PumpAction

Pump-action, also known as pump-action or slide-action, is a repeating firearm action in which the operator slides a forend back and forth to cycle the mechanism. The sliding motion ejects one spent cartridge, cocks the hammer or engages the striker, and chambers a fresh cartridge from the firearm’s magazine, often a tubular magazine beneath the barrel. The action is manually operated and a new shell is fed into the chamber as the forend returns forward.

History and development: The pump-action concept emerged in the late 19th century, with early designs that led to popular models such as the Winchester Model 1897 and the Ithaca 37. In the mid-20th century, the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 established pump-action shotguns as widely used tools for hunting, sport, and law enforcement. Over time, variations and accessories expanded to different barrel lengths, chokes, and compatibility with various gauges.

Operation and ammunition: Pump-actions are most commonly chambered in 12 gauge, followed by 20 gauge and .410 bore. The standard configuration uses a tubular magazine under the barrel; upon pumping, a shell is ejected and the next shell is raised from the magazine into the chamber. Rates of fire are limited by manual cycling, but reliability is a key advantage.

Uses and safety: Pump-action shotguns are versatile for hunting, skeet, trap, home defense, and certain law enforcement tasks. They are valued for ruggedness and simple maintenance but are slower to operate than semi-automatic firearms. Safety considerations include treating all firearms as loaded, keeping the finger off the trigger, and understanding local laws that regulate shotgun type, magazine capacity, and barrel length.