Difference between Single Action (SA) and Double Action (DA)

[Benyan1763]

Very helpful.  Thank you!

[SerJahPhoto]

Valuable info, horrible audio quality.

[xxplosiv88]

Thanks for the clarification buddy, much appreciated

[stunter2b]

Thanks great video and help me understand.. I now know I have a single action only beretta lol

[zocom009]

and what is semi automatic

[drdavidlewis]

Lots of help, thank you so much.

[myslash09]

Thanks it was very helpful. I am a long time hunter but a new pistol owner and i had no idea what single and double was. Thanks again

[cubanohana]

Very,nice vid. Thanks

[djcrumbz]

Thank you for this video. Very helpful.

[DaendyrProductions]

what is better for the gun? Single Action or Double Action?

[krazy4baja]

Lol!, to many words I guess. Trying to say at the end single action would be more accurate cuz there's less travel in the trigger vs double action but double action is safer cuz the hammer returns home so to speak so there's no chance the hammer will accidentally hit the fire pin like it would if the hammers cocked back in single action if god for bid the safety's not on

[krazy4baja]

Having trouble with modem and Internet. Anyway the difference is in single action you need to pull the hammer back with your thumb or rack the slide back on the 1st shot then the firing action takes over by ejecting and loading the round in the chamber until the last shots fired. Am I correct. But you still need to rack the slide in a double action to load a round in the chamber don't you. I don't mean to sound like an idiot, just trying to understand. My guess is double action is safer but sin

[krazy4baja]

So the diff

[richie8811]

recorded with a pickled dill

[vinosd773]

thank you! i always knew the difference of a single action and double action in revolvers, i didnt realize it was basically the same in semi autos

[josh71111]

so if the single action is fully loaded for every bullet shot you got to get that hammer down again? or is that just when it's empty?

[RapidFireUSMC]

1. Treat every weapon as if it was loaded.

2. Never point your weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.

3. Keep the weapon on safe till you intend to fire.

4. Keep the finger off the trigger till you are ready to fire.

SEMPER FIDELIS!

[Bsblrook2]

Thank you

[213543531246]

thanks bro

[swiftshift06]

Great explanation. I have asked people about the difference and they couldn't convey the idea as well as this video. Confusion eliminated!

[ScaredCivilian]

Awsome video! Best one I've found on the internet. Very thorough.

[DSP33D]

THANK YOU! Helped me lots

[gsxrkidd]

Now, this may vary from person to person, but I myself like to keep things simple. I think I would prefer a single-action pistol since there are less moving parts, hence less room for failure/breakage of internal parts.... Now I know with technology these days a double-action could be built to be very reliable and durable, but I think I would still prefer single-action for the simplicity..... any opinions?

[888thegodfather]

glocks are single action if you have a" failure to fire round" and if yo want to strike it again you will have to cock it again!

[mrblaze187]

Thanks man...I was confused on this.

[ZamaskowaniSprawcy]

Good vid, helped.

But dont play with empty guns, it destroys them ! There is rubber-ammo for this purpose :)

[pfullinwider]

great video. helps ME explain to people too. Worded very well.

[Jailbreaker3GS]

All Glocks are DAO (double action only).

[LMoscu]

Great job of explaining the difference between the two. Many thanks

[bujinkanmurcielago]

Very good, as you really explained very easy to understand. Great job!

[Foxiesz]

Very informative, the first time I shot a DA I forgot to pull the hammer back and I was confused as to why it shot anyway

[TheAlexmoviemaker]

Are you good with airsoft gun? Because i have question: if it runs on c02 Will it be always DA? Thank you :)

[whatthehallbetch]

@TheAlexmoviemaker Yes it will, because with an airsoft the hammer is only cosmetic, so it has no relation to actually firing the gun

[TheRoadDamage]

You should have used a revolver, I think you just confused some of "them" even more.

[jkschmidtc8c]

Good info.... Thank you

[VolcomTOAD9]

Excellent video. Thanks!

[MarcellusPinto]

Fantastic video. Reading about it was always unnecessarily confusing.

