halvåpen

Halvåpen, or semi-automatic firearms, are firearms that fire a single cartridge per trigger pull. After each shot, the energy from the fired cartridge operates a mechanism that ejects the spent cartridge and chambers a new round from the magazine, making the weapon ready to fire again with another trigger pull. This cycling occurs automatically, but unlike fully automatic firearms, the weapon does not continue firing unless the trigger is released and pulled again for each shot.

Operation and design: Most halvåpen use a gas-operated, blowback, or recoil-operated action. The cycling energy can come from gas tapped from the barrel, direct blowback, or using the recoil of the fired cartridge. Most are fed from detachable magazines, though some designs use fixed or internal magazines. Trigger types vary, including single-action, double-action, and striker-fired mechanisms, but all share the single-shot-per-trigger-pull principle.

Applications and variations: Halvåpen encompass a wide range of pistols and rifles. They are common in sport shooting, hunting, and personal defense in many countries. In military service, while not the same as fully automatic arms, semi-automatic rifles were widely adopted in the 20th century due to ease of use and rapid follow-up shots.

Regulation and safety: Legal controls for halvåpen vary by jurisdiction and can include licensing, background checks, age restrictions, safe storage requirements, and limits on magazine capacity or specific models. Safety emphasis includes proper handling, storage, and training to prevent accidental discharge and unauthorized use.