The Difference Between Machine Guns and Assault Rifles?

[Selastan]

It comes up a surprising amount in my life, but I often have to correct people who call any fully-automatic rifle a machine gun. But the trouble I have is that...I don't really know what the difference is. I just know there IS one. So can someone tell me what the difference is, to prevent further embarrassment on my part?

[chazus]

It depends on who/where you ask. It's all just 'names' in the end.

In the US, a 'machine gun' is any weapon that fires more than one bullet per trigger pull. This is largely synonymous with 'Automatic'. 'Assault Rifle' is any rifle that has a selective fire mode, and box cartridge 9there are other aspects too). Assault rifles usually have smaller ammunition than Battle Rifles.

Many people see any rifle that isn't a bolt action as an 'assault rifle' but isn't. Fully automatic weapons (selective fire or not) are not legal for civilian ownership.

[May90]

I don't know much about military tech, but I've always thought that machine guns were heavier weapons aimed at destroying vehicles and large groups of infantry, while assault rifles were lighter and focused on taking down single soldiers or very small groups of them.

[Tempguy]

It comes up a surprising amount in my life, but I often have to correct people who call any fully-automatic rifle a machine gun. But the trouble I have is that...I don't really know what the difference is. I just know there IS one. So can someone tell me what the difference is, to prevent further embarrassment on my part?

"Assault Rifle" is a made up term. Like "Man-splaining".

Machine gun is fully auto. You pull the trigger once, hold, and it keeps shooting until the magazine is empty.


Assault Rifle is just a Rifle with a pistol grip. You pull the trigger once, one bullet fires. You keep holding it, nothing happens. You let it go and pull again, one more bullet fires.


The issue is that many people think the movies are real and guns that look like M-16's will go full auto and mow people down.

I can provide examples if you want. I am a veteran and have used both rifles and actual machine guns.


M249 SAW = Machine gun.
M-4 A4/ M-16 A4 = Rifle

[Tempguy]

Machine gun (Skip to 0:40)



(Assault) Rifle (And mind you, that is an ARMY rifle. Not evcen a civilian one which does not even have 3 round burst. It's inaccurate as fuck and we don't even train to use it)

[Nathreim]

Machine guns are full auto an assault rifle has semi auto and full auto selections.

Machine guns come in 3 types small hand held weapons like Uzi's, Light machine guns like a SAW, and large heavy machine guns that often take two or more people to properly operate.

You can get full auto weapons (machine guns and assault rifles) in some states if you pass extensive state and federal background checks and pay a huge price it takes about 2 years at most.

The media lies to you when they report assault weapons were used in x shooting. They are semi automatic rifles not assault rifles they call them assault rifles because it sounds scary and intimidating.

[BuckSparkles]

One exists and one is a charged power word used to get people to associate guns with a negative connotation.

Kind of how they no longer call Illegals Illegal and now call them "Undocumented Migrants." All propaganda.

[Selastan]

Okay, what I'm inferring so far is that selective fire weapons like the Kalashnikov can be considered (very) light machine guns when in full auto mode? Please say no, I don't want to have been wrong all this time =(

[Nathreim]

Okay, what I'm inferring so far is that selective fire weapons like the Kalashnikov can be considered (very) light machine guns when in full auto mode? Please say no, I don't want to have been wrong all this time =(

No machine guns are ONLY full auto having selective fire disqualifies the AK.

[ewokgangbang]

the sure fire way to tell is by how many can be killed in a certain amount of time

[Selastan]

The media lies to you when they report assault weapons were used in x shooting. They are semi automatic rifles not assault rifles they call them assault rifles because it sounds scary and intimidating.

Agreed. Automatic weapons wouldn't be good in mass shootings anyway. Without professional training you would empty half your clip into a wall and spend more time reloading than pleasing Allah.

[Dezerte]

I think 'Machine Gun' is more often used for the heavier variants (e.g. M249), while 'Assault Rifle' is for the regular stuff (e.g. AK47).

[Tempguy]

Okay, what I'm inferring so far is that selective fire weapons like the Kalashnikov can be considered (very) light machine guns when in full auto mode? Please say no, I don't want to have been wrong all this time =(

Yes.

Sorry to say you are wrong. Even the Barret .50 cal machine gun has a single fire mode. AK's have two modes, single and full auto. They are also technically machine guns, though the full auto version is generally illegal for civilians.

So it's kinda both depending one what mode its in.

so 50/50?

If it can be placed into full auto, it is generally considered a machine gun, but that is debatable of course.

No machine guns are ONLY full auto having selective fire disqualifies the AK.

I see what you mean. And yes, in the Army we refer to AK's as rifles and only full auto belt fed weapons as "guns" (machine guns).

So I am gonna have to admit you hold the high ground here.

[Selastan]

No machine guns are ONLY full auto having selective fire disqualifies the AK.

Gotcha, thanks!

[zorkuus]

One exists and one is a charged power word used to get people to associate guns with a negative connotation.

Would it be cool if we changed it to "a weapon that is too dangerous in the hands of civilians"?

[Selastan]

Yes.

Sorry to say you are wrong. Even the Barret .50 cal machine gun has a single fire mode. AK's have two modes, single and full auto. They are also technically machine guns, though the full auto version is generally illegal for civilians.

Err, now I'm confused. At least getting two different answers in a forum will lead to an interesting discussion!

[BuckSparkles]

Would it be cool if we changed it to "a weapon that is too dangerous in the hands of civilians"?

Are we referring to the "terrifying" AR-15?

[Tempguy]

Err, now I'm confused. At least getting two different answers in a forum will lead to an interesting discussion!

I edited my post. Check again. Like I said, that's a fuzzy area.

But if you want the military definition. Its a belt fed full auto weapon with not even an option to go single shot.

What i said before was my opinion.

[Nathreim]

Err, now I'm confused. At least getting two different answers in a forum will lead to an interesting discussion!

Machine guns have never had selective fire the standard AK is an Assault rifle because it has semiauto AND full auto. Saying an AK is a machine gun because it has full auto is like saying its a rifle because it has single fire.

[Chrysia]

Err, now I'm confused. At least getting two different answers in a forum will lead to an interesting discussion!

Assault rifle is a term used in the industry, it's usually used when referring to select fire models to distinguish them from only full-auto machine guns. Select fire models are still technically machine guns.

Assault weapon is a legal term that refers to an incredibly broad selection of weapons that look vaguely like semi-auto variants of military weapons. The media often refers to assault weapons that are also rifles as assault rifles in short hand (I used to make this mistake too, until I was told about the manufacturing term.) This usually makes people think of full-auto weapons, upping the fear factor.