Best DAO hammer fired autoloaders

I bought a used trade in Sig P220 DAK, and loved the super smooth trigger pull, and discovered the P220 had been worked on and a stock DAK trigger was nothing like it when I bought a new P229. And I mean not nearly as smooth and the stock DAK trigger is much heavier than my P220's is. It's so smooth and light, it doesn't seem like it should punch primers reliably, but I put 200 rounds through it right after I got it without even a cleaning (It was pretty nasty inside), and it never missed a beat, it even ate the last box of the Russian steel stuff I had left. I bought the P220 last Christmas Day for an insanely cheap price for a gun in the condition it was in..

BlueHeelerFl said:

The Beretta Pico is a DAO design

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A second recommendation to look at the Beretta Pico. While I still prefer a wheel gun as my primary carry I gotta admit that the little Pico is the flatest, skinniest wheel gun DA feeling pocket gun I've found. There will most likely be another gun on my hip but that Pico will certainly be in my pocket.

Complaints that I've heard about the Pico are that the slide is near impossible to rack on a full magazine. True but only a minor issue in reality. I just remember to lock the slide back before inserting the magazine or do my first charge on a less than full magazine. The slide locks back on empty so it is not an issue in the field.

The other complaint is that the Magazine release is different. Yup. But then I've learned to use button mag releases, heel mag releases, squeeze mag releases, Colt cylinder releases, Smith cylinder releases, Dan Wesson cylinder releases and at least three top break release designs.

The Pico comes with two magazines; one a flat base plate and the second an extended base plate.

I can get a full finger and a half on the grip with the flat base plate. It's more than enough for control but the extended base plate allows a full three fingers. But the extended base plate also really cuts down on conceal-ability and getting the gun out of my pocket in a hurry.


My solution was to take the Dremel and slightly shorten the extension.


And the result is a magazine that is still easy to conceal, easy to draw, allows two full fingers on the grip and is comfortable.


Note I also swapped frames on the pistol.

If what you are looking for is a pocket pistol that feels and behaves like a revolver, the Beretta Pico may be about as close as you can get; a true DA, no mag disconnect safety, double strike, 380acp.

And it comes with REAL sights.

SteadyD said:

Any thoughts on the Sig P224?

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An answer in search of a problem. A DA/SA 938 or 365 would have been much more popular and successful.

The HK P30 and P30 SK are among the most reliable handguns. The Lite LEM trigger is outstanding and feels like a very light, tuned revolver trigger. It is entirely consistent and the controls are well designed for right and left handed shooters. Height of the P30SK is between a Glock 19 and 26 with flat mag. As shown, tip of the mag base plate is the same as a G19 but doesn’t print since there is no material on the backstrap. I highly recommend this gun.

Google “HK ad fail” if you don’t get the joke.

Read this to learn about the obnoxiously reliable P30 (and see a P30 ad fail): https://pistol-training.com/archives/2668

I purposely spent 6 months trying out guns after I decided I wanted to get away from a light striker fired gun. While the Nano is technically a striker fired. It is the smoothest double action I have shot. And as one poster said the Kahr as well. The Pico is a nice double action, and IMO perfect for a pocket gun, some might find the 8 lb pull too heavy. The Nano is about 5 1/2-6 lbs and smooth all the way through. I suppose the Beretta PX4 is the same. I was looking for a micro pistol, so could not tell you about the compacts or larger.

One thing, I have noticed, there seems to be a trend with shooters going to double action only or SA/DA.

JM Custom Kydex AIWB 2.5 and AIWB mag holder with 15 degree cant for carrying up front.

frogfurr said:

These are pretty nice. I have two of them.

http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-75-d-pcr-compact-black-alloy-9mm-14-rd-mags/

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Interesting to see a decocker on a DAO pistol.

Jeb Stuart said:

... or SA/DA.

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DA/SA

9mmepiphany said:

I know folks are making recommendations with, what I hope are, the best of intentions but let's try to stay OT to the OP's request:

1. DAO...not DA/SA or non-recocking DA
2. Hammer fired...not striker fired

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I would prefer to hear that from the OP, possibly he actually likes the other recommendations, which may be close to what he is looking for. I know I did when I was initially looking for the same thing as himself.Some very good ideas presented here. How about we let the flow continue.

The H&K LEM trigger is the best DAO trigger. I don’t think that is debatable. I find the Sig DAK to be a reasonable second, and the S&W 3rd generation to also be good. If you can try one of the Compact HK guns with the LEM trigger I don’t believe you will ever be happy with anything else.

SteadyD said:

I’m definitely only interested in DAO pistols. I’m looking for something with no energy stored in the action. I prefer it as an added level of safety. I know others may not feel the same, but it’s my personal preference.

I also don’t want anything that goes over to SA after the first trigger pull.

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I thought you owned a couple? Kahr for instance. What was wrong with that? Why don't you go to Genitrin and plug in DA for the size you want and go from there. And of course triggers will be subjective, so I guess you plan to shoot them?

My primary carry is a Sig P250 SC. With practice(as needed with any CCW), you really can shoot these extremely well. For me, I see their margin of safety against ADs a quantum above strikers.

Elkins45 said:

The H&K LEM trigger is the best DAO trigger. I don’t think that is debatable. I find the Sig DAK to be a reasonable second, and the S&W 3rd generation to also be good. If you can try one of the Compact HK guns with the LEM trigger I don’t believe you will ever be happy with anything else.

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But here I am to debate your claim.

HK's LEM system is not a true or full DAO trigger; the hammer spring is pre-cocked at about 90% compression. If a round does not fire, a restrike requires a long trigger pull of 11-13 pounds instead of the normal 5-8 pound LEM trigger pull (depending on version).

IMO, the Sig P250 has one of the best -if not the best- true or full DAO triggers, with a long trigger pull of about 6 pounds.

For me to find the perfect for my individual requirements took a long time. Actually more than six months. Fortunately I belong to a club where I was able to try out a lot of guns, I also rented guns etc. I really took my time. Of course you will not be able to shoot every gun made, and what you want will not be the perfect fit for others and vice versa. Good luck in your quest. Patience is a virtue.

Curiously, Jeb, which firearm filled your requirements?

SteadyD said:

Regarding the DAK vs LEM, I don’t want a trigger that’s too light. I may have to get one of each and then get rid of whichever one I don’t like.

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Always a valid strategy. I’ve carried a Kahr P9 full-time since about 2003. When I decided a couple of years ago that I wanted a double stack gun to carry in winter I ended up buying six different guns to decide which I liked best. However, rather than selling any of them I actually ended up buying the 40 cal version of the two I liked most!

sorry for the lame question; went back and reread.

SteadyD said:

For any who have experience with the p290, how does it compare to the p250 and DAK triggers? I handled a p290 and didn’t think the trigger was all that great, but perhaps the gun itself didn’t feel good in the hand.

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To me, the most significant trigger difference is that the P290's 9-pound trigger pull is 50% heavier than the P250's 6-pound trigger.

Kinda late to add this comment re the 290 trigger, but it is heavy, and long, but for a close range defense pistol it does the job pretty well, imo. It is certainly not a shock to anyone used to J-frames. Also, imo. It’s is certainly a pretty safe trigger. It needs to be intentionally pulled, for sure.