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Theohazard · July 9, 2013, 07:26 PM

Theres obviously some overlap, but in general I would use these definitions:

-Machine-pistol: A select-fire handgun

-Sub-machine gun: A shoulder-fired, select-fire carbine firing a pistol round

-Assault rifle: A select fire rifle firing an intermediate-power rifle cartridge (5.45, 5.56, 7.62x39, etc)

-Machine-gun: A select-fire or full-auto-only weapon firing a rife cartridge, designed for sustained full-auto fire

To me, a true machine-gun is a belt-fed weapon with changeable barrels designed for sustained full-auto fire in a support role, usually shot off a bipod or even a tripod. But there are also plenty of magazine-fed machine guns that are basically beefed-up assault rifles designed for sustained full-auto fire. Some machines guns, like the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon), were used on the squad level as a more lightweight, direct-support weapon. Now the Marine Corps is using a piston-operated, beefed up version of the M16 to fill the Squad Automatic Weapon role.

M16s and AK-47s are assault rifles; they are select-fire rifles. They're not machine guns because they aren't designed for sustained full-auto fire.

July 9, 2013, 07:26 PM	#12
Theohazard Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2012 Location: Western PA Posts: 3,829	Theres obviously some overlap, but in general I would use these definitions: -Machine-pistol: A select-fire handgun -Sub-machine gun: A shoulder-fired, select-fire carbine firing a pistol round -Assault rifle: A select fire rifle firing an intermediate-power rifle cartridge (5.45, 5.56, 7.62x39, etc) -Machine-gun: A select-fire or full-auto-only weapon firing a rife cartridge, designed for sustained full-auto fire To me, a true machine-gun is a belt-fed weapon with changeable barrels designed for sustained full-auto fire in a support role, usually shot off a bipod or even a tripod. But there are also plenty of magazine-fed machine guns that are basically beefed-up assault rifles designed for sustained full-auto fire. Some machines guns, like the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon), were used on the squad level as a more lightweight, direct-support weapon. Now the Marine Corps is using a piston-operated, beefed up version of the M16 to fill the Squad Automatic Weapon role. M16s and AK-47s are assault rifles; they are select-fire rifles. They're not machine guns because they aren't designed for sustained full-auto fire. __________________ 0331: "Accuracy by volume."