selfloading

Self-loading refers to firearms that automatically reload after firing, using energy from the discharged cartridge to cycle the action and chamber a new round. In common usage, most self-loading weapons are semi-automatic: they fire one round per trigger pull and automatically chamber the next, though some designs are capable of full automatic fire under certain controls. The defining feature is that manual operation of the bolt, lever, or pump is not required to prepare the next shot.

Self-loading mechanisms can be classified by how they cycle the action. Blowback systems rely on the pressure of the cartridge to push the slide or bolt rearward in simple designs, typically used with lighter cartridges. Recoil-operated systems use the energy of recoil to unlock and drive the action, a common arrangement in many pistols and rifles. Gas-operated systems divert a portion of propellant gas through a port to drive a piston or rotating mechanism that cycles the action. All of these systems may be magazine-fed, with rounds supplied from a detachable or fixed magazine, and they may employ various locking mechanisms.

Historically, self-loading firearms emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as attempts to automate reloading. The Borchardt C93 is among the earliest practical semi-automatic pistols, and the design evolve with popular examples such as the Luger P08. Today, self-loading firearms are widely used in civilian, law enforcement, and military contexts, valued for increased rate of fire and ease of use compared with manual-action weapons, while requiring careful maintenance to ensure reliability.