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I was in a conversation last weekend with my son-in-law's father and he asked me what striker fired meant. I explained as clearly as my limited knowledge allowed that is simply a spring loaded striker that is released when the trigger is pulled to strike the primer as opposed to a hammer or hammer and firing pin; basically a spring loaded firing pin that doesn't require a hammer. He then wanted to know the difference between a striker fired, a DAO and SA. When I stated that his Glock , Kahr and XD were striker fired DAO another fellow interjected that was incorrect and they were not DAO because the striker cannot be cycled without pulling the slide back, which partially cocks the striker. I said while that's true, but SA/DA and DAO is really a terminology for triggers not strikers or hammers or firing pins. A trigger either performs one function or two. That a SA the trigger releases the cocked firing mechanism and DA cocks it and releases it. Even if it's partially cocked it still requires the trigger to be pulled. I admitted the striker is not fully re-cocked after reset and trigger pull unless the slide cycles, but the manufacturers call them DAO. I didn't argue when he went further to inform me that the Kahr, Glock and XD were SA or better yet striker fired not DA. I told him that the old Colt hammer-less Pocket Model wasn't really hammer-less, but that's what Colt named it. I almost told him a .38 Spcl is not really .38 caliber. His contention is there (we're talking semi-auto pistols) are SA (1911), DA (Browning HP HK, etc)and striker fired (XD, Glocks, etc). I don't agree but I it really didn't matter. Anyway, (Sorry to be so long winded, but I wanted to set it up) I assumed there were SA striker fired pistols, but I was not aware of any specifically. So what are some SA striker fired pistols?

An XD is a SA striker fired weapon. SA only releases the striker/hammer. DA cocks or partially cocks the striker/hammer before releasing it. XD only releases the striker while a glock finishes cocking the striker before releasing it. Per my son. IANAGS.

DAO: When used to describe a striker fired handgun often means a striker that is partially cocked by the trigger press (Think Glock). When used to describe a hammer fired handgun it usually means the hammer can not be cocked except by pressing the trigger (Think Sig P250).

Some common handguns and configurations:
Sig P22X series: Hammer fired, usually DA/SA (There are variants like DAK and SAO)
Sig P250: Hammer fired, DAO
1911: Hammer fired, SAO
Glock: Striker fired, DAO (Striker is partially cocked by trigger)
XD*: Striker Fired, SAO (Striker is only released by trigger)
Taurus 24/7: Striker fired, DA/SA
Hi Point: Striker fired, Grenade Action.

G.A. Heath wrote:Hi Point: Striker fired, Grenade Action.

Grenade Action.....

Pull trigger, gun fires. The End.

Kahr calls their action DOA, so I usually go with that. Although the action has to be cycled to reset the striker on the trigger cocking cam, the cocking cam actually moves the striker back as the trigger is pulled until it is released making it double action. However, the cocking cam also presses on the striker block (passive safety) which prevents the striker from moving forward unless the trigger is pulled, adding a third function to the trigger.

Therefore, I consider the Kahr design a TAO, triple action only.

Buy yourself a FN Herstal FNX pistol and get all of that.

I do love the FN pistols. You can carry them 1911-style Cocked and Locked, or you can have the trigger pull cock and drop the hammer. So they are SA/DA pistols.

Just remember. A Striker fired pistol is "One and Done". If you pull the trigger, and nothing happens, your ONLY choice is to cycle the slide. All others tie the trigger to the hammer for cocking the hammer.

Actually Kel Tec P 11s are striker fired DA. The trigger "cocks" the striker so if a misfire happens you can go for a second strike.

Browning HP is a hammer fired SA.

stroo wrote:Actually Kel Tec P 11s are striker fired DA. The trigger "cocks" the striker so if a misfire happens you can go for a second strike.

Browning HP is a hammer fired SA.

Kel-tec P11 is also hammer fired double action. The hammer is shrouded by the slide and you don't see it unless you look into the back of the slide. However I like to keep it simple. If one has to cock a hammer or rack a slide, it single action. If the gun will cock and fire just by pulling the trigger, its double action.

Seems there is some confusion about DAO, striker fired or not, but what was asking about is striker fired SA pistols. I saw the post re XD/XDm being SA but in looking them up they are categorized SA and DAO depending on who was writing and which competition class they're used in. Confusing, but Springfield supposedly classifies them as DAO. I think I'll tell my son-in-law's dad to call his pistols whatever he wants. As one post states: pull trigger, go bang is what counts. Now I'll go on to more serious topics with him like NOT keeping an empty chamber on his SA-DA-DAO-striker fired- whatever CCW. I told him he might as well carry a hammer, even better a knife. Thanks.

The Marshal wrote:Buy yourself a FN Herstal FNX pistol and get all of that.

I do love the FN pistols. You can carry them 1911-style Cocked and Locked, or you can have the trigger pull cock and drop the hammer. So they are SA/DA pistols.

Just remember. A Striker fired pistol is "One and Done". If you pull the trigger, and nothing happens, your ONLY choice is to cycle the slide. All others tie the trigger to the hammer for cocking the hammer.

+1

FNH USA, FNX-45ACP USG, semi-auto, SA/DA, 4 1/2" barrel, 15+1 capacity

Not too long ago it was so much simpler. It was either single action(1911 style) or double action/single action(S&W 3913 or similar). Ugh!

puma guy wrote:When I stated that his Glock , Kahr and XD were striker fired DAO another fellow interjected that was incorrect and they were not DAO because the striker cannot be cycled without pulling the slide back, which partially cocks the striker. I said while that's true, but SA/DA and DAO is really a terminology for triggers not strikers or hammers or firing pins. A trigger either performs one function or two.

In a DAO revolver like a 642, those two actions are fully cocking and releasing the hammer. What two actions does the trigger of a striker fired handgun do? At most, they do one and a half actions unless they provide a second strike without racking the side.

bizarrenormality wrote:

puma guy wrote:When I stated that his Glock , Kahr and XD were striker fired DAO another fellow interjected that was incorrect and they were not DAO because the striker cannot be cycled without pulling the slide back, which partially cocks the striker. I said while that's true, but SA/DA and DAO is really a terminology for triggers not strikers or hammers or firing pins. A trigger either performs one function or two.

In a DAO revolver like a 642, those two actions are fully cocking and releasing the hammer. What two actions does the trigger of a striker fired handgun do? At most, they do one and a half actions unless they provide a second strike without racking the side.

Double action and single action triggers in revolvers are pretty straight forward. I'm referring to pistol (semi-auto) triggers. With DAO triggers ( the term used by manufacturers) it's a little foggier, but my point was that the terminology SA and DA refers to trigger action. It either trips the firing mechanism after it's cocked manually SA or cocks and trips the firing mechanism. If the firing mechanism is already under tension already and is further cocked by trigger action or the trigger action fully cock's it is irrelevant, it still performs two functions. Cock and release or let off, not a single function. The term striker fired really says nothing about what the trigger does. I was trying to get some information as to which pistols are striker fired SA. Or SAO to be clearer.

2firfun50: You're right. The KT P11 is hammer fired. For some reason I always thought it was striker fired but after your post I looked at Kel Tec's site. And you are right. Learn something new everyday.