Difference between rifles and shotguns

Both rifles and shotguns feature a long barrel and are braced against your shoulder when fired. The two differ on the type of ammunition used and the design of the barrel.

Rifles fire a single projectile (bullet) that can travel great distances. This requires great force and accuracy, so the inside of the barrel is very thick and contains spiralling grooves and lands, known as rifling, to spin the projectile to increase accuracy as it moves toward a target. Lands are the raised portions between the grooves.

Shotguns, in contrast, can fire either a single projectile (slug) or multiple projectiles (shot). Generally, shotguns have a shorter range than a rifle; therefore, the barrel is much thinner as it doesn’t have to handle as much pressure. Generally, shotgun barrels are smoothbore and contain no rifling.