Assault rifle

An assault riIle is loosely deIined as a selective Iire riIle designed Ior combat that uses an
intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault riIles are the standard inIantry
weapons in most modern armies. Examples oI assault riIles include the M16 riIle, AK Iamily,
G36, FN FNC, and the Steyr AUG. DeIinition
The term assault rifle is a translation oI the German word Sturmgewehr (literally "storm riIle", as
in "to storm a position"). The name was coined by AdolI Hitler
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to describe the
Maschinenpistole 44, subsequently re-christened Sturmgewehr 44, the Iirearm generally
considered the Iirst true assault riIle that served to popularise the concept.
The translation assault rifle gradually became the common term Ior similar Iirearms sharing the
same technical deIinition as the StG 44. In a strict deIinition, a Iirearm must have at least the
Iollowing characteristics to be considered an assault riIle:
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O lL musL be an lndlvldual weapon wlLh provlslon Lo flre from Lhe shoulder (le a buLLsLock)
O lL musL be capable of selecLlve flre
O lL musL have an lnLermedlaLepower carLrldge more power Lhan a plsLol buL less Lhan a
sLandard rlfle or baLLle rlfle
O lLs ammunlLlon musL be supplled from a deLachable magazlne
#iIles that meet most oI these criteria, but not all, are technically not assault riIles despite
Irequently being considered as such. For example, semi-automatic-only riIles that share designs
with assault riIles such as the A#-15 (which the M16 riIle is based on) are not assault riIles, as
they are not capable oI switching to automatic Iire and thus not selective Iire. Belt-Ied weapons
(such as the M249 SAW) or riIles with Iixed magazines are likewise not assault riIles because
they do not have detachable box magazines. However, in this case, the M249 SAW has the
ability Ior both being Ied by belt or detachable box magazine.
The term "assault riIle" is oIten more loosely used Ior commercial or political reasons to include
other types oI arms, particularly arms that Iall under a strict deIinition oI the battle riIle, or semi-
automatic variant oI military riIles such as A#-15s.
The US Army deIines assault riIles as "short, compact, selective-Iire weapons that Iire a
cartridge intermediate in power between submachinegun and riIle cartridges."
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Assault rifles vs. Assault weapons
The term assault weapon is a political and legal term used to describe a variety oI semi-
automatic Iirearms that have certain Ieatures generally associated with military assault riIles. The
1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which expired on September 13, 2004, codiIied the
deIinition oI an assault weapon. It deIined the riIle type oI assault weapon as a semiautomatic
Iirearm with the ability to accept a detachable magazine containing more than 10 rounds, and
two or more oI the Iollowing:
O oldlng or Lelescoplng sLock
O 9rlmary plsLol grlp
O orward grlp
O @hreaded barrel (for a Suppressor commonly called a sllencer)
O arrel shroud
The assault weapons ban did not restrict weapons capable oI Iully automatic Iire, such as assault
riIles and machine guns, which have been continuously and heavily regulated since the National
Firearms Act oI 1934 was passed. Subsequent laws such as the Gun Control Act oI 1968 and the
Firearm Owners Protection Act oI 1986 also aIIected the importation and civilian ownership oI
Iully automatic Iirearms, the latter Iully prohibiting sales oI newly-manuIactured machine guns
to non-law enIorcement or SOT (special occupational taxpayer) dealers.

%s-%s: Pre-Sturmgewebr Ligbt automatic rifles
%hese automatic firearms generally used pre-existing rifle cartridges, with kinetic energies
between 19605,000 J (2,2003,700-foot-pounds), velocities of 660900 m/s (1,4452,950 ft/s)
and bullets of 9 to 13 g (139200 grains).
Amerigo Cei-#igotti developed a riIle with essentially all the characteristics oI an assault riIle
between 1890-1900.. It was tested but did not see service. The Iirst in-service precursor oI the
assault riIle was the #ussian Fedorov Avtomat issued Ior the Iirst time in 1915 and chambered
Ior the Japanese 6.5x50mm Arisaka riIle cartridge. Like the 6.5x52mm Mannlicher-Carcano
round used in the Cei-#igotti, this was a relatively low-powered riIle cartridge already in
production. The 1,960 J bullet energy oI the Arisaka round Irom the short barrel oI the Avtomat
was in Iact less than the 2,010 J bullet energy oI the AK-47. The Fedorov Avtomat, though a
service riIle, was only used in small numbers. It was however highly Iavored by #ussian and
Soviet troops and saw service until World War II. Both these riIles had selective Iire capability
and weighed under 5 1/2 kgs loaded.
