A pistol is a handgun, more specifically one with the chamber integral to its gun barrel, though in common usage the two terms are often used interchangeably. The English word was introduced in ca. 1570 – when early handguns were produced in Europe and is derived from the Middle French pistolet (ca. 1550), meaning a small gun or knife. In colloquial usage, the word "pistol" is often used to describe any type of handgun, inclusive of revolvers (which have a single barrel and a separate cylinder housing multiple chambers) and the pocket-sized derringers (which are often multi-barrelled).
The most common type of pistol used in the contemporary era is the semi-automatic pistol, while the older single-shot and manual repeating pistols are now rarely seen and used primarily for nostalgic hunting and historical reenactment, and the fully automatic machine pistols are uncommon in civilian usage due to generally poor recoil-controllability and strict laws and regulations governing their manufacture and sale.

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  1. S

    3 pistols at 75 yards Tz-75 hit the plate 2nd place XD 40 cal Springfield

    yeah hitting low with the 40 and high with the 9mm
  2. S

    SUPER bowl pistols shoot at 130 yards S&W m&p 40 cal hits propane can

    canik tpsfx had the best grouping just missed the plate
  3. F

    Any interest in large Black Powder Collection, pistols and rifles

    Various pistol an rifles. Contact if interested.
  4. Buck25

    Researching information on Haenel Air Pistols:

    The last couple of years I have been researching serial numbers on Haenel pistols (Models 26, Air Pistol, 28, 28R, Super, and variations). I would be interested in hearing about the serial numbers of any of these pistols you might have along with the caliber and/or any accessories. The serial...
  5. Joe Link

    New Mexico  Thieves take 150 pistols, rifles from Albuquerque gun store

    https://journalstar.com/business/thieves-take-150-pistols-rifles-from-albuquerque-gun-store/article_994f964d-1635-5203-9b9e-f22338494301.html
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