Which feature distinguishes rifles and handguns from other firearms?

The feature that distinguishes rifles and handguns from other firearms is that they have spiral grooves in the bore, known as rifling. This rifling is designed to impart a spin to the bullet as it travels down the barrel, which stabilizes its flight and increases accuracy over longer distances. The spiral grooves help the projectile maintain a straighter and more predictable path when fired, making rifles and handguns effective for precision shooting.

Other types of firearms, such as shotguns, typically do not have rifled barrels and are designed to fire multiple pellets simultaneously, which serves a different purpose in shooting. This fundamental construction is what sets rifles and handguns apart in terms of both design and application in shooting sports or hunting.