Difference Between Pistol and Rifle

Pistol vs Rifle

Pistols and rifles are both firearms. They belong to two different categories of firearms. Pistols belong to the handgun category, and rifles belong to the long gun category. As the name suggests, handguns are guns which are handheld and smaller in size. They are easier to carry because of their size and are used with just one or sometimes both hands. However, long guns are longer guns and need the support of the shoulder to fire properly. Their size is such that they cannot be easily carried around and are conspicuous while being carried. People usually carry long guns slung over their shoulders. They are both, in general, referred to as guns.

Pistols
Pistols are handguns which were developed in 1885 by Stevens Maxim. They are of two different types, single-shot pistols and semi-automatic pistols. They have a more advanced technology than rifles. With a pistol, a slight pressure is used to fire the bullet. It has a safety mechanism which helps in avoiding any accidental firing of the weapon. Once the gun is fired, it experiences a recoil. This recoil basically brings the next bullet ready to be shot into the chamber. Shooting a pistol is not very difficult, but good aim needs practice as the recoil usually changes the direction of the bullet.

Pistols are more popular than rifles because of their size, weight, and the fact that they can be easily concealed on the body. They are used mostly for self-defense and are less powerful than rifles. The pistols can be used for a range of 45-50 meters and use less powerful bullets. For firing the pistol, either one hand or sometimes both hands are used.

Rifles
Rifles are long guns. They have a long barrel and are available in different types like; automatic rifles, semi-automatic rifles, Spencer rifles, musket, anti-tank rifles, etc. Rifles have been developed with many advanced technologies and are very powerful weapons used for hunting and self-defense. The name “rifle” has been given to it due to the rifling present inside the barrel. Because of this rifling, the bullets spin at a very high speed and eject from the barrel with great precision and accuracy.

Rifles are bigger than pistols, cannot be easily concealed, heavier and more powerful. They can shoot up to 300 feet per second. Due to the high velocity of the bullet shot from the rifle it is far more damaging than the pistol.

Summary:

1.Pistols are categorized under handguns; rifles are categorized under long guns.
2.Pistols can be shot with just one hand; rifles need both hands and the support of the shoulder to be fired accurately.
3.Pistols can be visually differentiated from rifles by the size of the barrel. Pistols have short barrels, and rifles have very long barrels.
4.Pistols are smaller in size and lighter in weight; rifles are larger in size and heavier.
5.Pistols can be easily concealed and used mainly for self-defense; rifles are used for hunting, warfare, self-defense, etc.
6.The range of pistols is less as compared to rifles.
7.The velocity of the bullet ejected from a rifle is almost double the velocity of a bullet from a pistol.

Sharing is caring!