Maybe it has to do with how epic something looks? I understand what you’re saying about the bullet being the power behind the gun. But a sword compared to a bullet does convey a bit more awe I suppose. Visual symbolism has to be impacting, and while a bullet is stronger than a sword, it’s just this little thing that doesn’t look all that inspiring. Which is why I suppose a symbol of a gun itself would be used instead of the bullets it fires.
Or perhaps because we are to assume that, when seeing a gun, the bullets come with it.
I’m not entirely sure if any of what I said is legit, but it does seem to me that symbols are as much about what it looks like as it is what it represents. Sometimes the visual aspect seems even more important than the representation. For example, look at Satanism. The inverted crucifix is seen as a Satanic symbol, but I’ve heard that, first of all, it’s origin has nothing to do with Satanism, and that it’s not even a legitimate Satanic symbol to begin with. (unlike the inverted star of David)
Yeah, not quite what you’re getting at, but I think this does go with the visual impact I’m trying to relay.
This guy though, begs to differ.