Trick question. The definition of pistol and handgun is the same: A firearm that can be used with one hand.
True or False?
This is one of my favorite questions that I ask when I teach any type of firearm class. It's true or false.
All pistols are handguns, but not all handguns are pistols?
All pistols are handguns, but not all handguns are pistols?
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It's not a trick question, just worded to get you thinking. All pistols are handguns, but not all handguns are pistols? Is this true or false? OK Justin, want to give it a try?
I think the asnwer is false, because historically the term "pistol" was used to refer to small daggers and knives concealed in one's clothing.
Hmm. I'm gonna say "true," and I may be off the mark, but I just saw an evaluation by John Taffin in either Guns or American Handgunner of a new release of the Josh Randall "mares leg" from the old television series Wanted Dead or Alive. This may be an example of something properly classified as a handgun, but it's definitely not a pistol. How's that Dovehunter?
I'll wait for a few more to answer. 1 true & 1 false so far, 1 correct & 1 wrong.
all pistols are handguns,but not all handguns are pistols, because you have revolvers.a pistol is an automatic and the revolver has the revolving cylinder. the answer is true.sj 
I'm with sjonessjones said:all pistols are handguns,but not all handguns are pistols, because you have revolvers.a pistol is an automatic and the revolver has the revolving cylinder. the answer is true.sj
True. Revolvers are just that ,Revolvers. Pistols include all semi-auto,derringers and single shots and I guess the Contender and its clones would be Pistols.
Its sort of like all refrigerators are not Fridigares.
Its sort of like all refrigerators are not Fridigares.
OK the answer is: TRUE!
There's two types of "Handguns", Revolvers & Pistols:
Revolver, has a cylinder that holds the ammo & rotates for each time it's to be fired. Revolvers come in single action or double action.
Pistols, are all the others. You have semi-auto, full auto, break action, bolt action & all the others that don't have a rotating cylinder. Pistols come in single action & double action.
Some of the Handguns, both revolvers & pistols are coming in double action only.
Now for the next question, whats the difference between single, double & double action only?
There's two types of "Handguns", Revolvers & Pistols:
Revolver, has a cylinder that holds the ammo & rotates for each time it's to be fired. Revolvers come in single action or double action.
Pistols, are all the others. You have semi-auto, full auto, break action, bolt action & all the others that don't have a rotating cylinder. Pistols come in single action & double action.
Some of the Handguns, both revolvers & pistols are coming in double action only.
Now for the next question, whats the difference between single, double & double action only?
The firing mechanism.....dovehunter said:......Now for the next question, whats the difference between single, double & double action only?
A single action requires that the hammer be cocked before the gun will fire... the trigger's only function is to release the sear.
A double action will function as a single action, but the trigger will also function (with a longer, heavier pull) to draw back the hammer, dropping the hammer at the end of the stroke. The sear is never engaged when fired DA.
DAO can not operate in single action mode... the trigger draws back and then drops the hammer (or striker in some models).
wwb knows his pistols & revolvers, and how they work.
The reason I asked the first question was because a lot of people just don't know the difference between the two handguns. Another one is people just use the term "pistol" as a call all. Even the term "automatic" is used the most when talking about semi-auto's.
One day when I had my handgun out my cousin stopped by & that started us talking about handguns & shooting. As he picked it up (unloaded) he put the revolver flat (barrel pointed up) up to his ear as to hear the clicks as he pulled the hammer back. I asked what he was doing, he said he wanted to (hear the clicks) see if it was a double action! Well he got a lot info that day. He owns a few guns but he's not into shooting.
I teach hunter safety in my state & I've had a lot parents attend the class with their child, I had a lot of parents (ones that are shooters/hunters) tell me after the class they've learned something by attending. I'll even say I thought I was a "gun nut", untill I attended the several classes to become a instructor. I learned a lot in those classes! Who says you can't teach a old dog new tricks?
OK, here's another question: Does the powder in the round being fired burn or explode?