During World War I the French Chauchat was introduced, a light machine gun and a precursor to
the modern assault riIle. It was produced in large numbers (250,000). Like the later assault riIle it
was capable oI both single and automatic Iire, and was loaded with a magazine and also Ieatured
a pistol grip. Compared to other light machine guns oI the time the Chauchat was Iairly light at
the weight oI 9 kg but it was still too cumbersome Ior closer quarters and had recoil that was too
heavy to control when Iiring Iully automatic due to the use oI Iull powered riIle rounds like
original French chambering oI the 8 mm Lebel (8x50mm#) or variants produced later Ior US
Iorces in .30-06 SpringIield and other international customers in 7.92 mm and 7.65 mm riIle
calibres. Despite some serious Ilaws it was so important to inIantry combat that desperate
German troops who had no comparable weapon oI their own started using captured Chauchats.
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While it was chambered Ior the Iull-size calibre and thereIore did not use an intermediate
cartridge, it was an intermediate weapon between submachine guns and heavier machine guns
such as the Lewis Gun.
The #ibeyrolle 1918 may be the Iirst weapon Iitting the deIinition oI an assault riIle (including
select Iire and portability) to use a purpose-designed intermediate round. The cartridge was based
on the .351 Winchester SelI-Loading case necked down to accept a 8 mm Lebel bullet. It was
Iirst introduced to the Army Technical Service on July 6, 1918. Its oIIicial designation was
arabine Mitrailleuse (English: machine carbine; German: Maschinenkarabiner). It was Iinally
rejected in 1921 because it was not accurate enough at distances beyond 400 meters. Similar
weapons were the Danish Weibel M/1932 and Greek EPK light machine guns chambered in
experimental rounds considered similar to what would become the 7.92x33mm Kurz within the
Iollowing decade.
The American M1918 Browning Automatic #iIle (BA#) copied the Chauchat concept in a more
reliable design but was not introduced or used in any signiIicant numbers beIore the end oI the
First World War. Later developments added heavier barrels and bipods that made it more like
today's light machine gun or squad automatic weapon, though it did help establish the doctrine oI
use Ior light selective Iire riIles. These versions oI the BA# were produced in large numbers,
widely adopted, and served well into the 1960s with the U.S. military and other nations.
urlng World War l submachlne guns also enLered servlce such as Lhe vlllar 9erosa Lhe ereLLa Model
1918 and Lhe M918 @hese weapons shared many elemenLs wlLh assaulL rlfles buL Lhey flred plsLol
carLrldges such as Lhe 9x19 mm 9arabellum @he developers of Lhe @hompson submachlne gun (also
developed durlng Lhe 1910s) orlglnally lnLended Lo use rlflepowered rounds Powever a mechanlcal
sysLem LhaL could handle Lhelr power was noL avallable and Lhe 43 AC9 carLrldge was chosen lnsLead
@hese flrearms are consldered parL of Lhe submachlne gun class buL were an lmporLanL sLep ln Lhe
developmenL of assaulL rlfles
%s: Automatic intermediate weapons
Continuing evolution oI the intermediate-calibre automatic riIle was primarily driven by
ammunition. Handgun ammunition used by submachine guns was only eIIective at shorter
ranges. Conversely, Iull-sized military riIle calibres were uncomIortable to Iire repeatedly, were
large and lead to unwieldy and heavy riIles, and were diIIicult to control during Iully automatic
or rapid Iire because oI signiIicant recoil. The cost oI design and manuIacture oI Iull-size riIles
ammunition was also higher. One attempt to combine an intermediate cartridge with an
automatic riIle by the Italian arms company Beretta resulted in the MAB 38 (Moschetto
Automatico Beretta 1938). The MAB 38 used a Fiocchi 9M38 cartridge, a higher-powered
version oI the 9x19mm Parabellum pistol cartridge, which could provide longer eIIective range
up to 200 m.
In 1942, the United States introduced the M1 carbine, which was an intermediate power weapon
chambered Ior the .30 Carbine cartridge. While select-Iire capability was initially planned Ior the
M1 carbine, this was dropped Irom the initial version. Later in the war, selective Iire variants
were made (M2 and M3). The weapon had greater range and accuracy than submachine guns,
but was not as powerIul as Iull-size automatic riIles such as the M1918 BA#. The longer barrel
provided the carbine with a higher muzzle velocity than pistols and submachine guns chambered
Ior the same .30-calibre round.
