Which type of firearm undergoes a manual cycle of operation after each shot?

A revolver is a type of firearm that requires a manual cycle of operation after each shot because it relies on the shooter to either rotate the cylinder manually or, in some designs, pull back the hammer to prepare the next round for firing. After each shot, the next cartridge must be brought into alignment with the barrel before it can be fired again. This is different from other types of firearms where the cycling of the action, like chambering a new round, is done automatically by the mechanism of the firearm itself.

In contrast, single-action firearms typically require the shooter to cock the hammer before firing, but they can often fire multiple rounds without additional manual operations if they are designed as revolvers or have magazines. Semi-automatic firearms automatically cycle after each shot, ejecting the spent cartridge and chambering a new round without manual intervention after the initial shot. Lever-action firearms use a lever mechanism to chamber a new round after firing, which also does not require manual operation in the same way a revolver does.