Looking for my first semi-auto in 9mm. Obviously new to pistols so what's the difference between DAO and SAO.

DAO (double-action only) usually refers to a long trigger pull, where SAO (single-action only) is a shorter one. DA/SA (double-action, single-action) is a combination of both.

A double action trigger pull does two things. As the trigger is pulled, the hammer is brought back, then the hammer is released. A single action trigger pull only does one thing. The pull of the trigger releases the hammer or striker. The "only" means that the gun is designed to only have that trigger pull.

 

The DAO design is generally a longer, heavier pull when compared to SAO.

 

DA/SA allows you to decock, so that your first shot must be fired in DA, but the cycling of the action will leave the weapon cocked so that any second shot will be in SA.

You're not going to find a semi-auto in SAO (that's a cowboy-type revolver thing, where you have to cock the trigger before every shot). However there are a bunch of DA/SA semiautos. The first pull is long, like a revolver-- cocking the hammer and dropping it. The next is a short single action trigger pull, where the only action done by the trigger is drop the already cocked hammer.

You're not going to find a semi-auto in SAO (that's a cowboy-type revolver thing, where you have to cock the trigger before every shot). However there are a bunch of DA/SA semiautos. The first pull is long, like a revolver-- cocking the hammer and dropping it. The next is a short single action trigger pull, where the only action done by the trigger is drop the already cocked hammer.

 

???

 

1911 for starters and there are plenty of others.

You're not going to find a semi-auto in SAO (that's a cowboy-type revolver thing, where you have to cock the trigger before every shot). However there are a bunch of DA/SA semiautos. The first pull is long, like a revolver-- cocking the hammer and dropping it. The next is a short single action trigger pull, where the only action done by the trigger is drop the already cocked hammer.

 

I'd better tell some of the manufacturers of my guns that they are doing it wrong... LOL...

 

Think you have it a little mixed up, Post # 3 is spot on..

D'oh! I guess I wasn't thinking. I stand corrected.

A double action trigger pull does two things. As the trigger is pulled, the hammer is brought back, then the hammer is released. A single action trigger pull only does one thing. The pull of the trigger releases the hammer or striker. The "only" means that the gun is designed to only have that trigger pull.

 

The DAO design is generally a longer, heavier pull when compared to SAO.

 

DA/SA allows you to decock, so that your first shot must be fired in DA, but the cycling of the action will leave the weapon cocked so that any second shot will be in SA.

 

This ^^^^

 

As a addition every pull of the trigger on a DAO will be the same (~8lbs). DA/SA first pull is heavy (~10lb) then goes to light (~4lbs). SA will always be light.

What's confusing me is advertising and my understanding of SA vs DA. In a semi automatic pistol - my familarity is the 1911 - once you have chambered a round, the hammer is back. Depress the trigger and bang. Casing ejected, another round chambered and the hammer is ready for another shot. If you chamber a round and release the hammer to a 'safe' position, you have to manually re-cock in order to fire. Both examples are single action. Now if you insert a clip with both the slide and the hamer 'safe', depressing the trigger chambers a round, re-cocks the hammer, releases the hammer and - bang. Double action. So why am I seeing DA only or SA/DA descriptions for 9mm?

I'm confused on your description of double action. When talking about a semi-auto, when you insert a magazine (not a clip, but that's a different discussion) with the slide forward, there is no round in the chamber until you cycle the slide manually. A double action does not load your first round by pulling the trigger. A double action means that the trigger pull will a. cock the hammer and b. release the hammer.

 

"Double action only" means that the slide action does not leave the weapon cocked and every shot will be a double action pull.

 

DA/SA means that, after you have loaded a round in the chamber, you can decock the weapon. Your first trigger pull will be in double action, and the action of the slide will leave the weapon cocked for your follow up shots to be in single action.

 

Different types of the same model can be DAO or DA/SA. For example, the SIG P229 may be purchased in a DAO. There is no decocker and the hammer is exposed, but slim and cannot be manually cocked. It can only be fired with a DA pull. You insert a magazine, cycle the slide to chamber a round, pull the trigger to cock and release the hammer, fire, the slide cycles and loads another round, the hammer does not stay cocked, you pull the trigger to cock and drop the hammer to fire the next round.

