Firearms Guide · Chapter 1
Pistol & Revolver Action Types
"Action" describes how a handgun fires and prepares the next round. The action determines the trigger you'll live with, the controls you must master, and how forgiving the gun is of mistakes. Here's every major type, in plain language.
What Does Cocking a Pistol Do?
Cocking sets the hammer or striker back under spring tension so the trigger only has to release it. That is why a cocked single-action trigger is short and light, while an uncocked double-action trigger is long and heavy — it does the cocking and the releasing in one stroke. On a single-action revolver, thumbing the hammer back also rotates the cylinder to line up the next round. On a semi-automatic, racking the slide cocks the action and chambers a round at the same time, and the slide re-cocks it after every shot. A cocked gun is a gun with a light trigger: the safety rules do not change, but the margin for a careless finger shrinks.
Revolvers
Revolvers come in exactly two flavors. The difference is whether the trigger does all the work, or your thumb does some of it first.
Single Action Revolver (SA)
You must manually cock the hammer before every shot. Cocking rotates the cylinder and stages the trigger, so the trigger pull itself only releases the hammer. Think cowboy guns.
Trigger feel: Very light and crisp — often 2–4 lbs.
- Lightest, most precise trigger of any handgun
- Mechanically simple and extremely durable
- Excellent for hunting and teaching fundamentals
- Slow — two hands realistically needed to run it fast
- Low capacity, slow to load and unload
- Not practical for defensive carry today
- The cylinder timing system is intricate; dropped in mud or prolonged exposure to sand can lock it up tighter than a loose-tolerance semi-auto
Examples: Ruger Blackhawk, Colt Single Action Army clones
Double Action Revolver (DA, often DA/SA)
One long trigger pull both cocks and releases the hammer, rotating the cylinder as it goes. Most also let you thumb-cock the hammer for a lighter single-action shot — hence DA/SA.
Trigger feel: Long and heavy in double action (8–12+ lbs), light when cocked.
- Utterly reliable — no magazines, feed ramps, or springs under stress
- Simple manual of arms: point and pull
- A dud round is solved by pulling the trigger again
- Heavy double-action trigger takes dedicated practice
- Typically 5–6 rounds and slow reloads
- Snub-nose versions are experts' guns, not beginner guns
- Cylinder timing and crane alignment are precision parts; grit, mud, or sand can stop the gun faster than a loose-tolerance semi-auto
Examples: Smith & Wesson Model 686, Ruger GP100, S&W J-Frame snubbies
Semi-Automatic Pistols
Semi-autos use the energy of each shot to cycle the slide, eject the empty case, and chamber the next round. What differs is how the firing mechanism — hammer or striker — gets cocked and released.
Single Action Only (SAO)
The hammer must be cocked for every shot — the slide does it automatically after the first round. Carried 'cocked and locked': hammer back, manual safety on.
Trigger feel: Short, light, and crisp — the gold standard many shooters judge others by.
- Best-in-class trigger for accuracy and speed
- Manual safety and slim grip profile
- Huge aftermarket support
- Requires training to run the safety under stress
- Carrying a cocked gun unsettles some owners (it's safe, but you must be disciplined)
- Often lower capacity and higher cost
Examples: 1911 pattern pistols, Browning Hi-Power, CZ 75 (in SA mode)
Double Action / Single Action (DA/SA)
First shot is a long, heavy double-action pull; the slide then cocks the hammer, so every follow-up shot is light single action. Most include a decocker to safely lower the hammer.
Trigger feel: Two different trigger pulls to master — heavy first, light after.
- Heavy first pull doubles as a safety margin for carry
- Decocker allows a safe, loaded chamber with hammer down
- Forgiving of administrative handling
- The DA-to-SA transition is a genuine skill hurdle
- More controls: decocker, safety, slide stop
- Slightly taller slides and more internal complexity
Examples: Beretta 92/M9, SIG P226, CZ 75, HK USP
Striker-Fired
No external hammer at all. An internal spring-loaded striker is partially or fully tensioned by the slide, and the consistent trigger pull releases it. Safeties are internal (trigger, firing pin, drop safeties).
Trigger feel: Same moderate pull every shot — usually 4–6.5 lbs with a predictable wall and break.
- Consistent trigger on every shot — simplest to learn
- Few external controls; draw, press, repeat
- Lightweight polymer frames, high capacity, affordable
- Trigger feel is adequate, rarely inspiring
- No second-strike capability on a dud round (tap-rack instead)
- Holster discipline is critical — nothing must touch the trigger
Examples: Glock 19/17, Smith & Wesson M&P, SIG P365/P320, Springfield Hellcat, CZ P-10
A Note on 1911 & 2011 Pistols
The 1911 (single-stack, often .45 ACP) and 2011 (double-stack, often 9mm) platforms deserve their own warning label.
- Exquisite trigger — short, light, and crisp
- Excellent ergonomics and natural pointing angle
- Inherently fast and accurate once dialed in
- Unforgiving of tolerance or spec issues — extractor, feed ramp, magazine fit
- A tinkerer's gun; many need 500+ rounds to break in reliably
- Even a budget option gets expensive after feeding it 500 rounds of .45
For enthusiasts willing to learn the platform, a 1911/2011 is a joy. For a first handgun, the break-in, maintenance, and ammo cost make a striker-fired pistol the safer starting point.
So Which One for a Beginner?
