Gun
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/* Terminology */ Though a "gun" may be a type of "weapon," the two are not synonymous,
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{{Otheruses4|the projectile weapon}}
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 [[gun barrel|barrel]]. The barrel's diameter, or [[caliber]], determines the size of projectile used, which is usually designated in fractions of an [[inch]] or in [[millimeter]]s. Differing from the [[musket]], most modern guns are [[Rifling|rifled]], with a series of grooves spiraling along the barrel; exceptions include [[smoothbore]]s on [[tanks]], [[Armoured fighting vehicle|AFV]]s and some [[artillery]].
[[Image:Uss iowa bb-61 pr.jpg|250px|right|thumb|[[USS Iowa (BB-61)]] fires a full broadside during a target exercise near [[Vieques, Puerto Rico|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 artillery|naval guns]] (which are never referred to as [[cannon]]s) or [[tank gun]]s. By military terms, [[mortar (weapon)|mortar]]s and all hand-held firearms are excluded from the definition of guns.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Two exceptions to this include: the [[shotgun]], which is a [[smoothbore]] hand-held gun that fires a load of [[lead shot|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 [[tool]]s such as [[staple gun]]s, [[nail gun]]s, and [[glue gun]]s.
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 pistol|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.<ref>[http://new.wales.gov.uk/docrepos/40382/4038231121/403824/567187/captivebolt_e.pdf?lang=en Captive Bolt Stunning Equipment and the Law - How it applies to you] (pdf)</ref>
A gunner is a member of the team charged with the task of operating and firing a gun.
==History and technology==
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* [[Gunpowder warfare]]
* [[Electronic firing]]
* [[Firearm action]]s
==Types of guns==
[[Image:Colt Python.JPG|thumb|250px|[[Colt Python]] .357 Magnum revolver]]
[[Image:Marlin1894C.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Marlin Model 1894]]C — a carbine in .357 Magnum]]
===Military and sporting guns===
*[[Artillery|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 (weapon)|Mortar]]
*[[Recoilless rifle]]
*[[Small arms]]
**[[Handgun]]
***[[Captive bolt pistol]]
***[[Hand cannon]]
***[[Machine pistol]]
***[[Semi-automatic 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==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{wiktionary|gun}}
* [http://www.FirearmSource.ca/ Canadian Firearm and Gun Information]
* [http://www.gunslot.com Gun Information, Reviews and Videos]
{{Technology}}
[[Category:Firearms]]
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