I want to get my cartilage pierced, how much will the pain differ if I get it done with a needle rather than a gun? Or vise versa?

Gun is quicker and less pain

Sorry, not to be rude but do NOT use a piercing gun or let someone use one. Any licensed and professional piercer (which I am not) will tell you to go to a skilled piercer that uses a needle. I have 3 piercings. Here's a site that explains why piercing guns or mall piercings are not advised:

http://jewelry.about.com/od/bodyjewelry/a/piercing_guns.htm

NEVER get your body pierced with a gun. Guns can not be sterilized, they just wipe an alcohol wipe over it which by the way doesn't kill blood born pathogens such as HIV (aids) and hepatitis. Also, when using a gun, the cartilage is put under immense pressure with a blunt object being fired through it which tears the cartilage, whereas a needle is hollow and pushes the cartilage out of the way without damage.

Go to a reputable piercing parlor and get it done. I would not advise putting a plaster over it, you'll need to let the air get to it during the healing process and you shouldn't have your hair over it all of the time as it can irritate the piercing whilst it heals. In piercing parlors they usually give you titanium jewellery because if you don't know what metals you're allergic to then it could muck up your piercing. Titanium is a metal used for jewelry that the majority of people do not have an allergic reaction to.

I got it done with a gun, I was scared it was going to hurt, I barley felt it go in, it did not shatter my cartilage, nor did it shatter any of my like 10 friends that got it done with a gun either, I did the upper cartlige and then on the middle of the edge of my ear I am so ready for my tragus but, like 2 of my friends did it with a needle, it hurt more than a gun, and I mean ****, I got mine done at wallmart, idc if someone just watched a video to lern how to do it, I mean its not that hard, aim and push! But I would go with the gun