Common Actions on Handguns
Handguns fall into two basic types: revolvers (that fire from a revolving cylinder) and pistols (all other types, including auto-loading and single-shot handguns). There are two common types of actions used in sport shooting.
- Single-Action Handguns
- Single-action means that the gun must be manually cocked for each shot (revolvers) or for the first shot (autoloaders), usually by pulling back the hammer or cycling the slide.
- A single-action handgun's manual cocking allows a shorter, lighter trigger pull that is an aid to accuracy; but an accidental light touch of the trigger will usually fire a cocked single-action gun if the safety is off.
- Double-Action Handguns
- Double-action means that trigger movement cocks the action as the trigger is pulled during firing, but the gun can also be manually cocked like a single-action. A gun which can be cocked only by trigger action (no manual cocking) is known by the term double-action-only.
- A double-action handgun's trigger-cocking allows a faster shot, since no separate manual cocking is needed. A double-action gun's longer, heavier trigger pull is also considered safer. In fact, many double-action guns, especially revolvers, have no mechanical safety at all, since only a long, deliberate pull will fire the handgun.
![Single-shot pistol (break-action)](https://ke-courses-production.s3.amazonaws.com/asset_files/production/574/attachments/original/handgun-action-break.jpg?1493651001)
Single-Shot Pistol (Break-Action)
![Single-action revolver](https://ke-courses-production.s3.amazonaws.com/asset_files/production/582/attachments/original/handgun-action-single.jpg?1493717705)
Single-Action Revolver
![Double-action revolver](https://ke-courses-production.s3.amazonaws.com/asset_files/production/374/attachments/original/handgun-action-double.jpg?1493650536)
Double-Action Revolver
![Semi-automatic pistol](https://ke-courses-production.s3.amazonaws.com/asset_files/production/575/attachments/original/handgun-semi-auto-black.jpg?1561648984)
Semi-Automatic Pistol