Shooting Double Action

Ganderite

Ganderite

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Farm south of North Bay
I have been shooting handguns for over 60 years. Revolvers were almost always shot single action.

When watching You Tube I see some guys shooting double action as a matter of course, and actually hitting what they aim at.

So recently I have been trying it. I quickly discovered that it can be done.

Yesterday I shot some of my snubbies, and shot each one in both modes. At 10 yards.
rJZcQ66.jpg
 
Nice groups! I feel like the only true way to shoot a revolver is DA. It is quite fun and challenging. Its kind of like shooting a Glock trigger if that makes sense. Take the hammer back just till the sear release, bang and then restage the trigger. It's like shooing to reset, but different. I dunno, its hard to explain.
 
My favourite handguns are revolvers, and probably 80-90% of my revolver shooting is done double action.

I feel that if I can master shooting like, all other shooting should be that much easier. A quality revolver with a good action helps, a lot.
 
BattleRife said:
My favourite handguns are revolvers, and probably 80-90% of my revolver shooting is done double action.

I feel that if I can master shooting like, all other shooting should be that much easier. A quality revolver with a good action helps, a lot.
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The double action of all the Smiths is similar, but the Rugers, Colts and Taurus have different internals and feel different to shoot. I have not shot them enough to say which brand feels the best, but I can say that a DAO Smith M60 has been worked over and feels fantastic.
 
You'll like Ed McGivern's book.

<https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1412014.Ed_McGivern_s_Book_of_Fast_and_Fancy_Revolver_Shooting>

<https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ed-mcgiverns-book-of-fast-and-fancy-revolver-shooting-ed-mcgivern/1100872894>

<https://www.amazon.com/McGiverns-Book-Fancy-Revolver-Shooting/dp/160239086X>

<https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1014390860>

<https://archive.org/details/fastfancyrevolve0000mcgi>
 
toxic said:
Maybe I just have 9mm mentality lately....but those look like big holes! :D
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.38 Wadcutters, so nicely defined holes the full diameter of the bullet. Makes it easier to claim an adjacent scoring area you broke into. A 9mm bullet is the same diameter but the hole looks a lot smaller because it tears through and leaves petals around the hole, although typically with that "grease ring" that shows where it rubbed the paper. Ask your nearest IPSC RO about scoring overlays!

A revolver that does both single and double action is really great for learning about trigger action and the different feel to each mode. Exercising both ways and being able to keep the sights on target through a double-action trigger pull makes you a better shooter, that's for sure. And being able to shift gears between single and double is a good skill too.
 
About the only time I shoot SA is off a bag, working on a gun , or sighting in.
I shot colt pythons for years and now a tuned up 4" s-w 19 and generally shoot a better group double action mainly because that's how I shot.
Sometime the group will look like hell, depending on the mood, and practice, which is lacking these days.
I had a single action only factory smith model 14 target ( K 38 masterpiece) , that was a super gun, trigger was as good as my Olympic 22 target gun.
great bullseye gun, it was a 6 in'r.
 
I too have a single action only (from factory) S&W model 14 and it has a very nice trigger. My other 38spl is an old Colt Army Special (DOM 1911) and it's nearly as smooth and very enjoyable to shoot in both single and double action.
 
i shot da/sa in ipsc and first shot had to be da. ok once you get used to it, but some tricks:

- lighter hammer spring. will reduce da trigger pull however may have some issue with tougher primers. the go-to was federal; not sure what to use now.

- start loading the trigger while pushing the gun onto target.
 
How many people are using revolvers for IPSC? I'm taking another black badge course in May and plan on using my S&W.
I normally use that to throw many rounds down-range in steel challenge. Nationals for that disciple are at BTSA Alberta in July, by the way.
 
Dave in Calgary said:
How many people are using revolvers for IPSC? I'm taking another black badge course in May and plan on using my S&W.
I normally use that to throw many rounds down-range in steel challenge. Nationals for that disciple are at BTSA Alberta in July, by the way.
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Not many people shoot ipsc with revolver. Most stages are set up to be shot with a 10 shot semi auto. So you end up doing alot of reloads and those reloads take twice as long with a revolver.

I used to compete with a revolver in IPSC. Its doable. If you want to shoot fast and accurately with a revolver you shoot it like a seven year old with a squirt gun. Just cycle the trigger as fast as you can and aim and transition targets while cycling the trigger.

The only match that was really fun was the steel challenge because you are engaging only 6 targets. Shoot it clean and you dont need to reload on the timer. People expect a revolver to be slow, but in the hands of a skilled shooter it is not.
 
Nicely done. I shoot my wheel guns mostly in double action. My 686 is double action only, the hammer is bobbed and there is a set screw to prevent single action.
 
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