Someone explain the difference

[Deadeye Dick]

I guess the ammunition manufactures don't know that there is a difference then. Where do you ever see ammunition listed as "Revolver Ammunition" it is always listed as "Pistol Ammunition".

I don't ever recall seeing all ammo listed as pistol ammo. It's usually listed as "hand gun" ammo. From there it is generally broken down into sub categories. For example .45ACP or .380ACP and .45LC or .38SPL.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I often read comments to the affect of "I like revolvers better than pistols". Most definitions of "pistol" essentially state that it is a small firearm designed to be held in one hand. So I ask, aren't revolvers and semi-autos both pistols? Or is this another one of those "magazine" vs "clip" things?

To me, it's kind of like saying I like driving Chevys better than I do pickups.

It's a distinction without a difference. I usually call semi-auto's pistols and revolvers get called revolvers, but I've been known to call a revolver a pistol. As for the clip/magazine debate, I always like seeing those old pictures of Remington's spare clips in their original packaging, which for the life of me look exactly like what a lot of people who say they are traditionalists are calling a magazine . . .

 

[Muss Muggins]

Magazine and clips are different. Don't look the same don't function the same. I guess when calling a handgun a name it depends on who is doing the calling. Many people seam to call are semi autos automatic weapons. Don

So what are these?

(sometimes I can't help myself)

 

[Bkreutz]

Me either..........

 

[Deadeye Dick]

Online Etymology Dictionary

In a broad sense the word "pistol" can be used to reference any small hand held gun but I think most gun aficionados reserve the term for handguns with their chambers integral to the bore.

So in my mind a TC Contender and a M&P 40 are both pistols and a M&P Model 10 is a revolver.

 

[Pondoro]

According to any dictionary a pistol covers revolvers as well as semiautomatics, hinge actions, etc. It irks me when people correct others and say "revolvers are not pistols" when many textbooks and training manuals use pistol to mean any handgun.

Same with clips versus magazines, I read Field and Steam and Outdoor Life in the 60's and many very good writers called magazines clips. It has only become an issue in the last 20 years or so.

As a boy I was taught that engines (compression ignition, spark ignition, steam piston, steam turbine, or gas turbine) are all engines, but are also motors. Thus "Ford Motor Company" and "General Motors." But electric motors are only motors, not engines. Then I learned that in ancient times anything that had moving parts (like a catapult) was an engine.

 

[GypsmJim]

My 8 3/8" 25-5 really is a Long Colt.

 

[Murdock]

Ah, the American idiom, constantly morphing and being corrupted by the lumpenproletariat.

A pistol is a handgun with only one chamber, integral with the bore as explained above. A revolver is everything else.

I suppose that if and when a Gatling gun is configured as a handgun that will further confuse the issue, to the delight of those who live to chuck logical monkey wrenches into any discussion, for they are perverse cultural anarchists who seek joy in imprecise.

I'm of the opinion that the global use of the M1 Garand encouraged the WW2 generation toward the incorrect use of "clip" to refer to box magazines, but it does save syllables for those concerned with not expending energy inefficiently in speech or print.

When is a hatchet not a belt axe, or tomahawk? To what authority must we appeal to address and alay these concerns of nomenclature?

Eschew obfuscation!

 

[Peak53]

Ok - so what's a SW Straightline? No clip, no revolve ...
Maybe it's a gun

 

[rwsmith]

'Pistoleros'..

'Pistoleros' in the wild west didn't generally shoot semi autos.

 

[Penmon]

On the federal form they ask one to list the type of gun one is selling, you can pick from the following, Rifle, Shotgun, Pistol, Revolver and I think other.
This is in the section on page 2 where you list, Make, Mdl, serial Number,Type and Caliber.

 

[Deadeye Dick]

Ok - so what's a SW Straightline? No clip, no revolve ...
Maybe it's a gun

The chamber is integral with the bore so it is in deed a pistol by the strict definition of the word. S&W even calls it the "S&W Straightline Pistol".

 

[Targets Guy]

If it revolves it is a revolver.

If it has a slide it is a pistol.

If it is empty it is a rock.

 

[Deadeye Dick]

If it revolves it is a revolver.

If it has a slide it is a pistol.

If it is empty it is a rock.

But what is it if it breaks open and has one or more barrels?

 

[MSG Glenn]

Some people call both revolvers & semi-autos "pistolas", lol.