DA/SA vs SAO Semi's

[SRBill]

When considering a handgun, the options i've seen between different models are DA/SA and SAO. I like the idea of SAO. Considering that the DA/SA has something like a DA trigger pull of upwards around 10# and the SA then drops to around 5#.

What are the reasons to consider the DA/SA? Inquiring minds need to know.

[Midtown]

Depends on what you use it for, the DA on my cz 75b has never come into play because it would require manually dropping the hammer.

[Bainter1212]

When considering a handgun, the options i've seen between different models are DA/SA and SAO. I like the idea of SAO. Considering that the DA/SA has something like a DA trigger pull of upwards around 10# and the SA then drops to around 5#.

What are the reasons to consider the DA/SA? Inquiring minds need to know.

Some people are afraid to carry an SA because they don't like the light trigger pull and they are afraid that they will not disengage the safety when needed.
All of these issues can be mitigated by training/practicing.
It is really a personal choice.

[pluke the 2]

When considering a handgun, the options i've seen between different models are DA/SA and SAO. I like the idea of SAO. Considering that the DA/SA has something like a DA trigger pull of upwards around 10# and the SA then drops to around 5#.

What are the reasons to consider the DA/SA? Inquiring minds need to know.

I like the d/a and s/a because I'm familiar to it. I also use the d/a and s/a as a safety mechanism. The long double pull on my p239 makes it a confident shot should I need to use it in a self defense situation.

[diveRN]

I took an advanced FA class a few years ago attended by a female LEO who was trying to regain proficiency after having taken 6 months off to have a baby. She was shooting a DA/SA Sig that her dept had switched to while she was on leave, but was having accuracy issues with it due to the heavy DA trigger weight. The instructor gave her a Glock for a few drills just to see if that was the case. She did fine with the SF pistol. According to her, the agency went to the DA/SA because of the reduced possibility of an ND.

I carried a SW4006 for years though, never had an issue with it.

[Noonanda]

I've got a Sig 2022 and I like the DA trigger, and practice with it. Now granted I am not shooting to safe my life, but that first shot I find myself concentrating more on the sights, and getting a nice clean break of the trigger.

So for me I like DA/SA, in both semi automatic pistols and revolvers

[laurelpark]

Really comes down to personal preference (especially with a striker fired gun). I loved my Walther P99 because it had a decocker. When I moved to the PPQ, it took me forever to get used to the lack of a decocker, and I was really leery of it at first. My situation might be unusual, though - I have my own range, and I'd often shoot five round groups, walk up to the target to have a look, and then go back to the shooting position to do the next group. After doing that for so many years with a decocker, it felt "weird" to have the gun in SA (cocked) mode between five-round sessions. I much preferred to have the first round in DA mode (heavy trigger pull) because that was what I was used to.

[djhall]

In my personal opinion, DA/SA is a compromise. With perfect handling a SAO is the better option, but the real world tends to get messy. For a work gun I prefer SAO with a holster on a duty belt, but for home defense I feel the odds of a negligent discharge or failure to engage/disengage the safety are more likely than the harder DA trigger pull screwing up a defensive shooting at indoor ranges.

This is especially true if my wife ends up needing/using the gun. I can't guarantee under extreme stress she will remember to disengage a safety or keep her finger along the slide, but my DA/SA pistols and DAO revolvers will be the most forgiving for her if she doesn't.

There is also potentially something to be said for consistency in training across your guns. A 1911 style with a decocker is more similar in handling and operation to Glock/XD style guns and revolvers than a 1911 style with a manual safety.

[pluke the 2]

I like the d/a and s/a because I'm familiar to it. I also use the d/a and s/a as a safety mechanism. The long double pull on my p239 makes it a confident shot should I need to use it in a self defense situation.

I also don't have a safety selector on my carry gun so the da sa feels more comfortable

[calif 15-22]

In my personal opinion, DA/SA is a compromise. With perfect handling a SAO is the better option, but the real world tends to get messy. For a work gun I prefer SAO with a holster on a duty belt, but for home defense I feel the odds of a negligent discharge or failure to engage/disengage the safety are more likely than the harder DA trigger pull screwing up a defensive shooting at indoor ranges.

This is especially true if my wife ends up needing/using the gun. I can't guarantee under extreme stress she will remember to disengage a safety or keep her finger along the slide, but my DA/SA pistols and DAO revolvers will be the most forgiving for her is he doesn't.

I'm the opposite. For my Home Defense gun they are all striker fired DAO. First shot is the same as the remaining 9 shots. They are not holstered so I'm a bit more confident with trigger discipline when retrieving from the lock box.

Now if I was allowed to carry in San Mateo County (insert laughter here), I might rethink the DA/SA and or lots and lots of training with a CCW holster and SAO firearm, as the lighter trigger might be a disadvantage for me.

As a newbie my DA shots are not as good as my SA shots in general.

[Barang]

I like the option to decock it in DA mode.

[djhall]

I'm the opposite. For my Home Defense gun they are all striker fired SAO. First shot is the same as the remaining 9 shots. They are not holstered so I'm a bit more confident with trigger discipline when retrieving from the lock box.
...
As a newbie my DA shots are not as good as my SA shots in general.

Part of my opinion probably comes from my personal history working for a company that only allowed us to carry .38 revolvers. After that I went to striker fired pistols and then DA/SA pistols.

For me the idea of DA doesn't seem like much of a change, and certainly not as much of a change as adding a safety. But I'd probably feel differently if my history had been 1911 style safety and SAO strikers instead.

And of course, there is the wife.... she shoots just enough to be competent handling my guns and hitting targets a 15 yards. At that level of training I'm more comfortable with the idea of a DA in her hands over a striker (and preferably a revolver over a pistol).

[onelonehorseman]

OP, as stated by others, it's really personal preference. I have, like, and use both SA only striker fired pistols with no manual Safety (Glock), and also DA/SA types with manual safety (CZ, H&K). They can all be good for your purpose if you practice and become proficient with them. Either can work for HD or CCW. For range, it really doesn't matter.

Try both and use what seems best for you.

[bountyhunter]

When considering a handgun, the options i've seen between different models are DA/SA and SAO. I like the idea of SAO. Considering that the DA/SA has something like a DA trigger pull of upwards around 10# and the SA then drops to around 5#.

What are the reasons to consider the DA/SA? Inquiring minds need to know.

Most people shoot the SA trigger a lot more accurately for target shooting. I think DA/SA for a defense gun is a bad idea because the trigger pull should be the same each time. DA/SA means you can carry chambered with hammer down, SA usually means you have to carry cocked.

[bountyhunter]

And of course, there is the wife.... she shoots just enough to be competent handling my guns and hitting targets a 15 yards. At that level of training I'm more comfortable with the idea of a DA in her hands over a striker (and preferably a revolver over a pistol).

Some striker fired guns are DAO like the Springfield XD. Like Glock, XD trigger pulls the same each time but it has a lighter, crisper trigger break than Glock.