Some info on pistol actions please?

IanC

IanC

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Hey there.
Im researching a few pistols but am still a little murkey when it comes to actions. I want an auto loading pistol. So far all ive shot is the 1911 which ive read has a single action. I liked the hair trigger and would like a gun like this. Ive been looking into glocks what kind of trigger do they have?

Also i get a little confused on double action. Does that mean the first shot is double then every shot after is double? Like the hammer actually goes back as i pull the trigger like a revolver? Or is this double action only?

I guess i need clarification.
Single action.
Double action.
Double action only.

Also how does a double action trigger work with a 3 lbs pull?
I understand how single works but not double.
Thanks a lot for your help. I hope to join the pistol ranks soon but there
are so many out there its hard to make a decision.
Ian Cameron
 
Think of it in terms of what the trigger does;
in a single-action pistol, the trigger only performs a single action, ie. it only drops the hammer or striker after it has already been cocked. Typical example: Colt 1911 and copies.

in a double-action pistol, the trigger can usually perform two actions, ie. it will usually both #### AND drop the hammer or striker (most double action pistols can be fired double-action for the first shot, but will then act like single-action pistols for remaining shots, since the slide will recock the hammer or striker). Typical examples: Beretta 92/96, Walther P38, CZ-75,etc.

in a double-action-ONLY pistol, the slide will NOT recock the hammer or striker for following shots, so you have the exact same trigger-pull for every shot you fire. Typical examples: Glock, Beretta 92D/96D, Para LDA.
Hope this helps.
 
Hi

Glock is NOT double action only. It is more like a single action. If you chamber a round, the action is cocked. If you pull the trigger and get a click instead of the bang, you must work the slide to recock it's "striker" before you pull the trigger for a second time to try and fire that round.

Sticker
 
lets add a layer of confusion :D

The Walther P99 has D/A / S/A trigger.

Can be fired in either mode by using the decocker, very cool system /safety features.

fed007
 
The HK USP is the same.... although the DA trigger pull is so heavy I don't know why anyone would want to shoot it that way.

fed007 said:
lets add a layer of confusion :D

The Walther P99 has D/A / S/A trigger.

Can be fired in either mode by using the decocker, very cool system /safety features.

fed007
Click to expand...
 
Sticker said:
Hi

Glock is NOT double action only. It is more like a single action. If you chamber a round, the action is cocked. If you pull the trigger and get a click instead of the bang, you must work the slide to recock it's "striker" before you pull the trigger for a second time to try and fire that round.

Sticker
Click to expand...

As much as I hate to say it, you are wrong. The Glock IS double action only, and like a Smith and Wesson 5946 it's one shot only, unless the slide moves. When the slide moves the striker is cocked, but not all the way. The act of pulling the trigger does move the striker back, not much, but enough to qualify the gun as Double Action Only. Now look at an XD, which is actually Single Action, and you can see the difference, the XD only releases the striker, which has been cocked by the action of the slide.
 
If it doesn't strike the primer each time you pull the trigger without having to do anything else to the gun it is not a true double action. For that reason I throw the Glock into the single action bucket ;) It might not be a true single action either but it is closer to a single than a double from where I see it.
 
As Slavex pointed out, the Glock is more of a true DA than a SA design, but there are a bunch of other "halfway" designs that either combine features of both of these actions, or can be used one way OR the other, depending on your preference. Something like a CZ-75 can be used both as a SA-only design (some variants are SA only, in fact), or as a DA first shot. Something like a Browning BDM can be used as a SA or a DAO, depending on which way you want it, and which way you set the slide-mounted selector. If you can think of a way of designing a handgun, the odds are that it's already been tried somewhere, sometime.
 
THanks for the replies. I suppose i really had trouble when i saw some pistols sold as double action and then double action only. Seemed kinda weird.
Any suggestions on some sweet single action pistols other than the 1911
which is probaby what i will get anyways. Im looking for 40S&W.
Thanks agian
 
UncleWalther said:
What about the HK P7 series.... is it single action or double action? That one is tough to figure.
Click to expand...
Single Action – it cocks when you squeeze it (I know, sounds kind of ###)
 
echo4lima said:
Are the basic definitions not covered in the manual for restricted PAL??? why not look 'em up?
Click to expand...

Yes the basic actions are covered but not specifics. Like the different actions in autoloaders. Thanks again for all the help fellows.
 
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