I have a real affinity for DA/SA guns. I love SIG P-series guns, CZs, and Berettas. Hell, I really love the Walther P99. Sadly, there are not a lot of DA/SA options, and there is rarely anything new in that genre of pistols in this day and age. Yet, I feel like DA/SA can make a comeback.
Should the DA/SA See a Resurgence?
What is the current hotness in the firearm industry? If I had to name one, it would be the 2011. Right now, 2011s are the new hotness, and it is evident by the fact that everyone seems to be making one, or nearly everyone. We have gone back to loving those smooth, single-action triggers.
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The firearms industry is certainly cyclical. We go from phase to phase in a long circle. I have heard a lot of guys say nothing is new. We fall into these fads, and they rule the industry for a short period of time. This is not a bad thing; it is just part of new generations of gun owners entering the market and experiencing the industry as a whole. Does this leave room for a new slate of DA/SA guns?
My Love of DA/SA Guns
The Beretta M9 ushered in a love of DA/SA guns for me. Prior to that, I had not shot many handguns. Mostly .22LRs, a 1911, and a Taurus New Millennium Pro. The Beretta M9 and I went through hell and back together, and I always enjoyed shooting it when given the opportunity.
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As I became more experienced with firearms, I switched to primarily striker-fired guns because they were the most common. Getting a subcompact DA/SA gun was not an easy affair, with very few available, and guns like the S&W 3rd Gen were heavy, hard to find, and thick. The SIG P365 came out, and I was all in on striker-fired guns.
I have an embarrassing confession to make. I get nervous about carrying a striker-fired gun in an appendix position. More specifically, I get nervous about holstering a striker-fired gun in an appendix holster. I use a quality handgun and a quality holster, and I always carefully put my gun into the holster. I still feel uncomfortable with that light trigger, and I know it is irrational as long as I am safe.
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Still, I feel more comfortable with holstering a double-action handgun in an appendix position. That initial heavier trigger is comforting to me. If I break it down, is it really safer if I am already taking all the precautions about reholstering? Probably not a whole lot, but I feel like I would feel the trigger catching, and I would certainly feel the hammer moving on most guns.
I like being able to have a heavier trigger as my initial trigger pull, with follow-ups being in single action. I also like being able to swap to single action on demand, or to decock to double action if necessary. To me, these are strengths of the design.
The Downsides of DA/SA Guns
Oh boy, there are lots of downsides if we are being honest. These include:
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- Increased training demand for dealing with two trigger weights.
- Incompatibility with small hands due to trigger reach.
- Complicated designs that require a complex trigger and decocker combination.
- Lack of DA/SA options.
These are all very real downsides. In some cases, they can be trained away. The gun industry has to recognize that most people are not going to shoot enough to be trained to properly use a DA/SA gun. The gun industry designs guns for the most typical purchaser, and that is not typically the guy who is dedicated to training with their firearm.
Most people buy a gun, maybe shoot it once a year, and then put it away. I do not agree with that behavior, but if that is your crowd, then a pre-cocked striker-fired gun makes the most sense. It is easy to use and easy to shoot. Still, I think there is room for a DA/SA comeback if the gun industry could embrace one of its strengths that is often ignored.
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Bringing the DA/SA Back
To bring the DA/SA back, I think the gun industry has to 2011-ify it. You need to embrace the trigger and produce a smooth, high-quality trigger in both double-action and single-action. If you can produce an extremely crisp single-action trigger, you can capture that 2011-type trigger. It needs to be something close to what you find on a gun that Ernest Langdon has upgraded. It might not be 2011 short, but it can be close.
At the same time, embrace the benefit of that heavier double-action trigger from a safety perspective. I would rather have the heavier double-action pull than a manual safety. In terms of double-action triggers, we do not need the typical 10-pounder; refine it to six pounds.
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At that point, the weight is not much different from a Glock trigger; it is just a longer pull overall. Then we need to make DA/SA guns that fit the user’s requirements. Having another incarnation of the Beretta 92 is not going to do it. We need smaller, lighter guns with polymer frames. They will never be as thin as a SIG P365, but we can make them smaller and lighter.
Ditch safeties entirely. Go for a decocker-only design. Cocked and locked carry can remain the realm of the 2011. Honestly, if we see another 92 or similar gun, they should just go “all 2011” on it. Use the combination polymer grip with a metal frame, give it an unbeatable trigger, and have it make a statement.
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The Issues Remain
DA/SA guns still present an ergonomic challenge and a training requirement, but it might help popularize the system once more. If we can tune up those triggers and produce guns people want to carry, then you do not have to blame “vibes” for why you like a DA/SA gun.
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