Originally the carbine was envisioned as an inexpensive lightweight weapon Ior issue to rear-
echelon and support troops (truckers, tankers, cooks, etc.) in place oI the more expensive M1911
pistol or M1 Garand riIle. The M1 series was soon Iound suitable Ior close quarter battle
engagements, a concept that would be re-applied later. The M1 carbine series would remain in
service with the U.S. military primary Iorces until supplemented and Iinally replaced by the M16
riIle in the 1960s; it continued to be used in limited roles, particularly by the U.S. Navy, Air
Force, Coast Guard, and many Training Commands in the various branches oI the U.S. armed
Iorces well into the 1980s.
The 1930s was also the beginning oI the important German Maschinenkarabiner program oI
arms development that resulted in the prototype Maschinenkarabiner M35 that was however not
adopted Ior service.
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%s-early %s: Mascbinenkarabiner, Sturmgewebr & AK-
Some of these automatic firearms used pre-existing rounds, others used new intermediate
cartridges. Kinetic energy ranged between 1,4002,100 J (1,0331,550-foot-pounds), mu::le
velocities of 600800m/s (1,9702,625 ft/s) and bullets of 79g (108139 grains).
Germany, under the Versailles Treaty, was limited to a proIessional army oI long service soldiers
numbering only 100,000 men and Iorbade tanks or military aircraIt. This encouraged an
approach that emphasied high quality, and reduced emphasis on low cost. InIantry tactics
became based on teams oI General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) supporting and supported by
a section oI inIantry. GPMG had high rates oI Iire to permit small numbers oI men to Iire at long
range to deIend a wide Iront. Enemy soldiers, brieIly exposed, would be engaged with a high rate
burst oI Iire to cause casualties beIore they could take cover. Close range assaults would be
conducted by units with submachine guns, Ior greater mobility, and higher rates oI Iire. This
tactical approach was a reIinement oI the "Hutier" tactics used by Germany in the last year oI
WWI.
Germany, like other countries, had observed and studied the emerging demand oI inIantry riIles
evolving since World War I, and their Iactories made a variety oI non-standard cartridges,
thereIore having less incentive to retain their existing calibres. The 7.92x30 mm (Kurz) cartridge
was an example oI these experiments; in 1941, it was improved to 7.92x33mm Kurz nfanterie
Kur: Patrone ("InIantry Short Cartridge"). In 1942, it was again improved as
Maschinenkarabiner Patrone S, and in 1943, Pistolen Patrone 43mE; then, Iinally, nfanterie
Kur: Patrone 43. The similarity in size between the 7.92x33mm German cartridge and the
7.62x33mm developed Ior the M1 Carbine is a curious coincidence, but was ultimately nothing
more than independent yet similar solutions to the same problem. The 7.92x33mm round used
the same cartridge case head as the standard 7.92x57mm Mauser and the bullet was made Irom
the same diameter rod.
In 1942, Walther presented the Maschinenkarabiner ("automatic carbine," abbr. MKb), named
MKb42(W). In the same year, Haenel presented the MKb42(H), designed by Hugo Schmeisser
as a result oI this program. #heinmetall-Borsig (some said KrieghoII) presented its FG42
(Fallschirmfger Gewehr 42, sponsored by Hermann Gring) though this was in a diIIerent role,
and using a heavy 7.92x57mm Mauser cartridge, which was not an intermediate round. Wartime
tests in #ussia indicated the MKb42(H) perIormed better than the other two. Schmeisser
developed it Iirst as the MP43, then MP43/1, and Iinally as the MP44/Sturmgewehr 44
(abbreviated StG44, or sometimes Stg 44). It immediately entered large scale production. More
than 5,000 units had been produced by February 1944, and 55,000 by the Iollowing November.
Following the end oI the war in 1947, Mikhail Kalashnikov developed the AK-47, inspired by
the concept and layout oI the German StG44, but is quite diIIerent mechanically. It Iired the
7.62x39mm cartridge, which had been developed as model 43 Ior use in their SKS carbines that
were developed by Simonov in 1945 and subsequently adopted as the SKS-45 . The round was
similar to the StG44's in that the bullet was an intermediate round oI the same calibre as the
larger Iull-size #ussian riIle ammunition.
