#Semi automatic pistol manual

The problem here is that the DA/SA shooter has to ingrain the use of the decocking mechanism to a subconscious level, else you wind up with the same issues as the single-action shooter: trying to reholster or move around with a cocked gun and a short, light trigger being the only thing between you and a loud, unexpected noise and unwanted bullet holes.

#Semi automatic pistol manual

The DA/SA pistol will typically feature either a hammer-dropping manual safety or a decocker that will safely lower the hammer after a string of fire, rendering the pistol safe to holster. Pioneered by Walther with its PPK and P38-and popularized here in the USA by Smith & Wesson’s Models 39 and 59-these pistols feature a longer, heavier double-action trigger pull for the first shot, and a lighter single-action pull on subsequent shots. The traditional double-action/single-action pistol (or DA/SA) was intended as a remedy for this. Otherwise, that short, light trigger that’s such an asset for accurate shooting can turn into a liability for reholstering or even just safely moving about a cluttered environment with pistol in hand. Off the sights, on safe” is the mantra I use. This all has to happen at a practically subconscious level.Ĭonversely, the reapplication of the thumb safety has to be just as ingrained a habit: “On the sights, off safe. To be proficient in deploying that 1911 in a life-saving emergency, the toter of “Old Slabsides” has to be 100-percent grooved-in on grasping the pistol properly to deactivate the grip safety, and know exactly at which point in the drawstroke the thumb safety gets swiped off. Those mechanical safeties are also a practical issue. For starters, some people just can’t get over the sight of that cocked hammer it doesn’t matter how many safeties are on the pistol-thumb safeties, grip safeties, passive firing-pin safeties-that hammer is right there in plain view, all cocked back and everything and that presents an unfortunate, insurmountable psychological hurdle for them. It’s also not hard to understand why some people disdain it. Prized for a short, light trigger that makes accurate shooting easy, it’s not hard to understand its popularity. Pretty much the original choice of pistol actions is the classic single action, epitomized among American shooters by classic John Moses Browning designs like the 1911 and Hi Power. Oddly, very few of those same shooters seem to acknowledge the downsides of their choice, the factors that might cause others to pick a different style of lockwork to fulfill their carry-pistol needs. Left to right: SAO, DA/SA and DAO actions are typified here by the TISAS Bantam 1911, Beretta 92X F Compact and SIG Sauer P365.Įvery fan of semi-automatic pistols seems to have a favorite type of action and can list at length the reasons why their choice is superior to all others.