Comprehensive Guide to Handgun Types

in Handguns, Travis Pike

Estimated reading time: 17 minutes

Handguns seem like a small genre, and I don’t just mean their size. When you start thinking about buying a handgun, you’ll probably picture a Glock, a revolver, but the more you think about it, the more handguns pop up. The more you think about it, the more complicated handguns become. For a new shooter, it can be intimidating, so with that in mind, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to handguns.

This is written from an American perspective. Different countries define handguns differently, but we’re sticking with countries that have gone to the moon. Also, it’s wise to keep in mind that there are tons of exceptions to every rule.

Throughout a few hundred years of firearms development, there tends to be an exception to every rule. We’ve attempted to be as comprehensive as possible, as we can take every prototype handgun and exception into account.

With that out of the way, let’s start with the very basic handguns.

The Basic Handgun Types

There are four basic genres of handgun types in 2025. These four categories represent the most common and popular handguns you can own.

Automatic Handguns

Automatic refers to the function of loading. An automatic handgun automatically loads the next cartridge, but this does not necessarily mean the firearm is fully automatic. Automatic handguns come in select-fire fully automatic and semi-auto-only variants.

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These are known as self-loading or auto-loading pistols. Automatics are self-loading magazine-fed handguns that come in various calibers and configurations. They use the energy created by the previous cartridge to operate the weapon’s automatic function.

The Full Hand Single Stack Glock 43X - My Central AC of Handguns
The Full Hand Single Stack Glock 43X – My Central AC of Handguns

Automatic handguns outnumber all other types of handguns by a large margin. They occupy the holsters of modern police and military forces and tend to be the most popular gun amongst the average citizen.

They are also the most diverse series of handguns with various operating systems that allow the automatic loading function to operate.

Revolvers

Revolvers obtain their name from the revolving cylinder that holds and chambers the cartridges the weapon fires. The cylinder revolves due to the manipulation of the hammer or trigger, aligning the chamber with the barrel prior to the weapon firing.

S&W 442 with Harry's Holsters Icon 2.0
The S&W 442 riding in the Harry’s Icon 2.0 was the most concealable and most comfortable to carry.

Revolvers are much older than automatic handguns and maintained high popularity until the 1980s. They come in various cartridges, including those intended for semi-automatic handguns.

Revolvers maintain a degree of popularity amongst handgun hunters, concealed carriers, and competitive shooters.

Breech Loading Handguns

Breech-loading handguns will cover single- and multi-barrel breech-loading handguns. These may offer a repeating design but are not revolvers or semi-autos. Each barrel contains and fires a single cartridge.

The handgun barrel hinges on the rear sight which is machined to be part of the barrel
The barrel hinges on the rear sight, which is machined to be part of the barrel

Modern breech-loading handguns can vary in size. They tend to either be micro-sized derringers for concealed carry or rather large, sometimes rifle-caliber, breech-loading handguns aimed at hunting.

Large Format Pistols

Large-format pistols are a rather new handgun format that was popularized after the assault weapon ban expired. They are legal handguns that often replicate rifles or submachine guns but lack a stock and have a shorter barrel.

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This is H&K’s semi-auto version of the venerable MP5.

These handguns can come in semi-auto formats, lever actions, bolt actions, and breech-loading designs. The advent of pistol braces has made them exceptionally popular in recent years, and they are extremely common.

First: Semi-Automatic Handguns

Semi-automatic handguns are the most diverse group of firearms, with various action types, operating systems, and ignition types. Let’s examine each of these automatic handgun factors and break them down.

RXM and GLock 19
The RXM is Ruger’s take on the Gen 3 Glock platform

Ignition Types

Ignition types refer to how the gun ignites the primer and fires a cartridge. With automatics, there are two major types.

Striker

With a striker-fired gun, the firing pin is propelled by the release of the spring to strike the primer. The trigger may both cock and release the striker and spring or simply release it.

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The SIG P365 created the micro compact genre (SIG)

Hammer

Hammer-fired guns use an internal or external hammer to strike the firing pin, which propels it to strike the primer and fire the gun.

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Alpha Foxtrot is a new gun company to me, but they offer this affordable 2011 that is assembled right here in Georgia!

Handgun Action Types

Action type refers to the number of tasks accomplished when the user pulls the trigger.

Single Action

Single-action automatic handguns are very simple trigger designs. It simply releases the hammer or striker to fire the weapon. The hammer or striker must be cocked by the user in one manner or another. It’s characterized by a very light trigger.

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Double Action

Double refers to the trigger of accomplishing two tasks. A double action design means the trigger both cocks the hammer or striker and then releases the hammer or striker to fire the gun. Double actions are characterized by a long, heavy trigger pull.

