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A gun is a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other missiles are propelled by explosive force. The three most common guns are rifles, handguns, and shotguns, which each serve a different purpose and fire different ammunition. In contemporary terms, a gun is a projectile-based weapon using a hollow, tubular barrel with a closed end as a means of directing the projectile. This helps improve the accuracy of the bullet by flattening out its trajectory and making its aim true.

The gun is the signature combat instrument used in warfare. In military terms, the word refers primarily to automatic or semi-automatic fire weapons shooting at an extreme velocity capable of maximum penetration and range. Today, these weapons are typically breech-loaded and built for long range fire with little arc. One popular variation is the howitzer, made to offer the ability to fire both low or high-angle ballistic arcs.

A more generic gun definition may refer to any type of trigger-initiated, hand-held device with an extended bore. Examples include staple guns, nail guns, and glue guns.

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