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a handgun question to ponder.....

toad67
When a person purchases a handgun, the selling FFL needs to list the type of action on the 4473, along with the make, manufacturer, serial number and caliber of the firearm. Other than the mechanical differences and loading , what is the difference between a semi auto and a revolver? Doesn't a revolver fire a round every time the trigger is pulled w/o working an action? Why are they really considered different?

edit: Then the age restriction also comes into play...
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Comments

16 comments

Date Votes
  • shootuadeal
    There is no age restrictions Difference for "handguns".

    The difference is a "revolver" has a revolving cylinder, any other handgun is a "pistol", that could be a semi auto, derringer, single shot, etc.
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  • toad67
    quote:Originally posted by shootuadeal
    There is no age restrictions Difference for "handguns".

    The difference is a "revolver" has a revolving cylinder, any other handgun is a "pistol", that could be a semi auto, derringer, single shot, etc.


    Agree, I made a mistake about the age restriction[B)] But how is a revolver different than a semi auto that when you pull the trigger a round is fired w/o working the action?? There are revolvers that hold as many rounds as semi auto's... Just a thread to invoke some thought, other than who has the best taco's, or........[;)]
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  • 50-70RB
    I think this is how it is; an automatic cocks itself after the 1st round is fired. Only one revolver did that to my knowledge; a British antique one that had grooves in the cylinder to rotate it on firing and it was referred to as "automatic" at the time. It's more than about 1 round per 1 pull of the trigger. Just my NSHO....
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  • mark christian
    A revolver contains a revolving cylinder in which bullets are loaded while semi automatic pistols have a removable magazine or clip into which bullets are loaded and then inserted into the firearm. The ATF defines a pistol as any handgun that does not contain its ammunition in a revolving cylinder. So far as Form 4473 is concerned...that is the answer.
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  • shootuadeal
    On a revolver the action(cylinder) is manually turned by hand, either by single action cocking of the hammer or double action pulling of the trigger.

    On a semi auto the gun automatically gets the action ready to go using the recoil of the spent round rather than the user having to manually do anything.

    I guess that would be the distinction.
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  • toad67
    Mark, an SUAD,

    Thanks for the responses. I posted this as a thought responsive thread, rather than the normal threads that get negative responses.[:0] My thought was that since speed loaders are almost the norm, how are they really different from dumping a mag from an auto loading gun, or using a speed loader?? Look at Jerry Miculek, hell, if I got in a shoot out with him I'd wave the white flag and give up..[:D]
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  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    quote:Originally posted by 50-70RB
    I think this is how it is; an automatic cocks itself after the 1st round is fired. Only one revolver did that to my knowledge; a British antique one that had grooves in the cylinder to rotate it on firing and it was referred to as "automatic" at the time. It's more than about 1 round per 1 pull of the trigger. Just my NSHO....


    The Webley Fosbery
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  • Wild Turkey
    It's not about logic and reality -- it's about fear and loathing.

    Semi-autos look more deadly and are therefore more scary so they must be treated differently.
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  • 1911a1-fan
    quote:Originally posted by montanajoe
    quote:Originally posted by 50-70RB
    I think this is how it is; an automatic cocks itself after the 1st round is fired. Only one revolver did that to my knowledge; a British antique one that had grooves in the cylinder to rotate it on firing and it was referred to as "automatic" at the time. It's more than about 1 round per 1 pull of the trigger. Just my NSHO....


    The Webley Fosbery



    mateba

    Zulaica
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  • kannoneer
    I guess a revolver is just a pistol with a circular magazine. Which happens to move. And doesn't throw the empties out.
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  • Navybat
    I remember when I explained this same revolver/pistol definition, boy did I get pooped on! [:D]

    Some people just don't like me. Waaaah. [8D]
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  • varian
    so my savage 99 and ruger 10-22 are revolvers?
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  • shootuadeal
    quote:Originally posted by varian
    so my savage 99 and ruger 10-22 are revolvers?


    "long gun"

    "Handgun"
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  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    the most important factor is,it's color
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  • roswellnative
    Now when is Glock going to start making revolvers?
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  • 11b6r
    We must be looking at different forms. Question 16 is handgun, long gun or other. Not pistol/ revolver.


    And just to stir the pot, Sam Colt called it a revolving pistol.
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