Pál_K
Guns. I has it.
The LCP 380 has what I would consider a "not exactly DAO action".
We all know what a single action is: on a single action such as a M1911A1, pulling the trigger simply releases the sear, the hammer drops, the round is fired, the slide cycles to re-cock the hammer and chamber the next round. The single action is that of the trigger essentially dropping the hammer. This is true of revolvers as well.
With double action, actually DA/SA, such as on a revolver, a Beretta 92FS, or CZ 75B, if the hammer is already down (such as by decocking it), pulling the trigger is a heavier pull which will cock the hammer (first action), release the sear and drop the hammer (second action) which fires the round. On a such a double action revolver or double action semiauto, the hammer can always be pulled back manually so that the shot is made with a lighter single action pull.
On a true double action only (DAO) revolver or semiauto pistol, there is no option or way to access the hammer. The only way to fire the gun is with that longer heavier trigger pull which always cocks the hammer, then releases the sear and hammer to fire. On such a gun, the trigger will do this every time, whether the round fired or not, or even if there is no round and you're dry-firing.
With the LCP 380 (not LCP II 380), the double action only process is not quite DAO as above. In order for the trigger to cock the hammer and then release the sear, the slide must be operated first. Otherwise, the trigger does nothing. For example, if you dry fire a true DAO with snap caps, each pull of the trigger will cock the hammer, release the sear and hammer, and the firing pin will strike the cap. You can do this indefinitely. On the LCP 380 it will do that once. Subsequent pulls of the trigger do nothing. So you must operate the slide, which apparently resets or pre-cocks the hammer so that the trigger can be used. That sounds a lot like the striker fired LCP II 380, but I've been told striker fired firearms do more of a "pre-cocking". From experience with my friend's LCP II 380, the trigger feels different and has a lighter pull. For that reason, for extra safety, some prefer the longer, heavier pull of the LCP 380.
But what is the true description of the LCP 380's action? DAO isn't quite right by its conventional meaning. I know it's not a DAK action.
We all know what a single action is: on a single action such as a M1911A1, pulling the trigger simply releases the sear, the hammer drops, the round is fired, the slide cycles to re-cock the hammer and chamber the next round. The single action is that of the trigger essentially dropping the hammer. This is true of revolvers as well.
With double action, actually DA/SA, such as on a revolver, a Beretta 92FS, or CZ 75B, if the hammer is already down (such as by decocking it), pulling the trigger is a heavier pull which will cock the hammer (first action), release the sear and drop the hammer (second action) which fires the round. On a such a double action revolver or double action semiauto, the hammer can always be pulled back manually so that the shot is made with a lighter single action pull.
On a true double action only (DAO) revolver or semiauto pistol, there is no option or way to access the hammer. The only way to fire the gun is with that longer heavier trigger pull which always cocks the hammer, then releases the sear and hammer to fire. On such a gun, the trigger will do this every time, whether the round fired or not, or even if there is no round and you're dry-firing.
With the LCP 380 (not LCP II 380), the double action only process is not quite DAO as above. In order for the trigger to cock the hammer and then release the sear, the slide must be operated first. Otherwise, the trigger does nothing. For example, if you dry fire a true DAO with snap caps, each pull of the trigger will cock the hammer, release the sear and hammer, and the firing pin will strike the cap. You can do this indefinitely. On the LCP 380 it will do that once. Subsequent pulls of the trigger do nothing. So you must operate the slide, which apparently resets or pre-cocks the hammer so that the trigger can be used. That sounds a lot like the striker fired LCP II 380, but I've been told striker fired firearms do more of a "pre-cocking". From experience with my friend's LCP II 380, the trigger feels different and has a lighter pull. For that reason, for extra safety, some prefer the longer, heavier pull of the LCP 380.
But what is the true description of the LCP 380's action? DAO isn't quite right by its conventional meaning. I know it's not a DAK action.