[sentinelAAP]

thank you for breaking it down for me

[j0hnsm1th2]

thanks bro! helped out alot.

[scottg25]

Great explanation! Thanks.

[sxephlI]

very helpful video! thanks!

[cuzzinolaf]

Good stuff, thanks!



[WhiteCharisma666]

Good video man thanks alot!

[CharloRVP]

Just another thanks. Great clarification for me.

[MAITZ95]

So basically with a single you pull the hammer back and it's ready and double you don't even need to, but don't you have to cock the gun back before shooting anyway which makes the hammer in the down position?

[romanticmusician]

Very detailed but easy to understand. Thank you for making this video =)

[ggotg]

I agree with the others, this was a really good explanation. Thanks!!

[blackkat7073]

This explains allot, thank you.

[katebakske]

nice vid bro

[RK831]

What about a Glock? Because there is no exterior hammer, would it be a single action? If yes, is there a double-action Glock?

[OrbitalMechanics]

@RK831 Like more & more modern auto loading pistols… Glocks use a system called striker fire. Striker Fire: Rather than a hammer, an internal striker is cocked and released to fire. The striker is cocked by the first motion of the slide, and there is no way to decock other than squeezing the trigger.

[YourFatClownAss]

@OrbitalMechanics Correction, the striker is half cocked. Kinda double action.

[Scor0806]

@RK831 any striker fire is considered double action. The reason for this is because the trigger has two actions..cocking the striker and releasing all in one pull. In single action the trigger has only one action releasing the hammer hence "single"

[RK831]

What about a Glock?  Because it has no exterior hammer, is it single action?

[9o3]

Excellent video and ever better explication.

[mrmason1208]

so in a SA handgun once the slide is racked and you've got a round in the chamber, once you fire that round will the handgun re-rack the slide and cock the hammer for you?

[willcraigle]

how do you uncock a single action without shooting it. where in a situation you cock the hammer back but decide you want to holster it

[OrbitalMechanics]

@willcraigle if the pistol has a de-cocking feature, that would be the best way. On a 1911A1 there really isn't a safe way if the chamber is loaded. You typically carry the pistol with an empty chamber and rack the slide to chamber/cock in one motion (condition 3) or cocked & locked (i.e. safety ON) in condition 1. Search online for "1911 Conditions of Readiness" for more info.

[007rayaj]

@willcraigle pull the trigger but make sure to hold the hammer so it wont hit the firing pin. then slowly let the hammer go..

single action also have a half cocked capability..

[steveoin724]

@willcraigle You simply place your thumb on the hammer with a decent amount of pressure and slowly pull the trigger while using your thumb to slowly return the hammer back to the rest position. Great care should be taken while doing this. Make sure the muzzle(the part the bullet comes out of) is not facing you or anything else you do not intend on destroying. Guns can be fun but only when used and carried safely. If you want a gun but don't feel comfortable get someone to show u basic gun safety

[steveoin724]

@steveoin724 To stress once again. Guns are not toys and will kill people. Keep you firearms locked up if you have children and if you don't have kids and prefer to stash you iron somewhere handy then make sure the safe is on and the chamber is clear. Many times an intruder will simply be scared off when they hear the "clack clack" of a slide cycling. I personally own an AK-47 and anyone breaking into my home is gonna be getting fired at through the floor and the walls. 7.62mm FTW.

[BorislavX]

@willcraigle You must have 5 pounds of pressure to fire the gun so you can decoct by holding with you fingers and pressing the trigger. I would not advise doing this on a live round though. What you should do is 1. take out magazine. 2. rack the pistol and make sure you visualize the round coming out. 3. Make sure your round IS out and the chamber is clear. 5. Decock by pulling the trig.

[BigD877]

Great video , really helped to understand the difference between the two styles.

[garymiester7]

good video thanks for that. now what is "half action"? Is that where you pull the hammer back half way cocked? and is there benefit to it or its just how they're made?

[chicagojo622]

Nice job, guy. You gave me a much better understanding of the SA/DA pistol. It will definitely help me with my decision. Thx

[IEatGreyFoxes]

Question(s) - at the start and end of the video, you have both of the slides pulled all the way back (and the end of the barrel exposed). What causes the slide to not return to the 'normal' position? If there was a magazine with rounds inserted, would the slide move back to the regular position? Or does pulling the slide back more than a regular amount cause it to be locked back like that?

