Could a Revolver be considered a Semi auto?

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Mogas

Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2021
Messages
131
Location
Mountain Home Arkansas
OK, to some of you this is pretty silly question but hear me out on this.. A semi automatic will fire a round every time you pull the trigger until the mag. is empty.. So does a revolver. Keep in mind the cylinder in nothing more than a magazine for the revolver.. A semi auto usually works using the gas generated by the burning power that activates the springs, buffers, bolt , and receiver to mechanically operate. The revolver does the same thing mechanically without the Gas. The Semi auto ejects the brass. Well the revolver does it also without throwing it on the ground by rotating the cylinder. You might say that a semi auto does all this on its own by just pulling the trigger! Well, isn't that all you do on a revolver? I had a revolver with a cylinder that holds 12 shots, many semi autos won't hold that many. So, could a revolver be a semi auto also?
 
A revolver is operated manually by human energy driving the mechanism for each and every shot. That is why it is not a semi-automatic. The semi-automatic (pistol) automatically readies for all shots after the first, just as you describe.

A revolver is not a semi-automatic.
 
One thing to focus on in currently produced handguns is who or what loads the chamber.

A semi-auto (aka autoloader) automatically loads its chamber (after the first shot) and automatically extracts/ejects the empty brass from its chamber.

A pistol magazine has no chambers, but a revolver cylinder does have chambers. A human loads and unloads the chambers in a revolver (excluding some experimental revolvers).
 
Last edited:
Webleys, Metebas, maybe Dardicks if you really want to strech, and some others aside...
You wouldn't call a manual transmission a semi-automatic because your manually pushing gears right?

Of course you can patent something new, and call it whatever you want, and not worry about pedants arguing about the meaning for 100 years (cough cough, silencer, cough...)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webley–Fosbery_Automatic_Revolver
 
Semi-auto is not a free-standing term. It is a mechanical term, to classify systems of operation. Instead of boring you with pure mechanical philosophy, let's do something different as an analogy, how about... doors.
  • All the doors in the living space of your house are manually operated. A person makes the decision to operate it, then provides the motive power.
  • Your garage door is semi-automatic. An external system provides the motive power to move the door, and is configured so that the user command is interpreted properly and doesn't cause damage to the machine (it stops when at the limits by itself)
  • Sensor operated doors are automatic. The doors sense you, and open of their own accord. There is no deliberate human action involved.
A semi-automatic firearm requires human input to begin the cycle, which then completes the operation itself. As stated above, a double action revolver is a human proving their command and motive power inputs to both cycle the action and initiate a shot (hence: double action).
 
Not likely.
Holmes had been in business for 14 years before the WF came out.

Not really automatic but there are instances of heavy Magnum revolvers bump firing.
 
A revolver has manually-loaded multiple chambers, a semi-auto or auto-loader has one chamber loaded by the firearm action, the first round excepting.
chicharrones said:
One thing to focus on in currently produced handguns is who or what loads the chamber.

A semi-auto (aka autoloader) automatically loads its chamber (after the first shot) and automatically extracts/ejects the empty brass from its chamber.

A pistol magazine has no chambers, but a revolver cylinder does have chambers. A human loads and unloads the chambers in a revolver (excluding some experimental revolvers).
Click to expand...


Perhaps "repeater" is the term you're looking for, Mogas?
 
Vern Humphrey said:
I can only think of one gas-operated handgun. Almost all semi automatic handguns are recoil operated.
Click to expand...
Does the recoil just begin the operation of mechanically reloading the weapon? after the recoil would you still depend on springs and perhaps buffers to complete the reload. The revolver just eliminates the recoil step but does it all mechanically. Perhaps the answer really is found in a webster definition of Semi Auto.
 
Mogas said:
Does the recoil just begin the operation of mechanically reloading the weapon? after the recoil would you still depend on springs and perhaps buffers to complete the reload. The revolver just eliminates the recoil step but does it all mechanically. Perhaps the answer really is found in a webster definition of Semi Auto.
Click to expand...
Springs store the recoil energy and drive the gun back into battery. Buffers absorb some of the recoil energy.
 
unclenunzie said:
A revolver is operated manually by human energy driving the mechanism for each and every shot. That is why it is not a semi-automatic. The semi-automatic (pistol) automatically readies for all shots after the first, just as you describe.

