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I used to talk about guns with a friend, and everytime I said "pistol" when referring to a pistol with a revolving barrel, he would said "it's not called a pistol, it's a revolver!". For a while I accepted that because I don't care for guns very much, but I think a pistol is still a pistol. I know that in the US at some point the word "revolver" was adopted and is used as a distinction between types of guns (where "pistol" usually refers to a semi-automatic pistol), this isn't fucking USA! So what are your thoughts about this?

Is it confusing to call them both pistols, even if they serve pretty much the same application? What about ancient pistols, matchlock pistols, etc, that aren't semi-auto anyway? I think the world "revolver" sounds stupid, and even worse it is an english word that doesn't fit in other languages. (yes, there's an actual word for "pistol" that isn't exactly the same word as in english)

Shep, where are you? I think we finally need your expertise.

That's easy

Small gun = Pistol
Large Gun = Rifle

Works for me

I believe that I am quite qualified to answer this. A revolver is a type of pistol. Therefore, a revolver can be referred to as a pistol. If your friend thinks that a revolver cannot be referred to as a pistol, he is dead wrong.

I mean, I hate to take a 'I'm right, you're wrong' stance, but, well, it is just true in this matter.

A pistol is any firearm designed to be held and fired with one hand. if it is called a revolver, derrenger or auomatic, it doesn't matter, it still is a pistol.

Yes, a pistol is a very broad term applied to small firearms. There are pistols chambered in anything from .308 (7.62 NATO rifle cartridge) down to .17 Hornady Magnum (very small round, usually used for varmint hunting and target shooting).

A pistol is any weapon that is designed for hand use and is without a stock. This includes semi-autos (clip fed pistols) and revolvers (revolving chamber pistols). Sub Machineguns are weapons that fire pistol size rounds, however the weapon itself is designed for high rates of fire. Furthermore SMGs typically have stocks and have much larger clip sizes then compared to a semi-auto pistol. Rifles are weapons that fire specific rounds that are more powerful then pistol rounds, though typically smaller in diameter. Some older rifles could fire pistol rounds and the .22 rifle fires the same thing as a .22 pistol. Assault Rifles are weapons designed for military use and typically have clips and are either semi-auto, variable shot, or fully auto.

Single Action. The weapon must be cocked prior to firing. This also chambers the weapon. Once fired the process must begin again.

Double Action. The weapon can be fired like a single action, however the trigger itself can also be used to chamber the weapon and both cock and fire it.

Single action and double action are almost solely for revolvers. However there are some double action revolvers with a hammer. Prior to firing the hammer is not cocked but pulling the trigger will depress the hammer back. For accurate firing the hammer should be depressed by the thumb allowing the user to apply less pressure to fire the weapon. Semi-auto weapons will automatically cock the hammer after the first shot is fired.

Some semi-auto pistols do hot have an external type hammer. Once the round has been chambered the weapon is cocked and ready to fire.

Hope that helps.

Thank you for your replies. I know a lot of those terms like semi-auto and full auto and assault rifle, etc, it was just this little nitpick about being "wrong" about calling a revolver a pistol that I had with my friend. Thanks for clearing that up.

*does victory dance* I win, I win, nyah nyah

Anything without stock or a barrel length over twelve inchs having a clip/chamber of less than twenty rounds is generaly refer to as a Pistol, anything above that is either a Hand-Cannon(.504 Magnums ) or a SMG