Hi all,

I'm in the market for my first 9mm (or first larger caliber firearm).

This would not be for CC (obviously). Not for home defense either, just target practice. So it seems a DA trigger is unnecessary and potentially a burden for accuracy. However, I've really liked the p226 in hand, and I hear good things about accuracy and reliability.

 

I'm not so clear about how the DA/decocker thing works. If I don't decock the gun, is it always SA? In other words, is the first show single action if the gun isn't decocked, or does the first shot always have a heavier trigger?

Thanks!

um... first things first... a DAO trigger is not necessarily a burden on accuracy, for guns like Glocks, Walther PPQ, Smith Wesson M&P, XD which are all striker fired DAO.

 

For a traditional double/single, the decocker lets you start out with the first shot being double action (hammer not cocked, longer triggerpul) (required for gun games, and what most would do when carrying). The follow up shots would be short and sweet Single Action.

when you put the mag in the gun and chamber a round on a sig, the gun will be in single action mode. Every shot after that would then be in single action.

 

 

same goes if you have the slide locked back, when you chamber a round and let the slide go fwd, you'll be in single action mode. The decocker, would allow the hammer to fall without a round being discharged. Then you would be in a double action mode. After teh first round, every subsequent round would be SA.

 

 

 

make sense?

I would also say that if you dry fire enough with a sig in DA and practice firing DA and then SA, you will not have an acciracy issue. Sig makes a DAK trigger that is really cool and has a light, smooth DA trigger.

Just to be clear (esp Maksim), the p226 is not DAO, it is DA/SA, right? DA/SA means that the trigger pull is like 10lbs first, then 4lbs thereafter. I assume DAO means its always a heavy trigger, like a wheelgun?

 

I'm afraid having different trigger pulls will throw off my accuracy. But it sounds like I can just use the sig without decocking and every round will be SA and thus the same trigger.

You can get the p226 in a DAO trigger, DAK dual action kellerman or da/sa, That is 3 different trigger systems. Mostly, they come in a da/sa trigger system. Usually the guns that are dao, are police trade ins.

 

 

 

the da/sa trigger pull is roughly 10 da and 5-5.5lb trigger pull in sa

Just to be clear (esp Maksim), the p226 is not DAO, it is DA/SA, right? DA/SA means that the trigger pull is like 10lbs first, then 4lbs thereafter. I assume DAO means its always a heavy trigger, like a wheelgun?

 

I'm afraid having different trigger pulls will throw off my accuracy. But it sounds like I can just use the sig without decocking and every round will be SA and thus the same trigger.

 

 

Sigs come in two varieties, DA/SA, and DAO and DAK? If it is different (Bryan, correct me on this)

 

Most DAO guns (double action only) will not be as heavy as a revolver. =)

Well, there is three trigger systems. DAO which is dual action only and will usually have around a 10lb trigger pull such as a revolver, unless it's a NYPD gun, then it's a 12lb trigger.

 

DAK is dual action kellerman which is dual action. It has a smooth light pull 6 lb trigger and the follow up reset shot is shorter than the initial trigger pull but it's heavier on the follow up shot, so it;'s like 6 lb then 8 lb. If you were to realease all the way put past the reset, it would be a consistant 6 lb pull every shot.

 

The da/sa I explained in my post above.

It's not that common to see a new dao gun. They are usually used cpo guns.

If you get a DA/SA gun just for range use, you won't use the DA unless you intentionally use the decocker. Like Brian said racking the slide to chamber a round cocks the hammer for SA operation. You would then have to use the decocker to lower the hammer to get to DA mode.

um... first things first... a DAO trigger is not necessarily a burden on accuracy, for guns like Glocks, Walther PPQ, Smith Wesson M&P, XD which are all striker fired DAO....

 

Striker fired doesnt mean DAO. On glocks (not sure about walthers) the striker is precocked to an intermediate position. If you dry fire it you cannot pull the trigger and keep dry firing, you need to cock it again. This is not double action.

