Cylinder

A cylinder is the round rotating assembly in a revolver that has multiple chambers, each holding a single cartridge. The cylinder rotates to bring unfired cartridges in line with the barrel to be fired. In modern revolvers, the cylinder will open out to the left side to be emptied of empty cases, followed by reloading. In older revolvers, the cylinder might not open or might utilize a loading gate. Instead, the cylinder might be removed completely for reloading, or the entire revolver might break open on a hinge at the lower front of the frame.