More sensitive trigger firing mechanism - model must already be cocked
1. (Handguns) More sensitive trigger firing mechanism, weapon must already be cocked. 2. (Rifle) A bolt-action weapon requiring manual recocking between each shot.
(adj.) When applied to revolvers, a gun which must be manually cocked before firing each shot. Examples of single action revolvers include the Colt "Peacemaker," and the Ruger Blackhawk. In reference to semiautomatic pistols, "single action" means that the gun must be cocked before firing the first shot. The gun is then cocks itself for each subsequent shot. The Colt M1911A1 and Browning Hi Power are single action pistols.
In revolvers, any gun whose hammer must be manually cocked for each shot. In semi-automatic pistols, any pistol where the hammer or striker must be manually cocked before the first shot can be fired. (Cf. DOUBLE ACTION)
Refers to guns, usually handguns, where the pulling of the trigger will only release the hammer and is not capable of also cocking the hammer.
An action that requires the hammer to be manually pulled back in a revolver or moved back by the slide in a semi-automatic. The trigger pull causes the hammer to move forward.
A firearm that requires the hammer or striker to be cocked manually before pulling the trigger to fire it. On Colt revolvers, this is done by pulling the hammer back to the cocked position. On Colt single action pistols, pulling the slide to the rear initially cocks the hammer. The firing of the pistol, with the resulting cycling of the action, cocks the hammer for each successive shot. TRIGGER: The part of the action moved by the finger to fire the firearm.
A revolver design which requires the hammer to be manually cocked for each shot. Also an auto-loading pistol design which requires manual cocking of the hammer for the first shot only.
(SA) -- A single-action firearm is one in which pulling the trigger does only one thing: fires the shot. The trigger is not used to cock the hammer or to retract the firing pin. Revolvers: A single-action revolver requires the user to manually pull the hammer back before each and every shot. Pulling back on the hammer causes the cylinder to revolve, and brings a fresh round into alignment with the barrel ready to be fired. Semi-autos: A single-action semi-auto must be manually cocked for the first shot. The energy from the first shot re-cocks the hammer so it is not necessary to manually cock it again. The most widely known single-action semi-auto is probably the 1911-style pistol designed by John Moses Browning.
The type of firearm action whereby one pull of the trigger performs the single function of firing the gun. This term is often used to refer to revolvers, but it applies to all classes of firearm.
