How do you categorize handguns?

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NVShooter

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In another post I read the folloing:

TheJuggernaut said:
... There are really 4 main types of handguns on the market: S&W cartridge revolver (all modern revolvers), 1911, Browning Hi-Power (CZ, Tanfoglio, Baby Eagle) and Glock (all polymers, esp striker fired - I guess there might have been other plastic guns first but it wasn't until the Glock became a hit that everyone had to have a version).
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Being new to semi-auto hand guns, it got me to wondering...how do folks categorize hand guns and on what basis do they categorize? Is it action and or other aspects of the gun's design? I am pretty clear on revolvers being of a certain action/design. I also get that some folks categorize metal guns from polymer. In semi-auto, I get that a 1911 has a particular design that is different from a Glock (for example), but other than the material from which they are manufactured and how they look, I really don't know if there is something else that is significant to differentiate them. Are there other guns you would group with a Glock? What about the Beretta 92? What group does it go in and why? What makes the Browning Hi-power (mentioned above) a different animal?

Are there other categories?
Why? What makes a category in your mind?

I would like to hear peoples opinions on this and also provide some examples of guns that would fall into your categories.

....and if we can keep from bashing different guns or calibres or other folks opinions, that would be great too... although maybe I am asking too much on that score :)
 
NVShooter said:
Do you have an example of this?

I think 1911 is a single action only, and the Beretta for example is DA/SA, but what is DA only?
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Striker fired, ex. S&W M&P.

Technically Glock has its own proprietary "safe action" system that isn't really DOA.
 
Correct... 1911 is single action and the Beretta 92F and 92FS (probably the most common one) is DA/SA.

The Beretta 92D and 92DS are DAO. SIG P226 or 229 is DA/SA but available in DAK which is SIG's version of DAO. Similarly, HK pistols such as the USP and P30 are available with DAO triggers.
 
NVShooter said:
Do you have an example of this?

I think 1911 is a single action only, and the Beretta for example is DA/SA, but what is DA only?
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SIG P226 DAK, and other DAO pistols are used by some LEO

Glock, Springfield XD, have what Glock has named the "Safe Action"
 
Well, the way I think of it is usually to divide them by frame construction, metal or ploymer, then by firing mechanism, hammer or striker, then by action, revolver or semiauto, then by style, such as 92 or 1911 or whatever else.

That way you don't fall into a rut of calling all handguns Glocks, like some people do, and it does not discount things like the S&W Bodyguard polymer frame revolver. Which also manages to be a revolver that jams.
 
themikea said:
Striker fired, ex. S&W M&P.

Technically Glock has its own proprietary "safe action" system that isn't really DOA.
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Actually, the M&P is only "DAO" in name - the amount that the trigger cocks the striker by is the depth of the arc of the curve from the pivot pin to the back of the sear, minus the undercut of the striker arm - ie maybe 2 ten thousandths or so (less if you have an Apex sear - per Randy Lee). The most common DAO gun in Canada is the Smith 5946 - there are more than 30,000 of these guns here, owned by the RCMP
 
NVShooter said:
I think 1911 is a single action only, and the Beretta for example is DA/SA, but what is DA only?
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Correct on the first two, an example of double action only is an auto loader whose hammer returns to the "uncocked" position when the slide cycles after a round is fired. All rounds are fired with the longer pull of the trigger that both cocks and releases the hammer. A double action revolver with a bobbed hammer would also be considered double action only.
 
Shanks4300 said:
Keep it simple; single action, double action, double action only and striker fired.
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Got to go with this one...

The first three could be Revolver or Automatics, striker pretty much Automatics. I'm sure you can find exceptions to the rule, there is an Automatic Revolver after all. KISS, keep it simple stupid is something I heard too often in my first "career"...
 
There are really only two categories: Guns I Own, and Guns I Want To Own. Unfortunately, the latter category is much larger.
 
There are lots of parameters that can be used to create categories of handguns. I mostly use action type and locking system in self-loaders. For instance, a gun firing a low pressure, low velocity cartridge like the 7.65mm used in lots of wartime German handguns, doesn't have a locking system. It relies on the low energy of the cartridge, and so those guns are termed "unlocked". They may be single action or double action, or whatever mechanical system is used to fire the cartridge. Handguns with high power, like pretty much all the 9mm cartridges of one type or another, and more powerful cartridges, usually have a locking system, but not all. The mechanical methods used to fire the bullet are also quite varied. If you want to sort this out, you'd best do some research on-line or buy some books. The pistol and revolver
book by Hogg and Weeks is a fine reference for all sorts of handguns. When you make a decision to acquire a handgun, a lot of those things can influence you. In general I happen to prefer handguns with external hammers and manual safeties, but my favorite handgun is the 9mm Para Heckler and Koch P7, which has no hammer and no safety lever in th usual sense of the term. It's really a complicated and highly detailed subject. But I've always found it very interesting, and maybe you would, too. I think people don't usually categorize handguns beyond a pretty general gross description, but it's important for the person who's getting the gun to understand how it works.
 
as a base you have revolvers, autoloaders, and black powder pistols.

Revolvers break down into DA and SA.

Autoloaders are categorized by action type, most common being short-recoil ( recoil operated, barrel locks to slide, releases during rearward travel) then straight-blowback (recoil operated, no locking mechanism, only suitable for low-pressure calibres) and a smattering of gas-operated (functions like most rifles, example being the desert eagle) and long-recoil (Fairfax-Mars pistol, barrel and slide unlock at rearward-most point of travel). there's even some blow-forward pistols, but they're weird.

You can further identify autoloaders by frame material, firing mechanism (striker or hammer fired), trigger type (SA, DA/SA, DAO), magazine type (double stack vs. single stack) and the particulars of the barrel locking design (most common being the browning tilt-lock).

as for black powder pistols, you'd think it was simple but it aint. Most are muzzle loaders, though there are a couple repeater designs. Then you've got wheel-lock, match-lock, flintlock, and percussion cap pistols, all of which refer to the method of ignition.
 
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