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Revolvers are defined by the ATF in the states require a special license that grants the
following: bearer the right to carry a handgun “concealed.”
2
The term “Revolver ” means a projectile Handguns can only be purchased from dealers
by someone who is 21 years old and in most
weapon of the pistol type, having a breech
states cannot be possessed by anyone under the
loading chambered cylinder so arranged that
age of 18 without an adult present. Also, hand-
the cocking of the hammer or movement of the
guns cannot be purchased outside of your state
trigger rotates it and brings the next cartridge in
of residence without shipping the firearm be-
line with the barrel for firing.
tween FFLs (the purchaser cannot take direct
2 18 U.S.C., § 921(A)(29) and 27 CFR § 478.11
possession outside of their state of residence). *
*State and local laws may differ from federal law and place
Regardless of classification, handguns will fea-
further restrictions. Always check federal, state and local laws
ture a rifled barrel that is less than 16” in length regarding firearms.
with no other provisions for support other than
the standalone grip. The term pistol basically
• Rifle – A rifle is a type of firearm that is
defines any handgun that is not a revolver. The
designed to be fired with support from
main defining feature of a revolver is the cylin-
both the hands and shoulder. Rifles are
der. Handguns are typically reserved for small-
defined by the ATF in the following:
caliber pistol cartridges from .17 to .50, but are
also capable of firing much larger rifle and shot- The term “Rifle ” means a weapon designed
3
gun cartridges in larger framed guns. or redesigned, made or remade, and intended
Handguns are often regulated more stringently to be fired from the shoulder and designed
than other types of firearms because of their or redesigned and made or remade to use the
ability to easily conceal and transport. Most energy of the explosive in a fixed metallic
cartridge to fire only a single projectile
through a rifled bore for each single pull of
the trigger.
3 18 U.S.C., § 921(A)(7) and 27 CFR § 478.11
The ATF also regulates the barrel length
of rifles. All rifles must use at least a 16”
rifled barrel or face further regulation
under the NFA. Rifles also must meet a
26” overall length (OAL) (this includes
16” of barrel) or face the same NFA reg-
ulations. Rifles are typically reserved for
high-power rifle cartridges, but are more
than capable of handling smaller pistol
cartridges and larger shotgun cartridges.
The minimum age to purchase and pos-
sess a rifle is 18.

Figure 11: Various types of handguns.

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