What is the difference between a rifle and a carbine?

[Kingsoverqueens 10]

I see referenced to rifles and then references to carbines and have never understood the difference.

[DirtyDigz 1,812]

Carbine usually refers to a "shortened" rifle with a barrel length of 20" or less. Frequently carbines are chambered in pistol calibers.

[Parker 213]

Google a fellow named "Carbine" Williams (David Marshall Williams) although I believe the term carbine was around long before he was born.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbine

[XDJohnTact 49]

Carbine usually refers to a "shortened" rifle with a barrel length of 20" or less. Frequently carbines are chambered in pistol calibers.

 

 

+1, this is my understanding regarding the differences between the two.

[HKHockey 5]

In ARs it refers to gas system length.

[raz-0 1,259]

In ARs it refers to gas system length.

 

Not really, the carbine length gas system is called that because it came about in order to make a carbine length at from the 20" rifle.

 

Carbines are just shorter, usually lighter, versions of a rifle.