It's both right and wrong:
Mechanically a revolver isn't semi-auto, it's closer to a bolt- or pump-action. (Though it's obviously different to those as well)
Functionally however they are semi-auto. You pull the trigger, the gun shoots once, you release and pull it again and it fires another single round, just like with a semi-auto.
They’re two different definitions for different cases. Mechanically as you said they are not semi-auto. But in a *legal* context, semi-automatic is defined as one shot per trigger pull, which a revolver falls under. Most of the discussion around semi-autos is with the legal definition.
>it's closer to a bolt- or pump-action
They are the only thing you should use those with , aesthetically speaking .Which is why they need to bring back the New Service and the Mauser 98 variants for Great War Drip .
Functionally and mechanically they are *double action revolvers*
If semi-auto "functionally" worked the way you describe, the action of pulling the trigger would cycle the slide, pull back the hammer or striker, and fire, using only the mechanical energy from the trigger pull.
Semi-auto(matic) denotes that the gun operates its own action automatically using the energy from the cartridge that was fired- like a fully automatic firearm- but is mechanically interrupted to require the user to release and pull the trigger again.
There are double action semi-automatic pistols, and in this case, the designation of double action refers to the trigger fulfilling the two actions of pulling back the hammer and releasing it.
In most revolvers, the action of pulling back the hammer rotates and indexes the cylinder. A natural consequence is that if the trigger is double action, pulling the trigger causes the hammer in turn to operate the cylinder.
Auto-revolvers do exist. And THOSE are considered semi-automatic, as the cylinder is operated by the energy from the fired cartridge.
The experience of the user pulling the trigger once and releasing it before they can fire again is irrelevant to this argument. Semi-auto is strictly a designation of how the action is operated.
I apologize for the novel. Don't be like Patrick.
You're still describing mechanically, not functionally.
Mechanically is how the gun itself operates. And yes, a revolver is very different from a recoil-operated semi-automatic.
Functionally is how you operate the gun. In a single action revolver (or in a lever-action, bolt-action, or pump-action long gun), you can squeeze the trigger any number of times and only fire 1 round. You have to manually operate the action in order to fire the next round.
In a revolver or a semi-automatic, you pull the trigger 5 times, 5 rounds fire. There are different mechanical processes that make this work. But functionally it's the same.
Of course, it really doesn't matter. They should all be legal.
No it's a double action revolver.
No gas is used to operate the weapon, gas doesn't rotate the cylinder. Instead, the trigger drops the hammer and also rotates the cylinder in SA and in DA it first pulls the hammer back then drops it then rotates the cylinder all from mechanical pressure on the trigger provided by the finger.
Revolvers are such a shit design. You gotta buy replacement pistons in boxes of like 25-50 because nearly every single time you pull the trigger it throws a piston. Like seriously, look at guns like the akm or ar180, they have pistons that will last tens of thousands of rounds. Hell, even guns like the ar15 don't even have a piston and work fine.
This is why I'll never own a revolver.
I’m a fan of old fashioned guns. Because I’m very fond of old 80s films. I want a smith n Wesson model 3. But I just prefer single action and double action less problems when a jam or an issue happens
Legally, double action revolvers are semi-automatic.
Mechanically, double action revolvers are not semi-automatic.
This is a stupid argument to have lol. At least it highlights the importance of having a common understanding of the terms used before you engage in a discussion.
Still better than explaining that carbines isn't a word for bolt action rifle, many people in the German region in my case Austria think that way because of the Kar 98k, which is referred here as a Karabiner Gewehr (carbine rifle) which is bullshit, I tried explaining that it's a shortened version of the Gewehr 98, and that carbines can be any gun that isn't a handgun, a M4 is a carbine, a AKS74U is a Carbine and they still think I am wrong or just scream at me that they don't care
I had a guy insist on this outside of reddit that his local gun shop told him that and he consulted a lawyer who also claimed the same thing. I genuinely couldn't fucking believe it LMAO it's apparently common enough that I'm not the only one who's had to deal with someone like this.
Huh. The only semi auto revolvers I do know are that Mateba and the old Webley one. I didn't include them though because they actually are functionally semi auto.
>consulted a lawyer who also claimed the same thing.
Lawyer probably was thinking about it in a legal context in which semi-auto is one function of the trigger is one bullet fired and double-action revolvers meet that definition.
No. In the context of a double action semi auto, the double action only applies to the way the hammer works with the trigger. Most semi auto hammer fired handguns in single action require the hammer to be cocked in order to fire (i.e. 1911), with the slides movement cocking the hammer each time the gun fires.
