Which statement correctly describes the difference between rifles and shotguns?

• A. Rifles shoot one bullet at a time, whereas shotguns shoot many pellets.
• B. The model 499 BB gun you are shooting at this competition has a sight combination of a rear peep sight with a front aperture sight.
• C. If you are shooting in the standing position, you are standing on a mat.
• D. If you are shooting in the standing position, you will be using your sling.

Answer: (A)

Rifles and shotguns are defined by how they deliver projectiles. A rifle shoots a single bullet per shot, using a rifled barrel to impart spin for stability, which gives high precision and longer range. A shotgun fires a shell that releases many small pellets, which spread out after leaving the barrel, making it effective at close range with a wider pattern but less precise at longer distances. That basic distinction—one projectile versus many pellets—is what sets the two apart. The other statements describe equipment or stance details (sights on a BB gun, standing-on-a-mat, using a sling), which aren’t about how ammunition and projectiles differ between rifles and shotguns.