Very true Glenn. My apologies, was wrong in terminology. Strikers fired guns are their own actions.

Very true Glenn. My apologies, was wrong in terminology. Strikers fired guns are their own actions.

 

No need to apoligize, just wanted to clarify

IMHO, the Sig P226, Glock 19 and Beretta 92FS are the best handguns on the planet. You can't go wrong with any of them, they all have .22LR conversion kits, and they will all last forever.

 

Buy the gun that feels right to you.

I haven't had a chance to fire the p226 yet. I also really like the cz-75 in hand, but it seems no one in NJ has one for rent. I really wanted to fire the cz next to the p226.

 

Anyone know if the CZ DA/SA is similar to the sig?

Yes, all DA/SA guns are the same with a heavier, longer double action pull, followed by a light, crisp single action pull. I shoot a DA/SA gun in USPSA and IDPA and never have an issue with the first pull being longer and heavier.

I haven't had a chance to fire the p226 yet. I also really like the cz-75 in hand, but it seems no one in NJ has one for rent. I really wanted to fire the cz next to the p226.

 

Anyone know if the CZ DA/SA is similar to the sig?

 

I have a 226 9mm da/sa you are more then welcome to shoot. I should be going to SS in a couple of weeks at most. I need to shoot!!!!

 

LMK if interested.

Nice of you to offer. I was actually planning to rent one down there. The only problem is finding the CZ to compare it. The p226s seem to be popular enough around here, but the CZs are few and far between.

 

I have a 226 9mm da/sa you are more then welcome to shoot. I should be going to SS in a couple of weeks at most. I need to shoot!!!!

 

LMK if interested.

All of the pistols I own, other than a Kahr and a 1911, are DA/SA. The CZ and HK I own are great guns, but the DA trigger pull is gritty and long. The Sig by far has the best trigger of any of them. If you get the Sig, make sure it has the SRT (short reset trigger). I think, but am not sure, that all new Sig 226 models have the SRT. Personally, I prefer the Sig trigger to a glock and find the gun very, very accurate. It makes and excellent range gun and a fine gun to use in tactical pistol classes.

In a semi, double action means if the hammer is decocked and round is chambered the first shot is a heavy/long double action pull and subsequent ones are single action. You can manually cock the hammer if a round is chambered and hammer is dropped to make every shot single action.

 

DAO(DAK is also DAO) means every single shot is a long/heavy pull. Each stroke of the trigger cocks and releases the hammer.

 

In DA and true DAO guns if you get a light strike and the guns doesn't go off you have the option of pulling the trigger again and the round might go off.

 

Glock works differently. When the slide is moved forward either from manually chambering or the shot itself cycling the slide, it pre-cocks the striker partially. When you pull the trigger it pulls the striker back rest of the way and finally releases it. It does not give you the option of a second shot if the round doesn't go off. On a Glock the pre-travel of the trigger before it pulls back the striker has resistance from the trigger spring but to reset you don't have to release the trigger all the way back so it feels like a single action(actual weight depends on trigger spring and the angle of the sear) For target shooting I think it has no advantage nor disadvantage compared to a factory Sig DA. I actually shoot my Glock 19 better even though my Sigs seem to have much crisper and lighter SA trigger.

 

On some striker fired guns like Kahr, they purposely make it so you have to release the trigger all the way to fire the next shot. But it does not give you the option of second strike without cycling the slide.

 

To answer your question, Sigs DA guns are great for range use, so are CZ, Glock, M&P and many others. For me I shoot my Glock 19 the best. So it's not always the one with the best feeling trigger when you dry fire nor the one that feels the best in your hand. Best thing to do is probably try them out before buying.

BTW you can make a Glock feel like a DAO by installing a very heavy trigger spring and light sear so it feels like almost a long smooth/heavy pull, Kahr has that feel although the pull is not really that heavy. But on a Glock even if you set it up like that you still don't have the let go of the trigger all the way to reset.