The Smallest New Micro-Compact: Ruger's LCP MAX .380
The Smallest New Micro-Compact: Ruger’s LCP MAX .380

DA/SA

DA/SA designs use a combination of two systems. The initial trigger pull is a long double-action pull, and subsequent shots are a single-action design. The moving slide of the handgun cocks the striker or hammer for those single-action shots.

Man with reflective sunglasses shooting handgun

Partially Cocked Striker

Most modern striker-fired guns, like Glocks and S&W M&Ps, use something known as a partially cocked striker action. The striker sits in a partially cocked position, and when the trigger is pulled, it is then fully cocked and released. This provides a light and safe trigger design.

Smith & Wesson Goes to 10mm with New M&P Pistols
Smith & Wesson Goes to 10mm with New M&P Pistols

Operating Systems On Handguns

Automatic handguns rely on the energy of the previously fired cartridge to function as automatic firearms. There are several different ways to allow this action to occur, and with most automatic handguns, it’s done in one of three ways.

Straight Blowback

Straight blowback guns are incredibly simple. There is no locking mechanism, so the gun’s slide weight and spring must work together to keep the breech closed until the projectile leaves the barrel. Straight blowback guns use Newton’s third law of motion.

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Need a 10mm? Hi-Point Delivers for $225 — SHOT Show 2023

As the projectile races forward, pressure is exerted rearward. This pressure moves the slide rearward and allows the pistol to function. Blowback designs tend to work best with lower-powered calibers.

The more powerful the cartridge, the heavier the spring and slide must be. Straight blowback guns are known for their harsher-than-average recoil and simple design. Guns like the Hi-Point series, Walther PPK, and all semi-auto .22LRs are blowback operated.

Delayed Blowback

Delayed blowback systems function a bit like straight blowback designs, but instead of using slide weight and spring weight to keep the breech closed, these use a delaying mechanism. The mechanism can vary. With handguns, there are three delayed blowback options currently in production.

CCP M2 handgun
The CCP M2 runs off a piston under the barrel and the barrel is fixed in place.

Gas-delayed systems use gas pressed against a piston to keep the breech closed until the bullet leaves the barrel. Modern designs include the Walther CCP.

Lever delayed design integrates leverage to keep the breach closed until the bullet leaves the barrel. Modern designs include the PSA Rock.

The chamber-ring-delayed system uses the expansion of the brass-cased projectile to seal the sides of the chamber and prevent the breech from opening. A concave ring built into the chamber allows this delay effect to occur. Modern examples of this design include the Seecamp series.

L.W. Seecamp LWS .380 handgun and Del Fatti PH-3 pocket holster.
L.W. Seecamp LWS .380 and Del Fatti PH-3 pocket holster.

Delayed blowback systems are simple; they can be extremely low-recoiling firearms with compact designs.

Short-Recoil Handguns

Short-recoil systems are the most popular system with modern automatic handguns. This locked-breech system has a barrel and bolt that move together briefly. At a certain point, the barrel stops moving, and the bolt continues traveling rearward to extract and eject a spent cartridge.

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The Hi-Power in 2023 – Best Clones, Replicas, and Advancements

As the slide and bolt reach their apex, they are propelled forward via a recoil spring. As they move, they collect the next round from the magazines, press the barrel back forward, and lock back into place, ready to fire. Short-recoil guns are extremely reliable, robust, easy to produce, and provide moderate recoil.

Next: Revolvers

Revolvers may be an older design, but they’ve maintained excellent popularity over the years. Modern usage tends to revolve around concealed carry and hunting. They have less diversity compared to automatic handguns.

Customized Colt Python from Empire.
From optic-ready versions to various finish choices, the possibilities are extensive. Customers can either send in their Colt Python or directly order a customized version from Empire.

Handgun Types

The automatic handguns guide lists three common actions with revolvers, which may sound repetitive.

Single Action

Single-action guns have a trigger that only releases the hammer. Single-action revolvers require the user to manually cock the hammer to fire the gun and rotate the cylinder.

Model 3 handgun
The S&W Model 3 probably had more famous users than the Colt, but the movies won’t tell you that (Uberti)

Double Action

Double-action revolvers have a trigger that cocks the gun and fires the gun. The trigger pull also manipulates the cylinder and rotates the chambers to align with the barrel. The term double-action revolver often refers to revolvers with exposed hammers.

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New Taurus Revolvers! 3-Inch .357 Mag., .327 Federal Magnum – SHOT Show 2022

These hammers can be manually cocked for a lighter, smoother trigger pull. The user can choose between a double-action and a single-action trigger pull.

Double Action Only

Double-action-only revolvers will only offer a double-action trigger pull. Oftentimes, the revolver will not have a visible hammer. It may be trimmed or concealed.

