A gun is any of several types of object that propels another object or projectile. The projectile is generally fired through a hollow tube known as the gun's barrel. The barrel's diameter, or caliber, determines the size of projectile used, which is usually designated in fractions of an inch or in millimeters. Differing from the musket, most modern guns are rifled, with a series of grooves spiraling along the barrel; exceptions include smoothbores on tanks, AFVs and some artillery.

USS Iowa (BB-61) fires a full broadside during a target exercise near Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, 1 July 1984.

Terminology

The term "gun" is often used synonymously with "firearm," but this is common only for civilian usage. In military usage, the term "gun" refers to heavy and light artillery that fires projectiles at high velocity, such as naval guns (which are never referred to as cannons) or tank guns. By military terms, mortars and all hand-held firearms are excluded from the definition of guns. Two exceptions to this include: the shotgun, which is a smoothbore hand-held gun that fires a load of shot or a single projectile known as a slug, and the machine gun, which is a fully-automatic weapon mounted on a tripod or bipod and is almost always operated by a crew.

The word "gun" is also applied to some more or less vaguely gun-like or gun-shaped tools such as staple guns, nail guns, and glue guns.

In a gun-type fission weapon the "gun" is part of a nuclear weapon. The projectile is fissile material that is fired and captured inside the device. In the case of nuclear artillery, it should not be confused with the gun that fires the whole warhead. In a captive bolt gun the projectile is also caught within the mechanism. Such captive piston guns are often used to humanely stun farm animals for slaughter.^[1]

A gunner is a member of the team charged with the task of operating and firing a gun.

History and technology

• Gunpowder warfare
• Electronic firing
• Firearm actions

Types of guns

Colt Python .357 Magnum revolver

Marlin Model 1894C — a carbine in .357 Magnum

Military and sporting guns

• Artillery gun
  • Carronade
  • Howitzer
  • Tank gun
• Autocannon
  • Chain gun
  • Gatling gun
  • Minigun
  • Mitrailleuse
• Grenade launcher
• Machine Gun
  • General-purpose machine gun
  • Heavy machine gun
  • Light machine gun
  • Medium machine gun
  • Squad automatic weapon
• Mortar
• Recoilless rifle
• Small arms
  • Handgun
    • Captive bolt pistol
    • Hand cannon
    • Machine pistol
    • Pistol
      • Howdah pistol
      • Junk gun
      • Mousegun
      • Pocket pistol
    • Revolver
  • Long gun
    • Arquebus
    • Blunderbuss
    • Musket
      • Musketoon
      • Wall gun
    • Personal defense weapon
    • Rifle
      • Assault rifle
      • Battle rifle
      • Carbine
      • Elephant gun
      • Express rifle
      • Service rifle
      • Sniper rifle
    • Shotgun
      • Combat shotgun
      • Semi-automatic shotgun
    • Submachine gun
    • Tu Huo Qiang

Guns for training and entertainment

• Airsoft gun
• BB gun
• Paintball gun
• Water gun

Politics and society

• Gun culture
• Gun law
• Gun politics
• Gun safety

See also

• Firearm

References

External links

• Canadian Firearm and Gun Information
• Gun Information, Reviews and Videos

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