[cubram]

Are rifles and pistols not guns?

[digitalbrownshirt]

Are rifles and pistols not guns? Yes, to normal people, but in the military a gun is a large weapon, like artillery or the big guns on a ship.

[68skylark]

Are rifles and pistols not guns?

No, in the military, rifles and pistols are never called guns -- they're called rifles, pistols, or (more commonly) weapons.

"Gun" strictly refers to a crew-served weapon like a machine gun or a hozitzer, and new recruits are mocked heavily if they screw up and refer to their personal weapon as a gun.

(You learn this the first day at basic training -- and reporters are constantly giving away their lack of military knowledge by making this very common mistake.)

[clee1]

Yes, they are... but the military thrives on it's silly customs.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

"Are rifles and pistols not guns?"

Not if you are a marine. Ships have guns. Marines have rifles and pistols.