Double action revolvers - The Firearms Forum

lentz · 03-24-2010, 02:18 PM

Shouldn't they be considered semi-automatic?

Helix_FR · 03-24-2010, 03:00 PM

DA aren't self cocking, they require a finger pull. When it is said that its semi-auto its meant that a new round is chambered and hammer or striker is cocked automatically. All that's left is the trigger pull. On the DA the new round and the cocking and release of the hammer all comes from the trigger pull so basically the user is doing everything.

lentz · 03-24-2010, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helix_FR

DA aren't self cocking, they require a finger pull. When it is said that its semi-auto its meant that a new round is chambered and hammer or striker is cocked automatically. All that's left is the trigger pull. On the DA the new round and the cocking and release of the hammer all comes from the trigger pull so basically the user is doing everything.

Thanks!!!

wpage · 03-24-2010, 04:56 PM

Please dont start that going around Washington...

pythonshooter · 03-24-2010, 05:46 PM

Check out "Webley-Fosbery" on Wikipedia for a legitimate semi-auto revolver. It is a strange bird, but I have seen one before and it worked.

I think it is chiefly remembered for being the handgun that killed Sam Spade's partner in "The Matlese Falcon."

lentz · 03-24-2010, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helix_FR

DA aren't self cocking, they require a finger pull. When it is said that its semi-auto its meant that a new round is chambered and hammer or striker is cocked automatically. All that's left is the trigger pull. On the DA the new round and the cocking and release of the hammer all comes from the trigger pull so basically the user is doing everything.

What I still don't understand: Even the semi-automatic doesn't chamber a new round unless you PULL the trigger. So they are basiclly the same. What am I not catching here?

And thanks again

Alpo · 03-24-2010, 07:07 PM

When you pull the trigger on a semi-automatic gun, all pulling the trigger does is move the hammer. Everything else that happens happens when the cartridge fires. If a cartridge does not fire, nothing more will happen. Hammer is down, gun is dead, inert piece of metal.

Pull the trigger on a double action revolver and not only does the hammer move, but the hand moves, in turn revolving the cylinder. If a cartridge does not go off, you can still revolve the cylinder just by pulling the trigger again.

The double action revolver does all the work of firing by the mechanical means of your trigger finger. If that cartridge does not fire, just pull the trigger again and another cartridge will be moved into place to be fired.

The semi-automatic gun (pistol, rifle, shotgun - don't matter which) uses either the recoil or the gas from the fired round to do all the work of getting the fired shell out of the way and the unfired shell in place ready to be fired.

The revolver is mechanical - you do all the work.

The semi-automatic is automatic - the gun does all the work.

The only way they are even close to being the same is they both have a trigger and go bang.

ofitg · 03-24-2010, 07:09 PM

DA revolvers are muscle-powered. Human muscle pulls on the trigger, which causes the cylinder to turn and the hammer to draw back. This means a long, heavy trigger pull.

In a semiauto, the force of the cartridge's "explosion" causes the slide to go back, ejecting the empty case and cocking the gun for the next shot... a spring pushes the slide forward again, chambering the next cartridge from the magazine.
The only thing for human muscle to do is pull the trigger and drop the hammer on the fresh cartridge. Generally, this is a short, light trigger pull.

Jim K · 03-24-2010, 07:30 PM

Ofitg is correct. The revolver is manually operated, even though pulling the trigger is all that is necessary to fire. In the usual meaning, a semi-automatic is self-loading, the mechanism operated by recoil or gas. In practice there seems little difference, but in law there can be. Of course, the current efforts to impose a ban or tight controls on "semi-automatic" weapons is just another tactic of the anti-gun gang, using a term they hope will frighten people who have no idea what "semi-automatic" means except that it sounds bad.

I am reminded of the old Southern politician who attacked his opponent because the opponent's daughter went to an out-of-state university. "And do you know what they do there? They matriculate, folks, they matriculate!" He won, at least in part, because "matriculate" sounded like something evil when it just means to enroll in a school.

