Top-Break Pistol?

[docflash]

Since any single shot exempt pistol now has to be either bolt action or top-break, is there even a solid definition of top-break?

I'm sure the wheels have been turning trying to solve the problem of creating a pistol from an 80% frame. It seems clear what bolt action means, but top-break less so.

So would something like this Beretta 950 BS-22 Short pistol be considered top-break? Of course it's already a semi-automatic and would never qualify for SSE 2.0, but what about the action type?

[anothergunnut]

Most top break guns that I can think of have a hinged frame; guns like the Thompson Contender or H&R 999 22 cal revolver.

[JohnCCW]

The tip-up barrel of the pocket Beretta's is not required to load/reload the weapon.
I would think that would be in the definition of a top-break weapon, whether it is a single shot, derringer, or revolving cylinder action.
If you modified it with a permanent magazine/blocked to zero rounds, so you had to lift the barrel each time to reload after each shot, then I think it would be considered a top-break pistol, even if the slide was still functioning to eject the empty shell.

[docflash]

The tip-up barrel of the pocket Beretta's is not required to load/reload the weapon.
I would think that would be in the definition of a top-break weapon, whether it is a single shot, derringer, or revolving cylinder action.
If you modified it with a permanent magazine/blocked to zero rounds, so you had to lift the barrel each time to reload after each shot, then I think it would be considered a top-break pistol, even if the slide was still functioning to eject the empty shell.

This makes sense that the break action would be required to load the weapon as in a break action shot gun.

A hinge would seem to be required too to access the chamber to load the weapon. Without this feature putting a zero mag in a semi-automatic pistol and just locking the slide back to load would be a top-break action.