Isn't the rifle really just a modern spear? Armies with longer spears used to be the one of the deciding factors in ancient battles. Aren't rifles just a more

Isn't the rifle really just a modern spear? Armies with longer spears used to be the one of the deciding factors in ancient battles. Aren't rifles just a more effective way at getting the sharpy bit in to the other guy without having to heft a small tree?