 

The P229 can also be purchased as a DA/SA configuration. That has a decocker and a hammer that can be manually cocked. When you load a round in the chamber by cycling the slide, the hammer remains cocked, you can then decock the hammer and that is the safe position. To fire, you can pull the trigger in double action, the round will fire, the slide will cycle and the hammer will remain cocked in position for your next trigger pull to be in single action. Alternatively, you can leave the hammer cocked our manually cock the hammer to fire that first shot in SA.

 

(Maksim... Thanks for fixing the language filter. Just imagine this post with the old setting.)

Thanks guys.

Try Sig's SRT. It's nice. :-)

Looking for my first semi-auto in 9mm. Obviously new to pistols so what's the difference between DAO and SAO.

 

Just wanted to add that Glocks, M&Ps, etc are considered DAO but behave more like SAO. To clarify, the sear has a slight bump that the striker has to go over before it's released. Therefore, it's technically DAO because the pull of the trigger drops the sear causing the striker to pull back slightly. This seems to be less functional but more to get it classified as DAO for law enforcement.

Yeah, people really need to stop using DA/SA/DAO as classifications for striker fired guns, they really don't fit. I really like the companies that have taken to calling them "safe action" to distinguish them except for the problem that still abbreviate to SA so ..

???

 

1911 for starters and there are plenty of others.

 

Ruger Mark III

Browning Buckmark

CZ 75B SA

Browning Hi Power

and many, many more...

May be worth going to an NRA Basic Pistol session, you'll get a good overview of DA/SA, DAO, SAO, Striker fired etc but more importantly most places should have a selection of revolvers and semi-autos you can try. There are pros and cons to each of them, and then there is steel v aluminum v plastic frame, double stack v single stack etc.

 

HTH

 

theWombat

Ian, what is the reason to buy a DAO Sig P229 instead of a DA/SA P229? One of the guys at our club has a DAO P229 that he uses. I could see that having the same exact trigger pull may be an advantage instead of a long first pull then a short second thru last. It functions more like a revolver in a way (unless you cock the hammer on the revolver then put it in your holster, that is something I would never do!).

 

Are there any safeties on the DAO P229 or is the safety the long trigger pull?

The point of DAO is exact same trigger pull for each shot, although I'm not thrilled with the idea long/heavy pull for each shot. There are no other safeties on a DAO 229 besides the trigger pull

The point of DAO is exact same trigger pull for each shot, although I'm not thrilled with the idea long/heavy pull for each shot. There are no other safeties on a DAO 229 besides the trigger pull

 

^ This

Looking for my first semi-auto in 9mm. Obviously new to pistols so what's the difference between DAO and SAO.

 

Since you're already familiar with a 1911, why not just buy one in 9mm? The STI Spartan comes to mind. Very nice for the money, and no problems with learning all of this new terminology/ergonomics or putting-up with a trigger pull that will cause you to pull your shots off of the target! No need to re-invent the wheel.........

Are there any safeties on the DAO P229 or is the safety the long trigger pull?

 

There are other built-in safety systems in Sigs. You have a firing pin block and a hammer intercept notch as well as a disconnector. If it were DA/SA you would also have a decocker.

 

Not sure that Sig still makes a DAO, except for LE contract runs. Their version is now the DAK, which, yes is double action only, but has two distinct reset points, thus yielding two different trigger pulls in both length and weight, depending upon from which reset point the trigger is pulled.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

Thanks Bob. The fella that shoots with us is an LEO, maybe that is how he was able to acquire the gun.

Thanks Bob. The fella that shoots with us is an LEO, maybe that is how he was able to acquire the gun.

 

Is he Essex County Sheriff's Office? If so, I believe I saw him shoot at Shongum last match - very well, I might add - and his is a DAK gun.

His name is Matt, where he works I do not know. He is a very good shooter. Indoors that gun makes cool rings of fire!