For me… if for SD/CCW DA/SA is my choice as there are fewer steps before firing. Point and shoot versus having to flick safeties etc. SA/DA saves time and there are fewer things to forget or that could lead to operator error. For range fun it doesn’t matter. If you do go SAO for SD/CCW, you better train like there’s no tomorrow. While it won’t eliminate the aforementioned extra steps, it will decrease your chances of not executing correctly. The seasoned 1911 guys around here will tell you this.

 

AzMaz, I'm not sure I understand. Can you be more specific as to what extra steps are needed to fire the SAO model? I think both models have safeties.

 

In a home defense situation I would not want to have to hand cock the pistol after each shot. I know the typical situation does not involve a lot of shots, but two or three could be enough for the bad guy/s to get you.

 

Tukatz, it's my understanding that with either model, you don't need to hand cock the pistol after each shot, or even before. You merely need to slingshot the round into the chamber, and the gun is then ready to fire. The DA/SA model does have a first trigger pull of a little more than 10 lbs. of pressure, but after that it shifts into SA and the remaining trigger pulls are about 4-5 lbs. of pressure. I think with the SAO model, all trigger pulls are the 4-5 lb. pull.

 

Either would be fine. When it comes to single actions with a safety, if you use the safety lever as a thumb rest when you draw or grasp the pistol, deactivation is a mute point. I can't hold a 1911 or my p226 soa without my thumb on the safety lever lowered so it is not an issue. Kind of wish all semi autos had that awesome thumb rest lever and grip indexer on them.

 

Whatever your preference, train with it until it is second nature. I prefer SAO since every trigger press is the same. My thumb is on top of manual safety from draw, sweep down as gun levels out toward target and stays on top until final round. Then either reload or sweep safety up and slowly reholster. Sigs have several internal safeties all overcome when trigger is to the rear of trigger guard.

 

DA/SA. No safeties needed. The long, heave DA pull is the safety.

 

DA/SA has no safty lever or anything like that. The pull weight of DA (double action) is usually around 8-12lbs. This added weight is what most consider the safe mode. The SA (single action) mode is a much lighter trigger about 3.5-5lbs average. The DA/SA gun has a decocking lever that drops the hammer safely so it can be placed into DA mode after the slide has been released and a round is in the chamber.

Go to this post and watch the animations

Sticky - Classic Line Pistols - How they work in animation

I thought it might be beneficial to the forum to have some additional classic series pistol reference material available for use here on the forum. Occasionally questions are asked that are answered with verbiage and sometimes static pictures. These animations bring the pistol operation to life...

www.sigtalk.com

The SAO once loaded has a safety lever that keeps it from firing.

 

while I currently use and train with an SAO with safety I'm looking to move to a DA/SA, so if I was doing it today id go DA/SA and not use a safety , just the 10 lbs pull for intent and my finger as the safety

 

I am all about the SA/DA for the reasons mentioned. No of use really know if we will remember all our training when it counts. Most people I'm told, do not. Kicking that safety off can be trained out I suppose. but why bother. The SA/DA gives me everything. I see a lot of people on line saying that first DA trigger pull must be trained hard. Not really. Practice with a DA revolver and you'll be fine. And Dry fire every day.

 

Jbernard, do you have any experience with 1911's? If so, did you like them or not?

 

This is for me and me only. How other folks do things is up to their preference and experience.

1- DA/SA for self defense carry.
2- SAO for range fun (and maybe home defense).

In a carry self defense situation, I do not want an extra step of flipping the safety off in order to fire. Any extra step is a potential problem waiting to happen. I've heard all kinds of SAO proponent experts with their explanations. "You need to train more", or, "Flip the safety off as you draw, no extra time spent". That's fine and dandy for you, but it doesn't matter to me one bit. A flipping-off-the-safety is an extra step, no matter how you slice it. Any extra step is a potential issue/road block, and I don't want that, no matter how unlikely, to pop up at the most crucial microsecond of my life.

DA/SA? No extra step.

 

Personal preference is DA/SA. The main reason is the heavier trigger weight on the first shot. This requires a more determined trigger pull thus helping to avoid an unintended discharge due to something like being startled.

In regards to the manual safety on a SAO, it’s a non issue with a modicum of training.

 

In your case, I would recommend you get the da/sa. Home defense you actually might want a longer first trigger pull, and if using on the range, you can easily switch between double action and single action.

I guess it boils down to your preference in the 1911 platform. Those that grew up with the 1911 might prefer the sao. From my understanding, the sao models have a slightly better trigger sa trigger compared to the da/sa srt trigger, but that could be a preference thing too.

 

After carrying a commander size 1911 for 30 some years “cocked & locked” I decided DA/SA was better for me. Personal preference. I still carry the 1911 occasionally but it’s rare.

 

There are some other variables to consider that might not apply but
I carried a 1911 for some time. The issue wasnt whether I would remember the safety when deploying as I spent enough time with it to feel pretty comfortable with it but .. I ride a motorcycle .. Seems I have always ridden a motorcycle.

So this is going years back but I had it on and had a jacket designed for motorcycling which is usually cinched pretty tight around the waist so air doesnt blow up it. This gun came with the ambi safety which I HATE. When I arrived at my destination .. lo and behold the thumb safety had been inadvertently clicked off.

Was it a huge deal .. NAH. The gun is still in the holster, the trigger is around 5-6 lbs and there is still a grip safety .. Still it was disconcerting.

