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Journalist's Guide to Firearm Identification:

gmckinl wrote: By U.S. Army definition, a selective-fire rifle chambered for a cartridge of intermediate power. If applied to any semi-automatic firearm regardless of its cosmetic similarity to a true assault rifle, the term is incorrect.

I don't have much confidence in the Army for getting definitions straight. They tried to tell me that my M16 isn't a gun, and you wouldn't believe what they tried to convince us what my gun was!!

Simple,

An assault rifle is an Infantry issued standard rifle capable of suppressing enemy's fire and terminating their threats while assaulting enemy's positions. Capable of Automatic (Full and selective) fire to aid in said suppression.
M1 was an auto-loading rifle.
M16/M4 are true Assault rifle.
AK Series is a true Assault rifle
FNFAL is a true Assault rifle

Liberty wrote:They tried to tell me that my M16 isn't a gun, and you wouldn't believe what they tried to convince us what my gun was!!

Beiruty wrote:Simple,

An assault rifle is an Infantry issued standard rifle capable of suppressing enemy's fire and terminating their threats while assaulting enemy's positions. Capable of Automatic (Full and selective) fire to aid in said suppression.
M1 was an auto-loading rifle.
M16/M4 are true Assault rifle.
AK Series is a true Assault rifle
FNFAL is a true Assault rifle

You left a lot out of that. An M1 Garand is (was) a "Battle Rifle" as was the Springfield '03, and the Mauser '98k and others. They fire(d) a full size cartridge.

Submachineguns fired pistol size cartridges, full auto. The M1 Carbine is an orphan, firing a pistol size cartridge, semi-auto.

Assault Rifle is a corruption of sturmgewehr (storm rifle), using assault instead of storm, from the Sturmgewehr 44 which Germany fielded during WWII, the first nation to issue a full automatic intermediate size cartridge weapon to troops in general.

These days the US does not routinely issue a battle rifle.

I would disagree with characterizing an FNFAL, which fires a full size cartridge, as an Assault Rifle, it is a Battle Rifle.

After all, we are talking strict definitions here, aren't we?

I have no assault rifles.

I do, however, have sport-utility rifles.

My rifles never assaulted anyone, but they might be useful in repelling an assault.

jimlongley wrote:

Beiruty wrote:Simple,

FNFAL is a true Assault rifle

I would disagree with characterizing an FNFAL, which fires a full size cartridge, as an Assault Rifle, it is a Battle Rifle.

After all, we are talking strict definitions here, aren't we?

You are correct Jim, for the reason you stated. Nor is the M14 or HK G3 for the same reason.

Liberty wrote:

gmckinl wrote: By U.S. Army definition, a selective-fire rifle chambered for a cartridge of intermediate power. If applied to any semi-automatic firearm regardless of its cosmetic similarity to a true assault rifle, the term is incorrect.

I don't have much confidence in the Army for getting definitions straight. They tried to tell me that my M16 isn't a gun, and you wouldn't believe what they tried to convince us what my gun was!!

I believe you.

It has the the thing that goes up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ospNRk2uM3U