What is a long gun?

A long gun is a type of firearm that has a long barrel, typically over 16 inches in length. Long guns are designed to be held with both hands, with the trigger hand at the grip and the support hand at the forend. They can be either rifles or shotguns.

Rifles are long guns that have rifled barrels, which means that the inside of the barrel has grooves that cause the bullet to spin as it is fired, increasing accuracy. Rifles are typically used for hunting, target shooting, and self-defense.

Shotguns are long guns that have smooth barrels and are designed to shoot multiple projectiles, such as pellets or slugs, with each shot. Shotguns are commonly used for hunting birds, small game, and larger animals, as well as for sport shooting and home defense.

Long guns can be semi-automatic, meaning they automatically load a new round into the chamber after each shot, or they can be manually operated, requiring the shooter to cycle the action to load a new round. Long guns can have different types of actions, including bolt action, lever action, pump action, and break action.

Long guns are regulated by federal and state laws in most countries, and require a background check and proper licensing to purchase and own. It is important to follow all safety guidelines and laws when handling and storing long guns to prevent accidents and misuse.