[skywardblaze]

@IEatGreyFoxes On the opposite side of the gun that he showed there is a safty lever you slide up with your thumb that locks the hammer back. You do not see this in the video because he is showing the other side of the gun. The hammer will return to normal position unless you lock it with the safty to hold it back like he did. The only time the hammer locks back on its own is when you have fired all rounds, then the hammer will automatically lock back for you.

[PaleHorseWC2]

@IEatGreyFoxes Called a slide stop, it is a mechanism in a pistol that locks the slide to the rear when either 1) The user pulls the slide to the rear and engages the slide stop, usually its a lever that is pushed upwards; 2) The slide is pulled (or cycles) to the rear, and the follower, the part of the magazine that the rounds sit on, engages the slide stop from the inside of the pistol, The follower is only exposed when the magazine is empty, so this happens when the weapon is dry.

[nubcakehero]

wow SUPER CLEAR BRO. i learned a lot. thanks man

[salm37]

nice...good vid

[LateKnight347]

i thought you had to cock all the autos that had a hammer. thx u tought me sumthing

[pkmntrainernik]

Thanks man great video!

[pJonathan22047]

A very decent, simple explanation. Thumbs up.

[Lexgs40099]

Easiest explanation BY FAR! Great vid!

[Lexgs40099]

Easiest explanation BY FAR! Great vid!

[Kattiacoolyeah]

I still don't get it!!!

[TV1530]

@Kattiacoolyeah

double action cocks the hammer back, single action only releases the hammer from the cocked back position. In automatics, whether single or double, after the first fire, the hammer is pulled back automatically by the force of the bullet being fired. On the first fire with a single action, the hammer needs to be cocked back manually with your thumb or by opening the slide. Double action doesn't need to be, the hammer can be pulled with the trigger.

[DamnYourReallyUgly]

I got the new Taurus 92 17 rd Para Combat. Such a sexy and accurate sidearm.

[EreinionGilgalad]

very, very, very thorough... I thought i understood everything about this already, and instead i learned about six things i did not know...

I was looking for the meaning of DAO (Double Action Only) and am severely glad that you chose to mention it as well. Thank you for this video.

[janugerman69]

nice simple  explanation, even for a dumb-ass like me...

good work buddy!

[Noobpatty]

wait so a single action pistol needs to be recocked or another round chambered unless the round fired cycles and the energy released chambers another round? which would mean in single action pistols the energy from firing a round cocks the hammer back as well...?

[OrbitalMechanics]

@Noobpatty If your question is, "Will a fired round from a single action auto loading pistol re-cock the hammer?" the answer is yes. This is not true for single action revolvers - which is why some western movies have the cowboy continually trip the hammer with the side of their hand when shooting in quick bursts.

[hailholyghost]

I think the big advantage in a double action is that you don't have to pull the slide back before the first shot like you do in a single action.

My dad's pistol is supposed to be single/double but it doesn't fire on the first shot, so its actually single.

[tyu30]

You forgot about " Single/double-action ".

[pyrodoppler]

Great vido man! Studying for my PAL and I wasn't sure about the difference! Thanks for your help!

[jugganot2001]

Thanks for this. I just got an HK USP 9mm. This helped me a BUNCH man!!!

[MrYournamehereplease]

nicely said and informative

[lixian25]

Very good video. This is very helpful to a lot of people. Maybe next time go into the relationship of action with a hammer-less gun?

[aznkriss133]

sweet, i just remembered that i didnt know what the difference is. wikipedia does not help at all. thanks man!

[musicsmaker]

Thanks! This explains what I wanted to know perfectly.

[exoldan]

i like da only if it has sa after the first shot otherwise sa nice vid

[wscn15]

Good video, good explanantion. Now I know the difference lol...

But I still dont understand (like asked below) how its a semi-automatic, when you (if a am correct) have to manually press the hammer down. Every time you fired a shot? Or do I still dont know it lol?

