Single or Double Action Revolver?

[cdncowboy]

So I have decided, for whatever reason, that I need a .44 mag revolver for the range. I have also decided on Ruger based on price and quality. My dilemma now is single action or double action?? I would very much like the input from revolver owners on which they prefer and why.

Very much appreciated.

 

[TACTICAL111]

Prefer double action.
Have a 625 bobbed hammer, so it's strictly double action.
Learning to shoot solidly and quickly with double action will make you a better wheel gun shooter.
You can practice single as well, but double is more difficult and you'll be farther ahead in the long run.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[age]

I have a Red Hawk with a 7.5 It works great and the S&W 29-2 I shoot the Ruger more. The S&W is more a safe Queen. I load some hot rounds and when i try to be accurate run some light loads through it. Rugers are great guns. With double action you have a choice. I shoot mostly single action. Smiths are great guns. The old ones i was told won't take real abuse. The new ones will. You won't go wrong with either one

 

[Johnnyjellybean]

When it comes to .44 mag, I wouldn't bother with a double action for range shooting. If your shooting targets, you'll want to be as accurate as possible and you'll be way more accurate shooting single action. A single action revolver also has less parts annd is a tougher gun. Get one of these...............

 

[Pancake81]

I have had both and ended up selling my single action. I did shoot better with my single action, but thats part of the readon I kept the double.

Double does everything a single does, plus more. I find diubles more comfortable, and you can shoot it in single action all day long if thats what you feel like. On the flip side, if you want to shoot double, just squeez the trigger.

It really comes down to a few things I guess. 1) looks 2) comfprtablility 3) Shooting Expectations

 

[JimmieA.]

I have the Ruger NM Super Blackhawk. I changed the grips to Hauge and it is easier to hold onto(same style as on the GP100). Mine has a scope mounted which is just a fun toy. I have other D/A revolvers and I always shoot S/A as the trigger pull is stiff in D/A even S&W. I end up missing everything in D/A but have not practiced. The Ruger SBlackHawks are not expensive to buy used and most have little useage as the .44 Mag is a bear to shoot. Honestly, I hardly ever shoot mine. I reload and don't even shoot heavy loads. Mine is the 7.5 inch bbl. I love the gun and recommend the Ruger, I just don't shoot it that much. If you reload it isn't all that expensive to shoot the .44 Mag and it is a blast. Make you feel like Dirty Harry! S/A guns are pretty slow to reload but what the hell, if your at the range for the fun of it anyway.

If you buy a Ruger NM Super Black Hawk change the grips and it is a hell of a lot more fun to shoot. With the stock grips it hits pretty hard, punishing to shoot. Rubber clears that all up for $25.

JimmieA.

 

[Dexter Morgan]

Pretty much nobody shoots .44-Magnum in double action. (except in the movies)

It's just too heavy of a load to shoot quickly and repeatedly.

 

[graydog]

What everybody says here is true. You seem to mostly shoot the 44 mag in single action mode as the round does have lots of recoil.

The thing that people have not told you is that a double action revolver is about ten times nicer to eject the spent casings and also about ten times nicer to load the shells into the gun.

That is the kicker for me. Once you are used to a double action revolver you learn to really like the unloading and the loading of the gun.

I have one Ruger Blackhawk in a very hard to find caliber it is a 38-40 and a 10mm convertable. Because of the caliber I keep it and use it lots as I am a big fan of the older pistol cartridges like the 38-40 and 44-40.

If you can afford it get the double action in whatever make you like best, you will never regret it.

Graydog

 

[Pancake81]

X2, well put GrayDog

What everybody says here is true. You seem to mostly shoot the 44 mag in single action mode as the round does have lots of recoil.

The thing that people have not told you is that a double action revolver is about ten times nicer to eject the spent casings and also about ten times nicer to load the shells into the gun.

That is the kicker for me. Once you are used to a double action revolver you learn to really like the unloading and the loading of the gun.

I have one Ruger Blackhawk in a very hard to find caliber it is a 38-40 and a 10mm convertable. Because of the caliber I keep it and use it lots as I am a big fan of the older pistol cartridges like the 38-40 and 44-40.

If you can afford it get the double action in whatever make you like best, you will never regret it.

Graydog

 

[Chuck3436]

The real question is....

Do you want to feel like a cowboy or a 70's cop?

I started double action, but the novelty of SA revolvers really makes them that much more fun to me.
I suppose it depends what practical purpose you will be using it for. If you were to compete IDPA or for defence purposes etc of course you would want the DA on a revolver. But i have many auto's for that. Plus like mentioned, a .44mag is not exactly a practical rapid fire gun.

The revolvers holds a niche as a "fun" gun to me.

But for sheer enjoyment I like the cowboy aspect of single actions. Lots more interaction to them and they look great dressed up.

 

[Pancake81]

44mag in double action is meh.

But the real question is....

Do you want to feel like a cowboy or a 70's cop?

Haha, well put. In the end everyone should have both. So, the real question is always what do i buy first. I just love the look, feel and handling characteristics of a double

 

[mmattockx]

Pretty much nobody shoots .44-Magnum in double action. (except in the movies)

It's just too heavy of a load to shoot quickly and repeatedly.

