Pistols and revolvers are short-range weapons, designed to hit targets at distances of around 25–30 metres, with rapidly diminishing accuracy beyond these ranges.

The basic design of pistols and revolvers has changed very little since the early 20th century.

Recent acquisitions by national military and police forces suggest that there is little demand for radical changes to pistol and revolver design, with most governments prioritizing the reliability and durability of tried and tested models.