MODERN REVOLVERS Modern automatic pistols have many advantages over contem porary revolvers, and the armies of most nations are now armed with them with the exception of Britain, France, and at one time Russia. In the British navy the -455 Webley Revolver is used.
All revolvers are hand operated, but modern automatic pistols all rely for their operation on the effect of firing a round. The automatics are claimed to have the following advantages over revolvers—(a) Rapidity of fire, (b) rapidity of recharging (this is done by filled magazines), (c) each magazine holds more rounds, (d) flatter and more easily carried, and other minor points. Automatic implies continuous action in a machine gun, but it has not that meaning when applied to pistols, which, though called automatic are really semi-automatic in action, and require a separate pull of the trigger to fire each shot.
While admitting the advantages claimed for automatics, it is held that the revolver is :—(1) More certain, because, (a) it is positively manipulated by hand; (b) it is immune from questions of incorrect functioning due to variable recoil with slightly erratic ammunition; (c) being less complicated, it is more free from troubles due to mud and dirt or lack of lubrication. (2) A miss fire is instantly corrected by pulling the trigger without moving the revolver or altering the aim. With the Automatic, the weapon has to be lowered, eyes removed from the enemy or target, and both hands used to overcome the stoppage that arises from the miss-fire, a difference perhaps of a few seconds of time that may be of vital importance. (3) Less liable to accidental discharge.
In ammunition used for automatic pistols the bullets have cu pro-nickel envelopes, and they usually have a velocity rather more than medium. These envelopes help to facilitate the feeding of the round without friction or jamming in the magazine, and also when being forced from the magazine into the chamber. Were these bul lets of unjacketed lead, they might not "take" the rifling in the barrel at the velocities employed, and hence the shooting would be inaccurate. Such jacketed bullets being much harder than lead have more penetrating power, and a great deal of their energy may be wasted, and expended in the further forward motion of the bullet after penetration.
The different makes of the modern revolver may be said to differ from each other in details only, and a description of the four main features of the revolver mechanism will be generally applicable to all. These four main features are, cocking and firing, cylinder rotation, rebound and safety.