Firearms have been woven into the fabric of human history for centuries, shaping the way we hunt, protect ourselves, and even put food on the table. Whether it’s a lever-action rifle passed down through generations, a shotgun leaned against the cabin wall, a sidearm carried for personal defense, or a rifle used to defend our borders and the American way, every firearm has a purpose and a story. Understanding the different types, how they function, and the roles they play—whether in the field, at the range, or in military or law enforcement—can help you make smart, responsible choices. In this guide, we’ll break down the main categories of firearms, their key features, and where they’re most commonly used.

Handguns

Handguns are firearms designed to be operated with one or two hands. They are commonly used for self-defense and sport shooting.  In some cases, some models can also be used for hunting. The two primary types of handguns are:

Revolvers

Revolvers feature a rotating cylinder that generally holds between 5 and 9 rounds depending on the caliber. They are known for their reliability and ease of use making them popular for anything from personal defense to plinking on the range.

Semi-Automatic Pistols

Semi-automatic pistols harness some of the energy from the gun being fired to push the slide back.  As the slide moves rearward under recoil, two things happen. The striker or hammer is cocked making it ready to strike the next cartridge and the extractor grabs the spent cartridge casing and ejects it out of the ejection port on the slide.  As the slide starts its return trip forward from the recoil spring tension, the slide will grab the next cartridge out of the magazine and push it up the feed ramp of the barrel and into the chamber where it locks into battery, ready to send the next bullet down range when the trigger is pulled again. They typically have higher ammunition capacities compared to revolvers and are widely used by civilians, law enforcement, and military personnel.

Rifles

Rifles, by definition, have a 16” barrel, or longer, and are designed for accuracy and long-range shooting. They are commonly used for hunting, competitive shooting, and military operations.  There is also a class of rifle called an SBR or short barreled rifle. These are rifles with a barrel length of less than 16” and/or an overall length of 27” or less.  Short barreled rifles give one the ability to fire a rifle caliber bullet in a smaller configuration.  Distance and long range accuracy are reduced but mobility in confined spaces is greatly increased without the sacrifice of power.  We’ll cover these more in depth in a future blog but for now, we’ll stay on topic and cover the basics.

Bolt-Action Rifles

Bolt-action rifles require the shooter to manually cycle a bolt to chamber and eject each round. They are known for their precision due to having fewer moving parts and are favored by hunters and marksmen.

Semi-Automatic Rifles

Semi-automatic rifles harness the energy from spent gases created when a cartridge is fired to cycle the bolt and automatically eject and load the next cartridge.  In the past, they were primarily used for sport shooting and playing different roles within military and law enforcement operations. However, with newer cartridges available, you are now seeing them being used more during hunting season as well.

Lever-Action Rifles

Lever-action rifles, similar to a bolt action rifle, use a lever mechanism which is integrated into the trigger guard that the shooter has to manipulate to eject and chamber rounds.  This cycling action also cocks the trigger so the next cartridge can be fired. They are often associated with classic Western-style firearms and are still commonly used for hunting.

Shotguns

Shotguns are firearms designed to fire several different types of projectiles like shot, slugs, or non-lethal “bean bags”. Shot shells contain multiple lead or steel projectiles in various sizes and weights also known as shot.  These are most commonly used for hunting birds, sporting clays, and home protection.  Other shells fire a single projectile called a slug.  These are most commonly used for hunting larger animals like deer or in some cases breaching doors with frangible slugs. There are also non-lethal shells that can fire rubber projectiles or small bean bags.  These can be used for crowd control or subduing a person without killing them.  Shotguns are very diverse and can fill a multitude of roles. The primary types of shotguns include:

Pump-Action Shotguns

Pump-action shotguns require the shooter to manually slide the fore-end back and forth to eject and chamber a new shell and are known for their reliability.  They are commonly used for hunting, home defense, and sport shooting.

Semi-Automatic Shotguns

Semi-automatic shotguns come in two styles: gas driven and inertia driven. The gas system in a semi-automatic shotgun is similar to a semi-automatic rifle.  They use the expanding gasses released by a fired shell to cycle the action which ejects the spent shell and chambers a new one whereas an inertia driven system makes no use of the expanding gasses. Rather, they have a two-piece rotary bolt system that remains in place-of it’s own inertia-and locks tighter when the gun is fired and recoils backwards.  A spring inside the bolt compresses, then pushes the bolt backwards after the shot.  The empty shell ejects on the backstroke, and as the return spring pushes the bolt forward a new shell is loaded into the chamber.  In either system, this happens nearly instantaneously. One thing to note regarding these 2 systems is that the shooter generally has less felt recoil with a gas driven system vs the inertia driven system.  There are more differences in these two systems that we can go more in depth on in a future blog.

Break-Action Shotguns

Break-action shotguns generally have a lever that the shooter manipulates to open or break the barrels away from the receiver to expose the chamber(s). Break-action shotguns typically hold one or two shells. Simple and reliable, they are widely used for skeet, and trap shooting, sporting clays, and hunting.

Firearm Safety and Considerations

Understanding the different types of firearms can help individuals make informed choices about their use. Whether for sport, self-defense, or professional applications, proper training and adherence to safety guidelines are essential for responsible firearm ownership.

Regardless of the type of firearm, safety should always be the top priority. Key safety practices include:

• Always treating a firearm as if it is loaded.
• Keeping your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.
• Never pointing a firearm at anything you do not intend to shoot.
• Knowing your target and what lies beyond it.
• Always keep your firearms secured in a safe and/or with a trigger lock when not in use

Firearm laws also vary from state to state, so it is critical as a responsible gun owner to know and understand local regulations regarding ownership, carry permits, if required, and restrictions. 

If you’d like a more in depth read on responsible firearm ownership and safety practices, you can check out our other article here Responsible Firearm Ownership & Safety Practices.