[TV1530]

@wscn15

Yeah, I was confused by this also. But we were thinking about the old single action cowboy guns, not autos. These single action autos only need to be pulled back once and then they're cocked back automatically for the next shot. This was a very informative video.

[jhulst2]

Very Helpful...thanks

[cody2757]

awesome video very very helpful

[cody2757]

extremely helpful thanks a ton!!

[ibagskoreans]

Thanks for the video ":) explained tonnes =)

[numbah1critic]

so is a glock a single acttion? cause you could only sqeeze the trigger once after cocking back, and the trigger don't reset with out recocking it? i need some feed back

[mscheen]

Thanks for the video. Looking at buying my first gun, an HK P30L, and I had no clue what the difference was until I watched this video. Very clear!!!

[Yankeeholik]

Thanks... Great video man... Very informative, you explained it thoroughly and simply... Only thing is I had a hard time seeing what you were doing... I wish you would of had better lighting and maybe had been a little bit closer to the camera... Still an awesome video, thanks again...

[deathcube35]

I meant when the slide goes back,not recoil.

I failed a little with my last comment,lol.

[deathcube35]

So...Is recoil what makes single action pistols Semi-automatic?

Just wanna make sure.

[bjham13]

Thanks for this post.

I'm new into hand guns and this explained the difference perfectly.

[iadrahs]

great explanation for the layman.

[Corsair8X]

Great, clear explanation. Thank you. Found your clip vs. mag explanation very clear as well.

[brentstonebu]

Perfect explanation! Even though I've heard a few attempted explanations, I've not heard one this clear - Thanks!

[ballar45]

thanks man

[jeffyyaki]

Thanks man

[AndyHanturd]

Does that USP have a decocking lever?

[dkpngbrn]

Thank you for this video. It cleared up some of the gray area's that plain text introduced. :D

[phildo]

You just gave me a duh moment. It makes sense. Thanks for the cave man simple explanation.

[rprinc50]

Finally a explanation I can understand. Thanks for posting this.

[OrbitalMechanics]

No Problem. Thank to all others as well for the feedback.

[TV1530]

@rprinc50

Yeah, good explanation here. Good stuff. 

[budokaiboy]

well done, the wikipedia explanation is just like this one but you made it very easy to understand

[russofamerica]

Good explanation.  Thank you for the upload.

[katipunan5]

great job! thanks!

[italianppf2]

thanks

[chrisr069]

From someone who knows nothing about this type of stuff, I found this very informative. Thank you~!

[nottinmatterz2day]

need better mic

[tazfootball2]

Nice job! Very informative!

[mindthreat44]

So atleast with that particular USP you rock the slide once and it acts like a single action pistol as long as it successfully fires right? The slide pulls the hammer back right? If the round doesn't go off then it works as a double action and you pull the hammer back by pulling the trigger correct?

[david16988]

Yes when it is you rack the slide back and if you don't decock the hammer it acts as a single action. When the first round is shot the pressure will blow back the slide and the hammer will follow through. You will then have to shoot it as a double action.

[jawbone83]

no. assuming the round fired, the process of the gun firing will cycle the slide, eject the round, cock the hammer, and load a new round into the chamber. at this point the gun acts as a single action pistol.

[rhill03]

Nicely done. Great job.

[Deathrune456]

the single action is still called a semi-automatic handgun right?

[OrbitalMechanics]

Yes.

[AskingAA]

@OrbitalMechanics so is a double action an automatic handgun?

[OrbitalMechanics]

@AskingAA... Double action refers to how the pistols trigger/hammer relationship work. Some revolvers & (semi-)automatic pistols use a double action to fire a round. This is not to be confused with "fully automatic"... which double action has virtually nothing to deal with.

[Roca89]

thanks dude... i finally understand it

[TheOnlyGodfather]

lol makes at least 2 of us now!

[mammoth321]

Very informative video thank you

[Corim0512]

thanks i need to buy myself a firearm for protection anyone have any suggestions?

[savagenomore]

kel-tec p-11 9mm, it's double action but the hammer is never in the cocked position and you have to pull the trigger fully, no chance of accidental firing.

