Opinions Please - Are Assault Rifles Perfected?

[copeab]

Originally Posted by CDAT

At least what I was taught the G3 and the SMLE are not in the same class. Just becasue it is used in battle does not make it a battle rifle. One is a bolt action rifle the other is a Battle Rifle. To be a battle rifle it has to be selective fire using a full power cartridge, so a bolt action is not going to fall under that. And the Assault rifle has to be the same as a battle rifle but it uses an intermediate cartridge.

This is very close to what I have heard, as well.

As for having the same designs in several calibers you can have in the same basic design a SMG (uses pistol cartridges), Assault Rifle, and Battle Rifles. But the different cartridges and what goes with it does make a very big difference, at least I think so.

The SMG is arguably becoming obsolete, with very short-barreled assault rifles avalable.

[CDAT]

Originally Posted by copeab

...

The SMG is arguably becoming obsolete, with very short-barreled assault rifles avalable.

Very true, was just saying that just because the platform is more or less the same but with a different caliber does not make it the same thing, the caliber makes a huge difference (as in the actual class of the weapon).

[copeab]

Originally Posted by CDAT

Very true, was just saying that just because the platform is more or less the same but with a different caliber does not make it the same thing, the caliber makes a huge difference (as in the actual class of the weapon).

True. The only real advantage of a SMG over a short assault rifle is that a fired round is less likely to go through multiple walls This really makes to more of a police weapon these days than a military weapon, though there are certain specific, limited military applications for a SMG.