November 21st, 2024
5minute read
Most human pursuits have their own dedicated lexicon.
For a plumber, however, sweating is a means of joining two pieces of pipe.
The gun world is awash to its gunwales in similarly quirky confusing terminology.
A semi-automatic firearm is a self-loading gun that fires one round per pull of the trigger, making it distinct from fully automatic firearms, which continue firing as the trigger is held down.
For those of us who live in this world, these terms are familiar and comfortable.
The term we shall tackle today is semi-automatic.
These primitive guns were called fire lances.
Semi-automatic firearms can be handguns, shotguns or rifles. Shown here is a Springfield Armory M1A semi-automatic rifle.
Since then, the state of the art has evolved.
A single-shot firearm is just that.
The firearm only holds one shell at a time.
Semi-automatic firearm use stretches back into the 19th century. The famed 1911 pistol itself predates World War I and remains popular for self-defense use today.
The earliest repeating designs typically employed some kind of manually-driven mechanism to effect reloading.
Lever-action guns are driven by a pivoting lever oriented underneath the firearm.
Cartridges are usually loaded individually from the top or via a magazine from the bottom.
Designed in the mid-1950s, the AR-15-style rifle is approaching 70 years old and is the most popular semi-automatic rifle in America. Shown here is the Springfield Armory SAINT.
Working the bolt handle manually ejects an empty case and feeds a fresh cartridge into the chamber for firing.
Pump-action weapons feature a reciprocating bolt conceptually similar to that of our previous repeaters.
By contrast to these various designs, a semi-automatic gun does much of this mechanical work for you.
While single-shot and bolt-action rifles remain popular, semi-automatic rifles have become mainstays of hunting and competition shooting.
Semi-automatic seems a bit like being partially pregnant.
However, as it relates to a firearm mechanism, semi-automatic takes on a clearly defined meaning.
There is a broad gulf between semi-automatic and fully automatic firearms.
Semi-automatic handguns are the overwhelming choice for law enforcement and self-defense use. They are relatively easy to operate and can be quite reliable.
Fully automatic weapons are heavily regulated across most of the world.
Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher patented the first successful semi-automatic rifle in 1885 in Austria.
In fairly short order, the planet was awash with them.
Semi-automatic firearms come in a variety of flavors.
The basic semi-automatic action can be found in rifles, pistols and shotguns.
Rifles are designed to be fired from the shoulder.
Pistols are intended to be operated in the outstretched hand.
Shotguns fire shotshells typically loaded with multiple small spherical projectiles.
While these three categories of firearms have widely different applications, the semi-automatic design is common throughout.
How Does a Semi-Automatic Firearm Work?
The guns mechanism ensures that no more than one round at a time is fired with each trigger squeeze.
These autoloading firearms most commonly feed from some kind of ammunition container called a magazine.
The flower of modern engineering prowess has invested simply breathtaking effort at perfecting these mechanisms.
The current state of the art is indeed therefore fairly impressive.
What Is the Appeal of a Semi-Automatic Firearm?
Advances in metallurgy and design make semi-automatic handguns ideal for concealed carry and personal defense applications.
These guns can be thin and concealable or hand-filling and exceptionally accurate or some combination of both.
Most every cop on the planet packs a semi-automatic handgun these days.
Semi-automatic rifles like the Springfield Armory SAINT represent the ideal defensive platform.
Lightweight with trivial recoil, it can face down threats both bipedal and otherwise.
These attributes have made the AR the most popular rifle in the country.
And lets not forget the classic M1A as well!
Ruminations
Semi-automatic firearms are fairly complicated machines filled with moving parts.
They therefore require basic maintenance for reliable operation.
There is also a learning curve associated with running a semi-automatic firearm well.
Most novice gun buyers opt for a semi-automatic firearm as their first gun.
Learning the firearms character and personality is innately enjoyable.
Developing the skills to shoot such a firearm accurately, safely and quickly is rewarding.
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