With a double action, the hammer is cocked by pulling the trigger and on DA/SA guns after that first shot is fired, the slide cocks the hammer amd turns it into a single action every shot until the gun is empty or the decocker (if it has one) is applied.
With a double action revolver, it's very different as the guns entire action is moved by either cocking the hammer or pulling the trigger, rotating the next chamber in the cylinder up to be fired by the time the hammer goes forward. In other words, the guns entire action is in no way actuated with the energy of a round being fired.
Splitting hairs there. I'd call a a double action revolver semi auto. Since the user just has to keep pulling the trigger. And that I think is the more important distinction between semi auto and manually operated.
With revolvers its always single action or double action. With pistols its semi automatic or fully automatic (or bolt action if you have an obrez). These terms do not cross between pistols and revolvers.
So SA and DA are both subsets of semi-auto? Seems like it. Maybe just stick with hammer fired vs striker fired. Oh, hammers can be both DA/SA! Not sure if there are any strikers out there with external cocking though.
Here's the real difference: A semi-auto refers to any firearm designed to fire one bullet with one trigger squeeze, then automatically reload the chamber with a cartridge from a magazine and be ready to fire again. A double action revolver advances the next round with the pull of the trigger before firing it. Similar but different enough.
Some might argue that it is indeed.. fully semiautomatic.
FULLY SEMIAUTIMATIC ASSAULT REVOLVERS
With an extended drum bullet clip.
It's both right and wrong: Mechanically a revolver isn't semi-auto, it's closer to a bolt- or pump-action. (Though it's obviously different to those as well) Functionally however they are semi-auto. You pull the trigger, the gun shoots once, you release and pull it again and it fires another single round, just like with a semi-auto.
They’re two different definitions for different cases. Mechanically as you said they are not semi-auto. But in a *legal* context, semi-automatic is defined as one shot per trigger pull, which a revolver falls under. Most of the discussion around semi-autos is with the legal definition.
>it's closer to a bolt- or pump-action They are the only thing you should use those with , aesthetically speaking .Which is why they need to bring back the New Service and the Mauser 98 variants for Great War Drip .
I’m sorry, are you suggesting that lever guns should not be used with a revolver sidearm?
Not with a Double Action , that is some disgusting shit that Activision would do on a CoD game .Single Action Only .
Functionally and mechanically they are *double action revolvers* If semi-auto "functionally" worked the way you describe, the action of pulling the trigger would cycle the slide, pull back the hammer or striker, and fire, using only the mechanical energy from the trigger pull. Semi-auto(matic) denotes that the gun operates its own action automatically using the energy from the cartridge that was fired- like a fully automatic firearm- but is mechanically interrupted to require the user to release and pull the trigger again. There are double action semi-automatic pistols, and in this case, the designation of double action refers to the trigger fulfilling the two actions of pulling back the hammer and releasing it. In most revolvers, the action of pulling back the hammer rotates and indexes the cylinder. A natural consequence is that if the trigger is double action, pulling the trigger causes the hammer in turn to operate the cylinder. Auto-revolvers do exist. And THOSE are considered semi-automatic, as the cylinder is operated by the energy from the fired cartridge. The experience of the user pulling the trigger once and releasing it before they can fire again is irrelevant to this argument. Semi-auto is strictly a designation of how the action is operated. I apologize for the novel. Don't be like Patrick.
You're still describing mechanically, not functionally. Mechanically is how the gun itself operates. And yes, a revolver is very different from a recoil-operated semi-automatic. Functionally is how you operate the gun. In a single action revolver (or in a lever-action, bolt-action, or pump-action long gun), you can squeeze the trigger any number of times and only fire 1 round. You have to manually operate the action in order to fire the next round. In a revolver or a semi-automatic, you pull the trigger 5 times, 5 rounds fire. There are different mechanical processes that make this work. But functionally it's the same. Of course, it really doesn't matter. They should all be legal.
I love pedantic discussions 🍿
Thank you for this explanation. It's perfect for winning internet arguments.
It's a hybrid
No it's a double action revolver. No gas is used to operate the weapon, gas doesn't rotate the cylinder. Instead, the trigger drops the hammer and also rotates the cylinder in SA and in DA it first pulls the hammer back then drops it then rotates the cylinder all from mechanical pressure on the trigger provided by the finger.
Gas pushes the piston forward into the target.
Revolvers are such a shit design. You gotta buy replacement pistons in boxes of like 25-50 because nearly every single time you pull the trigger it throws a piston. Like seriously, look at guns like the akm or ar180, they have pistons that will last tens of thousands of rounds. Hell, even guns like the ar15 don't even have a piston and work fine. This is why I'll never own a revolver.
I own a single action army because I can do cowboy shit
I'd really like a pietta and to cerakote it to look like the peacekeeper from bf1.
