Tip-up barrel

A tip-up barrel is a type of semi-automatic pistol design in which the barrel can be swung up and away from the firing pin, pivoting around a hinge set into the frame near the muzzle.

Such a design allows a round to be inserted directly into the chamber, rather than from a magazine.

Shooters who lack the hand/arm strength needed to chamber the first round by racking the slide on a conventional pistol can take advantage of the tip-up barrel to begin firing.

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Tip-up barrel on a .32 ACP Beretta pistol
Tip-up barrel on a .25 ACP Beretta Jetfire pistol