Classifications. If you ever look at a 4473 which is a background check there are three weapon categories, Long Gun (any rifle over 16 inches on barrel length essentially, shotguns, and such) Handgun (pistols, revolvers, AR pistols, Dracos, anything under 16 inches with a fixed brace) and other (items that are technically guns, most often used to refer to lowers and receivers) so legally speaking the gun was a Long Gun