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Favorite trigger action

  • SAO (1911-style)

    Votes: 49 28.0%
  • Traditional DA (DA/SA)

    Votes: 75 42.9%
  • Safe-Action (Glock, M&P)

    Votes: 21 12.0%
  • DAO (Sig, some Rugers)

    Votes: 9 5.1%
  • Other (elaborate)

    Votes: 4 2.3%
  • Don't care; if it fires I'm happy

    Votes: 17 9.7%

Favorite trigger action

6K views 34 replies 29 participants last post by  cig 
#1 ·
Easy enough to explain. Have at it.
 
#3 ·
Dredd refers to "selective double action." Only a small minority of DA pistols offer the function he describes, as most have a safety, a lever, or other dingus that safely drops the hammer.

For pure ease of shooting, I like SAs, specifically the 1911. But the Glocks I actually carry have the hybrid "safe action" trigger, which allows more than adequate precision in an overall design that offers greater reliability than the 1911.
 
#4 ·
I chose DAO, because I have come to believe that it is the safest trigger mode for concealed carry -- especially in-the-pocket concealed carry.
For competition or for fun, I'd chose SA semi-auto every time.
 
#7 ·
I'd like to see LDA(light double action) added to the poll. I've not shot one but would be interesting to see how members feel about it who have shot LDA. I believe Para-Ordnance has the market on this as they designed it.

Im considering buying a Para Carry 9 so this could be useful. To me at least.
 
#8 ·
Never shot a LDA. The Walther AS is the closest as in SA the striker is only half-cocked, so the trigger pull finishes cocking it back, then releases. I think Glocks are similar, but they're still considered SAO (safe action). I'm not a big fan of DA as the longer/heavier pull causes more inaccuracy if the trigger is yanked in a stressful situation, but for some, the added length and weight helps prevent a ND. For me, SAO.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Some clarification:

Most Sigs are traditional DA. Some (P250, DAK's) are DAO, and a few are SAO.

The LDA is a DAO. So is a Kahr, Keltec, P99 QA, and most striker fired pistols. The Glock and the M&P are also classified as a DAO. Most striker fired DAO's partially precock the striker to improve trigger pull. The LDA is not striker fired.

The Springfield XD is technically classified as a SAO, because the striker is fully cocked. However, as fas as I'm concerned, it's a DAO. The trigger pull is similar to the Glock & the M&P.

The Walther P99 AS is nothing like a LDA. It is a traditional DA that is striker fired. When in SA mode the striker is completely cocked, and pulling the trigger releases the striker. My P99c is well broken in, and has a SA trigger pull that breaks like glass at about 4.5lbs. No one who had ever fired the LDA and the P99 AS would think the two were similar.

IMO, the Kahr trigger is the one that is most similar to the LDA.

As to a favorite trigger action, I don't have one. For me, it would be dependent on the task at hand. Each has it's pros & cons. If I could only have one semiauto, I guess I would choose traditional DA because of it's versatility.
 
#11 ·
Dredd refers to "selective double action." Only a small minority of DA pistols offer the function he describes, as most have a safety, a lever, or other dingus that safely drops the hammer.

For pure ease of shooting, I like SAs, specifically the 1911. But the Glocks I actually carry have the hybrid "safe action" trigger, which allows more than adequate precision in an overall design that offers greater reliability than the 1911.
I suppose so, like SIg for example has a decock lever, but no safety unless you specifically order that option. Most H&K pistols have a variety of variants, and Variant 1 has the safety lever with decocking function. So one could use it in DA mode with safety off, DA mode with safety on, or SA mode with safety on.
 
#12 ·
Good job clarifying, James NM. To get the acronyms out of the way:

SAO = Single Action Only (gun can only fire if cocked)
DA/SA = Double Action/Single Action (gun fires the first shot via trigger-cocking, then reverts to single action firing)
DAO = Double Action Only (gun only fires in trigger-cocking mode)
Safe Action = a Glock-owned marketing term for a gun that is partially cocked by slide cycling, but must be fully cocked via trigger movement (the gun is literally carried "half cocked")
 
#14 ·
I voted SA, for my XDs, which ARE single action. Particularly, after a little trigger work by Springfield.. My XD45 now feels much more like a Kimber than a Glock.

My Keltec is loooong pull DAO. No safeties, just a mile of trigger.

For precision work.. SAO. For pocket carry, DAO.

JW
 
#15 ·
Personally I like the trigger on my Witness. It's DA/SA, but it has a half cock and a hammer lock safety. this gives me several SAFE ways to carry. Hammer down with safety on or off, half cocked with safety on or off, or fully cocked with safety on.
The half cock also gives a 50% reduction in length of trigger pull.
 
#18 ·
Huh?
Please explain.
As I thought I understood the workings of the Glock "safe action" trigger, every shot is fired with exactly the same trigger action.
Is there something I don't know about, here?
I think maybe Ram Rod is referring to shots after the first pull that can be performed with the shorter reset stroke. The trigger does not have to return to the full pull position. If I'm not mistaken though, the pull weight is the same as for the first shot, just that the pull is not as long.
 
#21 · (Edited)
I'd like to see LDA(light double action) added to the poll. I've not shot one but would be interesting to see how members feel about it who have shot LDA. I believe Para-Ordnance has the market on this as they designed it.

Im considering buying a Para Carry 9 so this could be useful. To me at least.
Those LDA Paras are really nice I don't have one (yet) but have shot a couple.

Most of what I carry are single action but I still wont go as far to say it's my all time fav or I wouldn't have Sigs, My Browning Pro-40.
 
#22 ·
I voted "Don't care", but that's because I own a potload of handguns in SAO, DA/SA, safe action, and DAO, and I rotate my training with all of them. If I carried a handgun as a primary weapon for a living (ie: LEO), and I had my druthers, I'd choose a DA/SA SIG or FN. But I'm not LEO, so I train with everything to be as proficient as possible with all systems. Pray we never have a SHTF scenario, but I'll be ready to grab whatever is the most handy. Hopefully, an AR, AK or a 12-gauge.
 
#23 ·
I voted for traditional DA. My Rami does not have a decocker and the safety can only be engaged when the hammer is in the cocked position. So I can carry chambered with the hammer down or cocked and locked.
 
#26 ·
DA/SA....why limit yourself when the situation may not allow you to pre-cock the hammer or whatever. No safeties to fumble with or forget about under duress or other "proceedures" for me. I carry one of my SiG's. It's designed in such a way that the only way to get the firing pin to engage the primer, you have to cycle the trigger. Works for me and I've been fine with this design for over 18 years. BTW, yes, I keep one chambered at all times.
 
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