[savagenomore]

plus they accept the s&w 15rd clips

[glramer2007]

depends. what price range are you looking at and are you going to conceal carry or just home defense?

[whatevmax]

way to break it down... good explanation between the 2

[tubesock10]

you make me feel smart :P

[tommyray1st]

Thanks for taking the time to explain. Exactly the info i needed as Im buying my first semi-auto handgun and now I understand which model CZ75 I want.

[Stealthmode62]

Thanks for the video. Although I carry a M&P9C, I was looking through the gun buyers guide and this video helped me make the connection between what I have, and what I was looking at.

[Lokstoknbrl]

THANKS, GREAT VIDEO!

[joedickandharry]

damn, you are better than a groupe that call them selfs "expert village"

a badly named groupe!

[OrbitalMechanics]

Although this is not my most viewed video, I feel that more people have learned from it than any other... and that gives me the most gratification. Thank you for your feedback. =)

[blauskull]

thanks.

[SGardner11]

this sir explained alot to me.

[Giagantus]

Thanks sir ver informative

[harlow76]

Thank you!

[Agassistar]

Yes u really break it down between the differences compared to other videos..

thanks..

[rydfisher]

Great video! Much appreciated

[solidmoe5]

That's Awesome, Great Video :D

[stevenjc14]

Great Vid!

[koty123frontiernet]

Thanks a lot. I needed to know. Now Ican also pick up a 1911 a1---with a custom 74 round drum.

[krazy22dude]

Thanks for the posting!

[koolerthanapolarbear]

nice vid

DA for me

[shadowspark]

thanks for the vid!

[serd95]

Great video, you got got a new subscriber

[unnaturaltragedy]

My own concept of SA & DA was only for revolvers. I couldn't understand how it worked with semiautos. So basically its not as impacting in semiautos because either way the firing itself will push the hammer back again. I was thinking you had to manually pull the hammer back each time like on a SA revolver. Ok, now I will consider getting a 1911 then.

[proudirani]

Clearest explanation of SA vs. DA. Thank you.

[EasyLiving8]

Great video, thanks for taking the time to explain this and make this video, please keep up the great work!!!

[negrosaurus]

thanks, great explanation

[Romulous4]

Thanks for info, just what i needed

[swedishvolvo]

Great video, very informative and easy to understand, you kept a smooth pace throughout the video. 5 starts!

[SpitRhyma]

dude i don't got sound. so this is what i need from a gun:

high capacity magazine (relative to calibur)

then i want to chamber a round and put on the safety using my left hand (i'm a lefty so i need a gun that has a reversable safety) -- I also need to be able to fire it without cocking it again. the safety and the resistance from the DA trigger should be enough.

I prefer it to be a badass gun like a colt or if not then a militant type gun.

[Schneids]

So basically single action the user has to pull the hammer back him/herself, but with double action all you do is pull the trigger?

So with SA, you pull back the hammer, and shoot, and the slide moves back putting the hammer back down after every shot?

Then DA all you need to do is pull the trigger and it does everything for you?

[OrbitalMechanics]

Yes, yes, and yes.. basically.

[Postal2c56]

exactly what i was looking for! thanks!

[ritwikbmca]

Thanks Bother, this video is quite impresive and informative.

[urbanfresh1988]

is a hi point double action handgun a good gun? im new to handgun firearms and im looking for a good 9mm but i dont wanna spend 3-400 on a handgun just yet

[OrbitalMechanics]

In a lot of cases firearms are like anything else - you get what you pay for (to an extent). That being said, I do not have any exposure to Hi Point handguns, but they are entry level designs. I don't know how "good" you can end up with for a few hundred dollars.

[noleyone]

Thank you very much for clearing this up for me. I am planning on getting a 1911 very soon and this video was helpful. Thanks again.

[dragondreamer59]

Thanks so much for the informative video! I'm so glad you are willing to help newbies without being mean about it. I have visited several sites where the contributors have such a snotty attitude. It would be nice if more people would put their knowledge to good use. I have purchased a Sig P226 Navy due to the great reviews I have read and will pick it up Thursday. I can't wait!