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September 28, 2026

The Trigger Debate You Didn't Know You Needed

Locked
Photo: Same job, three very different pulls: here's what each trigger is actually doing.

Ask ten shooters what makes a "good" trigger and you'll get ten different answers.

Some swear by the consistent, no-nonsense pull of a striker-fired gun. Others won't touch anything but a crisp single-action break. And plenty of holdouts still trust the double-action first pull of a DA/SA.

I've run all three long enough to know each one earns its keep somewhere. Today we're breaking down how each trigger system actually works, and which one deserves a spot in your holster.

Let's talk triggers.

Where Each System Came From

Single-action triggers go back to the earliest revolvers and pistols, like Colt's 1911, where the hammer has to be cocked, manually or by racking the slide, before a light, short pull fires the gun.

DA/SA showed up as a safety compromise. The first pull is long and heavy, cocking and dropping the hammer in one stroke, while every shot after resets to that shorter single-action pull.

Striker-fired is the newest of the three, popularized by Glock in 1988. Instead of a hammer, a spring-loaded striker sits partially cocked inside the slide, giving every pull the same weight, shot after shot.
Snapz Camera

How They Actually Shoot

Single-action triggers are the gold standard for a clean break, often 4 to 5 pounds with almost no take-up. That's why 1911s remain a favorite for target work and competition.

DA/SA guns ask more of the shooter. A heavy first pull, often 10-plus pounds, then a much lighter follow-up, means practice is non-negotiable if you don't want to throw that first shot low.

Striker-fired splits the difference. Not as crisp as a tuned 1911, not as dramatic a swing as DA/SA, just a consistent 5 to 6 pound pull every time. That predictability is exactly why it dominates the market today.

Which One's Right For You

Want the same trigger pull every time with minimal fuss? Striker-fired is hard to argue with, and it's why most duty and carry guns default to it now.

Chasing the cleanest possible break for precision work? A tuned single-action platform like the 1911 still holds its own decades later.

DA/SA still has fans who like that long first pull as a built-in safety margin, especially on guns carried hammer-down.

There's no universally "best" trigger, just the one that matches your hand and how much practice you're willing to put in. Hit reply and tell us which trigger you trust most.

Until next time, stay locked and loaded.
- Randy, Locked N Loaded

Please add randy@gophercentral.com to your address book or visit here.

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