(For the purposes of this discussion, I'll use the term 'rifle' to refer to long guns chambered in traditional rifle cartridges, like the .223 Remington or .30-30 Winchester, and the term 'carbine' to refer to long guns chambered in cartridges usually thought of as pistol rounds, like the 9mm or .357 Magnum.)
...First, having four points of contact with the shooter's body (as opposed to a single point of contact for the handgun — yes, even if you're using two hands they're still hanging onto the gun at a single point) reduces shooter deviation, which means that bullets can be shot to a greater level of precision.
...The first concern is that the long gun is harder to maneuver than the pistol in close quarters; it's slower to get into action and more difficult to carry around; and it's easier to take away from someone who is not skilled in rifle retention.
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