What does ‘double action’ refer to in relation to revolvers?

‘Double action’ refers to a mechanism in revolvers that allows the gun to be fired by simply pulling the trigger without the need for manual cocking of the hammer. In a double action revolver, when the trigger is pulled, it performs two actions simultaneously: it cocks the hammer and releases it to fire the round. This makes it quicker and easier to fire multiple shots since the shooter can maintain focus on the target, pulling the trigger with each shot without needing to manually prepare the gun each time.

This feature is particularly beneficial in situations where speed is essential, such as self-defense scenarios. The other options are not representative of what 'double action' means; for instance, requiring manual cocking pertains to a 'single action' mechanism, while the ability to fire multiple rounds without reloading does not accurately describe the action type, as it relates to the capacity of the firearm rather than how the trigger operates. Firing only when the safety is off is also an aspect of safety features rather than the action mechanism itself.