A pistol is a handgun with a chamber which is integral with the barrel. One example is a pepperbox revolver-which is a lot different from a standard revolver. In a standard revolver the chamber is separate from the barrel, which is a revolving cylinder.
SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOLS
The semi-automatic pistol takes another step up into pistol technology. This gun avoids having multiple barrels, which need to be individually reloaded. Semi-automatic pistols can soot a lot faster because it only takes a few seconds to reload depending on the skill of the person reloading. In blowback semi-automatic pistols, the force of the recoil is used to push back the slide, and eject the shell [if any] so the magazine spring can push up another shot then as the slide returns it locks the bullet in so it can’t fall out. An example of a modern blowback gun is a VP70.
MACHINE PISTOLS
A machine pistol is a fully automatic pistol just like a machine gun but handheld. The bullets keep firing until either you let go of the trigger, or the magazine runs out. Machine pistols have a high rate of fire so a large magazine or drum is suggested.
TARGET SHOOTING
In the United States of America most competitive pistol shooting is done with a .22 or a .45 caliber semi-automatic or single shot pistol. Targets are usually placed from 25 yards to 50 yards away from the shooter.
“IF FROGS HAD SIDE POCKETS, THEY WOULD CARRY HANDGUNS”
-DAN RATHER
I’LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME,
-GUNNER
