armsmaster270
New member
The only time it really matters is in rhe military where you can get reamed for using the wrong term. Try using Head on an army post or Latrine on a navy ship.
What gives? Pistols vs Revolvers? A rant.
- Thread starter MemphisJim
- Start date
Refering to any type of handgun as a pistol must be a regional thing. In all of my dictionaries they make a clear distinction that pistols have 1 chamber and revolvers have multiple chambers. I have never met a gun owner who did not know the correct terminology and use it. Even the bleached blondes on the 6 o'clock news get it right when a crime is reported. The only people I have ever heard anyone refer to any handgun as a pistol were uninformed non-gun owners.
I really like the idea of having a distinction and was not aware that more recent dictionaries have come to accept a different meaning for the word "pistol". If this is the case it is our fault for allowing the terms to be used interchangeably for too long. When I hear the word "pistol", I would like to know specifically what type of gun they are refering to.
I really like the idea of having a distinction and was not aware that more recent dictionaries have come to accept a different meaning for the word "pistol". If this is the case it is our fault for allowing the terms to be used interchangeably for too long. When I hear the word "pistol", I would like to know specifically what type of gun they are refering to.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"I have never met a gun owner who did not know the correct terminology and use it."
Sigh...
And the universally recognized, all encompassing absolute authorative source for the "correct terminology" is?
Oh, that's right, there IS universally recognized, all encompassing absolute authorative source.
Sigh...
And the universally recognized, all encompassing absolute authorative source for the "correct terminology" is?
Oh, that's right, there IS universally recognized, all encompassing absolute authorative source.
After re-reading my last post I realize that the "tone" came out differently than I intended so let me try again. In the world I live in revolvers are revolvers and pistols are pistols. They are different things and everyone I know uses the same terms. All of the sources I have say a pistol is a handgun with 1 chamber. Because of this post I have learned that there are other sources that use pistol to describe any handgun. I have also learned that in some places this is more accepted than others.
It is my OPINION that separate terms SHOULD be used to separate the different action types. Of that we may have to agree to disagree. If I came across as a butt, I apoliogize.
It is my OPINION that separate terms SHOULD be used to separate the different action types. Of that we may have to agree to disagree. If I came across as a butt, I apoliogize.
I grew up knowing that handguns are pistols and pistols are handguns reguardless of type.Not until recent years did I know that the word pistol meant semi-auto handgun only.Only in the gun community do people really care or take the time to care about those terms.I simply prefer the word handgun over pistol or revolver.I know that people are clear on what i'm talking about without upsetting gun enthusiasts
one more thing.Here in Michigan you must get a pistol purchase permit,or achieve a concealed pistol license to buy or carry revolvers.I suppose they won't care if I buy revolvers out of a trunk or conceal without permit a revolver,I won't be in trouble,i'll just say,"ohh,but it's a revolver"
Beentown71
New member
Just depends on what your definition of "is" is
Beentown
Uncle Buck
New member
I learn something new everyday. When I go to a gun shop and ask to look at pistols (handguns) they are in cases with both revolvers and semi's. I have several pistols. They include both semi autos and revolvers.
If I walked into a gun store and asked to see pistols and you tried to correct me when I look at revolvers, you would get a very rude comment from me.
This is almost along the same lines of .45 colt or .45 long colt. I had another guy try to "Correct" me the other day when I asked for .45 Long Colt cases. He was a customer standing there and said "There is no such thing as a long colt." I told him he better inform the Colt website folks and learn to mind his own business.
I honestly think this whole argument comes down to "I am smarter than you and I can prove it..." This is one of the reason we have so many problems in our hobby/sport. The so called "purist" have to try to impress everyone, even those they do not know, with their knowledge. They do not care who they offend or even realize that in most cases they end up looking foolish.
A friend of mine who was interested in shooting wanted to get a pistol like mine, but when he went into the gun store, he would get responses like I posted above. He has walked out of a few stores. So here we are, a guy wants to become involved in our sport, but by golly, he can not tell the difference between a pistol and a revolver and he must be stupid because there is no such thing as a .45 long colt.
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riggins_83
New member
Long as the person is being responsible, reasonable and safe with their firearms and isn't in a 7-11 holding up the place and giving gun owners more bad press I'm not really worried if they're separating categories or calling magazines clips.
Ohio Rusty
New member
I've always known pistol as a gun you held in your hand and fired. When something went 'bump' in the night, you grabbed your pistol and light and checked it out. The simplicity has gone from our language. Now ..... I guess when that happens now, it's only proper to say you grabbed your X-brand SA/DA double stack Trijicon night sighted 150 lumen mounted automatic loaded with 180 grain brass cased super expanding power ball titanium tipped ++P rounds or no one will know what you were talking about and chew you out for not using the 'right' term that they use.
To me a pistol is either a revolver or an autoloader. It's like the word bullets .... to say that to some guys they will give you a butt chewing because they are called 'rounds' in their book. If I need to be specific , then I will use the term revolver or automatic (autoloader).
When I was in the service in the early 70's, they used the terms rifle and pistol (never guns) ..... and for the M-16, it was called a 'magazine' that held the bulets, but on the 1911's we issued and carried, the bullets were always carried in the 'clip'. That was how you instantly knew if you were talking rifle or pistol by the designation magazine or clip. A clip now is something that attached to your belt.
Our language takes strange turns, depending what you are used to. Kleenex is always tissues, baggies are always sandwich bags and I'll never get used to saying Big Lots instead of Odd Lots .......... It all depends what you grew up hearing and what you are used to.
Ohio Rusty ><>
To me a pistol is either a revolver or an autoloader. It's like the word bullets .... to say that to some guys they will give you a butt chewing because they are called 'rounds' in their book. If I need to be specific , then I will use the term revolver or automatic (autoloader).
When I was in the service in the early 70's, they used the terms rifle and pistol (never guns) ..... and for the M-16, it was called a 'magazine' that held the bulets, but on the 1911's we issued and carried, the bullets were always carried in the 'clip'. That was how you instantly knew if you were talking rifle or pistol by the designation magazine or clip. A clip now is something that attached to your belt.
Our language takes strange turns, depending what you are used to. Kleenex is always tissues, baggies are always sandwich bags and I'll never get used to saying Big Lots instead of Odd Lots .......... It all depends what you grew up hearing and what you are used to.
Ohio Rusty ><>
"Pistol" does not mean semi-auto handgun only. At best it means a handgun that fires from a single chamber. As there are many guns that fire from a single chamber that are not semi-autos, the term pistol must also refer to other handguns besides semi-autos, even if you want to argue that it should not be used to to refer to revolvers.
bluetopper
New member
The older I get the more I like revolving pistols.
Also, if a hangun was meant to be shot with two hands, they would have been made with two handles on them.
Also, if a hangun was meant to be shot with two hands, they would have been made with two handles on them.
cougar gt-e
New member
And yet the most accurate shooting grip typically is one where 2 hands are used...
I guess the only absolute is that nothing is absolute!
orionengnr
New member
Yep. That's my experience too. Sorry if you consider me "anal". I was raised to believe that "words mean stuff" and all that...
Also, I tend not to associate myself with people who are ignorant or illiterate, unless they demonstrate a willingness to correct those issues. I have learned an awful lot in my life, so ignorance is neither a capital crime, nor is it incurable...