Which pistol is loaded with only one cartridge at a time?

• A. Derringers
• B. Single shot pistols
• C. Semi-automatic pistols
• D. Revolving pistols

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how ammunition is fed and held in the pistol. A pistol that is loaded with only one cartridge at a time is designed to chamber a single round, shoot it, and then require manual reloading for the next shot. That one-shot-per-load behavior is the defining feature of single-shot pistols.

In contrast, semi-automatic pistols feed ammunition from a magazine and automatically chamber the next round after each shot, so they are not limited to one cartridge at a time. Revolving pistols use a rotating cylinder that holds several cartridges, allowing multiple shots before reloading. Derringers come in various configurations, and many have two or more chambers, so they are not necessarily limited to a single cartridge per load either.