What is the difference between single action and double handguns?

Question

I've been doing allot of reading on handguns online, and like all things online, I've found conflicting information. My question regards racking the slide, and exactly what that does.

From what I understand, in order to fire a single action handgun. After you insert the magazine, you have to rack the side in order to put a round in the chamber. Is that correct?

So that would lead me to assume that if you were to insert a mag in a SA gun, and then pull the trigger, nothing would happen. Is that correct?

On the other hand, if you were to do the same with DA gun, it would fire without having to rack the slide. Is that correct?

Also, wouldn't having to rack the slide be a saftey feature in itself? If you dropped it, it couldn't accidently discharge. Would you need any saftey feature besides this? Assuing you're not carrying it ******.

Thank you any insight.

Answer 1

Single Action = Trigger performs only one (single) action - it drops the (******) hammer. SA Semi-Automatic pistols are generally caried with a round in the chamber, the hammer ****** and the safety on. There is no truly safe way to lower the hammer on a loaded chamber.
Double Action = Trigger perfroms two (double) actions - it cocks then drops the hammer. DA semi-auto pistols are generally carried with the hammer down on an empty chamber, there is normally at least one mechanical way to lower the hammer safely.
All modern firearms are designed to withstand being dropped while loaded and ****** and not fire. I wouldn't throw my gun around, but I have never worried that a dropped gun would fire on impact.

Neither loads the chamber. Racking the slide on a Semi-auto pistol chambers the first round and makes the pistol ready to fire. On an SA Pistol the hammer stays ******, a DA Only pistol the hammer rides the slide down but is blocked from hitting the firing pin. Many modern semi-auto pistols are SA/DA, which means they can be fired either way, usually in the form of firing the first round DA then the hammer stays ****** and subsequnet rounds are fired SA. In some cases with SA/DA semi-auto pistols, engaging the safety lever safely lowers the hammer, requiring the first shot to be fired DA.

ALSO...SA revolver (as in old cowboy movies), you have to cock the hammer (which rotates the cylinder aligns the cartridge with the firing pin or hammer spur) and then pull the trigger to fire. In most cases, if you hold the trigger back while cocking the hammer, when you let it go it falls, firing the gun. That's the theory behind cowboy types "Fanning" the gun.
DA revolver you just pull the trigger and the mechanism cocks the hammer and rotates the cylinder as you pull it, then drops the hammer and fires at the end of a long pull. Most modern DA revolvers can also be fired SA, if you want to.

A Colt 1911 or Browning Hi-Power is a SA Semi-auto.
A Beretta 92FS (which the Army uses as the M9) is a SA/DA Semi-auto.
A Kel-Tec P32 is a DA Only semi-auto pistol.
A Colt Peacemaker/Single Action Army is a SA revolver.
A S&W model 10 is a DA revolver.
There are, of course, many many other examples of each type, I just gave you something to google to compare.

Shoot safe.

Answer 2

A single action means that you have to pull the hammer back each time before you pull the trigger. Think of old west cowboy revolver shooting, or a small derringer. A double action means that by pulling the trigger, the gun automatically spins the cylinder the next chamber (bullet slot) and the hammer falls, firing the gun. Releasing the trigger all the way and pulling it again gets the same reaction. Many revolvers are SA/DA which is an abbreviation that means you can manually pull the hammer back and it stays until you pull the trigger. This makes accurate shooting easier, since the trigger has less distance to travel. You can also just pull the trigger and it becomes DA. Some guy stated that semi autos are 'also referred to as single action'. Pay no attention to this, he is wrong. Certain semi auto's (like 1911 styles) require you to pull the hammer back the first time the gun is fired, the the action of the slide coming back when the bullet is fired moves the hammer back, ready to fire again. These are also referred to as SA/DA. Semi-Autos like Glock and and other guns that doesnt have an exposed hammer (like certain revolvers)are 'DAO', which is 'double action only'. There are a few revolvers that are "SAO", like North American Arms mini revolvers. To sum it up, if you are looking for a defensive handgun, you do not want a single action only gun. It takes too long to operate and is harder to aquire your target again when the gun is fired.

Answer 3

In the same order of your questions.
1 Yes
2 Yes
3 No you still must chamber a round first by working the slide.
4 Yes and No in some weapons (cheap ones) you need all the safeties you can get.
But on the Quality weapons they have more safety devices then you can see, and there for are safe to carry with a round in the chamber on exposed hammers always keep the hammer down on a loaded weapon until ready to shoot.
A Quality weapon should not fire if dropped, too many safety features in place if it did it needs a gunsmith asap.
But leaving the chamber empty is above all the safest, for you cant fire a round that is not there.

Hope this was of help.

D58

Answer 4

Single action refers to the hammer.

In revolvers single action means the hammer has to be ****** before the gun can be fired. This must be done each time to fire the gun.

Double action means that the gun cocks the hammer for you when you pull the trigger and no other action is required to fire the gun. However if you like you can also cock the hammer and fire the gun single action, hence the term double action.

Automatics differ some but for the most part if it states double action you will just have to pull the trigger to cock and fire the gun, if it is single action you will have to cock the gun for the first shot (the gun will re-cock itself each time its fired.

Also, single action is easier to shoot well due to a lighter trigger pull and a short distance in which the trigger must be pulled to fire the gun.

double action only means that

Answer 5

With an automatic, single action or double action, you must rack the slide to chamber the round.

A double action is when the hammer is moved from the breech to the back of the firearm and released when you pull the trigger. The trigger performs 2 actions, it pulls the hammer, then releases it.

A single action is when the trigger simply releases the hammer. After you rack the slide on a 1911 (Colt 45) for instance, the hammer is ******, when you pull the trigger, the hammer simply falls.

Answer 6

With both single action and double action you have to rack the slide to chamber a round. No matter if it is SA or DA, or any other type of gun, the action needs to be cycled to chamber a round.

Answer 7

the single and double action is when the round is in the chamber, if you can pull the trigger and the gun fires it is double action, if you have to pull the hammer back first then it is single action...having to rack the slide and put abullet in the chamber, doesn't affect whether or not it is double or single action

Answer 8

A double-action gun is a revolver or pistol capable of initiating the firing process merely by squeezing the trigger. In revolvers this process can be repeated for each shot. In pistols (semi-automatics) the process may be 'double action on the first shot only,' or 'double action every time.'

Single action means that the hammer must be ****** manually to initiate the firing process. 'Single action only' means this process must be repeated for each shot. Double action revolvers can usually be fired either single action or double action. The Colt 1911 .45 auto is configured to be a 'single action on the first shot,' then it can be shot by merely squeezing the trigger as it 'self cocks' with each shot.

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Answer 9

Man have they ever confused you SA--DA actualy has nothing to do with loading the gun at all it refers to how you fire the weapon S.A. you have to c.ock it by hand ie pull the hammer back with your thumb D.A. it cocks itself when you pull the trigger no pun intended but im gun shy about people that do not FULLY understand the features of any fire arm you dont know me nor are you likely to ever hear from me again i just browsed past and noticed your question but do me a favor unload that d---m thing and go to any gun shop even a pawn shop a get a real hands on person to show you how to use it before you shoot yourself or somebody else aint nothing to pi--s around with if you have kids esp. i dont spell to good but i know firearms yours could be a bad deal all the way around not talking down to you but they aint no toy Thanks Johnny

Answer 10

Single and double action mainly refers to revolvers. A single action you must first pull the hammer back then pull the trigger;a double action you can just pull the trigger