO, it would be DAO, just for the fact you can pull the trigger again if first one don't go bang.
     

    GoPappy

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    9   0   0
    Dec 18, 2015
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    DA/SA for me. In a self defense situation, I want that first trigger pull to be deliberate. I've done a fair amount of practice on the DA trigger pull, so it doesn't bother me. The key, for me, is to be very deliberate with it and to NOT try to anticipate the break. Just point it at the target and pull the damned trigger.

    I've never shot a DAO pistol, but I shoot my revolvers DA quite often.
     
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