3 October 2026

Types of Guns Explained: A Complete Guide (And Where to Fire Them for Real)

A clear guide to the main types of guns — pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, submachine guns and more — how they work and what they feel like to shoot. Plus where you can actually fire them in Europe.

Guns come in a surprising variety of shapes, actions and purposes — and if you've ever wondered what actually separates a pistol from a revolver, or a rifle from a carbine, this guide breaks it down in plain language. We run an outdoor shooting range in Poland, so for each type we'll also tell you what it's genuinely like to fire — because reading about a .50 calibre and feeling it kick into your shoulder are two very different things.

All types of guns at a glance (gun types names):

Handguns: pistols (e.g. Glock 17) and revolvers
Rifles and carbines: AR15, AK47
Shotguns: pump-action 12-gauge
Submachine guns and full-auto weapons: Uzi, MP5, select-fire rifles
Sniper and long-range rifles: bolt-action precision rifles
The big one: .50 BMG

Handguns: Pistols and Revolvers

Handguns are the two most familiar types of guns: small enough to hold in one hand, designed for short distances. The difference comes down to how they hold and feed ammunition.

A pistol (in the modern sense) is semi-automatic: rounds sit in a detachable magazine in the grip, and each shot uses the recoil to eject the empty case and chamber the next round. The Glock is the classic example. A revolver stores its rounds in a rotating cylinder — usually five or six — that turns to line up a new chamber each time you pull the trigger.

What it feels like to fire: a modern pistol is fast, light and snappy — you can put shots on target quickly once your grip is right. A revolver feels heavier and more deliberate, with more pronounced recoil and a distinctly "western" character.

At our range you train on modern pistols — Glock 17, CZ Shadow 2, 1911 — with an instructor beside you. Curious about the world's most popular pistol? Read how much a Glock costs.

Rifles and Carbines

A rifle has a long barrel with spiral grooves (rifling) that spin the bullet, giving high accuracy at long range. A carbine is simply a shorter, lighter rifle — easier to handle and move with, at the cost of a little velocity. The two most iconic examples are the AR15 and the AK47.

What it feels like to fire: a rifle is far steadier than a handgun — the stock in your shoulder, your cheek on the stock, the sights or red dot settling on target. Recoil is a firm push rather than a snap, and hitting steel at distance is deeply satisfying.

This is where an outdoor range changes everything. Indoor city ranges stop at 25 or 50 metres; we shoot rifles out to 300 metres outdoors — the realistic rifle experience. Comparing the two legends? Read AR15 vs AK47.

Shotguns

A shotgun has a smooth barrel and fires shells filled with many small pellets (birdshot or buckshot) or a single heavy slug. It's a short-range firearm with a big impact, used for hunting, clay shooting and home defence.

What it feels like to fire: the recoil is the signature — a heavy, rolling shove into the shoulder, followed by the satisfying rack of the pump. It's surprisingly forgiving for beginners because the pattern spreads.

We have the pump-action 12-gauge ready on the range.

Submachine Guns and Full-Auto

A submachine gun is a compact automatic weapon that fires pistol ammunition — think Uzi and MP5. The key distinction here is semi-auto vs full-auto: a semi-automatic gun fires one round per trigger pull; a fully automatic gun keeps firing as long as you hold the trigger.

What it feels like to fire: a burst of full-auto is controlled chaos — the gun climbs, the brass flies, and you learn fast how much grip and stance matter.

This is our second big advantage: we have ten fully automatic weapons, something no indoor city range offers. See full-auto shooting in Poland or go straight to the Uzi.

Sniper and Long-Range Rifles

Sniper and long-range rifles are precision tools: usually bolt-action, fitted with a magnified scope and chambered in powerful, accurate calibres. Every shot is about breathing, trigger control, wind and distance.

What it feels like to fire: slow and focused — then the delay before you see or hear the hit at distance. Ringing steel hundreds of metres away is a feeling nothing indoors can give you.

Again, our 300-metre outdoor range is the only kind of place where you can truly experience long-range shooting — it simply isn't possible indoors. Try a sniper rifle session.

The Big One: .50 Calibre (.50 BMG)

The .50 BMG (12.7×99 mm) is the round that fascinates everyone. Developed for heavy machine guns, it's now fired from huge precision rifles that weigh over 13 kg, delivering enormous energy at extreme range.

What it feels like to fire: a pressure wave you feel in your chest, a deep boom and a shove that rocks your whole body. It's the one shot people remember for years.

It's almost impossible to fire one elsewhere, because it needs an outdoor range with the space and safety distance. It's our signature experience: shoot the .50 BMG.

Where to Fire These Guns for Real

Reading about the different types of guns is one thing; firing them is another. At Poland Shooting Center we bring every type of gun in this guide together in one place, outdoors, 45 minutes from Wrocław airport: