# Handgun, shotgun, or rifle **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 26, 2011, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037 "2011-03-26T04:54:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/1 "2011-03-26T04:54:12Z")
Which do you prefer to shoot? Handgun, shotgun, and rifle are the only choices in this poll. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/2 "2011-03-26T04:58:47Z")
I have several handguns. I don’t have a shotgun (yet). I prefer shooting rifles. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/3 "2011-03-26T04:59:14Z")
Handgun. Ammo is cheaper, and it’s easier to find a place to shoot. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/4 "2011-03-26T05:01:38Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > Ammo is cheaper Unless you shoot .22LR. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/5 "2011-03-26T05:02:11Z")
Rifle, I own all three. Shotgun is least favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/6 "2011-03-26T05:43:13Z")
I don’t own any guns, but I’ve shot all three numerous times. I like shotguns. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/7 "2011-03-26T05:49:39Z")
I like to nuke things from orbit, why isn’t that an option? OK, OK, I own a handgun, so haven’t shot anything else in years, but I like rifles more, probably. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/8 "2011-03-26T06:03:12Z")
I have all three. I find my shotgun to be painful, probably due to my technique (or lack thereof), but I know that I can hit whatever I need to. The rifle, as with any rifle, is very easy to shoot well and isn’t nearly as uncomfortable as the shotgun. Therefore, I find find myself shooting them very little. Handguns, however, require a completely different skillset and much more focus. I invariably focus more on handguns than I do longarms for that very reason. I own one of every service caliber from .380ACP to 10MM Auto in addition to a .22LR Ruger 22/45, so I have quite a variety to choose from, all with different challenges, so it never gets old for me. Anyone can be an expert shot with a rifle, but it takes an expert to shoot expert with a handgun. I aspire to be that guy. I’ll never be Rob Leatham, but who has the time or the money for that? I’ll settle for 90% of his skill, and that only comes with practice. ---
**Author:** ![History\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@History\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/History_Geek)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/9 "2011-03-26T06:56:33Z")
I own several handguns and rifles. I think I like shooting rifles the best, as sport. I shoot the handguns for more practical reasons, but don’t get to nearly as often as I should. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/10 "2011-03-26T07:14:10Z")
For recreation, a Smith & Wesson .22 pistol. Strictly for plinking coffee cans and smaller targets. Never been much of a hunter- I just like shooting. I also have a hundred-year old Colt .45 in excellent condition, inherited 45 years ago from my greatly beloved grandfather, but it’s been 25 years since I last fired it. Also had a couple of .357 magnum revolvers (Ruger, S&W) but gave them to my favorite uncle 15 years ago. For home and campsite defense, a Mossberg 12 gauge pump action shotgun, short barrel. That unmistakable CHUNK-A sound of a shell being chambered broadcasts a fair warning to intruders, and if anyone is crazy enough to keep on coming, neither wifey nor I are likely to miss what we shoot at. Footnote of interest to none but myself: shortly before we got married 40 years ago, I learned that my wife’s father was an expert handgun marksman (Army), and had raised his daughter to be completely at ease with handguns, not to mention a _very_ good shot. . ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/11 "2011-03-26T07:34:57Z")
You do need to be more specific. What is the firearm being used for? Mossberg for home defense. Like **TreacherousCretin** I think that the sound of a shotgun being chambered would make most people think twice. I carry a Glock. I have the Garand my father carried in Korea. I also have a gas powered chain saw for zombie attacks or riots. I honestly do think that waving a running chainsaw around would appear more threatening to a mob than a shotgun. edited to add that I don’t want to ever have to use any of them except on the range. and firewood. That’s why I picked a shotgun in the poll. The sound usually runs humans off. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/12 "2011-03-26T07:57:59Z")
I’ve never shot a pistol or shotgun, so I’m going to say rifle. Though machine guns are even more fun. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/13 "2011-03-26T09:27:36Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’ve never shot a pistol or shotgun, so I’m going to say rifle. > > Though machine guns are even more fun. Yeah, Ma Deuce for the win! ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/14 "2011-03-26T11:07:38Z")
The only gun I shoot is a rifle. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/15 "2011-03-26T16:22:03Z")
I much prefer a rifle. I’ve always had a problem with larger bore shotguns beating the crap out of me, regardless of how I’m holding them, so for something like skeet, I prefer a .20 ga. I don’t mind pistols at all, but you can really burn through the ammo in a hurry. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/16 "2011-03-26T17:20:03Z")
I’m saving my answer in the hope that this thread gets bumped in a few years… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/17 "2011-03-26T17:33:32Z")
Why? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/18 "2011-03-26T19:34:30Z")
Rifle. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/19 "2011-03-26T20:02:17Z")
I shot a friend’s Browning Buck Mark .22 pistol today and enjoyed it a lot. I recommend this pistol. It is a joy to shoot. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037/20 "2011-03-26T21:14:31Z")
Seems to me that the biggest aspect of the preference is how one likes to shoot. I haven’t shot in a while, but when I did I preferred shotgun because I shot skeet and sporting clays–shooting paper targets with rifles and handguns didn’t really appeal to me, and I’m not into hunting. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handgun-shotgun-or-rifle/576037.md?page=2)