What’s Better Between Single Action vs Double Action? (Pros and Cons)

Feeling confused about the difference between single action and double action?

By the end of this article, I will teach you the primary differences between the two, tell you the pros and cons of each, and say in what situation I prefer each.

To understand the difference between single action and double action, you must first understand exactly how a handgun works.

When you pull the slide of the handgun back, it allows for the magazine spring to push a bullet into the chamber. It also cocks the hammer of the firearm back.

Then, when you pull the trigger of the gun, it causes the hammer to snap forward, which pushes the firing pin inside the gun into the primer of the bullet cartridge.

When the firing pin strikes the primer, it ignites the propellant that will send the bullet flying down the barrel at a high rate of speed.

Make sense?

What the Hell Single Action vs Double Action is?

What is Single Action?

Single action is the exact chain of events that was previously described.

When you pull the handgun slide back, the hammer is cocked and locked back.

When you pull the trigger of the gun, it drops the hammer, and the bullet is fired.

Many revolvers are single action, meaning you have to cock the hammer each time you shoot it.

What is Double Action?

In some semiautomatic pistols with an exposed hammer, you are able to decock the hammer.

In essence, you are able to ride the hammer forward slowly with your finger, without firing a bullet.

Similarly, some revolvers do not have an exposed hammer, and are double action each time you shoot it.

When you pull the trigger of a double action weapon, it serves two purposes. First, the trigger pull will cock the hammer. Second, the trigger pull will also drop the hammer.

As a result, double action weapons have a very long trigger pull.

Comparison between Single Action vs Double Action

Both single and double action weapons have their pros and cons.

So what is pros and cons of Single Action weapon?

Pros and cons of Double Action

When Each Type is Best

In semiautomatic pistols, the difference between single action and double action is almost negligible.

Once you pull the slide back, it will usually cock the hammer. Then, it’s just a matter of whether you decock the hammer or not. At that point, the two weapons are extremely similar, in that all you have to do is pull the trigger. For that reason, I think the two can be used interchangeably.

Both single action and double action semiautomatic pistols can be used for hunting, casual shooting, and self-defense.

However, the difference becomes magnified when using a revolver.

In my opinion, single action revolvers are BETTER for hunting, and double action revolvers are better for self-defense.

For general shooting, either will work, but I would recommend single action. I prefer double action revolvers for self-defense since you don’t have to worry about cocking the hammer each time you shoot.

I prefer single action for general shooting, because it requires you to pay better attention. Since you have to cock the hammer each time, you are unlikely to make any careless mistakes.

Conclusion

Overall, the biggest difference between single action and double action weapons is what the trigger does when you pull it.

When you pull the trigger of a single action weapon, it simply drops the hammer. In a double action weapon, pulling the trigger both cocks and drops the hammer.

Both are effective mechanisms, and each of them have their pros and cons.