Are you curious about guns? Well, you’re reading this article so you must be.

And why not? Guns are indeed fascinating tools. They are mysterious and elicit a sense of curiosity in us.

Of course, guns have also been a huge part of American culture. Our right to bear arms is enshrined in our 2nd Amendment.

If you are interested in buying a gun, plus some ammo from a 2A company, we encourage you to keep reading to educate yourself about guns. Whether for your own defense or as a hobby, it’s imperative to understand guns before purchasing one.

We’ve put this guide together so you can learn about the different types of guns and decide which is best for you.

What Types of Guns Are Available?

Before you pick up a gun, we do request that you learn the rules of gun safety. Once you have learned these rules, you may also want to practice at a shooting range. If you are going to be a gun owner, regular practice is necessary.

First, let’s try to understand what a gun is:

How Guns Work

“Arms” is quite a vague term. Even “guns” can be a vague term. Guns are part of a larger group known as firearms. Firearms are weapons that discharge projectiles via an explosive. This is the definition agreed upon by The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Guns can include in different sizes. A small pistol that you can fit in your holster is a gun. A sniper used by the military is also a gun. All guns have a cartridge which is where bullets are stored. A cartridge is placed in a category based on its caliber.

The caliber refers to the size of the ammunition. This is measured in inches or millimeters. Different calibers are needed for different purposes. Some calibers are more suited for self-defense while others are best for hunting at long range.

Once you understand what you need a gun for, you can then decide which gun to purchase.

First, let’s look at smaller guns.

1. Pistols

If you need a basic gun for self-defense or for target practice, then you want to invest in a pistol. Bullets are stored in a cartridge with most modern pistols having a capacity of 17 bullets per cartridge. The most popular type of pistol today is the multi-shot pistol.

The multi-shot pistol is a type of semi-automatic weapon. This means that it can continuously fire without having to reload. Although, you will always have to release the trigger and press it again to fire.

Multi-shot pistols have the cartridge stored in the grip. Once the cartridge is exhausted, you remove it from the grip and can easily replace it with another cartridge.

Some of the pistols you should consider buying are the M17 Modular Handgun, Sig P320, and the Glock 17.

2. Revolvers

If you’ve ever fantasized about being a cowboy or cowgirl then you want to get your hands on a revolver. Most modern revolvers can carry up to 7 bullets. These are stored in a revolving cylinder. Revolvers are also considered to be semi-automatic weapons.

Like pistols, these are portable and easy to carry. If you live in a jurisdiction that allows for open carry or for ‘conceal and carry, you can take these with you in a holster. These can also be kept at home and are perfect for self-defense if an intruder trespasses onto your property.

The Smith and Wesson Model 686 is one of the most popular revolvers available. Revolvers are not as effective as pistols. So if you purchase one, you may want to invest in a pistol as a complement to a pistol. Revolvers are great for practicing at a shooting range.

Now that we have looked at handguns, let’s look at larger guns.

3. Shotguns

If you are a more seasoned gun owner or you have improved your shooting skills, you may want to move up to a shotgun.

Shotguns have long barrels by which the bullets travel through. For shotguns, the bullets are called ‘shots’ and are usually made of steel. The intensity of a shotgun means that shots can travel at an incredibly high speed through the barrels.

Some shotguns can only fire one shot at a time. Others are semi-automatic and can shoot several shots in continuous motion. These are best for hunting at a longer distance.

The Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 are two popular types of shotguns. Two of the most popular types of shotguns are Pump Action and Break Action.

Pump Action can hold multiple rounds of shots. After a shot is fired you have to push back the ‘pump’ in order to reload the barrel. Break Action shotguns have a hinge at the back where you can load your shots. These are one of the oldest types of shotguns available.

After shotguns, the most popular type of larger gun is rifles. Let’s have a look at the different types of rifles.

4. Bolt Action Rifles

This is one of the oldest types of rifles available. It is a simple rifle to use and is great for beginners or for hobbyists. These are perfect for a quiet weekend in the countryside for target practice or hunting.

This type of rifle is not for rapid firing. After you fire a shot, you have to push the bolt forward. When you do this, the gun reloads, and then you can fire your next shot. This process has to be repeated every time before you fire.

These rifles can only hold a limited number of bullets before needing to be reloaded. These are obviously not the best for self-defense. But that is beside the point – if you want to enjoy some time perfecting your aim and enjoying time in nature, then a Bolt Action Rifle is your best bet!

5. Lever Action Rifles

These are very similar to Bolt Action Rifles – however, they are able to fire bullets much faster. Like revolvers, these have been a staple of Westerns and of cowboy culture.

You will have to reload the bullets manually by pulling the lever. However, as the bullet fires rapidly, you can quickly reload another bullet. The Winchester 94 and the Marlin 336 are among the popular Lever Action Rifles.

6. Semi-Automatic Rifle

Finally, the next type of rifle is the Semi-Automatic Rifle. There are many types of rifles that fit the description of being ‘semi-automatic.’

Semi-Automatic rifles can be reloaded automatically, unlike the aforementioned types of rifles. They are also much faster for firing. The trigger cannot remain depressed but the shooter can still fire in rapid succession.

These rifles can also hold a large number of rounds – with 30 bullets being a standard. The cartridge can also be reloaded rapidly and is usually within the grip. As these are very powerful rifles they are often used by the military and are considered controversial for civilian use. The AR-15 and the Browning BAR are two of the most common semi-automatic rifle.

The AR-15 is the preferred semi-automatic rifle for many. If you invest in this gun, you want to also look at the different AR 15 complete upper attachments and advice from the best gun stores in Delaware.

7. AK-47 and Other Assault Rifles

This is the one you’ve been waiting for! AK-47’s are also known as Kalashnikov’s. Made in the Soviet Union, this is a popular type of assault rifle.

These are gas-operated and have a detachable magazine as well as an intermediate cartridge. This is one of the most popular types of rifles used in militaries worldwide. The AK-47 is great for firing long-range and in rapid succession. This is great for hunting. If you ever are in a dangerous situation where you need to ward off any intruders, this is also a great gun.

Other assault rifles include the SIG 44 and the M16. The SIG 44 was developed in Germany. It has the power of a machine gun while maintaining the firing accuracy of a rifle. They can hold up to 30 bullets at a time. The cartridges are lighter and were designed to make them easier for soldiers to carry.

The M16 is the most popular and longest-used rifle in the United States military. It is renowned for its intensity and firing accuracy. This is a great rifle for shooting at longer distances. This gun has been used in many wars across the globe.

There are many other types of assault rifles including the AK-74, the HK33, and the Heckler and Koch G36. These are not as popular as the aforementioned assault rifles but are still powerful weapons.

As assault rifles are particularly intense, we recommend that you get a professional to help you train with them – if you plan on purchasing one. Remember, these are military-grade weapons so average civilians must learn to use them.

Get Your Guns

Now that you know the types of guns available, you are ready to choose the best gun for your needs. As we mentioned in the introduction, make sure you learn the rules of gun safety and practice them often so you can be a responsible gun owner.

Odyssey News

Odyssey has been the lead content writer and content marketer. He has vast experience in the field of writing. His SEO strategies help businesses to gain maximum traffic and success.