How does double action differ from single action firearms?

The distinction between double action and single action firearms primarily revolves around the mechanism of firing the weapon. In double action firearms, pulling the trigger performs two actions: it cocks the hammer and releases it to strike the firing pin, resulting in the discharge of the weapon. This means that the shooter does not need to manually cock the hammer before firing; a single pull of the trigger does it all.

This is particularly important for rapid firing or in situations where every moment counts, as the shooter can focus solely on aiming and pulling the trigger without any additional manual steps. In contrast, single action firearms require the hammer to be cocked manually (usually by the shooter) before they can be fired, meaning that the trigger pull alone will not result in a discharge until the hammer is prepared.

The other options do not accurately reflect the fundamental differences inherent in these types of firearms. For instance, stating that a firearm "cannot be cocked manually" misrepresents the functionality of certain double action models, where cocking is still possible but not necessary for firing. Similarly, the claim that a double action firearm "fires only when the slide is cycled" pertains more to semi-automatic designs and does not specifically delineate between double and single action functionality. Lastly