Types of Firearms
The Handgun/ Pistol
It should be understood that a pistol is a handgun and a handgun is a pistol. Although there is a technical difference, commonly the terms are used interchangeably.
As with rifles and shotguns (long guns), there are various types of handgun frames and actions. There is the revolver, the semi-automatic, bolt action and break action. The revolver, sometimes called a “wheelgun” and semi-automatic are the most common.
TYPES of ACTIONS
MANUAL OPERATION
Revolving Action
A revolving action firearm is a repeating handgun or rifle that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six cartridges, before needing to be reloaded, revolvers are commonly called six shooters.
Bolt Action
Bolt-action is a type of manual firearm action that is operated by directly manipulating the bolt via a bolt handle, which is most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the firearm.
Break Action
Break action is a type of firearm action in which the barrel are hinged much like a door and rotate perpendicularly to the bore axis to expose the breech and allow loading and unloading of cartridges. A separate operation may be required for the cocking of a hammer to fire the new round.
AUTOMATIC OPERATION
Semi-automatic
A semi-automatic firearm, also called a self-loading or autoloading firearm, is a repeating firearm whose action mechanism automatically loads a following round of cartridge into the chamber and prepares it for subsequent firing, but requires the shooter to manually actuate the trigger in order to discharge each shot.
PARTS of a FIREARM
The Pistol / Handgun
Different types of guns have different parts, but they also have many of the same parts. Those parts include, but are not limited to the stock, the frame, the barrel, the sights, the trigger, the trigger guard, the grip(s), the hammer, the firing pin, the striker, the ejector, spring(s), the slide, the magazine.
Pistol / Handgun (Revolver/Semi-automatic) Parts
The Revolver
HAMMERED – DOUBLE ACTION REVOLVER
In a revolver DOUBLE ACTION means to combine the two actions of “cocking and firing” the gun.
So pulling the trigger on a loaded double action revolver will both rotate the cylinder bringing a round into battery while cocking the hammer and will drop the hammer firing the gun.
HAMMERLESS – DOUBLE ACTION REVOLVER
The Semi-automatic
SINGLE ACTION SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL (exposed hammer)
In a semi-automatic or self-loading pistol the gun has to be “cocked” before it can be fired much
the same as a single action revolver. This can be accomplished in either of two ways. Assuming a
round has not been fed from the magazine into the firing chamber the slide of the gun can be
operated (racked) to strip a round off the magazine and into the chamber. This action cocks the
gun.
STRIKER-FIRED SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOLS (hammerless)
Some self-loading pistols do not have exposed hammers. These guns are referred to as “strikerfired) as there is no hammer to drive the firing pin forward. The cocking of the firing pin is partially
accomplished by the “racking” of the slide and is completed by the pulling of the trigger. These
guns are referred to as “DOUBLE ACTION/SINGLE ACTION” and generally have a long heavy
initial trigger pull with subsequent shots requiring a shorter, lighter pull.
DOUBLE ACTION SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL (exposed hammer)
In this type of handgun the normal loading sequence, pulling the slide to the rear and releasing it
places a cartridge in the chamber and the action in the ready fire mode. The longer trigger pull of
this type of gun “cocks and fires” the action with one pull of the trigger. The completion of two
actions is a greater mechanical involvement than in a single action therefore the longer trigger pull of the double action tends to be heavier than the single action.
Question:
When handling a firearm (gun) and not actively firing it, your trigger finger should be: (Select the one correct answer.)
- Resting gently on the trigger
- Placed alongside the frame away from the trigger and the trigger guard
- Placed under the trigger guard
- Placed in front of the trigger guard
Discussion: When not actively firing a gun (firearm), regardless if it is a revolver or semi-automatic, handgun, rifle or shotgun, loaded or unloaded, it should ALWAYS be point in a safe direction, with your finger OFF the trigger, placed alongside the frame. – The correct answer is: (2) Placed alongside the frame away from the trigger and the trigger guard.
Question:
There are only 2 types of firearms, a revolver and a semi-automatic.
- TRUE
- FALSE
Discussion: There are various types of firearms, having various types of operating actions. There are manually operated and automatically operating actions. The “action” is the operation that loads a cartridge or round into the chamber of the gun to be fired. – The correct answer is: FALSE.
Question:
A handgun differs from a pistol in that a handgun always has a hammer and a revolving cylinder.
- TRUE
- FALSE
Discussion: A handgun is a pistol and a pistol is a handgun. The two terms are used interchangeably. Commonly, there is a revolver and a semi-automatic handgun, although there are also other designs. – The correct answer is: FALSE.
Question:
A revolver can either be hammer or striker fired.
- TRUE
- FALSE
Discussion: A revolver can either be single or double action. The single action revolver is commonly known as the ‘western’ or ‘cowboy’ style gun. Although during it time its was very effective, by modern standards, single action revolvers are difficult to load, unload and reload, and the process is time consuming. – The correct answer is: FALSE.
Question:
Regardless if the type gun (firearm) is a pistol, shotgun or rifle the 3 parts that work together to fire a cartridge are: (Select the one correct answer.)
- Stock, barrel, sights
- Stock, barrel, trigger
- Barrel, grip, muzzle
- Trigger, firing pin, hammer
Discussion: Guns (firearms) are pieces of machinery. Some are simple, with few moving parts and some are complicated, with many moving parts, and can even be ‘gas’ powered (semi-automatic rifles and shotguns). All have moving parts and non-moving parts. An example of non-moving parts are: the stock, the frame, the barrel, the sights, the trigger guard, the grip(s). Some moving parts include: the trigger, the hammer, the firing pin, spring(s), the slide. – The correct answer is: (4) Trigger, firing pin, hammer