A striker-fired pistol is the default recommendation for a reason: the same trigger every shot, minimal controls, high capacity, and the widest selection of holsters, sights, and training support. This is why police departments and new shooters overwhelmingly end up here. As for caliber, the debates run hotter than the differences: with modern defensive ammunition, the common service calibers expand to similar diameters and penetrate to similar depths. None is overpowered — the question is only whether it's powerful enough, and the mainstream options all are. Let cost decide; the caliber that's cheapest to practice with is usually the one you'll shoot best.
DA/SA appeals to shooters who want a heavier, deliberate first pull on a carried gun — but budget real range time to master the transition between the two pulls.
Revolvers still earn a place: deep-concealment backup guns, and shooters who value absolute simplicity over capacity. Just know that a small revolver is one of the hardest handguns to shoot well.
Whatever the action, pair it with a rigid holster that fully covers the trigger guard, and consider a red dot sight — the target-focused aiming a dot provides speeds up both learning and real-world accuracy, and the discipline it teaches improves your iron-sight shooting too.
Planning to run a pistol light? Choose the light before the holster. Light-bearing holsters get their retention from the light itself, not the gun, so the holster only exists for specific gun-plus-light combinations. A common, widely supported light means holster options everywhere; an obscure light can leave you with nothing that fits.
A word on budget pistols. Value brands like Canik offer superb accuracy, triggers, and upfront price — and they're a legitimate choice. But the sticker isn't the whole cost: once you start ordering spare magazines and replacement parts, less common brands can end up costing more than the ubiquitous options whose mags and parts are sold everywhere. Factor the support ecosystem into the price comparison.
Carry Positions
How you carry matters almost as much as what you carry. Each position trades speed, comfort, and concealment differently.
Appendix (AIWB)
In front of the body, roughly over the belt buckle. This keeps the gun where your hands naturally are and gives a straight draw stroke. Because the holstered muzzle points toward the femoral arteries in the groin and upper legs, many instructors recommend a DA/SA or single-action pistol with a manual safety for appendix carry — the heavy first pull or thumb safety adds a deliberate step between you and a negligent discharge in the most unforgiving carry position.
- Fastest access with hands already in front
- Easier to retain in a struggle
- Works well for most body types with a good holster
- Requires a quality holster with good retention and a claw/wedge
- Sitting or driving can be uncomfortable until you dial it in
- Reholstering demands extra care and visual confirmation
3 and 4 O'Clock (Strong-Side Hip)
On the dominant-side hip, behind the hip bone at 3 o'clock or tucked slightly around toward the back pocket at 4 o'clock.
- Often more comfortable when standing or walking — and its real strength: far more comfortable when sitting or driving, since nothing is pressed between your body and the seat
- Keeps the gun out of the way during daily tasks
- Familiar draw stroke for many shooters
- Harder to conceal under fitted shirts
- The gun can print when you bend or reach
- Slower access if your arm must travel behind your hip
Off-Body
Carried in a bag, purse, fanny pack, sling pouch, or pack. The gun is not attached directly to your body.
- Most comfortable for all-day carry — and comfort is what keeps people carrying instead of leaving the gun at home
- Easiest to dress around; no belt, holster, or cover-garment requirements
- Can carry larger guns and extra gear
- Makes carry possible in environments and dress codes where on-body carry isn't practical
- Slowest access — you must first get to the bag
- The bag can be stolen, set down, or left behind
- Requires a dedicated, secure compartment and a quality bag
You'll hear a hard “no off-body carry” rule in some circles. We see it differently. Off-body is the most comfortable way to carry, and comfort matters because the gun you actually have with you beats the one sitting at home. In states with rules about where and how you can carry, a bag can be the difference between carrying and not; it also lets people carry in environments and dress codes that on-body carry can't accommodate. A teacher, for example, may not be allowed to carry inside the school building but can keep a firearm locked in their vehicle — and constantly removing and reapplying an on-body holster every morning and afternoon is a strain that quickly leads to leaving the gun at home. Off-body carry lets them move the bag from car to classroom-adjacent space without that daily friction. The tradeoff is strict habits: the bag stays on you, the gun stays in a dedicated holstered pouch with the trigger guard covered, and you rehearse the draw from the exact bag you actually carry.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between single action and double action?
- A single action trigger performs one job: releasing an already-cocked hammer or striker, giving a short, light pull. A double action trigger performs two: it cocks and then releases the hammer in one long, heavy pull. Many guns (DA/SA) offer both — heavy first shot, light follow-ups.
- What does striker-fired mean?
- Instead of a hammer, a striker-fired pistol uses a spring-loaded firing pin (striker) that the slide tensions during cycling. The trigger releases it directly. There's no external hammer and no decocker — every trigger pull feels the same, which is why striker-fired guns are considered the easiest to learn.
- Are striker-fired pistols safe without a manual safety?
- Yes, when handled properly. They have multiple internal safeties that prevent discharge unless the trigger is deliberately pressed. The critical discipline is a quality rigid holster covering the trigger guard and keeping your finger off the trigger until you're on target — Rules 2 and 3 do the work a thumb safety doesn't.
- Is a revolver more reliable than a semi-auto?
- Revolvers are immune to feeding and magazine-related malfunctions and will fire the next chamber even after a dud round. Semi-autos are extremely reliable in quality modern designs but depend on magazines, ammunition quality, and a firm grip. The practical reliability gap is much smaller than it was 30 years ago.