Though it Iurther supports claims that Kalashnikov closely Iollowed his German counterpart,
#ussian historians point out that Hugo Schmeisser arrived to Izhevsk in late 1947, while
Kalashnikov had relocated development oI his riIle to the same premises only as late as 1948
(the development itselI began in 1943). Still, Schmeisser greatly helped Soviet gunsmiths to
master the cold stamping technology, which was extensively used in the AK design (this
especially relates to the later stamped receiver variant)
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.
Mauser had developed several prototype Sturmgewehr 45 assault riIles, Iirst with the Gert 06
(Device 6) using a roller-delayed blowback mechanism originally adapted Irom the roller-locked
recoil operation oI the MG42 machine gun but with a Iixed barrel and gas system. It was realised
that with careIul attention to the mechanical ratios, the gas system could be omitted. The
resultant weapon, the Gert 06(H) was supposedly slated Ior adoption by the Wehrmacht as the
StG45.
@he Cerman Lechnlclans lnvolved ln developlng Lhe SLurmgewehr 43 conLlnued Lhelr research ln rance
aL CLAM @he SLC43 mechanlsm was modlfled by Ludwlg vorgrlmler and @heodor Lffler aL Lhe
Mulhouse faclllLy beLween 1946 and 1949 @hree verslons were made chambered ln 30 Carblne
792x33mm kurz as well as Lhe 763x33mm carLrldge developed by CarLoucherle de valence and
adopLed ln 1948 A 73x38mm carLrldge uslng a parLlal alumlnlum bulleL was abandoned ln 1947
Lngaged ln Lhe lndochlna war and belng Lhe second nA@ conLrlbuLor rance cancelled Lhe adopLlon of
Lhese new weapons vorgrlmler moved Lo Spaln and began producLlon of CL@ML Modelo A and C
precursors of Peckler kochs C3 baLLle rlfle and M93 submachlne gun
%s-early %s: Mascbinenkarabiner, Sturmgewebr & AK-
Mooy of tbese ootomotlc flteotms oseJ lotetmeJlote cotttlJqes wltb mocb llqbtet bollets ooJ smollet
collbtes bot flteJ ot vety blqb veloclty kloetlc eoetqy tooqeJ betweeo 1J001800I (9601JJ0foot
poooJs) velocltles of 9001050m/s (2950J450 ft/s) ooJ bollets of J4q (4662 qtolos)
Following the end oI World War II, the U.S. Army conducted a number oI studies oI what
happened in the war and how it was actually Iought. Several things were learned which applied
directly to personal weapon design. Perhaps most important, research Iound that most combat
casualties caused by small-arms Iire took place at short range. So the long range and accuracy oI
the standard riIle was, in a real sense, wasted. Second, the research Iound that aiming was not a
major Iactor in causing casualties. Instead, the number one predictor oI casualties was the total
number oI bullets Iired.
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Third, psychological studies Iound that many riIlemen (as much as
2/3) never Iired their weapons at the enemy. By contrast, those soldiers equipped with rapid-Iire
weapons (submachine guns and the early assault riIles) were Iar more likely to actually use their
weapons in battle.
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This combination oI Iactors led to the conclusion that a Iairly short-range
weapon capable oI rapid Iire would be the most eIIective general purpose weapon Ior inIantry.
While these studies were being digested, the United States insisted on introducing their own
7.62x51mm Iull-power cartridge as the standard Ior NATO armies. It could kill at distances oI
more than 500 meters (though this was increasingly seen as irrelevant). At the time, the British
were developing their own 7x43mm (.280 British) intermediate cartridge Ior their modern EM-2
bullpup assault riIle. Due to political pressure Irom the Conservative Party, which agreed with
the American standardisation campaign, the whole project was shelved at the eve oI introduction.
In Belgium, the Iamous arms producer FN Herstal started experimenting with the German
7.92x33mm Kurzpatrone. They built a prototype oI a riIle using this cartridge, but the impending
NATO standardisation Iorced them to rebuild it to use American ammo, giving birth to the FN
FAL, Switzerland introduced the SIG 510 that still Iired Swiss service Iull-length riIle rounds but
also produced the SIG 510-4 that Iired the 7.62x51mm NATO round. Bolivia and Chile adopted
the SIG 510-4 as their service riIle, Bolivian/Chilean exports were licence produced by the
Italian Iirm Beretta.
