fastbolt
Member
I wasn't directing any of my comments to a specific post/poster. I didn't have any particular poster in mind when writing them.
This perennial topic is one of those that hardly ever arrives at a definitive conclusion that satisfies everyone.
As a firearms instructor of more than 20 years experience (and an armorer who's attended more than a Baker's Dozen classes), I'd not disagree that a respectable number of pistol owners/shooters probably lack a basic understanding of how their pistols technically function (let alone the functioning intricacies). I've listened to folks that didn't know the cycle of operation of a semiauto firearm ... and others who were well versed in it, but disagreed on which "step" should be considered the "first" step in the cycle (wanna start with "feed" or "fire"?
).
I've certainly encountered at least my fair share of firearms instructors who only had a rudimentary understanding of how different firearms operated ... which is why I've thought it's probably a good thing for LE firearms instructors to also attend an armorer class now and again, if only to gain a better understanding of how most of the commonly used defensive/service type pistols operate. Well, okay, it also helps when it comes to learning how to more accurately recognize & diagnose shooter problems versus actual gun problems.
Some folks seem to get really wrapped up around the axle when it comes to establishing some definitive "standard" of what makes a DAO pistol "truly" DAO. Good luck. Not even all the major pistol manufacturers always seem to be on the same page in that regard.
The original S&W DAO pistols required the slide to be retracted and released so the DAO hammers could be "located" (partially cocked) by the sear nose, and then the trigger could be pressed to fire the gun. No "second strike" capability.
Then we have what has become accepted (as description) as "traditional double action" pistols, which are not double action only.
Then Glock came along and decided to describe their action as "constant double action", since it's partially cocked.
Sig's "Enhanced DAO" (what they call their DAK in their classes) has 2 different DAO trigger strokes, and is different than their original DAO.
Personally, I don't have a specific definition of "DAO" for a semiauto pistol that's required for me to sleep well at night.
I don't have a personal bias toward any particular definition, or even require that there be only ONE definition.
If the BATFE wants to impose one, it doesn't cause me to lose sleep.
If one or another sporting/competitive venue wants to impose a rigid definition within their rules, it doesn't cause me to lose sleep.
If the manufacturers want to stretch "traditional" and generally accepted definitions by coming up with new designs that aren't quite like anything else ... yep, I don't lose sleep over it.
So, I suppose in the strictest sense of answering the original poster's question ... I don't have a rigidly fixed definition of DAO. Sorry.
I'm fine with the respective companies calling their actions whatever they feel is merited ... S&W 3rd gen DAO, the Walther P990/P99 DAO, Glock Safe Action, Sig DAO/DAK and Kahr's ... all DAO's.
This perennial topic is one of those that hardly ever arrives at a definitive conclusion that satisfies everyone.
As a firearms instructor of more than 20 years experience (and an armorer who's attended more than a Baker's Dozen classes), I'd not disagree that a respectable number of pistol owners/shooters probably lack a basic understanding of how their pistols technically function (let alone the functioning intricacies). I've listened to folks that didn't know the cycle of operation of a semiauto firearm ... and others who were well versed in it, but disagreed on which "step" should be considered the "first" step in the cycle (wanna start with "feed" or "fire"?
).I've certainly encountered at least my fair share of firearms instructors who only had a rudimentary understanding of how different firearms operated ... which is why I've thought it's probably a good thing for LE firearms instructors to also attend an armorer class now and again, if only to gain a better understanding of how most of the commonly used defensive/service type pistols operate. Well, okay, it also helps when it comes to learning how to more accurately recognize & diagnose shooter problems versus actual gun problems.
Some folks seem to get really wrapped up around the axle when it comes to establishing some definitive "standard" of what makes a DAO pistol "truly" DAO. Good luck. Not even all the major pistol manufacturers always seem to be on the same page in that regard.
The original S&W DAO pistols required the slide to be retracted and released so the DAO hammers could be "located" (partially cocked) by the sear nose, and then the trigger could be pressed to fire the gun. No "second strike" capability.
Then we have what has become accepted (as description) as "traditional double action" pistols, which are not double action only.
Then Glock came along and decided to describe their action as "constant double action", since it's partially cocked.
Sig's "Enhanced DAO" (what they call their DAK in their classes) has 2 different DAO trigger strokes, and is different than their original DAO.
Personally, I don't have a specific definition of "DAO" for a semiauto pistol that's required for me to sleep well at night.
I don't have a personal bias toward any particular definition, or even require that there be only ONE definition.
If the BATFE wants to impose one, it doesn't cause me to lose sleep.
If one or another sporting/competitive venue wants to impose a rigid definition within their rules, it doesn't cause me to lose sleep.
If the manufacturers want to stretch "traditional" and generally accepted definitions by coming up with new designs that aren't quite like anything else ... yep, I don't lose sleep over it.
So, I suppose in the strictest sense of answering the original poster's question ... I don't have a rigidly fixed definition of DAO. Sorry.
I'm fine with the respective companies calling their actions whatever they feel is merited ... S&W 3rd gen DAO, the Walther P990/P99 DAO, Glock Safe Action, Sig DAO/DAK and Kahr's ... all DAO's.
