What Are the Most Common Types of Guns?

Guns have been a keystone of American culture. If a person isn’t passionate about guns, they probably don’t understand gun options.

As such, knowing the types of guns and familiarity with them can only be a positive attribute. Below, we’ll break down some of the most common, easy-to-understand types of guns.

Read on!

Overview of Common Types of Guns

There are many gun styles, but among the most common types of guns are rifles, shotguns, handguns, and antique guns. Rifles are for long-range accuracy and for hunting, shooting sports, and even in the military. Shotguns are typically used for hunting and shooting at targets, with some models also having a home defense purpose.

Handguns are usually semiautomatic or revolvers and are for target shooting, personal protection, and hunting. Antique guns can be either long guns or handguns. They tend to be muskets, pistols, and other firearms dating back to the early 19th century or even earlier.

Sig Sauer has a good selection of guns. So, be sure to check them out! Just remember that regardless of the type of gun, proper licensing, training, and safety should be a requirement.

Different Types of Handguns

These are weapons that can be conveniently operated with just one hand. Typically feature a shorter barrel as well as a lower muzzle velocity than other types of guns. Handguns are further divided into categories:

Autoloaders

Autoloaders are one of the most common types of guns because of their ability to rapidly fire one round at a time with a single pull of the trigger.

This is beneficial for personal defense and for recreational shooting in competition. Autoloaders come in a variety of calibers and feed types, including pistol calibers, rifle calibers, and shotgun shells.

These are the most common type of gun because of their increased functionality and safety compared to other firearms.

Revolvers

A revolver is a type of gun that has a multi-chamber cylinder that holds several rounds of ammunition. When fired, the cylinder rotates to bring the next round into position. Revolvers are most commonly used for self-defense as they are reliable, light, and easy to handle.

With advances in technology, revolvers are now available in semi-automatic models that offer additional comfort and ease. They are often chosen as first-time guns for many novice users.

Single-shot Pistols

Single-shot pistols sometimes referred to as muzzle-loaders, are one of the most common types of guns. These types of guns are typically simple and inexpensive to produce, making them ideal for those who cannot afford or access other varieties of arms.

With single-shot pistols, the user is limited to one shot at a time, which requires the user to reload for each subsequent shot. These pistols are ideal for self-defense, informal target shooting, and hunting, as they are usually lightweight, easy to carry, and accurate.

Machine Pistols

Machine pistols are famous for their simple design, lightweight, and high efficiency. They typically have a barrel length of 4-7 inches, with magazine capacities ranging from 8-33 rounds.

Many machine pistols also have internal safeties and a magazine disconnect, ensuring that these weapons will only fire when a round is chambered.

In addition to conventional non-lethal features such as barrel ports, muzzle brakes, and adjustable sights, machine pistols can also be equipped with tactical accessories including flash suppressors, grip safeties, and high-capacity magazines.

Different Types of Rifles

Different types of rifles are some of the most common guns in existence. Rifles are generally long-barreled weapons that fire one shot at a time. One of the most popular types of rifles is the bolt-action rifle.

This type of rifle is best suited for precise, long-range shooting. Lever-action rifles are similar to bolt-action rifles, but they are able to fire more shots faster. Another type of rifle is the semi-automatic rifle, which fires multiple rounds as long as the trigger is held down.

These types of rifles are usually for hunting as well as in combat settings. Lastly, the most widely used rifle in the world is the assault rifle. These rifles are for rapid fire and can easily switch between semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes.

Different Types of Shotguns

Shotguns are single-barreled firearms that are mainly used for hunting and sporting purposes. All shotguns are designed for long-range accuracy and immense stopping power. Generally, they come in three categories:

Pump-Action Shotgun

Pump action shotguns are a popular type of gun. Primarily used for hunting and shooting sports, they are also widely used by law enforcement and home protection groups.

When the trigger is pulled, a shell is loaded into the chamber, which is then expelled after the shot is fired. The shotgun has a pump-action mechanism that cycles the chamber and loads the next shell in line.

Semi-automatic Shotgun

This type of shotgun is a self-loading firearm, meaning that the user does not have to manually load the chamber each time they want to shoot. It is an affordable option for people seeking an efficient, easy-to-use firearm.

These shotguns come in several different varieties, including pump-action, where the user pumps the slide to chamber the next round, and semi-automatic, where the shotgun automatically chambers the next round after the user pulls the trigger.

Learn More About the Types of Guns Today

To sum up, the most common types of guns are handguns, shotguns, and rifles. They are all used for a variety of purposes, from self-defense to hunting and competition shooting.

Learning the differences between all of these types of firearms is important for any gun owner. If you are interested in owning a gun, make sure to research each type and contact an experienced gun retailer for more resources and information.

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