BehindBlueI's
Grandmaster
- Oct 3, 2012
- 25,936
- 113
the mechanics are INDEED SLIGHTLY different than a conventional heavy double action pistol. With that disclaimer, it still takes TWO (double) mechanical, and completely separate, actions to make a GLOCK go boom.
The "double" in double action refers to cocking and firing. Pulling the trigger on a Glock does not cock the firing mechanism. Racking the slide cocks it. If you get a failure to fire, you must reset the firing mechanism by racking the slide or the trigger is dead. Hence, not a double action. If anything, its closer to a SAO that lacks the capability to manually cock.
Anyway,
OP, I started out in the same boat. I carried a CZ as my first semi-auto pistol. However once I started training realistically I realized I could not deactivate the safety on a hasty draw consistently. The CZ was too stiff and too small. I could consistently disengage the thumb safety on the 1911, which was larger and stuck out more. I moved to the 1911 platform and stayed with it until becoming an LEO and being forced to take up the Glock. I was also hesitant with the Glock and to this day I prefer something with the hammer on the outside. I like being able to see and feel if the gun is cocked as I holster.
There are trade offs regardless of what you choose. Glocks and the like are simple and the easiest to learn. You can't forget to decock before reholstering, there's nothing to swipe before its ready to fire, etc. DA/SA with no safety have the extra margin of error of a long and heavy first pull eliminating the need for a thumb safety, but are generally accepted to be harder to learn to shoot well because of the two distinct trigger pulls. Single action with a thumb safety is generally credited as having the best trigger and being the tops in potential accuracy given the same amount of effort at mastering it, but you need to consistently deactivate the thumb safety.
What's right for you is up to you, and you may find it will vary as you gain experience. I *personally* prefer DA/SA.