Single action vs. double action? What kinda wheelgun do you prefer?

Crazy Carl

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Dunno if this has been done before, but what's yer preference? 'N why?

I like a nice double action revolver, preferably with a 4-6" full lug barrel, but my heart lies with single actions. My grampa taught me to shoot when I was a kid with his 4 5/8" .357 Ruger Blackhawk. Couple that with lotsa Gunsmoke & Bonanza re-runs, spaghetti westerns & John Wayne movies as a kid & I just really dig the aesthetic & feel of them.

Would I carry one for SD? Not anywhere near my first choice, but I wouldn't feel under-gunned should need arise. I've got all the "tactical"/HD/SD angles covered, but those guns are just tools, in my mind. SA revolvers are, to me, very cool, old school mechanical works of art. I like the feel of the action, the way they point & the SA trigger. I dunno, SA revolvers just make me smile. Same with leverguns. Mine are really only range toys, though I do have hopes of eventually taking a deer or bear with one of my .41s.

Not intended as a "one is better than another" debate. Just curious about what kinda wheelguns blow yer skirt up & what it is about them that draws you to them.
 
My only single action revolver is a 2nd gen Colt SAA, and I do like the trigger and the overall feel of the gun. I did use it as a nightstand gun for a while, but that’s just because I liked it, not because it’s a great solution for SD. It is a range toy that I very much enjoy.

I shoot the other revolvers in SA at least as much as I shoot them in DA. I’m generally working on accuracy, and for that I prefer SA. I do occassionally shoot them for reasonable/practical accuracy at speed, and for that it’s all DA. I really like the older Smiths for SD guns at home, I am confident that the wife and kids can get them to work reasonably well with minimal training commitment, should the need arise.
 
Nothing better than shooting a well used K frame in DA.

OR.... one that has had my action job performed.. Butter smooth yet still full strength springs for reliability.

I still have my Mod 19 from my GSP days and I still take it to the range and do a run through of the old course just for old time's sake and the warm fuzzy feeling it gives me....
 
I like the ruggedness that a SA revo brings to the table, think 357 Blackhawk. Big medicine.

I like the shootabilty and simplicity of a DA revo. Point and shoot, moonclips, speedloaders.

I like the low bore axis of revolvers in general. Minimal holdover/under at extreme distances.
 
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Even though I do end up mostly shooting DA revos in SA, I prefer to have DA available.
Honestly the main reason? Loading gates. I hate loading gates. They are good for keeping you from running through a bunch of ammo though, since they take forever to load & unload.
 
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Then there is the gas assisted DA 40mm revolver! Pulling the DA trigger fires the gun and the gas rotates the cylinder for the next shot. Found it very interesting when I had to repair one. Giving a class Thursday on them.

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CD
 
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I have a strong prefrence for the shape and balance of a 4" S&W double action revolver, but I always fire them in single action. I like having the option to fire double action, but I rarely use it.

I've owned a few Ruger SA revolvers, and while they were nice, they never fit my hand as well as S&W DA revolvers do. I suspect its the plow-handle grips on the SA. While I've never got to fire one, I've handled birds head and bisley gripped SA revolvers, and felt that they fit me much better.
 
Then there is the gas assisted DA 40mm revolver! Pulling the DA trigger fires the gun and the gas rotates the cylinder for the next shot. Found it very interesting when I had to repair one. Giving a class Thursday on them.

product_M32A1_04.jpg



CD

Holy hight over bore Batman.
I guess with HE, holdover/under isn't really a concern.

We always used the blue (powdered Smurfs) chaulk practice rounds.
 
I only shoot DA revolvers DA if at all possible. To me its the most challenging and most satisfying skill of all handguns. So I am with Geezer and Bailey Boat with that. K frames are sweet. I wish it was more popular and more matches were available. I would shoot them more.

But something about a fat, burly SA revo that really pulls my heartstrings. BOOM. Always dreamed of owning a Freedom Arms .454 Casull. Someday maybe.

They are also challenging and fun to shoot with bunny farts, cowboy action style. Thumbing the hammer with weak hand.
 
I definitely like DA revolvers, tho I tend to shoot them SA. I'm okay-ish DA, but not great. That said, there are a couple of DA revolvers on my "gotta have" list, specifically a stainless 6" full lug GP-100 that I'd like to have re-chambered in .41 Special & I wouldn't mind a 5.5" 8-shot .357 Redhawk. Might have to track down a 7.5" Redhawk "Hunter" in .41 as well, just 'cos I'm one of those .41 loons. The S&W 657 Classic Hunter is sexy as hell IMO, but they've gotten WAY outta my price range.

...I've owned a few Ruger SA revolvers, and while they were nice, they never fit my hand as well as S&W DA revolvers do. I suspect its the plow-handle grips on the SA. While I've never got to fire one, I've handled birds head and bisley gripped SA revolvers, and felt that they fit me much better.

If you want to check out a Bisley, give me a holler sometime. We can hit Buckhorn & you can take my .41 Bisleys for a spin. They're definitely the way to go for the boomers.
 
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With some practice, I have found myself more accurate in DA than SA. I read somewhere that since the hammer moves farther from cocked in SA, it gives you more time to pull the shot off target. DA gives you the opposite, you finalize your sight picture close to the end of the hammer's travel backward, then the hammer falls a shorter distance than in SA. Makes sense if you really think about it.
 
Thanks...one of my favorites!

Short Version:

This 1917 Colt .45 acp (serial number matched) appeared in a couple of books written by now deceased gun writer Dean Grennell. The gun was owned by his brother Ralph...my name also.

Custom work was done years ago by the no longer in business John B. Williams Gun Smithing in Fullerton CA.

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Both. Got to have several of each. Use the right tool for the job!
 
I have a few SA but prefer the DA/SA option. I'm more clumsy with a loading gate than ejector/ cylinder operation. Actually I'm clumsy with everything, but...
 
I only shoot double action. In fact, don't even care to have a single action option on anything but N frames. That said, I appreciate the single action revolvers...just not my thing.

EDIT: I prefer DA/SA or DAO semi-autos too. :)
 
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Thanks...one of my favorites!

Short Version:

This 1917 Colt .45 acp (serial number matched) appeared in a couple of books written by now deceased gun writer Dean Grennell. The gun was owned by his brother Ralph...my name also.

Custom work was done years ago by the no longer in business John B. Williams Gun Smithing in Fullerton CA.

332993789.jpg

I just went to an auction the other day and picked up a box of old books and it had that exact copy of Pistol & Revolver Digest in it. Actually had two copies and one of the 3rd edition also. Gotta find time to sit down and go thru all the books in the box.
 
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