distinction between weapon types

[Cranreuch]

Is there any difference between a pistol that hits for 60 damage and a rifle that hits for 60 damage? Does the rifle have a longer range or higher accuracy at range? Or do I just pick whichever hits hardest (assuming the same reload rate and no secondary affixes)?

[Daiemio]

There's various points of drop-off, with a epic level silenced gun I do around 50-60 damage on unarmored people at close range, but only 22 damage at long range, but the AWP almost always deals full damage no matter the distance. (I have not bothered testing if this is true since snipe ammo is EXPENSIVE to craft)

[gamerplayer31]

awp does alot but it has a slow rate of fire. It's for bad guys like mortar outlaws and apex.
Also something i noticed, that i believe enemies are likely to detect you further out when using unsuppressed guns. I also believe each have a certain range of noise aggro, like the revolver won't draw a guy that's up a hill when down the hill, but the awp will draw everything that can be hostile around the hill.