Jim

lentz · 03-24-2010, 07:32 PM

Thanks!!!
Another wiser man

03-24-2010, 02:18 PM	#1
lentz Former Guest Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 606	Double action revolvers Shouldn't they be considered semi-automatic? -->

03-24-2010, 03:00 PM	#2
Helix_FR TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 3,618	Re: Double action revolvers DA aren't self cocking, they require a finger pull. When it is said that its semi-auto its meant that a new round is chambered and hammer or striker is cocked automatically. All that's left is the trigger pull. On the DA the new round and the cocking and release of the hammer all comes from the trigger pull so basically the user is doing everything. __________________ Only cowards shoot with their eyes closed.... helixgunsmith.com

03-24-2010, 04:56 PM	#4
wpage Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,471	Re: Double action revolvers Please dont start that going around Washington... __________________ "You shall recieve power" Acts 1:8 W

03-24-2010, 05:46 PM	#5
pythonshooter Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 11	Re: Double action revolvers Check out "Webley-Fosbery" on Wikipedia for a legitimate semi-auto revolver. It is a strange bird, but I have seen one before and it worked. I think it is chiefly remembered for being the handgun that killed Sam Spade's partner in "The Matlese Falcon."

03-24-2010, 07:07 PM	#7
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,651	Re: Double action revolvers When you pull the trigger on a semi-automatic gun, all pulling the trigger does is move the hammer. Everything else that happens happens when the cartridge fires. If a cartridge does not fire, nothing more will happen. Hammer is down, gun is dead, inert piece of metal. Pull the trigger on a double action revolver and not only does the hammer move, but the hand moves, in turn revolving the cylinder. If a cartridge does not go off, you can still revolve the cylinder just by pulling the trigger again. The double action revolver does all the work of firing by the mechanical means of your trigger finger. If that cartridge does not fire, just pull the trigger again and another cartridge will be moved into place to be fired. The semi-automatic gun (pistol, rifle, shotgun - don't matter which) uses either the recoil or the gas from the fired round to do all the work of getting the fired shell out of the way and the unfired shell in place ready to be fired. The revolver is mechanical - you do all the work. The semi-automatic is automatic - the gun does all the work. The only way they are even close to being the same is they both have a trigger and go bang. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

03-24-2010, 07:09 PM	#8
ofitg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Contributor Posts: 1,447	Re: Double action revolvers DA revolvers are muscle-powered. Human muscle pulls on the trigger, which causes the cylinder to turn and the hammer to draw back. This means a long, heavy trigger pull. In a semiauto, the force of the cartridge's "explosion" causes the slide to go back, ejecting the empty case and cocking the gun for the next shot... a spring pushes the slide forward again, chambering the next cartridge from the magazine. The only thing for human muscle to do is pull the trigger and drop the hammer on the fresh cartridge. Generally, this is a short, light trigger pull. Last edited by ofitg; 03-24-2010 at 07:31 PM..

03-24-2010, 07:30 PM	#9
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Double action revolvers Ofitg is correct. The revolver is manually operated, even though pulling the trigger is all that is necessary to fire. In the usual meaning, a semi-automatic is self-loading, the mechanism operated by recoil or gas. In practice there seems little difference, but in law there can be. Of course, the current efforts to impose a ban or tight controls on "semi-automatic" weapons is just another tactic of the anti-gun gang, using a term they hope will frighten people who have no idea what "semi-automatic" means except that it sounds bad. I am reminded of the old Southern politician who attacked his opponent because the opponent's daughter went to an out-of-state university. "And do you know what they do there? They matriculate, folks, they matriculate!" He won, at least in part, because "matriculate" sounded like something evil when it just means to enroll in a school. Jim

03-24-2010, 07:32 PM	#10
lentz Former Guest Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 606	Re: Double action revolvers Thanks!!! Another wiser man