Pistol Basics 3

Front 1

The primary feature of a revolver is its........

Back 1

rotating cylinder.

Front 2

What was the old pepperbox?

Back 2

The revolver action is an outgrowth of this, which consisted of a drum containing a number of barrels each with a live chambered round, that was manually rotated to bring each successive barrel into alignment with the hammer.

Front 3

What is the single action revolver?

Back 3

It is the older of the two designs, and is so called because the pulling or actuating of the trigger performs but a single action: it releases the hammer.

Front 4

What is the hand or pawl?

Back 4

As the hammer is drawn further rearward, the hand which is considered the moniker in Colt, and Smith and Wesson terminology, the pawl is the same thing used in Ruger terminology. The hand or pawl is attached to the hammer, moves vertically in a slot in the recoil shield of the frame, producing cylinder rotation.

Front 5

Why are the ratchet and pawl carefully designed?

Back 5

As the hammer is fully cocked and held rearward by the trigger, the cylinder is rotated only the amount required to bring the next chamber into alignment with the bore. Pulling the trigger fires the revolver.

Front 6

What are double action revolvers?

Back 6

Because pulling the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer.

Front 7

Modern double action revolvers can generally be fired in both the single and double action modes. TRUE/FALSE

Back 7

TRUE.

Front 8

How is the double action made possible?

Back 8

By a separate double action sear on the hammer that is engaged by the trigger such that rearward trigger movement first rotates the hammer to its cocked position and then, with additional trigger movement, allows the hammer to fall, firing the revolver.

Front 9

Each time the hammer is cocked(single action) or the trigger is pulled(double action), what does the hand or pawl do?

Back 9

It rises in its window in the recoil shield, and engages one of the ratchets on the extractor star rotating the barrel to the next chamber.(see pg 25, NRA guide Basics of Pistol Shooting).

Front 10

The swing out cylinder design is the more modern employed today for revolvers. TRUE/FALSE

Back 10

TRUE.

Front 11

How are revolvers unique among among conventional firearms?

Back 11

They have a chamber that is separate from the barrel.

Front 12

What is the Barrel cylinder gap?

Back 12

This gap which normally measures 0.004-.008 allows clearance between the face of the cylinder and the barrel for smooth cylinder rotation.

Front 13

Are there any concerns regarding the barrel cylinder gap?

Back 13

Some gas escapes from this gap, not substantially lowering projectile velocity, but enough to be seen and heard, and to mark objects(injure fingers) positioned too close to the gap.