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The S&W 432 UC is a fantastic concealed carry revolver and has set new standards (S&W)

Handgun Cylinder Types

The revolver’s cylinder holds its ammunition and acts as each round’s chamber. Cylinder designs vary depending on the gun and can alter how the weapon handles.

Swing Out

Modern double-action revolvers use a swing-out cylinder design. The cylinder swings out from the frame to be loaded or unloaded. The user either presses a button, pulls a latch, or pushes a latch to release the cylinder.

Python handgun open cylinder showing ratchets
The Python has massive ratchets that help ensure a very tight lockup.

These cylinders use a hand ejector design that simultaneously presses out all cases or cartridges. The swing-out cylinder design allows for quick reloading, is stout, and can use extremely powerful rounds.

Fixed

Fixed cylinders are common on single-action revolvers. They often feature a gate that opens to allow access to one cylinder at a time, allowing the user to load or unload their handgun.

Revolver with blued steel and wooden grip
Renowned SASS World Champion ‘Evil Roy’ Set to ‘Ride Off into the Sunset’

The gun uses an ejection rod that pokes out each case or cartridge. While slower to reload, these sturdy firearms typically pair with classic single-action designs.

Top Break

Top-break revolvers are very rare in the modern era. Most are either rimfire designs or historical designs. With top-break guns, the top of the frame isn’t solid and splits open to reveal the cylinder.

Really old handgun
The gun’s top break design made it relatively quick to reload.

Opening the revolver to its apex often ejects the cases or cartridges, allowing for a quicker reload than even swing-out cylinders. The main downside to top-break revolvers is their inherent weakness: they do not have a solid frame.

And Of Course: Breech Loading Handguns

Breech-loading handguns are fairly rare. They encapsulate any weapon that opens at the rear of the barrel, allowing the user to load or unload the gun. This includes derringers and large single-shot pistols commonly used for handguns.

They come in three varieties and two action types.

Action Types

Much like every other handgun on this list, breach-loading handguns come in single and double-action actions.

Double Action

Double action designs cock and fires the breech-loading handgun. These are common with multiple-barrel breech-loading firearms. The double action design will cock and fire the weapon as well as rotate the firing pin in many cases.

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Single Action

Single-action designs require the user to cock the hammer, and the trigger will release the hammer or striker to fire the weapon. This is the most common trigger system with breech-loading handguns.

The HoneyB .22 mag from Bond Arms.
The HoneyB .22 mag is the perfect single-action double-barrel gun for the discerning firearms enthusiast.

Barrel Types On A Breech-Loading Handgun

Breech-loading handguns can contain one cartridge per barrel, which has led to several different barrel lengths offering multiple rounds per gun.

Single Barrel

Single-barrel breech-loading handguns have one barrel and fire one cartridge before they need to be reloaded. These can be concealable, but most commonly, they are large pistols designed for hunting or similar tasks. The Rossi Brawler is an example of a single-barrel breech-loading handgun.

Bond Arms Cyclops 45-70: The Derringer That Packs a Giant Punch
Bond Arms Cyclops 45-70: The Derringer That Packs a Giant Punch

Double Barrel

Double-barrel breech-loading handguns are common in the form of derringers. Twin-barrel derringers are popular novelties that offer two shots and two barrels, often stacked on each other. The various Bond Derringers are an excellent example of a double-barrel derringer.

bond arms stinger 22 lr

Multi Barrel

Multi-barrel breech-loading handguns are rare but worth mentioning. These guns often feature up to four barrels with rotating firing pins. They offer multiple shots before needing to be reloaded. The most famous modern example is the COP derringer.

four barreled Edge handgun
The Edge is a four-barreled pistol now being chambered in centerfire variations.

Finally: Large Format Pistols

Large-format handguns are a bit of an oddity. They only exist due to the ridiculous laws in the United States that make owning rifles with barrels shorter than 16 inches a hassle. We won’t dive too deep into these because they aren’t traditional handguns.

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It’s common for a large-format pistol to chamber rifle-caliber rounds and cartridges. Although they tend to be a bit unwieldy, the advent of pistol braces and numerous court cases have made them easier to handle and shoot.

The SAINT Victor Pistol in 9mm.
The SAINT Victor Pistol is designed to deliver a capable 9mm with all the performance and capability you have come to expect from the SAINT Victor line.

These guns can be AR pistols, lever-action pistols, or bolt-action pistols. They are usually used for home defense, hunting, or fun. Although these are unusual handguns, they legally meet the definition of a handgun.

The Wide Handgun World

We’ve done it. We’ve given you a comprehensive guide to the most common handgun types in the United States. As you can see, there is a lot one could dig into. We didn’t even cover oddballs like the Hopkins and Allen Triple Action Revolver. I tried to keep things to what really matters for the modern shooter. If you have anything to add, toss it below.

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