That presumes one only shoots full power loads in a .44 Mag. The cartridge loads down superbly for low cost plinking fun that still leaves big holes in the target and doesn't beat your hands to death.

OP, I vote for DA, it will do everything the SA will and more. One thing to consider is that the grips (shape and size) vary widely between these guns, it really pays to try a few at the range before buying one.


Mark

 

[Boomer]

Your choice between a SA and a DA can be either an emotional one or a practical one, but there is no wrong answer. From the emotional standpoint, which do you prefer the look of? From the practical standpoint which fits you hand better? The speed of ejection or the speed of the first shot means little if you can't control the recoil or hit your target. Balance is a function of barrel length, so get the feel of several before deciding. Weight tends to tame recoil, but felt recoil is another matter. Stock design and material play a huge role in felt recoil, and one of the most punishing .44s I've used was a long barrel Super Redhawk with the rubber grips and wood side panels, the older Redhawk with the solid wood grips worked much better for me. The hump on the S&W M-29 I find particularly painful when heavy recoil is involved, despite the fact to my eye its the best looking revolver ever built.

I've pretty much abandoned the idea of a big bore DA revolver. The SA fits my hand better and handles recoil better. In the case of my Vaquero, the SA has proven to be exceptionally rugged, which is an important consideration in view of the fact that I carry it as my wilderness ATC gun. If I was not concerned about the price, I'd consider a Freedom Arms gun with fixed sights and a short barrel. Now that Ruger has down sized the Vaquero, when my .44 needs to be replaced, I might be forced into the more expensive line if I I want to keep those features.

Speed of reloading I don't consider important, but while the DA must be taken out of action to dump its empties and reload, the SA can be continuously reloaded as each empty lines up with the loading gate; thus it never runs dry. Some make an issue of the difference in the rate of fire between a SA and a DA. Neither is this important with full powered loads, as it takes the same amount of time to recover from recoil and reacquire the target with either gun. During this time, either can be cocked for the follow-up shot or the DA shooter can begin to add pressure to the trigger as the gun comes down from recoil.

 

[3strokes]

The thing that people have not told you is that a double action revolver is about ten times nicer to eject the spent casings and also about ten times nicer to load the shells into the gun.

Are all double action (or SA and DA) revolvers with a swing out cylinder?
Are there no SA only with swing out cylinder?

Not sarcastic at all. I'm a newb. Notice all these are .22 LR below.
I have three single actions
Heritage Rough Rider
Ruger Single Six and recently
Ruger single ten.

At the club I shoot a Smith & Wesson 617 SA DA (swing out 10-shot cylinder)

 

[Boomer]

Are all double action (or SA and DA) revolvers with a swing out cylinder?
Are there no SA only with swing out cylinder?

Not sarcastic at all. I'm a newb. Notice all these are .22 LR below.
I have three single actions
Heritage Rough Rider
Ruger Single Six and recently
Ruger single ten.

At the club I shoot a Smith & Wesson 617 SA DA (swing out 10-shot cylinder)

Although getting tougher to find, there are top break DA revolvers, although usually they're chambered for mild cartridges. Like DAs with swing out cylinders, they too have simultaneous ejection. The old S&W SAs were a top break design as well, Uberti makes a replica of the Schofield.

 

[ffolkes]

Is the squared rear of the Ruger trigger guard designed for a reason? It makes it very uncomfortable after just a few shots vs a Smith 29 that you can shoot for hours.

Im surprised at how few like to fire 44mag double action. I don't claim great accuracy doing so, but quickly fire 12 of a big caliber and then immediatly try your 38 or 9mm. You'll be able to put the smaller round wherever you like on the target, I don't even feel the 38 recoil after doing that.

 

[Chuck3436]

Although getting tougher to find, there are top break DA revolvers, although usually they're chambered for mild cartridges. Like DAs with swing out cylinders, they too have simultaneous ejection. The old S&W SAs were a top break design as well, Uberti makes a replica of the Schofield.

Problem with top break, is you won't find one strong enough to handle a .44mag.

Schofields wont even take 357 in modern replica's which is a shame.

 

[condomboy]

I've held both, fired both and I prefer DA as the grip angle fits my hand better. It seems all SA have a very short grip as all the ones I've seen have an extreme curve. so I picked based on feel. Then after that, the Smiths just felt nicer than the Rugers so I went S&W for my wheel guns. my Semi auto collection is overrun with Rugers though

 

[t-star]

i've had both, and i went back to the ruger REDHAWK,found the s/a too damned slow to load, and clumsy- but i also went with the 5.5 inch barrel,as well as a 7.5 inch- get the idea i like REDHAWKS?- I shoot a 240 at about 1100 fps- a little better than 44 spcl top end, but nowhere near a 44 mag hot load- and double action most of the time- there's a scope on there, and it's not easy to reach the hammer with the scope in place

 

[age]

OP you should consider the cost if your not reloading. The price of 44 mag will break yor wallet. You can get some good hot 357 mag that will shoot flames and shoot cheap 38's. But I know there is nothing like shooting a 44mag, just my 2 cents