-=> Quoting Jeff Trowbridge to All on 15 May 96  17:02 <=-
 Re: Decocker vs DAO 
 JT> First the good news, My other half has agreed to buy me a pistol
 JT> when I've made it 60 days without cigarettes.  (July 13th).  I've
 JT> selceted a Ruger P95.  I've always been a wheelgun fan but
 JT> decided it was time to try a semi-auto.  This thing comes in
 JT> decocker version or double action only.  I have no idea what the
 JT> difference is, and have only shout a semi-auot pistol once in my
 JT> life (about 3 years ago).
 JT> Which one should I choose?
A DAO pistol is one that doesn't cock when the slide moves. After firing 
a shot, the hammer automatically returns to the lowered position - which 
is supposed to make it more like a revolver where you pulling the trigger
cocks the hammer.
A traditional double-action pistol actually has two modes. If the hammer 
is cocked pulling the pull the trigger only releases the hammer, while if 
it isn't cocked the trigger first cocks then releases the hammer - just 
like a double action revolver. The difference is that the motion of the 
slide to load the next cartridge also cocks the hammer, so that even if 
your first shot is double action, your second shot will have the hammer 
cocked (also called single action since it only does one thing).
Once you decide to talk about a traditional double action, there are still 
three types based on what the lever does. A safety simply prevents the gun 
from firing as long as the safety is "on". A decocking safety drops the 
hammer as well as acting as a safety. And a decocker drops the hammer 
safely but doesn't act as a safety otherwise - it doesn't stay "on". The 
majority of double action pistols have a decocker or decocking safety to 
provide a safe way to lower the hammer rather than doing so under tension 
(using your thumb or off-hand to prevent the hammer from falling suddenly) 
as opposed to a simple safety.
So the question is this: if you're used to a double-action revolver fired
double-action (using the trigger to both cock and release the hammer), 
would you like to have a semi-auto that does the same thing (DAO), or one 
that "transitions" to single-action pull on the second shot (traditional 
double action)? Many police who used to use revolvers have decided they 
prefer DAO.
I don't like Ruger semi-autos due to the grips, but I personally prefer a 
traditional double action or even a single action. But that's me.
Steve
... If at first you don't succeed... RELOAD!
--- GEcho 1.00
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