I wouldn't suggest adding a step to the sequence that requires fine motor skills. Practice with the DA and you'll be fine better off IMO.

 

Second that opinion

 

I agree with the training and took me a while to get use to, out of practice now myself but if you cannot get past it you may want to try one with the dak trigger as its all the same not as light as SA but still consistent and smooth and keep you in in same platform. You possible can even convert yours.

 

Disclosure: I was not a Navy Seal, but I do play one in my head while walking around in my house with my P226!

Better get to liking Glocks then, because NSW finally got with the program and made the switch to the Glock 19.

 

Does anyone train to draw the DA gun, and pull the hammer back to cock it to SA condition? It sounds crazy, but that's what you have to do with SA revolvers, and there are some folks who can draw, cock and fire those guns quickly.

You're right, some guys are really fast. I saw this guy draw his single action Army Colt and shoot these other 3 guys before they could slap leather, just because they insulted his mule. To quote....

"Now you're laughing? I don't think it's nice, you laughing. You see, my mule don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea that you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him you really didn't mean it."

 

You are on the right path with the dry fire practice. The DA 1st shot on the P226 is analogous to any shot on a DA revolver. It is a bit "odd" when compared to SA or striker fired, but is certainly manageable with lots of practice. Some guy named Miculek seems to do "alright" with DA guns.

 

I used to shoot a lot of plate matches at PHA with my SIG and Beretta. The game is to knock down a rack of 6 plates as quickly as possible, one shot per plate. The rule was you had to draw in the condition you would carry the pistol, so for DA/SA you would draw hammer down. I tried to make it work as "draw, cock hammer with weak hand during presentation, shoot all plates SA." I also tried "draw on empty chamber, rack slide on presentation, shoot all plates SA." You would not believe the degree it would complicate shooting when stress is a factor. Those pistols are not built with the same ergonomics as SA or DA revolvers which seem to better support cocking the hammer.

Normally during the presentation phase of your draw, your support hand is locking in with your shooting hand and driving toward the target. When you try to cock, your support thumb has to go up and over the slide and then clear it again to get back in place on the grip before you can start settling your sights. It doesn't seem like much, but I would estimate it doubled the time it took me from draw to first shot. Believe me, you can get very good at pulling through the DA pull without losing accuracy and then smoothly transitioning to SA. In my opinion, you will always be at a disadvantage if you are shooting against a striker fired, SA or even DAO pistol, though.

 

BTW the SRT change is very worthwhile IMO if it doesn't already have it...

 

My P226 already has the short reset trigger installed. I shot it a little last weekend, and also shot a couple of my striker fired guns (which have triggers rated good or excellent in reviews).

I have to say that, to me, the SRT P226 trigger is a really good trigger. I don't believe it would take a lot of training, even for a putz like me, to get used to one long, hard pull followed up by very short resets and pulls.

Although I've ordered a P320 to try against my excellent P226, or alongside as the case may be, I retract my original premise. No need for all those gyrations about cocking the hammer on a P226.

Disclosure: I was not a Navy Seal, but shooting the P226 made me feel as close to one as I can ever get.

 

Why would DA/SA "always be at a disadvantage" to other action types?

Consider the different actions for 10 shots:
DA/SA has a 10-lb. DA shot and nine 4.5-lb. SA shots = 50.5 lbs.
Striker-fired has a consistent 5.5-lb. pull for 10 shots = 55.0 lbs.
SA requires safety manipulation, then ten 4.5-lb. shots = 45.0 lbs + safety manipulation

I'm with you, but I would look at it a little different than the cumulative effect of trigger pulls. Think about zero-to-sixty times in cars. If you have a car that can do 60 in first gear, then you never have to waste time on a gear change which makes you faster with less effort...that's a striker/SAO. If you have to shift from first gear to second, you are always going to lose time...that's the DA/SA transition.

 

I am not real fast with a Single Action Army but can get off a fairly accurate shot from the holster in around 0.6 seconds. Many can do it faster. The SSA lends itself well to such fast shooting. I doubt I could match that speed with one of my SA/DA pistols if I tried to cock it on the draw. I could probably come close with a SA/DA if all I had to do was to pull the trigger.

I do not care for the two different trigger pulls when playing pistol games but do carry one frequently in the woods or in the truck and never try to thumb cock it for the first shot.