How a Handgun Works: Single vs Double-Action Firearms

When it comes to firearm ownership, whether you’re a current firearm owner or protentional owner, it’s important to understand the main components and mechanics of your handgun. In this video, we cover the basic differences between Single-Action and Double-Action handguns using revolvers and semi-automatics as examples.
At Range USA, we develop responsible gun owners by offering quality firearms education, modern indoor ranges, and a welcoming environment for people of all experience levels interested in developing responsible shooting habits.
Visit RangeUSA.com to find a location nearest you or to shop online.

[@esame3653]

Nicely and simply explained. Thank you

[@HatiaArms]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIOue4GKobuDpLM 👆10 shot pistol detail video👆

[@4lbertoZ4val4]

I'm taking my LTC online class and they just explained this in the "how to handle a gun" portion pretty poorly imo. I hoped on KZbin real quick to get a different person to explain and this video did wonders. Thank you.

[@wordsareswords]

First video which made me see SA DA as I wanted to learn , plain english and amazing animation

[@dustydave1308]

An Explanation with Visuals, Awesome! Thank You!!

[@xiaohai5249]

Excellent video and explanation. It makes easy to understand.

[@justforfun3897]

Fantastic explanation and visual… Thank you!

[@billleblanc8324]

Great, clear presentation

[@IlkovdV]

perfect explanation, thank you

[@Centannicocktails]

Thank you for this incredible video! I am dyslexic, therefore it takes me time to see and figure things out in my head.

[@vomeister]

Beautiful video. Thank you.

[@scientistmilorad9735]

Thank you so much. It all makes sense now.

[@shamaaaan7]

the best explained and the best easy answer thanks

[@TheStreetest]

I just got me a double action semi auto. . thanks for this info. :)

[@sonidosdeltrono1089]

Great job!

[@fg-iw1ts]

Great video

[@SpeedDemonExpress]

I would argue that the glock striker fired as most striker fired pistols claim to be double action are really single action. The trigger only works one time after the slide has been cycled. Just like a true single action you'd need to pull the hammer back to get another shot, you'd instead need to cycle the slide to get another shot. Yes, the slide will reset the striker if you hit a good round. That doesn't make it DAO. But if you hit a dud round you have to cycle it again to cock the striker again.

[@djcfrompt]

Yeah, if you rack the slide on an empty chamber and pull the trigger, there is an obvious click as the firing pin is released. But pull the trigger again without racking the slide and nothing happens. So that should be single action - the trigger only releases the firing pin, it doesn't reset it.

[@timtimtimmay4654]

Agreed. I always thought the term "modified double action" was highly misleading as the firearm is only able to 100% complete one of the two actions on its own, and the other relies at least 60% on slide operation/manipulation. If anything it is a 1.4 action, lol. A true double action would be able to perform 100% of both actions with a single trigger pull.

[@lostinalbion4223]

Yes, this is something never made sense to me. You can't just fire a Glock by squeezing the trigger. For that matter, you can't get a shell in the chamber without charging the weapon.

[@carlosmontes117]

wow. Great video. Its very easy to understand how a hand gun works. Thank you

[@stormythelowcountrykitty7147]

Good explanation

[@nicolenew1708]

THANK YOU 😊😊😊

[@georgestephenmulondo1907]

Thanks so much for everything sir....I would like to know if it's possible to get the measurements and dimensions of this beautiful sig sg 550 pistol thanks nice work, we're blessed.

[@Pauley_in_GP]

Another very good video. Excellent animation. If you haven't already done so, I suggest a Part 2, informing new gun owners why they would want to shoot single-action vs. double-action when having a choice.

[@bluekeybo]

why do we? i'd appreciate your input

[@Pauley_in_GP]

@@bluekeybo Personally, when I used to shoot a revolver exclusively, shooting SA made me feel like a marksman. ;)

[@brandenpowell7077]

you are amazing bro thank you

[@syncprism6283]

Is it normal to not feel a "wall" when pressing in the DA mode? I'm more used to striker fire-pistols, and most of their trigger movement include a short portion cocking the striker backwards comparable to DA. Typically there is a clear "wall" before it fires, but in the DA mode of an DA/SA pistol I can hardly feel the wall.

