Single Action Gate-Loaded Revolvers

Each chamber is loaded one at a time by opening a gate behind the cylinder. Put the revolver in half-cock to open the gate, insert a cartidge into the exposed cylinder, and rotate the cylinder to the next empty chamber. Once loaded, pull the hammer into full cock between each trigger pull. Unload by opening the loading gate and pressing the ejector rod to remove the cartridges from each barrel.

• Imperial 1879
• Nagant
• Single Action Army

Single Action Top-Break Revolvers

Top break revolvers are faster to reload than gate-loaded revolvers as you can access and empty every single chamber at the same time. They still feature a single action trigger though.

• S&W No.3 Russian

Double Action Gate-Loaded Revolvers

Work exactly like single action gate-loaded revolvers, except the trigger is double action, so it’s not required to pull the hammer before each trigger pull.

• Bodeo 1889
• Gasser 1870
• MAS Mle 1873
• Nagant Officer's Model
• Rast & Gasser 1898
• Webley RIC

Double Action Top-Break Revolvers

Top break revolvers are faster to reload than gate-loaded revolvers as you can access and empty every single chamber at the same time. These also feature a double action trigger.

• Tettoni Modello 1916
• Type 92 Revolver
• Webley MkVI

Double Action Swing-Out Revolvers

Like top-break revolvers, these revolvers can be loaded more quickly. Unlike top breaks, they do not automatically eject rounds, you have to push the ejector rod to force the casings out. These also feature a double action trigger.

• Colt 1892
• Colt New Service
• MAS Mle 1892
• SW1917
• SW Hand Ejector Mk2
• SW Model 10

Autorevolver

Very unique for revolvers, an Autorevolver is a single-action revolver that uses recoil to re-cock the hammer after every shot. The hammer still needs to be manually cocked on the first shot.

• Webley Fosbury