What is the difference between Rifle and Shotgun?

Some people may get confused with the differences between rifles and shotguns because these are both long firearms that people may use for different purposes. They are both long, and they would both require you to fire from your shoulder. The main difference is with the grooves.

The rifle comes with grooves, while the shotgun will only have smoothbores. Another difference is the number of bullets that are fired when used. A shotgun will fire multiple small pellets placed in one single bullet while the rifle will shoot bullets one at a time. The slug from a shotgun is usually heavier as compared to the slug that comes from a rifle.

A rifle comes with spiral bores or rifling; hence the word, rifle, and a shotgun comes with a smooth bore. A shotgun fires as many as dozens of smaller lead or steel pallets that are known as a shot and rifles fire only one lead at a time. Rifles have more power than shotguns, and shotguns are more successful at a close distance. Shotguns are more natural to aim, and they are impeccable for self-defense, as several rounds hit the person who is targeted.

As a shotgun fires, it is less helpful in targeting a distant object; however, rifles deliver the ideal shot at a longer distance. Some high- powered rifles can hit targets close to a mile. Bullets used in a rifle are small, which permits them to travel at an extended distance, and the velocity at which a rifle shoots a bullet is much faster than a shotgun.