Anyone still using a DA/SA pistol?

[Adrenaline_6]

I carry a P30 v3, along with a VP9SK. Once I learned to shoot the stock P30 proficiently, triggers aren't really as much an issue. I have since lightened it with a Gray Guns kit and round count has gotten it very smooth, but was it needed? No. More a want than a need.

Thumbing the hammer as you holster has a comforting feel to it. I am way more wary of the VP9Sk when reholstering or putting it in my edc backpack holster setup.

[Pikey]

My first semi auto was a Colt 1911, but I actually learned how to shoot (marksmanship and trigger manipulation) on a DA/SA revolver. I shot the same 1911 for 20 years in USPSA and IDPA, achieving B class in USPSA and Expert rating in IDPA. So I can say that I am familiar with the system. Then I tinkered with the striker fired polymer for roughly 10 years shooting IDPA and training, made it to Master class in IDPA. Then I thought I would give the DA/SA pistols a go at it. Made Master in IDPA with a stock Beretta Vertec. My favorite DA/SA now are the CZ P07 (bought for $375 used) and the Beretta LTT Centurion. I shoot the CZ P07 better than custom $3000 1911 in the same caliber.

Recently had a chance to shoot another custom 1911 9mm side by side with the LTT Centurion. Same drill. The accuracy was much better with the custom 1911, speed/time was surprisingly slightly slower. I contributed the slower speed with the lack of trigger time with the 1911s. I don't shoot them much any more, I spend most of my practice and training with TDA and striker guns. The 3.5 lb trigger on the custom 1911 made a tight 4" group at 10 yards (yes Irene, 10 yards) in the -0 zone of the IDPA target shootinng the 5x5 IDPA classifier. We're not talking about slow fire, take your time, one shot at a time, NRA slow fire. There are four draws, one reload, one transition to head shot and one 5 shots strong hand only. The heavy barrel, 4", kept the muzzle flip to a minimum.

The DA/SA Beretta's group at the same distance/drill was still within the 8 inch -0 zone but more spread out. I did have 4 rounds out of the -0. The speed/time was surprisingly much faster.

Shooting from a rested position on a bench, the single action 1911 does make small 1" group vs. maybe 2" with the DA/SA gun.

This is one drill, one day. But I've pretty much produced the same results in several years of practice. I really enjoy shooting DA/SA more now than single action. I guess if I get rid of all my DA/SA pistols (ain't gonna happen) and go back to the 1911 full time, the results would swing the other way.

Concealability - the compact 4" 1911 win hands down. Slim, short and lighter, it disappears in a quality IWB holster while feeling much more comfortable. The chunky grips and heavier Beretta is no fun to carry in an IWB rig, concealing is a challenge. I tried appendix carry with the Beretta like all those cool kids but it doesn't work for me. The CZ P07 is a great size for carry, as it's about the same size as the all time favorite G19 favored by lots of operators (internet and real world).

If you shoot the same drills with the Beretta or the CZ as sao compared to sa/da would you expect speed and accuracy to be any better?

[Bulldog7972]

[QUOTE=matemike;3154668]DA/SA is what got me comfortable to carry with one in the chamber; knowing I had the safety of the long DA first pull, but the option to cock the hammer for that first shot if possible.

I carry a P239 specifically for the DA/SA aspect of it. I shoot it a lot at the range. It shoots really well and has light recoil.

Also, my Beretta 92 and P226 DA/SA will always be in my safe and rotated in as what I'll grab for bump in the night.

eta:

Carrying my P239 is pretty much how I became comfortable to carry strikers with one in the chamber nowadays. My P239 will always have a place in my heart. And despite its weight, in a good holster, it really just flattens out and feels like nothing more than a pancake inside my waist band. There are definitely options that carry easier and have more capacity than the P239, but not with the DA/SA option and the sweet shootability of the P239.[/QUOTE

[spence]

I started shooting pistols seriously five years ago. Over that time, I've run around 40k through several Beretta 92 variations, which makes up the bulk of my trigger time. I'm familiar with the system, I carry an LTT Centurion that has over half that round count on it, 2/3 of those rounds with a dot. I do have a PX4 or two, and if I were to want to switch to something smaller, I'd send the compact carry slide off for an RDO cut, and order a new holster.

For just printing groups or shooting fairly slow fire, there's not too many pistols I can't pick up and have decent success with, I do have a few holster options for other guns, so in the last few months I've started to pick up some of them just for the sake of gaining more trigger time on other pistols. I do not see myself moving away from DA/SA any time soon, if I were to, it would likely be to a 320 because my wife likes it and carries a 365X.

When I went to the Rangemaster instructor development course in April, I seem to remember Tom specifically stating something about there being no DA guns around, until well into shooting that first day when he realized what I carried. There were 18 of us, I think 2-3 1911/Stacatto type guns, and everything else was some form of striker fired except me. I did earn the first coin of the weekend, and shot a 99 on the qual, so take that for whatever it's worth.

[fred]

Pretty partial to Glocks after selling off my USP Compacts, but I kept a 228 gifted to me by a good friend. That’s the bedside pistol; whenever I get around to a versa-max IWB for it I’ll carry it with confidence.

In my youth DA/SA was always to be avoided; that is, until I got trained up on it by people who knew what they were doing. I carried a 229 in .357 SIG on duty. The round seemed to beat up the gun but it was the dogs balls for carry. If I had money I’d be totally committed to that round.

[turbomunkey]

Realistically, anything other than a striker fired polymer gun is people playing off of bias, IMO. You can train around a DA/SA trigger, or a thumb safety, or the cumbersome metal pistols, but the point and squeeze interface of Glock style guns is simply the fastest, and arguably more reliable pistol format.

If thats your style, nothing wrong with it.

[1168]

Realistically, anything other than a striker fired polymer gun is people playing off of bias, IMO. You can train around a DA/SA trigger, or a thumb safety, or the cumbersome metal pistols, but the point and squeeze interface of Glock style guns is simply the fastest, and arguably more reliable pistol format.

If thats your style, nothing wrong with it.

Fastest, you say?

[L-2]

Being retired LE, I've come across several folks who were ex-military or present or retired LE.
If ex/retired military, then the they were trained with Beretta M9 or perhaps SIG P226, M11. Even older retirees may have even been trained with 1911s, but this thread is regarding da/sa handguns.

If present or ex-LE, then Beretta (92 series), SIG (P226, P229), S&W (1st/2nd/3rd gen semiautos), to a lesser extent HK (I don't even know the model numbers); unless the LEOs' departments issued some form of DAO models; many LEOs had stayed with the da/sa issued/approved guns even if transitioning to striker-fired was ok'd.
Some LEOs did use 1911s besides or instead of da/sa or striker-fired; again, the thread is regarding users of da/sa.

~1995, I was issued the S&W 4006, but within a year, transitioned to a G22gen2. Other departments in my area at the time were also issuing the 4006, SIG P226 (some liked the P220 in .45ACP instead), and Beretta 92FS da/sa models. I later bought a SIG P226, even though I was a Glock guy, partially to become familiar with the SIG da/sa which what a neighboring department carried, but I ended up liking it also for an off-duty carry.

More simply, folks had trained with; carried; some personally-owned da/sa pistols and were most comfortable with their trusted sidearms. The da/sa guns are still made; they're still out there; it's good to maintain some degree of proficiency with them.

[turbomunkey]

Fastest, you say?

You dont think thats the case?

[1168]

You dont think thats the case?

I do not. The context in which the pistol is being used will dictate whether that even matters, though. If you have evidence otherwise, I’m all ears.