One day when I had my handgun out my cousin stopped by & that started us talking about handguns & shooting. As he picked it up (unloaded) he put the revolver flat (barrel pointed up) up to his ear as to hear the clicks as he pulled the hammer back. I asked what he was doing, he said he wanted to (hear the clicks) see if it was a double action! Well he got a lot info that day. He owns a few guns but he's not into shooting.
I teach hunter safety in my state & I've had a lot parents attend the class with their child, I had a lot of parents (ones that are shooters/hunters) tell me after the class they've learned something by attending. I'll even say I thought I was a "gun nut", untill I attended the several classes to become a instructor. I learned a lot in those classes! Who says you can't teach a old dog new tricks?
OK, here's another question: Does the powder in the round being fired burn or explode?
Powder doesn't explode, ut burns. At least smokeless powder does, I'm not sure about black powder.
Powder Burns and does not explode. I know this because I have set fire to both Black Powder and Smokeless Powder. The gasses created by the burning causes a rapid build up of very high pressure and forces the bullet out of the case and out of the gun.
I stand corrected. Black Powder explodes and Smokeless Powder burns.
I stand corrected. Black Powder explodes and Smokeless Powder burns.
Black powder is classed as an explosive.
Smokeless powder "burns". If you've taken chemistry, you may remember something about reaction rates... increasing the temperature (on an exothermic reaction) will increase the reaction rate. Also, on reactions in the gaseous state, increasing the pressure increases the reaction rate.
So, here you have a reaction that produces gas and heat at the same time. Unconstrained, there is no pressure buildup, and the heat is allowed to escape as well. The result is a relatively slow reaction.
Constrained, however, the gas produced serves to increase the pressure, speeding up the reaction. The heat is not allowed to escape, either, raising the temperature. The result of this double whammy is to DRAMATICALLY increase the reaction rate, to where it may seem to be an explosion, but is still technically "burning"..... just really, really fast.
Smokeless powder "burns". If you've taken chemistry, you may remember something about reaction rates... increasing the temperature (on an exothermic reaction) will increase the reaction rate. Also, on reactions in the gaseous state, increasing the pressure increases the reaction rate.
So, here you have a reaction that produces gas and heat at the same time. Unconstrained, there is no pressure buildup, and the heat is allowed to escape as well. The result is a relatively slow reaction.
Constrained, however, the gas produced serves to increase the pressure, speeding up the reaction. The heat is not allowed to escape, either, raising the temperature. The result of this double whammy is to DRAMATICALLY increase the reaction rate, to where it may seem to be an explosion, but is still technically "burning"..... just really, really fast.
semiauto,semiauto said:Powder Burns and does not explode. I know this because I have set fire to both Black Powder and Smokeless Powder.
"For safety, blackpowder must be stored with much greater care than smokeless powder and, if ignited, will explode even though unconfined. Accordingly, keep only a small quantity on hand in the original container. Keep all fire and sparks away, including sparks from static electricity. Use only wooden, brass or bronze tools to open black-powder canisters. Iron or steel could strike a spark and should not be used."
The above reference was from my "NRA Firearms Fact Book" third edition page 135. Notice "will explode even though unconfined"? As in poured in a "pile" on the ground.
When the firing pin strike's the primer it explodes, causing the powder to burn (black-powder explodes). As the powder burns, hot gasses cause pressure to build up & pushes the bullet out with force. When the bullet exits the barrel, all the hot gasses from the burning powder erupt violent into the atmospheric causing the bang. Now this brings on the next question:
There's a 2nd bang involved, what is it?
There's a 2nd bang involved, what is it?
The reaction worked just like I said it did, I guess that means I was right. To think that all these years I've been keeping my powder in an shallow open pan next to the fireplace :? I guess I should consider myself lucky :roll: I keep a small amount of Black Powder in a Copper Powder Flask in a felt lined wooden box and that's it. I always thought that Black powder burned and didn't explode but I guess that's why the pile disappeared so fast when I touched fire to it, it was an explosion and not just a rapid burn as I originally thought. Even so I always treat powder whether it be the kind that explodes or the kind that burns with care. That's just common sense :wink:
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