Which statement correctly describes typical ammunition capacity differences between revolvers and semiautomatic pistols?

• A. Revolvers typically hold 3-4 rounds; semiautomatics hold 6-7
• B. Revolvers typically hold 9-10 rounds; semiautomatics hold 4-5
• C. Revolvers hold more rounds than semiautomatics
• D. Revolvers usually hold 5-6 rounds; semiautomatics generally hold 7 or more

Answer: (D)

Capacity differences come from how each firearm feeds rounds. A revolver uses a rotating cylinder with a fixed number of chambers, so the round count is limited by how many chambers the cylinder has. Most common service-size revolvers hold five or six rounds, with smaller, lighter models often holding five. A semiautomatic pistol, on the other hand, feeds rounds from a detachable magazine, which can be made much larger without greatly increasing the gun’s overall size. Because of that, seven or more rounds are typical, with many popular models in 9mm, .40, or .45 offering magazines in the 10–15+ range. So the general rule is that revolvers usually hold about 5–6 rounds, while semiautomatics generally hold seven or more. There are exceptions, but this describes the usual expectation.