A revolver is not a semi-automatic.
Click to expand...
My revolver, you just Pull the trigger, brass is rotated away, new round is auto loaded (mechanically) and ready to fire just like your Semi Auto you describe. yours works on the basis of recoil assisted and revolver works strictly on mechanically assisted . Both do identically the same operation. Both will fire as fast as you can pull the trigger. So perhaps the answer will be found in the true definition of each?
 
Mogas said:
My revolver, you just Pull the trigger, brass is rotated away, new round is auto loaded (mechanically) and ready to fire just like your Semi Auto you describe. yours works on the basis of recoil assisted and revolver works strictly on mechanically assisted . Both do identically the same operation. Both will fire as fast as you can pull the trigger. So perhaps the answer will be found in the true definition of each?
Click to expand...
The revolver isn't "auto laoded" -- it's loaded with muscle power (except in the case of freaks like the Webly Fosberry)
 
There is a difference between "a (semi) auto" and "semi auto."
"A semi auto" uses the recoil (or gas generated) to extract, eject the fired cartridge and chamber a fresh round. Also normally to cock the action of the pistol.

"Semi auto" means one shot fired for each pull of the trigger.

Interesting to note are "blow forward" pistols and some vey low powered pistol cartridge that do not cock the gun but rather used a double action trigger mechanism similar to DA revolvers.

As a matter of interest, I have been sort of studying auto pistol development in Europe which is most interesting. Where to locate the magazine, how to charge it, and how to lock the action for firing are questions approached in interesting ways.

This study in no way distracts me from my beloved Single Action revolvers, though!

Bob Wright
 
Mogas said:
My revolver, you just Pull the trigger, brass is rotated away, new round is auto loaded (mechanically) and ready to fire just like your Semi Auto you describe. yours works on the basis of recoil assisted and revolver works strictly on mechanically assisted . Both do identically the same operation. Both will fire as fast as you can pull the trigger. So perhaps the answer will be found in the true definition of each?
Click to expand...
I think you’re trying to get too deep into the weeds.

Semi auto: one chamber, one shot per trigger pull. Upon firing, the chamber is loaded and unloaded by the mechanical action of the firearm independent of the shooter. (May have multiple barrels, but still one chamber for each barrel.) Mechanical action of the firearm may also fully or partially cock the firearm for subsequent shots independent of the shooter.

Revolver: To operate and fire one shot per trigger pull from the series of chambers housed in a revolving cylinder, all mechanical energy to the firearm for cycling the action is provided by the effort of the shooter.

One can what-if all afternoon, but the above short and simple descriptions would suffice. :)

Stay safe.
 
unclenunzie said:
A revolver is operated manually by human energy driving the mechanism for each and every shot. That is why it is not a semi-automatic. The semi-automatic (pistol) automatically readies for all shots after the first, just as you describe.

A revolver is not a semi-automatic.
Click to expand...

Riomouse911 said:
Not including AR/AK pistols, these are the two that came to my mind:


Desert Eagle. A currently manufactured gas operated semi auto pistol.

The Automag is also gas operated, made now by USA Firearms.

https://www.usafirearmscorp.com/

Stay safe.
Click to expand...


You're forgetting the Steyr GB.

And, as the Webley- Fosbery proves, a revolver can be a semi auto. Like a single action auto you cock it for the first shot, and recoil action revolves the cylinder to place another round before the hammer. It is independent of the firer's involvement in revolving the cylinder, unlike any other revolver. (Except Gatling-type electrically operated guns such as the M134.)

A video of the Webley Fosbery in action.




Ian's video starts with a slo-mo pic of it in operation:

 
Last edited:
I'd consider this revolver between semi automatic and manual. I compare it sorta like DA/SA autoloader, where the mechanism also cocks the hammer back to single action.

 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Revolver velocity vs. Semi-Auto
Replies
12
Views
3K
unspellable
U
M
  • Locked
Semi-auto revolver
Replies
15
Views
1K
KaceCoyote
K
4
  • Locked
Why I carry a revolver
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
DeltaElite
D
G
  • Locked
Why do I carry revolvers more the semi-auto's?
2
Replies
36
Views
2K
WHW
W
O
  • Locked
I only own Revolvers
2 3
Replies
64
Views
3K
ironvic
I
Back
Top