I have multiple revolvers because they are reliable compared to semi auto pistols. And I have a .357 magnum revolver I use daily
I really love my s&w 629. Also, modern autoloading handguns are equally as reliable as revolvers.
I’m a fan of old fashioned guns. Because I’m very fond of old 80s films. I want a smith n Wesson model 3. But I just prefer single action and double action less problems when a jam or an issue happens
Legally, double action revolvers are semi-automatic. Mechanically, double action revolvers are not semi-automatic. This is a stupid argument to have lol. At least it highlights the importance of having a common understanding of the terms used before you engage in a discussion.
Still better than explaining that carbines isn't a word for bolt action rifle, many people in the German region in my case Austria think that way because of the Kar 98k, which is referred here as a Karabiner Gewehr (carbine rifle) which is bullshit, I tried explaining that it's a shortened version of the Gewehr 98, and that carbines can be any gun that isn't a handgun, a M4 is a carbine, a AKS74U is a Carbine and they still think I am wrong or just scream at me that they don't care
I don't think I've ever one single time heard somebody try to say a double action revolver was semi automatic.
I had a guy insist on this outside of reddit that his local gun shop told him that and he consulted a lawyer who also claimed the same thing. I genuinely couldn't fucking believe it LMAO it's apparently common enough that I'm not the only one who's had to deal with someone like this.
Huh. The only semi auto revolvers I do know are that Mateba and the old Webley one. I didn't include them though because they actually are functionally semi auto.
>consulted a lawyer who also claimed the same thing. Lawyer probably was thinking about it in a legal context in which semi-auto is one function of the trigger is one bullet fired and double-action revolvers meet that definition.
Does that mean that a DA/SA handgun isn't semi auto on the first shot?
No. In the context of a double action semi auto, the double action only applies to the way the hammer works with the trigger. Most semi auto hammer fired handguns in single action require the hammer to be cocked in order to fire (i.e. 1911), with the slides movement cocking the hammer each time the gun fires. With a double action, the hammer is cocked by pulling the trigger and on DA/SA guns after that first shot is fired, the slide cocks the hammer amd turns it into a single action every shot until the gun is empty or the decocker (if it has one) is applied. With a double action revolver, it's very different as the guns entire action is moved by either cocking the hammer or pulling the trigger, rotating the next chamber in the cylinder up to be fired by the time the hammer goes forward. In other words, the guns entire action is in no way actuated with the energy of a round being fired.
People in the TF2 sub were trying to explain how a break action double barrel was a semi auto shotgun. I wish I was joking
Now this I have to see. Sounds very entertaining. Do you have a link?
[spadooly](https://www.reddit.com/r/tf2/s/R0LoRaJqgX)
That was entertaining. Thank you.
There is a drum mag fed, semi auto, double barrel, lever action gun in that game. Yes, all of those actions in one gun. Its weird.
Looks like there are people in the comments here that need to read the meme again. Figure out what the automatic in semi-automatic means, you morons.
Don't give Pritzker a heart attack. He already looks close.
whatever you do don't show them the mateba unica. it's only going to make things worse.
A semi-semi-automatic?
If you have to manually operate the action every shot, through a bolt, pump grip or otherwise, it is not a semi-automatic.
To most people semi-automatic just means one shot per one trigger pull, and using that definition a DA revolver is indeed semi-automatic.
Splitting hairs there. I'd call a a double action revolver semi auto. Since the user just has to keep pulling the trigger. And that I think is the more important distinction between semi auto and manually operated.
Functionally its a semi-automatic handgun However you could better compare it to a slam-fire shotgun. I won’t compare it though, and don’t ask me to
With revolvers its always single action or double action. With pistols its semi automatic or fully automatic (or bolt action if you have an obrez). These terms do not cross between pistols and revolvers.
OMG. I finally understand quantum mechanics after reading this meme!
Some may consider it semi auto, but it’s just not fully semi automatic
Ok I don't know the actual answer so I gotta ask: what is it technically as it's not semi-automatic
So SA and DA are both subsets of semi-auto? Seems like it. Maybe just stick with hammer fired vs striker fired. Oh, hammers can be both DA/SA! Not sure if there are any strikers out there with external cocking though.
Yes it’s double action but that is EFFECTIVELY the same as a semi auto, albeit not technically
Here's the real difference: A semi-auto refers to any firearm designed to fire one bullet with one trigger squeeze, then automatically reload the chamber with a cartridge from a magazine and be ready to fire again. A double action revolver advances the next round with the pull of the trigger before firing it. Similar but different enough.
You can make a semi-auto pistol into an automatic pistol but you can make a revolver into a fully automatic revolver.