Pistol vs. Gun — What's the Difference?

A category of handguns distinct from revolvers.

A general term for any handheld or mounted firearm.

A small firearm designed to be held and operated with one hand.

Used in various contexts including military, law enforcement, hunting, and sport shooting.

A weapon commonly used in law enforcement and personal defense.

Includes firearms with different mechanisms like semi-automatic and bolt-action.

A firearm with a chamber integral to the barrel.

Can refer to weapons ranging from small handguns to large artillery pieces.

A semi-automatic gun that fires bullets from a short barrel.

The term requires context to determine the specific type of firearm.

A pistol is a handgun, more specifically one with the chamber integral to its gun barrel, though in common usage the two terms are often used interchangeably. The English word was introduced in ca.

A gun is a ranged weapon designed to use a shooting tube (gun barrel) to launch typically solid projectiles, but can also project pressurized liquid (e.g. water guns/cannons, spray guns for painting or pressure washing, projected water disruptors, and technically also flamethrowers), gas (e.g.

A handgun, especially one that is not a revolver.

A portable firearm, such as a rifle or revolver.

(Slang) A rowdy or rambunctious person, especially a child.

A cannon with a long barrel and a relatively low angle of fire.

To shoot with a pistol.

A device resembling a firearm or cannon, as in its ability to project something, such as grease or paint, under pressure or at great speed.

A handgun

A discharge of a firearm or cannon as a signal or salute

The mechanical component of a fuse in a bomb or torpedo responsible for firing the detonator.

One who is armed with or skilled in the use of a gun.

A creative and unpredictable jokester, a constant source of entertainment and surprises.

The throttle of an engine, as of an automobile.

(Southern US) A small boy who is bright, alert and very active.

Guns(Slang) The biceps muscles of the arms.

(American football) An offensive formation in which the quarterback receives the snap at a distance behind the center, but closer than in a shotgun formation, with a running back lined up behind him.

To shoot (a person)

(transitive) To shoot (at) a target with a pistol.

To open the throttle of (an engine) so as to accelerate

The smallest firearm used, intended to be fired from one hand, - now of many patterns, and bearing a great variety of names. See Illust. of Revolver.

To hunt with a gun.

To shoot with a pistol.

A device for projecting a hard object very forcefully; a firearm or cannon.

A firearm that is held and fired with one hand

A very portable, short firearm, for hand use, which fires bullets or projectiles, such as a handgun, revolver, pistol, or Derringer.

A less portable, long firearm that fires bullets or projectiles; a rifle, either manual, automatic or semi-automatic; a flintlock, musket or shotgun.

(military) A cannon with relatively long barrel, operating with relatively low angle of fire, and having a high muzzle velocity.

(military) A cannon with a 6-inch/155mm minimum nominal bore diameter and tube length 30 calibers or more. See also: howitzer; mortar.

(figurative) A firearm or cannon used for saluting or signalling.^{21-gun salute}

A device operated by a trigger and acting in a manner similar to a firearm.

Any implement designed to fire a projectile from a tube.

A device or tool that projects a substance.

A device or tool that applies something rather than projecting it.

(surfing) A long surfboard designed for surfing big waves (not the same as a longboard, a gun has a pointed nose and is generally a little narrower).

(cellular automata) A pattern that "fires" out other patterns.

A person who carries or uses a rifle, shotgun or handgun.

(television) An electron gun.

The biceps.

Violent blasts of wind.

An expert.

Someone excellent, surpassingly wonderful, or cool.

A magsman or street thief.

(transitive) To cause to speed up.

(informal) To offer vigorous support to (a person or cause).

(informal) (gunning for something or gunning to do something) make a great effort.

To seek to attack someone; to take aim at someone; used with for.

To practice fowling or hunting small game; chiefly in participial form: to go gunning.

To masturbate while observing and visible to a corrections officer.

Nonstandard spelling of going to

A weapon which throws or propels a missile to a distance; any firearm or instrument for throwing projectiles, consisting of a tube or barrel closed at one end, in which the projectile is placed, with an explosive charge (such as guncotton or gunpowder) behind, which is ignited by various means. Pistols, rifles, carbines, muskets, and fowling pieces are smaller guns, for hand use, and are called small arms. Larger guns are called cannon, ordnance, fieldpieces, carronades, howitzers, etc. See these terms in the Vocabulary.

A piece of heavy ordnance; in a restricted sense, a cannon.

Violent blasts of wind.

To practice fowling or hunting small game; - chiefly in participial form; as, to go gunning.

A weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

Large but transportable armament

A person who shoots a gun (as regards their ability)

A professional killer who uses a gun

A hand-operated pump that resembles a gun; forces grease into parts of a machine

A pedal that controls the throttle valve;

The discharge of a gun as signal or as a salute in military ceremonies;

Shoot with a gun

"Gun" is a general term for any portable firearm, including but not limited to pistols, rifles, and shotguns.

Typically, "gun" refers to firearms, but colloquially, it can sometimes refer to devices resembling guns, such as stun guns or water guns.

A pistol is a compact firearm designed to be operated with one hand, featuring a chamber that is integral to its barrel.

Pistols are designed for one-handed use and are generally smaller and more compact than other types of guns, such as rifles and shotguns.

Factors include the type of gun, barrel length, caliber, and the ammunition used.

Automatic pistols can fire continuously as long as the trigger is pressed and ammunition is available, while semi-automatic pistols require one trigger pull per shot.

Revolvers are a type of handgun and can be considered pistols, but they differ from semi-automatic pistols in design and operation.

Legal classifications vary by jurisdiction but generally categorize guns based on their type, function, and capabilities.

Yes, due to their size and design, pistols usually have less firepower and a shorter range compared to long guns like rifles and shotguns.

Ownership laws vary widely by country and sometimes within countries, often requiring background checks, licenses, and safety training.

Recommended measures include secure storage, using safety locks, and obtaining proper training in handling and use.

Guns can be categorized into several types, including handguns (pistols and revolvers), rifles, shotguns, and machine guns, based on their design and intended use.

Common uses include personal defense, law enforcement, and competitive shooting.

They are used in various competitive sports, including target shooting and biathlon, emphasizing skill, precision, and safety.

Cultural perceptions vary widely, with guns and pistols viewed differently across societies in terms of their association with safety, freedom, or violence.