[@prycerob]

Damn good vid/animation

[@IAT.38]

Very good.

[@SGTYSTHESG]

"Lord, I can't change Won't you fly high, free bird, yeah!"

[@mjk4378]

When u chamber in the first round, the slide already pulls the hammer back.. so are you saying there are 1911s where I chamber the first round and the hammer still stays up as the slide returns?

[@Twerkulies]

Should have mentioned that DA pistols have a heavy trigger pull if the hammer isn't back.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

That is a design to prevent NDs or accidents. A semi auto with a cocked hammer has a light pull. People have litterly been killed or seriously injured by single action type pistols, light triggers.

[@savagepanda8458]

Are there any benefits to pulling back the hammer yourself on a double action, rather than letting the trigger do it?

[@vegeta4693214]

There is a very slight advantage. When you pull the hammer back, the trigger also moves back which means it has a shorter range to move and you need to apply less force to the trigger to shoot. It makes the shoot snappier.

[@ivanthehunter3530]

Yes, accuracy. It doesn't make the gun more accurate, rather you become more accurate. In double action mode, you have a significantly longer travel on the trigger, and the pull will be heavier. You are therefore more likely to drift of target, since you have to apply MORE force for Longer in order to fire, potentially leading to inaccuracy.

[@pedramshiva]

Sir, While I’m looking at the process, I can’t figured out why are the moving parts going backwards at the time of firing? Which force or mechanism does this?

[@Bob-jm8kl]

I’ve had this explained to me a zillion times. Seeing it made it make sense.

[@ComfortZoneComic]

Tnx

[@Ammo-Musement]

I literally had to look this up because SDI couldn't explain it in words well enough. Its so simple but I could not comprehend the difference with words

[@lawyerlarrry]

Well done. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@kms-gu7bl]

Good

[@Adriana-ej3fd]

Perfect video! Thank you for making for gun illiterate people like me :)

[@afrikasmith1049]

I bet a lot of people watch this before getting their gun license. This is very educational.

[@Wtfinc]

Double action blows for real. Im having buyers remorse on a G43x. Thats a stiff trigger. It literally the type of gun that if u aim perfect u will miss but if ur aim is crap, ull be dead on. If u buy a gun, take at least a grand, get something really nice

[@sasazapadnik9335]

@@Wtfinc not true. glock 17/19 and cz 75 b are great guns in $750 range

[@freezefire8206]

Very informative, I will demonstrate this in my school tomorrow 😊

[@harvymarquez8164]

I have a double action only pistol known as a keltec p11

[@whiskynoway8772]

In semi auto single action: if you slide cock to load a bullet in chamber, does it automatically pull the hammer??

[@PseudoBoris]

Yes

[@mhpjii]

What are the considerations regarding the purchase of either?

[@davidhoffman6980]

Hi. The choice ultimately comes down to what you want, and that's mostly dictated by what you want it for. First, let's talk about the revolver. The main reason to get a single action revolver is because it's a cowboy gun. If you're a fan of westerns and you want a pistol like you'd see in a John Wayne movie, then you might want to get a single action revolver for the experience. However, it is a lot more cumbersome to load and unload so if you want a revolver that's easier to shoot, then you'll prefer a double action. Also, double action revolvers are a lot more common and thus you will have a bigger selection of calibers and ammo. Now for semi auto pistols. If you just want a range gun that's easy and fun to shoot, then you'll probably prefer the single action. Also, the oldest and classiest semi autos were all single action (think world wars and cold war). Double action semi autos are mostly designed for combat (civilians defending themselves, police, and military). They usually have triggers that aren't pleasant and sometimes downright difficult to pull and that's for two reasons: one, it's very hard to make an even, crisp, light trigger pull on a striker fired gun, and two, they're often given heavier springs for legal liability reasons. Most modern striker fired pistols don't have manual safeties on them so they make the trigger harder to prevent accidental shootings. The advantage to this design is that they can be safely stored in a holster without a manual safety, and at a moments notice can be drawn and fired without having to remember to flick off the safety first. In the end, it really comes down to what you're looking for in a pistol. Do you want an every day carry pistol? A home defense pistol? A fun range pistol? A classic cold war pistol? A cowboy pistol? An easy to load revolver in a magnum caliber? I know this was a long comment so if you read all of it, thanks and I hope this helped.

