Shooting a SAA makes you a better overall shooter

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’ve come to believe that shooting a Colt SAA or clone well can make you a better all around shot with other guns. It seems that way with me.

A SAA makes you grasp the gun and hold it the same way every time.

It makes you really pay attention to trigger control as it is very sensitive to inconsistent finger placement and side to side pressure.

It has a relatively slow lock time and you simply must carefully follow through after the sear breaks.

It sure makes a 1911 much easier to shoot.

[JimT]

My exact ideas.
I know a lot of shooters choose guns with a fast lock time and that is fine.
BUT ... I have read about the shooting that people did with flintlocks! Talk about needing FOLLOW-THROUGH!
Learn the basics and they apply to most everything.

[Bill in Oregon]

Excellent point, Scott. I need to have Fermin Garza work his magic on my Blackhawk and then put in some serious trigger time.

[samsi]

Funny, I was mulling over this very subject yesterday and I completely agree. I did some dry fire with a 1911 and thought I'd do the Blackhawk afterwards, then I decided to skip the Blackhawk entirely since I was feeling good about myself and there was no need to ruin it!

[AJMD429]

.
I really enjoy my Single Six and Super Blackhawk, but the grip is so different than my Taurus 92 CCW that I have to practice with both to be good at either.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Funny, I was mulling over this very subject yesterday and I completely agree. I did some dry fire with a 1911 and thought I'd do the Blackhawk afterwards, then I decided to skip the Blackhawk entirely since I was feeling good about myself and there was no need to ruin it!

I’ve been guilty of that. But I decided to see if I could master the SAA and I think it was worth it!

[Bronco]

Would shooting a DA by cocking the hammer be the same? I don't have a SA but most of my shooting revolvers is by cocking the hammer then work the trigger.
Only dumb question is the one you do not ask

[Scott Tschirhart]

Probably any shooting is good for training your mind and body.

[samsi]

Probably any shooting is good for training your mind and body.

This is true. About 20 years ago there was a fellow at the local range who'd had a stroke and had the typical after effects with one side virtually non-functional. He started shooting 3-4 days a week, first with a .22 and later with a Kimber Target .45. It didn't happen overnight but after a couple years he seemed like it never happened, normal speech and motor functions. He could hold as steady as anyone.

[Ysabel Kid]

Probably any shooting is good for training your mind and body.

Almost.

Given some of what passes for target shooting I've seen at public ranges, I have to say some shooting just reinforces horrid practices!

[Malamute]

I'll take a little different tack, I find SAs and revolvers in general to be far easier to shoot well than auto pistols. I carried and used 1911s a fair bit in the past, but never was able to come close to the mechanical accuracy and consistent performance accuracy of a Smith revolver or good SA revolver. It took me far more work for lesser results, and required much more work to try to maintain those lesser abilities. I had 22 conversion unit for the National Match, both were stunningly mechanically accurate, but I was never able to shoot them as consistently well. I was also never able to reliably hit running rabbits and squirrels, things thrown in the air, with an auto pistol of any type. With a Smith K-22, model 19, model 29, SA Rugers in rimfire and centerfire, yes.

Ive mostly given up on autos. I shot a glock 19 some after getting it for the ex. she didnt like it, ammo was cheap at the time, $11.88/100, so I shot it, maybe 3500 rds worth, mostly at the 300 yard plate. I was surprised that I could hit it as well as I did, but it never shot very good groups at closer distances. Still, I could hit the plate easier with the smith revolvers, far better triggers, far easier to shoot well overall.

Getting reacquainted with traditional SAs after shooting rugers for a long time, Im enjoying the ride so to speak, and hitting stuff at 300 yards one handed has been relatively simple once the sights were close to correct at closer distances.

Autos to me requires large amounts of practice to maintain lower levels of ability, revolvers seem to practically shoot themselves in comparison. Ive pretty much lost all interest and desire to shoot auto pistols. I got an ACP cylinder for the Cimarron 45 so I can shoot up the ACP ammo I have thats not getting shot in 1911s.

Ive had a prolonged period of little to no shooting for health and life situation reasons, I cant get excited about picking up an auto, the SA revolvers are a joy to shoot. The old saying about you never forget how to ride a bike? That seems to apply to revolvers, not for autos in my case.

[AmBraCol]

I think you're onto something there, Scott. Batt Masterson, in the book mentioned by JimT recently, talks about how horrible the old sixguns were to learn to shoot. Of course he lays it on thick because he was promoting the Savage auto pistol as "superior". But there's some truth in among the prose as well as the dramatic "no good at all" moaning. All that being said, if you can master the old sixguns, you can pretty much shoot anything decently to very well. I've had the same experience with pellet guns over the years. Putting in time at the range with a pellet gun with all its foibles and problems (talking Crosman 2240, 1377, etc) enabled me to out shoot the rest of the club with their target guns they rarely shot. As JimT mentions, the old flintlocks demanded even MORE follow through, and they did some impressive work with their rifles back in the day. Same as with caplocks (Ned Roberts' book on the Caplock rifle is a fascinating read). I'm hoping to spend some time with my single actions next year. It's been too long.

[Paladin]

Probably any shooting is good for training your mind and body.

Almost.

Given some of what passes for target shooting I've seen at public ranges, I have to say some shooting just reinforces horrid practices!

Sad to say, I agree and avoid public ranges.
I enjoy practicing my single and double actions.