Different Handgun types

Good Morning!

Today I want to start out my day with some Fit Fuel from Black Rifle Coffee Company!

I wanted to go over some of the most popular types of handguns and explain the action that each uses to fire.

DA/SA

Double-Action/ Single-Action Semi-Auto

A classic example of this type of handgun is the Berreta 92FS, or the military designation the M9. This is an all metal frame handgun in 9mm that was used by the U.S. military for many years. The double action single action design means that you are able to pull the trigger which pulls back the hammer until you hit the breakpoint where it hits the firing pin setting off the cartridge if it is loaded. Once it has fired once, the slide goes back, loads another round in the chamber and is now in single action. This means that the hammer is already cocked, and now it is a much lighter trigger pull to make the hammer hit the firing pin. The main reason for this type of action is for people who like to carry with a round in the chamber, but don’t want to have a safety on. You can load the handgun, then decock the hammer, putting in the forward position so that it is a long trigger pull for the first shot, instead of a very light trigger that people may not be comfortable with.

Striker Fired

This is what many people think of when they think of a glock, or a Springfield XDM. This type of handgun doesn’t have a hammer, and instead has the same trigger pull every time. When you rack the slide on one of these handguns, it pulls the striker back, and then you pull the trigger so that it hits the firing pin, setting off the cartrige in the chamber. When the slide goes back, it resets the striker, loads another round in the chamber and is then ready to fire again. Many people like this type of handgun because the trigger pull is consistent instead of having to learn the difference between their long heavy double action, and light, short single action.

Double-Action/ Single Action Revolver

I have a Ruger GP100 with a 4-inch barrel and a seven round cylinder, in .357 magnum and .38 special. This revolver can be fired by either loading the cylinder, and then without cocking the hammer, just pulling the trigger which is a long heavy trigger pull (which turns the cylinder getting the cartridge in place) until it hits the break and goes forward, hitting the firing pin and setting off the cartridge in the cylinder. This, unlike a semi-auto loader, does not make the hammer go back for the next round. In order to fire in single action, you must pull the hammer back, which turns the cylinder getting the cartridge ready, but this time the trigger pull is very light, making it easier to hit the target.

DAO

Double action only

This type of handgun is seen commonly in smaller revolver made for carrying such as the Smith and Wesson Bodyguard in .38 special. This handgun has an internal hammer, so this means that you are unable to cock the hammer prior to pulling the trigger. In order to fire the revolver, you must pull the trigger to the rear with the long heavy trigger pull. Many people find this type of handgun to be more comfortable because it is much more difficult for this type of handgun to accidentally go off.

SAO

Single-Action Only

The iconic 1911 uses this type of action. Unlike the above mentioned handguns that have the ability to pull the trigger without pre-cocking the hammer, you cannot just pull the trigger on these types of handguns. In order to fire these types of handguns, you must first pull the hammer back, and then pull the trigger so that the hammer falls, hits the firing pin, and on 1911’s, it send the slide back, loads another round in the chamber, and sets the hammer to the rear getting it ready for you to pull the trigger again. There are SAO revolvers as well such as the Pietta 1873 45 Long Colt Single Action Revolver, which is the same revolver that Alec Baldwin was using on the set of Rust. In order for you to use this firearm, you must pull the hammer to the rear every time you want to fire, not just once, and then it goes to single-action every time. The hammer cannot fall without the trigger being pulled. If by some circumstance you drop the weapon on it’s hammer, the transfer bar stops the hammer from going forward and hitting the firing pin.

I hope that this post helped to explain some of the different types of handguns! If anyone has any questions or wants to know something about a subject I didn’t cover, let me know!