Semiautomats

Semiautomat is a term used to describe a firearm that automatically loads the next cartridge and prepares it for firing after each individual shot is discharged, but requires the trigger to be manually pulled for each subsequent shot. This distinguishes it from fully automatic firearms, which continue to fire as long as the trigger is held down, and from manual firearms such as bolt-action or lever-action rifles, which require manual manipulation of a component like a bolt or lever to eject the spent casing and load a new round.

The semiautomatic action is typically achieved through the use of either the energy generated by the fired cartridge to cycle the action, or by an external power source. Gas-operated systems, a common type of semiautomatic action, tap a portion of the expanding gases from the fired round to push a bolt carrier group rearward, which in turn extracts and ejects the spent casing and then loads a fresh cartridge from the magazine. Recoil-operated systems use the backward momentum of the fired cartridge and the firearm itself to cycle the action.

Semiautomatic firearms are widely used for a variety of purposes, including sport shooting, hunting, and law enforcement. They offer a balance between the rate of fire of a fully automatic weapon and the simplicity and control of manual firearms. The design allows for a quicker follow-up shot compared to manual actions, while still requiring the shooter's deliberate action for each round fired. This controlled rate of fire is a key characteristic of semiautomatic firearms.