Somebody with more experience than me said ā handguns make holes in people, rifles make holes through people, shotguns, with the right distance and ammo take chunks off peopleā. Thatās a similar simplification to what photon said. It contains some truth, but could also be completely false depending on circumstances such as ammunitio, distance to target, shot placement, barrel length, clothing worn by the target, and a host of other details. I havenāt shot any people, but i have treated a significant number of various types of gunshot wounds in the operating room. I have seen what happens on the outside as well as the inside. I have seen people die in front of me from gunshot wounds on several occasions. I hunted with my grandfather extensively as a kid. Iāve been a shooter for over 4 decades. Iām no gunfighter, but neither am I inexperienced.