An automatic weapon fires continually until the trigger is released. Both are handguns. A revolver contains a revolving cylinder in which bullets are loaded. Revolvers usually hold six shots. The ATF defines a pistol as any handgun that does not contain its ammunition in a revolving cylinder.
Most pistols have a removable magazine into which bullets are loaded.
The magazine is then inserted into the hollow handgrip of the gun. A dropfire is an accidental discharge of a firearm caused by a gun hitting the ground or other surface. For a pistol, the shock from impact causes the gun's spring loaded striker mechanism to jump loose from its safety and snap forward, striking a bullet in the gun's chamber and firing the round. A Federal Firearms License is required to allow a person or company to sell or manufacture firearms. There are 11 categories of FFLs, including dealer, importer, manufacturer, and collector.