An automatic firearm is a
firearm that automatically extracts and ejects the fired
cartridge case, and loads a new case, usually through the energy of the fired round. The term can be used to refer to
semi-automatic firearms, which fire one shot per pull of the trigger, or fully automatic firearms, which will continue to load and fire
ammunition as long as the trigger (or other activating device) is pressed or until the ammunition is exhausted. "Automatic
pistol" or "automatic
shotgun" generally refers to a semi-automatic design, while "automatic rifle" more often means a fully automatic or
selective fire design.
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