If you’re thinking of purchasing a gun, you should be aware of the different types and how they work in order to get the best for your personal needs. The type of gun that you’ll want will depend greatly on what you plan to use it for. Here are some different gun styles along with information on how they function so that you can determine whether or not they will work best for you.
Handgun
One of the best aspects of owning a handgun is that you can carry it out of sight. You’ll need to obtain a concealed carry permit from a licensing office in your area if you plan to store the gun in a bag concealed holster when taking it out in public with you. Handguns are especially ideal for self-defense in or outside the home. Some of the most common types of handguns include single-shot pistols, multi-barreled pistols, and revolvers. If you’re planning to use a gun for self-defense, you’ll also want to consider the size of your hand and fingers when looking at various gun sizes and styles, as ease of use will be extremely important for this purpose. These are great options for those looking to have a small but classic gun for memorabilia purposes, heralding back to the old west or the golden age of pirates.
Shotgun
Shotguns are larger guns have been around for hundreds of years and were largely used as weapons during the American Revolution and Civil War. Most shotguns are made to fire from the shoulder and can shoot long ranges. Many of these guns are equipped with operating mechanisms such as break-action, pump-action, and lever-action. Getting a shotgun may be a great choice for you if you engage in hunting or sports shooting often. These guns are also useful for in-home self-defense, though aren’t as well-equipped for taking out in public. As these guns are often hunting guns, they’ll get a lot more use than a handgun, so taking the time to look into classic wood finishes and accents can be a great investment into a well-used gun.
Rifle
Similar to a shotgun, a rifle is fired from the shoulder and can hit targets that are far away with precision. Rifles differ from shotguns in that they fire single steel or lead pallets with each shot as opposed to shotguns, which fire several small pallets at a time. Some rifles also fire with greater power, which can be especially advantageous while hunting or target shooting. You can find plenty of rifle models, such as the Freedom Ordnance FX-9 Carbine FX9, that feature different operating controls to make shooting even more precise. Guns like this and the AR-15 have become increasingly popular for hobby shooters today and are generally much easier to use than the more classic styles.
Semi-Automatic vs Manual
You’ll also need to decide if you want a semi-automatic gun that fires more shots quicker or a manual gun that fires single shots at a slower pace. Semi-automatic guns use ammunition cartridges while many manual guns require single bullets to be loaded into chambers. There are semi-automatic and manual handguns, shotguns and rifles on the market that are safe to operate when used by people who’ve undergone the proper gun safety training. Manual guns are best for collectors and gun enthusiasts who are going for a more “authentic” shooting and handling experience, whereas semi-automatic tend to work better for those who are buying strictly for ease of use in cases of precision shooting or self-defense.
Buying the right gun that best fits your lifestyle can make your purchase worth the investment. While this guide is a great overview of the general options available, it’s important to learn all the details of any gun you’re considering so that you know whether or not it will truly suit the needs of your intended use. Start broad like we’ve done here to examine the pros and cons of various types, then narrow down into individual models to properly evaluate which gun will be the best for you.