SP101 Double Action Only

[customf1]

Hi I bought this SP101 hammerless Double action only KSP-321XL-LG 5758 .357 Mag. 5 Crimson Trace® Lasergrips® Fixed 2.25" 7.00" 25.00 oz.
I will be practicing with this gun weekly at the range. Just wondering how many others out their practice with double action only pistols and what you think or can provide any tips. Thanks.

 

[pyth0n]

I've found, for the last couple of years, that I've been shooting my double action revolvers in double action only. I also has a DAO sp-101. I had been shooting mostly semi autos, SA/DA & striker fired, so the transition to DA revoler wasn't that difficult. I have S&W 19-3, Security sixes, & GP100's. Dryfiring helps alot for trigger control, especially dealing with the harder pull of the DAO trigger. I don't find the 101 DAO trigger uncomfortable at all. During dry fire you can concentrate on keeping the front sight aligned with the rear, while focusing on the front sight. Balancing a coin on the top helps break any habits of jerking, pushing or anticpating the shot. So when you hear the hammer fall the coin stays and the front sight different move. Don't bother with the coin in live fire. Unless you glue it in place it won't stay. After awhile your trigger finger will be buffed, and shouldn't be used to scratch your brain, as you will hurt yourself.

 

[bub]

When I carried my SP off duty and for backup, I ALWAYS practiced DA. In fact, I lopped the hammer spur off of my SP because it kept getting hung up on clothing, so I really didn't have a choice. What I found with the SP, and also with my 4" GP100, was that, since I always practiced DA and seldom, if ever, practiced SA, I shot better with DA than I did with SA. I can make reliable hits with both shooting DA out to 75'. Last time I tried SA on the GP, I was having trouble hitting reliably at 50'. It's all about practice and, if it is a self defense gun, the majority of your practice should be DA. That's how you'll shoot it if you ever need it, so practice that way.

Bub

 

[ray1970]

The good news is your pistol is double action only so all of your practice will obviously be double action. I love a double action revolver for its simplicity. When fired in double action, every pull of the trigger is the same. With practice, your first shot will be as good as your second shot and so on to the last shot. No unnecessary steps such as manually cocking a hammer or adjusting to the transition between double and single action, no manual safety devices to deactivate. Just point, pull the trigger, and repeat.

 

[WESHOOT2]

Get a real high grip on the gun.
Ensure the stocks fill your hand.
Hold tight.
Watch the front sight.

Use 'mild' ammo for practice.

 

[surveyor47]

When I carried my SP off duty and for backup, I ALWAYS practiced DA. In fact, I lopped the hammer spur off of my SP because it kept getting hung up on clothing, so I really didn't have a choice. What I found with the SP, and also with my 4" GP100, was that, since I always practiced DA and seldom, if ever, practiced SA, I shot better with DA than I did with SA. I can make reliable hits with both shooting DA out to 75'. Last time I tried SA on the GP, I was having trouble hitting reliably at 50'. It's all about practice and, if it is a self defense gun, the majority of your practice should be DA. That's how you'll shoot it if you ever need it, so practice that way.

Bub

I totally agree that a DA revolver should be shot DA only as well as finding it easier to shoot DA than SA. I disagree with lopping off the hammer of a DA/SA gun, since it would still be possible to cock the gun but not safely lower the hammer. A better solution is to have Ruger install a DA ONLY hammer. Doesnt cost much and saves a lot of potiential hassles.

 

[Eric N.]

Ya,but they don't give you back the original hammer back.So I have been told. That kinda sucks.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

Well, when I practice with my DAO SP101, I always practice firing it double action. There isn't much of any other way to do it!

But when practicing with my other DA carry revolvers, I also practice with them in DAO mode as well. The only time I fire SA is when checking load accuracy, 'target' shooting, or shooting at ranges longer than 15 yards.

I bought a DAO hammer for a Security-Six one time off of eBay (of all places) and put it on a 4" one. That made one great DAO general purpose gun. It's the one I used for my permit qualification. I learned to shoot that gun really well DAO and it remains one of my favorites. I also favor a few DAO automatics, like the S&W 4586 or 4053. DAO is not necessarily the best for precision target shooting (although that 4586 will make you think differently) but it certainly is practical from a SD perspective.

The only advice I can give you on practice is to learn accuracy first and the speed will come. At least that's what I did. Shoot smaller targets at closer distances until you get really good at it. Then increase distance until you can keep groups small at longer ranges. You are learning trigger control. You can then work on speed by repeating the process, hopefully without screwing up your accuracy. Speed seems to come in it's own time if you concentrate on accuracy by developing a smooth trigger pull technique.

 

[Charon]

Nice thing about shooting the SP-101 in Double Action is the little "click" you can hear and feel just before the hammer falls. This seems to be the cylinder latch dropping into place.

Under the standard "safe conditions" of gun unloaded and pointing in a safe direction, pull the trigger gently. As it gets almost to the rear you will feel and hear a "click." A slight additional trigger pull drops the hammer. This characteristic almost allows you to fire the revolver as if it were a single action. It works on both my DAO .357 and my SA/DA .22.

 

[bub]

Charon, that's the technique I used when shooting at longer distances. Works out quite well. It's called "staging the trigger". The click allows you to stop and realign the sights, if necessary, just before letoff. The click on mine was so pronounced that I could feel it through the trigger as well as hear it. I never used it for close range, only longer ranges. At closer ranges, pull it all the way through and shoot it!

Bub

 

[Thel]

Grant Cunningham, on his blog, had some comments on shooting DA. Here is the link:

http://www.personaldefensenetwork.com/articles/handguns/dealing-with-the-double-action-trigger/

I do most of my shooting DA.

 

[Rob72]

I disagree with lopping off the hammer of a DA/SA gun, since it would still be possible to cock the gun but not safely lower the hammer. A better solution is to have Ruger install a DA ONLY hammer. Doesnt cost much and saves a lot of potiential hassles.

Proper DA conversion includes filing off the SA notch.

You can also forward-slope the top of the hammer(provides a leverage surface), and checker/serrate it so that it can still be manually cocked. Gives lots of folks liability-tremors, but if you keep a book of your handgun training classes demonstrating proficiency... :wink: