automatic pistol

a type of pistol having a mechanism that throws out the empty shell, puts in a new one, and prepares the pistol to be fired again. Also called automatic.

[1875-80]

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▪ weapon

      handgun that utilizes either recoil or blowback to discharge the empty cartridge after each shot, reload, and cock the piece. The automatic pistol dates from the very late 19th century, when developments in ammunition made possible cartridges and bullets that would not be deformed by their handling in automatic loading, as well as smokeless powder that burned evenly to provide smooth action.

      Although there are a few automatic pistols that are fully automatic, the term ordinarily refers to a semiautomatic or autoloading pistol, which fires only one shot at each pull of the trigger. By contrast, a fully automatic weapon continues to fire as long as the trigger is depressed. Unlike automatic rifles and shotguns, automatic pistols are virtually never operated by combustion gases. In relatively low-powered pistols, the blowback mode of operation may be employed. In this system, the breechblock or bolt does not remain locked in firing position until the bullet has left the barrel but is free to be thrust backward by the same burst of energy that propels the bullet forward; because it is many times heavier than the bullet, it moves much more slowly. The rearward thrust removes the spent cartridge from the chamber and ejects it, meanwhile storing energy in a spring; the spring projects the bolt assembly forward and injects a fresh shell into the chamber.

      In the recoil method of operation, the breechblock is locked to the barrel at the moment of firing. Thus, when the recoil of the gun forces the barrel rearward, the breechblock moves with it. As soon as the pressure of gases in the barrel has diminished to a safe level, the breechblock is unlocked from the barrel and continues moving backward; meanwhile, the barrel stops its movement. The rearward motion removes and ejects the spent cartridge and loads a spring, which pushes the breechblock assembly forward again, thereby loading, cocking, and locking the piece to fire again.

      Automatic pistols are valued because they can hold more ammunition in clips than revolvers in their cylinders, and because of their rapidity of fire. Except for target guns, however, their accuracy is significantly less than that of revolvers in most hands. Also, it is not possible to tell at a glance whether an automatic pistol is loaded, as is possible with a revolver. Automatic pistols are chambered in sizes ordinarily ranging from .22 to .45 calibre and their metric equivalents.

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