SA or DA for bullseye

Hi All,

Just wanted to get a survey of how people are shooting their revolvers for bullseye.  Those that use a revolver do you shoot in SA or DA for the timed and rapid fire events?  If you do shoot DA, has your action been modified to reduce the weight of the pull and make it more smooth and consistent?  I have a stock K38 target masterpiece and am having trouble with the rapid fire events. I shoot in SA. Tough to cock that hammer and aim in time. The DA action is quite heavy and inconsistent.

Best,

Joe

Single action m14 target hammer pachmayer grips

SA only for me. I have the hammer back for the next shot before I recover from recoil. Everyone has their own method that works best for them. I have larger hands and thumbing it back is the way to go for me. Model 27-2 target hammer, wide trigger. Because K frames are tiny.

Len

Think of shooting a 1911  with a 7 # Loooong roll trigger.

There's no way to reduce the DA trigger pull without disqualifying the revolver, since it has to pass the trigger weight test at 2 and a half pounds single action.  I haven't seen anyone do well trying to shoot the TF and RF double action.  I shoot it all SA.

I did not shoot well in timed and rapid until I went to DA. I did install a Wolf Power reduction spring kit to smooth out the pull. It still makes weight in SA. I also use it in double action for sustained dry fire practice.

"I haven't seen anyone do well trying to shoot the TF and RF double action."

NOT TRUE. THAT'S HOW I MADE IT. OTHER FRIENDS OF MINE HAVE DONE IT THAT WAY ALSO. JP

Jim's right, I believe Hemphill also uses DA, but, it's extremely difficult in my mind.....

Walter Walsh. Colt revolver in 2700 “back in the day”. Early 2600 shooter. Shot all double action.

Tim:H11 wrote:Walter Walsh. Colt revolver in 2700 “back in the day”. Early 2600 shooter. Shot all double action.

A Colt, that must have been fun.

I heard they cocked the hammer with the off hand, any truth to that?

I use SA for the long line.  For the short line, SA for the first shot and DA for the remaining 4.  Had the trigger extensively worked, 7-7 1/2 # DA pull and still easily holds proper SA weight.
Phil

JIMPGOV wrote:"I haven't seen anyone do well trying to shoot the TF and RF double action."

NOT TRUE. THAT'S HOW I MADE IT. OTHER FRIENDS OF MINE HAVE DONE IT THAT WAY ALSO. JP

Just to clarify, I have not seen anyone do well trying DA in TF or RF.  If you did, great, but that's not my experience.

I looked for a more recent target then remembered I didn't get to shoot much last year. Ticker was not being nice to me. But here is a target from my last match in 2016. Roddy tells me I should put the 1911 in the safe and just shoot wheel gun for the .45. Model 25-2 45acp SA only. It is not a clean target but hey, if I start shooting clean rapid fire with the 45 I would be the National record holder.

cdrt
You just need to get out more
Phil

PMcfall wrote:cdrt
You just need to get out more
Phil

I'm too busy running matches, so you guys can shoot and dealing with a lot of problems that you all don't need to know about.

I suspect the only way to effectively shoot DA would be to stage the trigger.
coming from PPC that would be a bad habit.....

Thanks for all the replies.  It appears that the SAs have it.  I need to work on my thumbing to get those rapid fire shots off faster.

I have to add another thing that I have noticed over the years. I don't think thumbing back the hammer on a S&W leaves a cylinder line mark as bad as double action. I have wheel guns with thousands of rounds thru them with no lines (or faint). Just something else to think about.

Len

Len V awesome target!

I shoot SA as well for everything.

I practice my thumbing and trigger squeeze while watching TV at night several days a week.

My wife and I go back and forth practicing.

Now that's quality time together! 

Paul

Len, I'll say that is a really nice target. 
   I took S&W 14 down to the range for 100rds the other day. I could barely get 4 shots in rf, I don't shoot irons for one thing, so need to train in the basement a lot before I use ammo again. Probably a nice pair of grips would help too, they're a little big for my pinky. I like shooting sa because da is even worse for me. Maybe doing what Paul does would be a great idea for me also. Used to shoot da in '300 league' but that was 2 handed, now I shoot bullseye so it takes more dedication and lots more work. Good luck to you Joe on which ever way you go.
 Stan

Timed/single. Rapid/Double. Action worked on. Changed primer brand, misfires. Turned in strain screw on S&W M28. All good. 

I would avoid replacement spring sets from Wolff.

I just shot a 278(with a 5 in slow fire  )NMC indoors yesterday and I shoot .38 double action in sustained fire. I'm experimenting with the 25-2 but I did have a 5 shot rapid fire string of 5 x's yesterday DA. The 14-1 was worked on by KC and the 25-2 had been worked on but I'm not sure who did it. The 14-1 is my DR gun. I try to steer the gun/front sight with the trigger pull....

james r chapman wrote:

Tim:H11 wrote:Walter Walsh. Colt revolver in 2700 “back in the day”. Early 2600 shooter. Shot all double action.

A Colt, that must have been fun.

I heard they cocked the hammer with the off hand, any truth to that?

Walsh used early Colt Officers Model Match. He shot double action - just pull through. No doubt the action had been tuned or smoothed out. Cocking the hammer with the off hand would not be advisable. In bullseye it would probably be considered illegal since this is a one hand sport. Walsh was one of the early shooters to first break 2600. Big BIG deal back then since it was all iron sights and revolvers thrown into the mix. Much harder to do. Or maybe not as difficult as I make it sound but it just hadn’t been done a whole lot at the time. Do some reading on Walter Walsh. Marine Corps Colonel and Olympian. Not to mention a heavy hitter for the FBI during the public enemy number one days.

Tim:H11 wrote:

james r chapman wrote:

Tim:H11 wrote:Walter Walsh. Colt revolver in 2700 “back in the day”. Early 2600 shooter. Shot all double action.

A Colt, that must have been fun.

I heard they cocked the hammer with the off hand, any truth to that?

Walsh used early Colt Officers Model Match. He shot double action - just pull through. No doubt the action had been tuned or smoothed out. Cocking the hammer with the off hand would not be advisable. In bullseye it would probably be considered illegal since this is a one hand sport. Walsh was one of the early shooters to first break 2600. Big BIG deal back then since it was all iron sights and revolvers thrown into the mix. Much harder to do. Or maybe not as difficult as I make it sound but it just hadn’t been done a whole lot at the time. Do some reading on Walter Walsh. Marine Corps Colonel and Olympian. Not to mention a heavy hitter for the FBI during the public enemy number one days.

you might want to read the rulebook.

Yep, read the rule book like Chris said.

Appears to be perfectly legal as long as the off hand provides no support.

Same as clearing a jam in a semi auto