A firearm is a weapon that uses either chemical energy or kinetic energy to fire a projectile. The first firearms were invented in China during the 13th century and used black powder as their propellant. Early firearms were very inaccurate and only had a range of a few hundred yards. However, they were still very effective weapons against armor and fortifications. Firearms soon spread to Europe where they became increasingly popular, especially during the Hundred Years’ War.
The first real advances in firearm technology came with the introduction of rifled barrels and metal cartridges in the 19th century. This made firearms much more accurate and reliable than before. With the industrial revolution, mass production techniques made firearms much cheaper and more available to the general public. In 1866, breech-loading rifles became standard issue for most armies, further increasing their effectiveness on the battlefield.
The 20th century saw even more advances in firearm technology with the introduction of automatic and semi-automatic weapons, as well as larger calibers for both infantry weapons and artillery pieces. During World War I, machine guns played a major role in trench warfare while submachine guns proved to be very effective in close quarters combat situations such as urban areas or dense forests. In World War II, many different types of firearms were used including pistols, rifles, machine guns, and shotguns. By the end of the war, almost all infantrymen were equipped with some form of automatic weapon.
Since then, there have been many different types of firearms developed for both civilian and military use. Today’s modern sporting rifles are capable of incredible accuracy at long range while submachine guns are still favored by many militaries for their compact size and high rate of fire. No matter what type of firearm you are looking for, there is sure to be one that meets your needs perfectly