All of the pistols I own, other than a Kahr and a 1911, are DA/SA. The CZ and HK I own are great guns, but the DA trigger pull is gritty and long. The Sig by far has the best trigger of any of them. If you get the Sig, make sure it has the SRT (short reset trigger). I think, but am not sure, that all new Sig 226 models have the SRT. Personally, I prefer the Sig trigger to a glock and find the gun very, very accurate. It makes and excellent range gun and a fine gun to use in tactical pistol classes.

 

 

They come with the short trigger. The Short Reset Trigger is a change of the sear and safety lever. Two different things. If the specs say on the web SRT, then it's the short reset trigger. If it diesn't say SRT and has a short trigger, well it's just the short trigger.,

They come with the short trigger. The Short Reset Trigger is a change of the sear and safety lever. Two different things. If the specs say on the web SRT, then it's the short reset trigger. If it diesn't say SRT and has a short trigger, well it's just the short trigger.,

OK. The model I have -- the P226 E2, has the "reduced reach trigger and the SRT short reset trigger system." Thanks for the clarification. I have never fired a Sig without the SRT so can't speak to it. All I know is that the trigger on my 226 is excellent. I will say that the old model Sigs without the modified reduced grip were too big for my hand. Another, very important factor to ocnsider. The OP definitely should try before he buys, as others have said.

Older Sigs made in Germany in general have better triggers out of the box. However the newer ones will be just as good after a few thousand rounds once the contact surfaces are broken in.

 

I personally do not like the short trigger (not talking about SRT). Because the P series has a relative wide frame and the grip area behind the trigger has square corners, it tends to kinda "pinch" my finger once the short trigger is pulled back. I think the E2 grip with the normal trigger would be a perfect fit for most.

 

Also new Sigs all has stainless slide now. Older ones were made of stamped carbon steel and has a breech block insert. I prefer those better since the slide is thinner and for some reason balances better for me. But they do tend to rust easier if you don't keep the slide oiled.

 

You can still get one all made in Germany with the carbon slide if you are interested. http://www.topgunsupply.com/sig-sauer-p226r-9mm-carbon-slide.html The internal parts are still MIM as far as I know. Unlike the ones made in Germany in the good old days.

If you are near Tenafly I would be glad to meet you at my range and you can try my P229 with the DA/SA trigger.

I have a newer 226, but was not an E2. I put the E2 grips on it and it is perfect for my smallish hands.

Older Sigs made in Germany in general have better triggers out of the box. However the newer ones will be just as good after a few thousand rounds once the contact surfaces are broken in.

 

I personally do not like the short trigger (not talking about SRT). Because the P series has a relative wide frame and the grip area behind the trigger has square corners, it tends to kinda "pinch" my finger once the short trigger is pulled back. I think the E2 grip with the normal trigger would be a perfect fit for most.

 

Also new Sigs all has stainless slide now. Older ones were made of stamped carbon steel and has a breech block insert. I prefer those better since the slide is thinner and for some reason balances better for me. But they do tend to rust easier if you don't keep the slide oiled.

 

You can still get one all made in Germany with the carbon slide if you are interested. http://www.topgunsup...rbon-slide.html The internal parts are still MIM as far as I know. Unlike the ones made in Germany in the good old days.

 

 

 

Correct. i hate the short trigger and replace mine with the standard length triggers. I agree about the older German models. The 228 balances so much better than a 229 in 9mm. I wonder if everything is mMIM though. There was talk on sig forum regarding the hammer being MIM. Funny thing, I had an action job done on a gun. Only put 150 rounds through it. Didn't feel like the action job was that great. Sold it to somebody and bought it back. They put enough rounds through it to break the gun in. Now it's smooth like butter.

 

 

 

Bottom line like everybody is saying, you need to try things to see what you like. I rented lots of guns and tried so many friends guns before I made my choice.