[@mhpjii]

@@davidhoffman6980 Excellent. Thanks, David.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

If IF you know or have 0 understanding of any guns, hand guns start with a simple DA 3 or 4" barrel stainless steel revolver or a .38spl 3" like a Ruger LCRx. Learn the basics THEN move to modern semi auto guns. Glock 19 gen 5, HK VP9, Beretta 92F, SIG P226 etc.

[@mhpjii]

@@davidhoffman6980 Excellent. Thank you.

[@WasephWastar]

there's also striker-fired revolvers

[@ismaelhall3990]

Simplicity.

[@davidg.9942]

something is missing in your sa/da explanation,,,,unlike the revolver how does the round gets into the chamber in semi-auto pistols??? you can have full mag in and hammer fire your pistol all day long without actually firing any round,,, when you rack the slide you present the round into the chamber but you also cock the hammer,,, and unless you have de-cocker you are in SA only,,,,

[@Naos1]

Handgun lore

[@horacejohnson1730]

OMG, my instructor got it mixed up! This video will save my @$$!

[@The_PlagueDoctor]

Just get a double action

[@godkingberkyy]

Mississippi Queen You know what I mean Mississippi Queen She taught me everything Went down around Vicksburg Around Louisiana way Where lived the Cajun Lady Aboard the Mississippi Queen You know she was a dancer She moved better on wine While the rest of them dudes were gettin' their kicks Boy, I beg your pardon, I was gettin' mine Mississippi Queen If you know what I mean Mississippi Queen She taught me everything This lady she asked me If I would be her man You know that I told her I'd do what I can To keep her lookin' pretty Buy her dresses that shine While the rest of them dudes were makin' their friends Boy, I beg your pardon, I was loosin' mine You know she was a dancer She moved better on wine While the rest of them dudes were gettin' their kicks Boy, I beg your pardon, I was gettin' mine Yeah, Mississippi Queen

[@joeflex92]

Glock is single action because when you dry fire a Glock you need to rack the slide back between every dry fire.

[@BeatPushaTV]

Only reason you have to rack the slide is because there was no round fired.

[@dragonmaster909]

Some questions why bother with single action guns? do most people still cock the hammer on double action guns? Does doing that have benefits?

[@MrLovolovo]

why are single action still being made? aren't those obsolete?

[@user-fd8mm8qk4i]

国产模型vx banznk

[@99Knytes]

Glock striker fire IS NOT DOUBLE ACTION. It's single action with a well financed public relations department. Period. If your Glock trigger goes off on a dead primer/empty chamber, you can't pull the trigger again to cock and release the striker again until you pull back the slide. Yes, racking the slide cocks the striker half way, and pulling the trigger finishes the action, but you wouldn't consider a 1911 to be double action just because it has a half-cock notch on the hammer, would you?

[@joeflex92]

Very well put! Thank you

[@joeflex92]

Or when you dry fire a Glock you need to rack side every time

[@sharky2606]

Stating that a gun like the glock is double action only is just flat out wrong. This is the reason I dispise the company, they've manipulated the market into really idiotic yet dogmatic beliefs and ideas of what the ideal gun should be and is

[@MiketheMadness]

Don’t understand what you mean could you explain?

[@derfaschist9687]

Glock is not double action

[@joeflex92]

You’re absolutely right…that’s why when you dry fire a Glock you need to cock it back every time!

[@joeflex92]

You need to rack the slide back every time*

[@it.was.written]

When shopping online for a Glock 19 I had to filter it to “double action”

[@javontebrown8865]

Seems very confusing

[@Hamann9631]

Glock's do not have safeties! Unless we are making up completely new definitions of the word "safety".

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

False! RIP Gaston Glock! 🇦🇹

[@Hamann9631]

@@DavidLLambertmobile Is not the old definition of a safety, "a part on a device which prevents the device from being activated or turned on by use of the trigger or on switch"? The part on the trigger of glocks stops nothing from firing when the trigger is pulled.

[@jatadharimahto6856]

How doo meking .daimensan give

[@IAT.38]

Very good.