Pistol 101 - The Anatomy of a Pistol

An overview of the most common types of pistols, their main components and choosing which one is best for you.

In this post, I’ll be going over the design and inner workings if the two most common pistol types: Striker fired pistols and hammer – fired pistols.

Pistols can be categorized based on their firing mechanisms into two main types: striker-fired and hammer-fired. Both designs serve the same purpose—to fire a bullet—but they do so using different mechanisms. Understanding the basic components and operation of each can provide insight into their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.

Striker-Fired Pistols

Basic Components:

• Striker Mechanism: A striker-fired pistol uses a spring-loaded firing pin, known as a striker, to hit the primer of the cartridge. The striker is contained within the slide and is directly acted upon by the trigger pull.