Do you say "firearm" or "gun?"

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I use them pretty much interchangeably. Firearm if I'm sounding a lil' more formal, gun if I'm just speaking casually.

I will say that I typically do use the term "handgun" much more frequently than "pistol" though. No real reason on that one - it's just typically the word that springs to mind when discussing them :).
 
I use the term firearm in context of government - checking it, paperwork, etc.
However, any other time it is a "weapon" to me.
 
" this is my rifle this is my gun this is for fighting this is for fun" bootcamp never forget it!
 
Actually, it's just the opposite. Pistol refers to a single shot or semi-automatic handgun. A "wheel gun" is technically a revolver, not a pistol.
Sam Colt and Mr. Wesson and Mr. Smith called them pistols, paid money to advertise them as pistols and I'm going to defer to them and say they are pistols. It really baffles me why people think revolvers are not pistols and where that comes from. For near 50 years before there was automatics they were called pistols.
 
Sam Colt and Mr. Wesson and Mr. Smith called them pistols, paid money to advertise them as pistols and I'm going to defer to them and say they are pistols. It really baffles me why people think revolvers are not pistols and where that comes from. For near 50 years before there was automatics they were called pistols.

Testify Brother Biltz! :D
 
Firearm......but never weapon, unless it's used in an offensive manner.

I agree completely with this ^. "Weapon" is a less precise word that carries with it the implication that it is going to be used offensively. It lumps it into the same class as a sword, knife, tire iron, or hand grenade.

I do admit to bending my vocabulary because of political correctness. The "muzzle devices" on any firearms I build are not "flash hiders", but are always called "compensators". This appeases many skittish politicians who find flash hiders to be particularly offensive.
 
It depends on who your drill sergeant was in basic training.
I say "firearm" to the airline and LE , "Weapon" in the Army, and "guns" are indirect fire platforms that typically belong to the Army or the Department of the Navy... unless you are a redneck :D
 
depends on what I am talking about. All guns are firearms.. not all firearms are guns. Guns aren't rifled.

example.. shot guns.

firearms also include rifles and handguns. I sometimes call handguns guns, sometimes they get called pistols or revolvers.


You can`t say guns aren`t rifled machine guns are !!!!!!!!
 
I use gun, rifle, pistol, firearm, etc....I never use the term weapon unless it is used as such. The guns in my house are never weapons until I use them as such....chris3
 
Whatever you call them doesn't much matter but for God's sake and that of others never use any of them in a discussion with your friends while waiting for a flight in the airport. We were discussing some shooting competition and a few firearms used, not loudly by any means, but I guess someone overheard parts of the talk and we had TSA and airport police surround us. After explanations, presenting ID's and have a computer check of our records we were absolved from any wrong doings but what a PIA.
 
Arquebus.:neener:

I sometimes refer to my Security Six 6" and my Super Blackhawk 7 1/2" as "Hoglegs" because of their barrel length, and my Charter Undercover as a "snubnose" for the same reason. Interesting because I never call my Ruger Mark II 6" a hogleg...

Generally, it's by caliber--.22, .38, 30-30 etc--or by brand--Mauser, Smith (and Wesson), Llama, etc.

Shotguns as "shotgun" or by gauge. A shooting companion noted that I'm better with my 20 gauge than I am with my 12 gauge which mystifies me because, except for bore size, they're identical guns.:confused:

Generic, catchall reference would be "Guns".:eek:

Actually, Sam Colt first marketed his invention as a "Revolving Pistol".

ed
 
I have hand"guns", long"guns, shot"guns" and a submachine"gun". And they are all locked up in a (you guessed it: "gun"safe";))
 
I generally say pistol or revolver for a handgun, gun for shotguns and firearms for the whole lot.
 
I say Weapon or Rifle, and you better not call wanna my rifles a "gun" or I'll monkey stomp like R.LEE Ermey Full Metal Jacket Style :fire::p
 
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