pistols

A pistol is a type of handgun used for shooting.

When we talk about pistols, we usually mean the small firearms that people carry with them or use for hunting. You might hear someone say they have a pistol permit or that it's against the law to carry a pistol in public places. Some countries also have laws about how many rounds of ammo you can buy with a pistol, which is why some people prefer to own shotguns instead.