My father taught me to shoot a revolver when I was about 12 or 13... this was a double action one. What he showed me was the way to shoot it was using single action.. cock the hammer and the trigger is much better.... that's where my foundation is and I can't seem to get around it. I do shoot double action only pistols as well as DAK but I prefer single action... even over that new fangled striker action.

Many years ago I purchased a P220 Compact SAS with the DAK trigger after I first saw the DAK at the NRA Annual Meetings in Phoenix in 2009. I’ve only had it to the range once, but as I recall it wasn’t hard to get the hang of. Though long, it’s a pretty smooth trigger.

Over the years I’ve thought about converting it to DA/SA, but I like knowing I have a DAK gun, especially now that it is no longer in production.

It's that long, smooth trigger that is the appeal

Wow! Never experienced the DAK system. Been really happy with DA/SA and haven’t run across a DAK pistol in my neck of the woods, not that I was actively looking. I’m a little surprised by the hate coming from some though. There are multiple systems out there I have tried and didn’t invest the time to like them as much as I do DA/SA, but I don’t feel the need to denigrate those systems. Just because something isn’t my favorite doesn’t mean it’s bad.

quote:

Originally posted by slosig:
I’m a little surprised by the hate coming from some though.

I count two people in the thread who didn't like it. The rest is information, or support. I didn't find any hate for the system.

Yup. My quote, first response was “I never understood the hype or the disdain”. Pretty straight forward. Then someone lost his mind and got insulting since outright love wasn’t expressed. Lol. I think that’s where you are reading hate instead of what actually was said.

There is no hate for this system. There are opinions that align with it’s an odd option that was foisted on the world by police administration not an actual demand. It works well, it’s safe, it’s smooth, and almost everyone shoots other trigger systems better. It has some die hard fans though. Overall, most people won’t go out of their way to pick one up.

I would buy one if the price was low enough. I used to own a Beretta Cougar D. DAO guns aren’t hard to make smooth and DAK is a variety of DAO with a secondary reset that some love and some hate but as a plus it’s much harder to short stroke. It didn’t set the world on fire. I certainly would recommend trying one out before buying one. It’s a unique taste. Maybe you like it, maybe you don’t. Try before you buy.

When the CG went from the M9 to the SigP229 in 40S&WDAK there was a lot of bitching. A LOT. Scores fell, people lost their quals and it took about an extra years worth of ammo to get people back up to being able to qual.

Most of the problem was that the system was bought by people who didn’t know how to train or were not instructors themselves. Units were not issued the guns and personnel allowed to dry fire and figure things out. The unit got a range day, guns and holstered were issued and quals began….it was a complete flop.

Two issues.
1. The ammo issued was not what the sights were regulated for. Many units up north could only use frangible ammo due to using commercial indoor ranges..that round printed six to eight inches away from the center of a TranstarII target…out of the 5 and into the 3. The standard HP ammo issued was 180gr vs the 125(ish) frangible.

2. The trigger reset was not explained to the personnel properly and the guys were only allowed to try it while at the firing line.

After several months of guys with the guns and allowing them to dry fire at the unit, the scores did go back up.

I never was a big fan of the DAK, but I also didn’t hate on it. As an instructor I qualified out of the gate and I took time to explain how the trigger worked, my units quals didn’t dip as low as other units, because we had our own ranges and planned two days per shift of guys to acclimate. The next cycle of training was much better.

I wouldn’t buy one if I could buy a DA/SA, but that’s me.

As an aside, we had a reservist who was a Air Marshal and he could shoot the DAK like a champ. When he qualified with a hole in the center of the 5 the size of a soda can we all began picking his brain. Turns out they shot 500 rounds at a minimum per week. And he used the same weapon the P229DAK in 40.

When I retired we were still using the Sig. But I heard back in 2020 they were gonna move to the G19. A better move for the Marine environment they experience daily.

MikeinNC, at what distance were Transtar II targets placed?

quote:

Originally posted by RichardC:
MikeinNC, at what distance were Transtar II targets placed?

3,5,7,15 & 25 yards for the qual course and 15 and 25 for ribbons.

And 25 is a long shot for new shooters trying to get a ribbon…we started them out closer and work back to build confidence in the shooter.

I have a P226 in DAK. It's one of the easist to shoot pistol I own. What I like about it most it did away with that double to single action transition that I just find so annoying.

I actually miss the DAK system. A batch of P239 DAKs is something I should have invested in.