What's an Assault Rifle?

[OlongJohnson]

One thing that bugs me is the claim that the antis "invented" the term (as far as applying it to non-FA firearms) in the '80s.

We should all know that the "full auto" meaning was a working definition or understanding, if not rigorously and precisely delimited category, describing a general type of actual military arm, in official use going back into at least the 60s if not the 50s. (I haven't personally seen military weapons ID manuals going back that far.)

Jack O'Connor's 1970 book, The Hunting Rifle, refers to the Colt AR as an "assault rifle" in a way that implies that would be a term understood by and familiar to his audience.

Literature I have in my possession provides evidence that the gun industry and associated media were pumping up the term in an attempt to build market interest and move some iron in the mid-'80s, prior to the Brady Bunch latching onto it as an alternative path forward that would likely be more productive for their cause than banning handguns.

I don't see how it benefits us in the long run to be either ignorant or less than honest about the history.

[Suvorov]

And not the softcore Mini-14 porn, either. Full stocked Mini-14 porn. Off to GunBroker...

Ohh - I’m still waiting for delivery of my A-TM Samson folder 🙁

Because - Hannibal Smith!

But a Mini in a full stock has a great degree of juxtaposition appeal....

[TiroFijo]

"combat rifle"
"assaullt rifle"
"sniper rifle"
...

[Borderland]

"combat rifle"
"assaullt rifle"
"sniper rifle"
...

You can add "battle rifle".

[Borderland]

And not the softcore Mini-14 porn, either. Full stocked Mini-14 porn. Off to GunBroker...

Wow, 1K plus on those GB rifles. I bought a new one a few years ago for $750. The consensus then was that's stupid because an AR ran about the same price. They need to be tuned up (trigger and gas port) so really about $850 to be useful. They also don't shoot as well as your average $750 AR generally and you can't hang all the tactically cool stuff on them. But they look fairly harmless with a wood stock so they have that Walt Kowalski get-off-my-lawn appeal.

I was ringing some steel with mine yesterday and had a few old guys who were interested in it. How does it shoot? Shoots just fine. Rings the 12" plate at 200 yds without fail. Let me demonstrate.

[JJN]

An intermediate rifle cartridge rifle with full auto capability in order for a maneuvering infantry element to have automatic fire capability on their assault. The Stg44, AR-15/M-16, and AK47 are the archetypes for this.

[Phaedrus]

I thinks Jane's long ago defined it as a selective fire carbine or rifle in an intermediate caliber. That's the definition I've used for 40 years or so.

[Suvorov]

Wow, 1K plus on those GB rifles. I bought a new one a few years ago for $750. The consensus then was that's stupid because an AR ran about the same price. They need to be tuned up (trigger and gas port) so really about $850 to be useful. They also don't shoot as well as your average $750 AR generally and you can't hang all the tactically cool stuff on them. But they look fairly harmless with a wood stock so they have that Walt Kowalski get-off-my-lawn appeal.

I was ringing some steel with mine yesterday and had a few old guys who were interested in it. How does it shoot? Shoots just fine. Rings the 12" plate at 200 yds without fail. Let me demonstrate.

I really would have liked a GB in stainless, but Kalifornia.....

Hopefully after I move the prices on those will become more reasonable as it will better complete my “Hannibal Smith Special” than the standard ranch model I have (even though it is one of the interim 580s with the pencil barrels).

Ahh to be a child of the 80s.....

[Suvorov]

I thinks Jane's long ago defined it as a selective fire carbine or rifle in an intermediate caliber. That's the definition I've used for 40 years or so.

What does Jane’s know about firearms that Merrimack-Webster and the media don’t? 😉

[Glenn E. Meyer]

If new bans come, they will take out all semi rifles down to the 10/22s. The stupid lists will be gone for a generic take down of the functionality. All the definition debates will be for naught.

You think a 10/22 with a 30 round mag or a Ruger PCC with a 28 round Glock mag won't be an evil gun? Who cares about the Sturmfunkenboomerdoomer? They won't.

That's why if the GOP ever gets back into the Presidency and Congressional majorities - they need to pass something like the SAGA act, which Moscow Mitch and Paul Ryan never let come near the floor. Yes, there are all kinds of weeds arguments why they didn't. Don't care.

Or Scotus unambiguously voids state and future AWBs, mag limits, semi limits, etc. Probably not in my old fart lifetime at their pace.