Firearm that fires continuously while the trigger is depressed
An automatic firearm or fully automatic firearm (to avoid confusion with semi-automatic firearms) is an autoloading firearm that continuously chambers and fires rounds when the trigger mechanism is actuated. The action of an automatic firearm is capable of harvesting the excess energy released from a previous discharge to feed a new ammunition round into the chamber, and then igniting the propellant and discharging the projectile (either bullet, shot, or slug) by delivering a hammer or striker impact on the primer.
If both the feeding and ignition procedures are automatically cycled, the weapon will be considered "fully automatic" and will fire continuously as long as the trigger is kept depressed and the ammunition feeding (either from a magazine or a belt) remains available. In contrast, a firearm is considered "semi-automatic" if it only automatically cycles to chamber new rounds (i.e. self-loading) but does not automatically fire off the shot unless the user manually resets (usually by releasing) and re-actuates the trigger, so only one round gets discharged with each individual trigger-pull.[1] A burst-fire firearm is an "in-between" of fully and semi-automatic firearms, firing a brief continuous "burst" of multiple rounds with each trigger-pull, but then will require a manual re-actuation of the trigger to fire another burst.
Automatic firearms are further defined by the type of cycling principles used, such as recoil operation, blowback, blow forward, or gas operation.
^
Carter, Gregg Lee (2012). Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law. ABC-CLIO. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-313-38670-1.
"automatic". An automatic (or "fully automatic") firearmautomatically re-cocks, reloads, and fires as long as the trigger is depressed. An automatic firearm...
Firearms regulation in Switzerland allows the acquisition of semi-automatic, and – with a may-issue permit – fully automaticfirearms, by Swiss citizens...
An automatic shotgun is an automaticfirearm that fires shotgun shells (thereby making it a shotgun) and uses some of the energy of each shot to automatically...
metal cartridges, and the automaticfirearm. Older firearms typically used black powder as a propellant, but modern firearms use smokeless powder or other...
registration became law in 1934, and automaticfirearms registration was added in 1951. In 1969, laws classified firearms as "non-restricted", "restricted"...
and shootings, such as handguns and other types of concealable firearms. Semi-automatic rifles designs which are derived from service rifles, which are...
an unlimited amount of firearms and ammunition limits also then fall away. Prohibited firearms are: any fully automaticfirearm; cannon, recoilless gun...
A firearm malfunction is the failure of a firearm to operate as intended for causes other than user error. Malfunctions range from temporary and relatively...
shorter or deleted stock. Selective fire: A firearm that fires semi–automatically and at least one automatic mode by means of a selector depending on the...
semi-automaticfirearms USAS 12 semi-automatic type shotgun Uzi type semi-automaticfirearms Valmet M62, M71S, M76, or M78 type semi-automaticfirearms Weaver...
A repeating firearm or repeater is any firearm (either a handgun or long gun) that is capable of being fired repeatedly before having to be manually reloaded...
their semi-automaticfirearm look-alike counterparts—the semi-automatic version is specifically constructed to reject the fully automatic trigger group...
fireworks, bows and arrows, slingshots, spears, and nunchucks. Semi-automaticfirearms that the state has classified as assault weapons, .50 BMG caliber...
a prohibition on the manufacture for civilian use of certain semi-automaticfirearms that were defined as assault weapons as well as certain ammunition...
A squad automatic weapon (SAW), also known as a section automatic weapon or light support weapon (LSW), is a man-portable automaticfirearm attached to...
fully automatic, rifled auto-loading firearm designed for sustained direct fire with rifle cartridges. Other automaticfirearms such as automatic shotguns...
fully-automaticfirearms owned by private citizens in the U.S., political scientist Earl Kruschke said "approximately 175,000 automaticfirearms have been...
2020 Automatic transmission, or a car with an automatic transmission Automatic Knives AutomaticfirearmAutomatic variable Automatic watch Automatic (automobile...
like firearms available in ordinary commercial channels is substantially less. C&R firearms include most manually operated and semi-automaticfirearms used...