A pistol or rifle barrel forged with a significantly thicker, heavier exterior contour than a standard barrel, featuring little to no taper from the chamber down to the muzzle. The "bull" designation signifies maximum metal thickness around the bore. The added mass—particularly at the front of the firearm—acts as a physical counterweight. This extra unsprung weight anchors the muzzle, reducing muzzle flip and dampening felt recoil. A thicker barrel acts as a larger heat sink. Also, it takes significantly longer to heat up during rapid or sustained fire, which prevents the point-of-impact shifts that often occur when thinner barrels get hot.