How do you plan to carry and what activities you might engage in while carrying has to weigh in. I have taken to carrying Appendix about 50% of the time. Something I thought I would never do. I feel A WHOLE LOT BETTER carrying appendix with a DA/SA. I wouldnt carry a striker that way.

Now before the mall ninjas jump in about how safety is between the ears and such .. to each their own and my own is .. I am not comfortable with a striker pointed at my doodle but have no problem with the DA/SA.

Much is made of the DA pull .. I have to say .. the very only time I even recognize that it is DA first pull is if I am standing at a static range and trying to do some bullseye type shooting from DA.

When I am out shooting in the desert on the clock shooting multiple targets .. I swear I never even notice it. Timer goes off ....Draw .. bang bang bang. I hear about guys saying the transition is awkward .. I dont know what they mean. My first shot at speed feels the same as the last.

 

It is good to seek everyone's opinion. Then go out and shoot them all. Chose the one you have confidence in and can shoot most accurately. All the platforms are good solid designed weapons. If you can shoot enough to become very effficient decocking the SA/DA then feel safe to pick that firearm. If you can shoot enough to become efficient taking off and putting on a safety then feel free to pick that platform. If you are limited in you ability and time to train consider a DAO. In the end considering all those factors, the recommendations, and go with confidence and accuracy.

 

Your choices of a DAO pistol are extremely limited, unless you count revolvers which they all are DAO for all intents and purposes. Can you give some examples make, model, etc. of DAO pistols?

 

Thanks everyone for the variation of opinions and reasons for them. I think I've decided to go with the DA/SA for the simple reason that the gun will be used as a home defense weapon and never carried. Knowing that, I will have it ready to shoot in my nightstand, and I do like the idea of the harder initial trigger pull being the only thing I need to navigate before I might have to stop an unwanted intruder. I also like the de-cock feature to safely de-escalate a situation when the nerves are high, which in all honesty would certainly be the case in the event of a real or perceived break-in. Having kept a Glock racked and ready to go in the nightstand for many years, I guess I just felt that having an SAO gun with the safety off would be no different. However, I have to admit that I have always wondered about the possibility of nerves in a real-danger situation causing an accidental discharge (you can never know for sure no matter how much you train if you've never been in that situation), so the added amount of trigger pull to send off the first shot is a welcome addition of added safety in comparison to the Glock.

And by the way, I live alone, and when I do have visitors over especially if they have kids, my home defense gun is safely secured. My carry gun is a P365XL Spectre, which I carry IWB and just behind the hip.

 

A well reasoned decision...

 

personally i like the extra safety of that heavy first pull for home defense.

 

Most will notice my near constant emphasis on training. "You will not rise to the situation, but fail to your level of training." Whether this was said first by seals or some other group of well trained fighters, it is absolutely true. Hollywood loves to show the hero rising to the situation, but that almost never happens. Train hard, dry practice often and get very smooth in your gun handling and manipulation. The action of the gun is just knowing how to use the chosen tool.

 

I prefer no manual safety on a carry firearm. No problem either way with range arms.

 

I like DA/SA. No matter how much training and practice we are still human and humans make mistakes. If I get into a position where I have to draw the weapon and the adrenalin is flowing, I like the extra "forgiveness" of a long first double-action stroke should my reflexes act a tiny bit faster than my analytical brain can determine that it may not be a threat I want to shoot, rather than the hair-trigger of a 1911.
That's just me and my personal preference.

I also don't want a manual safety on a gun I use for defense. If it has one, it stays off.

 

pretty much explained my answer in more detail.
plus, i have pulled the DA trigger so many times in laser dry fire, i don't consider myself less accurate than SA.
this makes shooting long range precision rifle a cakewalk as far as trigger control with a 2-stage trigger

 

I am personally 100% committed to the SADA. I think unless you're willing to train properly and thoroughly with that platform (it will require probably 3 times more effort to master: 2 trigger pulls and a transition between 2 totally different pulls) go with the SAO

 

Here's my .02 from someone who doesn't shoot or practice enough: neither.

I'm no tactical operator. In a high stress situation, I'd probably forget the safety on a SAO gun and get killed. On a DA/SA gun, my first shot would probably be in the ground because of the heavy trigger pull, and again, I get killed.

For a carry gun for me (and if we're honest, many, many others), I want no safety and the same trigger pull on every shot. So striker (my preference) or maybe even DAO.

 

Here's my .02 from someone who doesn't shoot or practice enough: neither.

I'm no tactical operator. In a high stress situation, I'd probably forget the safety on a SAO gun and get killed. On a DA/SA gun, my first shot would probably be in the ground because of the heavy trigger pull, and again, I get killed.

For a carry gun for me (and if we're honest, many, many others), I want no safety and the same trigger pull on every shot. So strier (my preference) or maybe even DAO.

A DAO weapon is a good choice. The key is about 2000 rep of any action to develop muscle memory, For me I carry mostly DA/SA and I have done it so much that I probably would decock to soon in a emergency. When loading I decock so quickly I don't even think about it. I think you are under estimating your ability with a first shot going into the ground. Under stress you are never going to notice the difference.

 

Duplicate Poste

 

It took me several sessions to get properly acquainted with DA. I’ve perfected it. Now it’s a natural feel. I don’t even think about it now.

 

Since You've been using a Glock so much, Go with the SAO.