Glocks: Single Action? Double Action?

Worn

Discussion Starter · #1 · Jan 24, 2018 (Edited)

19085 23

I tried to include a poll. Apparently, my poll had too many possible selections. (Why would the software let me do that?)
Single Action
Double Action
Single Action and Double Action
Neither Single Action nor Double Action?

Anyway, here is the post sans poll:

Do you think of the Glock design as a Single Action, a Double Action or what?

I've owned Glocks for a long time but it is only within the last year that I developed a good understanding of its trigger. That is, I always thought of it as a SAO, Single Action Only, like so many semi-autos, whether hammer or striker fired, with the fire control group being cocked by the recoil action of the slide.

More recently, I learned that a Glock is not fully cocked by cycling the slide and that it is pulling the trigger that finishes cocking the weapon. Some people have opined that Glock is a DAO pistol, since every shot involves (some) cocking via the trigger.

A 1992 Glock manual says: "... the Glock pistol has an action which combines the best characteristics of the traditional double and single action pistols, creating what has become known as the 'Safe Action' system.

"Glock pistols combine the safety and simplicity of revolver-like operation with a constant double action trigger pull, ... "

This language sort of burst my "single action" bubble. Maybe the "DAO" guy was right,

What is the Safe Action? I'm curious to know what others think. What do you think?

What does Glock think its Safe Action is? SA, DA, a hybrid in a class by itself?

I'm curious too; do other striker fired pistols operate similarly, partly cocking the weapon and leaving it to the trigger pull to complete the job?

Save

Reply Quote

1 - 1 of 1 Posts

NewportNewsMike

· Registered

Joined Jun 1, 2007

177 Posts

#17 · Jan 28, 2018

Usually a DAO only gun has a higher trigger pull weight, say 10 pounds or so.
A SAO gun like a 1911 has a trigger pull weight of 4 to 6 pounds.
A double-action revolver that has been cocked has a trigger pull weight of 4 to 6 pounds.

Using this criteria, the Glock "Safe Action" is more in the SAO or cocked DA family.
That's why striker-fired guns need to have their trigger protected to be safely carried.

Would you walk around with a cocked SAA or S&W Model 66 in your pocket? That is exactly what your are doing if you carry a Glock in your pocket without a holster protecting the trigger.