In conjunction with the 7.62x51mm Cartridge, The United States had developed the M14 riIle,
which was largely based on the WWII M1 Garand, the most signiIicant change being the
addition oI a 20 round detachable box magazine and selective Iire capability. While initial tests
looked promising, and proIessional riIleman were able to put on Iavorable demonstrations, the
select-Iire capabilities quickly proved unrealistic once the riIle was in the hands oI a more
average soldier; The 7.62mm NATO cartridge is a Iull power riIle cartridge and produces too
much recoil to control a lightweight riIle in Iull automatic Iire. About the same time the M-14
was entering service, Eugene Stoner oI Armalite was developing a totally new riIle named the
A#-10, which was still designed to Iire the 7.62mm NATO cartridge. As testing oI the Stoner
riIle progressed, army ordinance Iinally decided to look more seriously at the intermediate
cartridge concept, and the 5.56x45mm NATO was born. Stoner scaled down his design and
renamed the smaller weapon the A#-15, which would ultimately be adopted by the US armed
Iorces as the M-16 riIle. The M16A1 version soon Iollowed to rectiIy issues Iound during use in
the Vietnam War. The M16A2 was a Iurther reIinement and upgrade introduced in 1986 meant
to use the Belgian-updated 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge with a heavier 62-grain (4.0 g) bullet
known as the SS109 or M855. The latest incarnation oI the M-16 riIle is the M4A1 selective Iire
carbine.
The smaller-calibre military cartridges such as the 5.56x45mm and 5.45x39mm were sometimes
considered less lethal than the previous generation oI assault riIle rounds, such as the
7.62x39mm, which were large-calibre bullets with reduced propellant or cases. However, the
lighter, small-calibre bullets achieved higher velocities, more Iavourable ballistic properties, and
reduced carrying weight.
One aspect oI the smaller calibre ammunition that is sometimes hotly debated is its
Iragmentation behaviour. Stopping capability is the eIIectiveness oI the round in completely
stopping the target when it hitseither killing or Iully incapacitating. Within a certain range oI
ballistic conditions, the lighter 5.56 mm and 5.45 mm will, upon striking tissue, Iirst tumble and
then Iragment. Beyond 100 yards (91 m), or when Iired Irom shorter barrels, such bullets can
oIten Iail to Iragment upon impact because oI insuIIicient velocity. Thus, the result in a target is
a rather small .22 calibre bullet hole, instead oI a much larger wound channel. EIIectiveness
depends on what tissues oI the enemy body the round destroys. Larger destroyed areas increases
the probability that suIIicient damage will be done to end enemy resistance. Ultimately, any
pointed (spitzer) round will tumble in soIt tissue. II the jacket has a cannelure, such as the U.S.
5.56x45mm M193 round, and the bullet is in the proper ballistic state and high enough velocity,
the bullet will Iragment, inIlicting signiIicant blood loss and internal damage, as well as a wound
channel proIile that is more complex to address medically. II the bullet acts as a solid, and
doesn't Iragment, Iull eIIectiveness occurs only iI striking the brain or spinal cord, causing
immediate loss oI control. There is a distinct, though lesser eIIectiveness iI the heart, large blood
vessels, or liver (which last tends to tear) is hit causing Iairly quick loss oI blood pressure, and
consequent unconsciousness.
Part oI the dispute over small-calibre rounds arises here. Blood loss leads to indirect
incapacitation, but oIten takes longer than direct destruction oI tissue. DeIence Secretary #obert
McNamara presented wounding ability as a reason Ior adoption oI the M16 over the M14 as a
question oI battleIield eIIiciency - that it is better to wound an adversary than kill him, as
wounded must be tended to by their comrades, taking them out oI the Iight and demoralising
them in the process.
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Many claim that this theory was wed to the Iindings oI Project SALVO,
but nowhere in the SALVO Iindings was reduced lethality oI riIle rounds ever stressed or
presented as an argument Ior adoption oI a lighter/smaller calibre round. SALVO concluded that
the main Iactor in inIlicting casualties in inIantry combat was solely rounds Iired - aiming had
negligible impact.
The theory that enemy soldiers would stop to aid a wounded comrade was questionable. The
heavier 7.62 mm bullets in use were claimed to hit harder with more mass, would not deIlect or
destabilise as readily, and more reliably killed what it hit. (Some oI the substantiated issues were
later addressed in 1982 with the changes made in the M16A2, which used a heavier 62-grain
(4.0 g) bullet with diIIerent ballistic characteristics than its M16A1 predecessor.)