Ask Ian: Single Feed vs Double Feed Pistols

https://utreon.com/c/forgottenweapons/   / forgottenweapons   http://www.floatplane.com/channel/For... Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! http://shop.forgottenweapons.com Asked by Tyler on Patreon: "Why are there so few double stack/double feed handguns? I can only think of a couple off the top of my head. It makes the worst part of handgun shooting (loading the magazines) a complete non-issue." There are a series of interacting considerations when choosing between single feed and double feed. Single Feed: Magazines are less reliable; constricting from two columns to one adds friction (this is magnified as capacity increases) Firearms are easier to design; the cartridge is always presented in the same place Pistol slides may be slightly narrower Double Feed: Magazines are more reliable (also less susceptible to a bit of dirt fouling them) Guns are harder to design; must accommodate two different feed positions Guns must be a bit wider (immaterial in rifles) These elements taken together lead to predominantly single feed magazines in pistols and double feed magazines in rifles, although exceptions exist to both.