If you're someone who enjoys target practice with both rifles and handguns, you know how challenging it can be to deal with triggers that pull and break much differently. While your center fire rifle breaks quickly with zero creep, you feel lost pulling the trigger for what seems like forever on your revolver, LCP, or other handgun that requires a lot of travel to retract and release the hammer. Granted, the hammer on a revolver can be cocked for a more precise aim for an initial shot, what about getting off quick, follow up shots.

No question, it's the handgun shots with lengthy trigger pull that are most difficult to produce a tight group. How do create a steady aim when a lot of hammer/trigger travel becomes necessary?

Ive only had one pistol with a terrible trigger that was a SIG P250 I got rid of it.

The topic also brings to mind why manufacturers even offer semi-auto handguns that work like revolvers and must be manually cocked after each shot (Double Action Only). The semi's that set the hammer and trigger in the cocked position after each shot (Double Action/Single Action) seem to be more popular, or are they? Safety reasons perhaps?

Whatever the case, it's the Double Action Only handguns that seem most challenging when the goal is to shoot tight groups.

I don't have an issue transitioning between rifle and pistol. Practice practice practice. Muscle memory is a wonderful thing if you take the time to attain it.

DA-only guns aren't built for target practice. They use a horrible trigger pull as a safety feature. My Kel Tec 380 is that way. I don't use it for something it wasn't designed for. I am happy to keep it on paper at 10 yards. OTOH, if my Colt 1911 doesn't make one big hole at that distance, I know I need some work with it.

I would be interested to know your and others approach when shooting a semi, Double Action Only.

Are you able to pull the trigger and hold it just short of the release point, or do you sweep the trigger back, cocking the hammer and releasing it in one single motion?

Maybe that's the only advantage to being right-handed and left-eye dominant. I shoot pistols right-handed and rifles left-handed.

With a Ruger LCR, I have learned exactly where that D/A trigger breaks. I can stack it and shoot quite accurately. I was actually hitting steel at 100yd with it a couple of weeks ago.

3.5# on all my ARs and 3.5# on my EDC 1911.

And this.

Interesting.

Dry fire practice. If you can do double action smooth the other will be easier

I should probably mention that the steel was a deer silhouette. Still not bad for off-hand, standing up, out of a 2" snubbie.

I don't! Wouldn't own one.

+1

Yup......1911 cocked & locked.....same trigger pull every time.....

For DOA triggers I want one that feels like a 2 stage trigger on a rifle to a point only most are a heavier pull. with a couple S&W revolvers I have they are smooth and not that heavy after initial takeup then break crisply. Practice is the answer but some triggers are much better than others.


As far as pulling the hammer back and shooting quickly Bob Munden showed it can be done many times.

Shooting a double action Jerry Miculek proves it can be done.

Those 2 are or in Bob's caee the man was an incredible talent.

There are ligh DAO triggers. Like the HK LEM

Here's a very good read on the subject where the author touts the advantages of the double action semi's. While his comments are not specific to the double action only guns, his comments on the double action trigger movement is still valid.

"What that means is that if you mess up and get on the trigger too early — which happens a lot to people under stress — or if you think you need to shoot someone and then realize you don’t, the length of travel of the double action trigger gives you an extra split second to correct your course of action before you put a bullet somewhere it doesn’t belong.

Double action pistols are also safer when it comes to holstering the gun. This is probably the most dangerous thing we do with our handguns, and it’s when a lot of accidents happen. With a double action pistol, you can put your thumb on the hammer after you uncock, and that way, it’s impossible for the gun to discharge if you accidentally leave your finger on the trigger or you get a strap or a piece of shirt caught in the trigger guard. And if you don’t remember to uncock the gun or thumb the hammer, then you’re really just a pound or two of pressure away from where you’d be with a striker fired gun anyway.

But the advantages of traditional double action pistols aren’t just safety related. It’s also possible to reach a very high level of performance with these guns if you master the double action trigger. Once you get past that first shot, you’ve got a very short trigger reset and usually a really nice single action trigger that’s superior to just about any striker fired gun."

Link