What is a common characteristic of a semi-automatic pistol?

A common characteristic of a semi-automatic pistol is that it operates with automatic reloading after each shot, which directly corresponds to the functioning of this type of firearm. When the trigger is pulled, the gun fires a round, and the energy from that shot is used to eject the spent casing, chamber a new round from the magazine, and reset the firing mechanism—all without requiring any additional manual action from the shooter.

This mechanism allows for a rapid succession of shots as long as the trigger is pressed. However, it’s important to clarify that a semi-automatic pistol does not fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull, which distinguishes it from fully automatic firearms. Therefore, the semi-automatic design effectively combines the need for a trigger pull for each shot while automating the reloading process, making it highly efficient for various shooting scenarios.