[BigG]

Battle Rifle: Since when did we come up with this brilliant term? Is there such a thing as a non-battle rifle? Is it any different than a plain old rifle? Is there a Tactical Battle Rifle? How bout a Smurf rifle? I think a pink Barbie rifle might be wonderful. Just wondering why we apply these silly adjectives? :scrutiny:

[Murphster]

I've wondered that myself. I know that "tactical" means "same stuff, painted black, increased price" and "assault rifle" means "we didn't use wood to make the stock" or "it has a cartridge holder that hangs down." But I'm not sure what scientific criteria was used for the battle rifle tag.

[MrMurphy]

Assault rifle: Selective fire, medium sized cartridge (7.62X39mm, 5.56, etc), large capacity magazine, designed for medium range.


Battle Rifle: semiautomatic or selective fire large caliber rifle (7.62 Nato, .30-06, 8mm, etc), usually with a large capacity detachable magazine, designed for use from 0-500m plus (farther than an assault rifle). Generally speaking, anything NATO used in the '50s to the '70s..... the FAL, AR-10, M14. The M1, G41/43, FG42 and FN49 from the WW2-postWW2 era fit as well.

[George S.]

My definition of a battle rifle would include any rifle carried as a basic weapon by military forces of any nation. I consider my Mosin 91/30 to be a battle rifle every bit as much as my Garand is.

While post- WWII weapons are primarily semi-auto types, there are a large number of bolt action rifles that saw many years of combat use. I believe you have to add them because they were the rifles that changed nations and made history. Mauser, Springfield, Lee-Enfiled are all fine examples of early battle rifles.

I would include "assualt rifles" in my definition simply because they are now the norm in military forces. They have the same function in the military today, but they are really the result of improvements in technology and from combat experience.

[armoredman]

"Assault rifle" little bullets, and lots of 'em
"Battle Rifle" Big bullets, not so fast.:D

[Joe Demko]

I guess the term came out of a desire to not type something like "military-issue or civilian-legal variant thereof shoulderfired weapon using a full-sized rifle cartridge" over and over.

[Sunray]

"The term "battle rifle" is often used to cover a variety of rifle types, all of which are simply rifles that were designed to be taken into battle. The first to encounter the term were bolt-action rifles designed around the turn of the twentieth century that were slightly shorter than the then-accepted norm. They fired what are now termed "full-power" rifle cartridges and were effective out to a range of 800-1,000 meters. The Mauser 98, Lee-Enfield SMLE, Springfield M1903 and Arisaka Type 99, among others, fit into this group." This came from here.
http://matrix.dumpshock.com/raygun/firearms/assault/
You can have an AR with a pink stock if you really want one. One of the women at http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/ has one. http://www.azexarms.com/cavfurniture.html

[Feanaro]

Is there such a thing as a non-battle rifle?

You can press most any firearm into service but a Remington 700 wasn't designed for it. On the other hand, a Kar98K was.

[cdbeaver]

I'm just guessing here, and might be far off the mark, but I believe a battle rifle is so designated to separate it from "special use" rifles, i.e., carbines, sniper rifles, grenade launcher combinations, etc.

My vision of a battle rifle is any general issue rifle carried by the basic rifleman.

[BlkHawk73]

Why does a "battle rifle" need to be of a particular action type? Weren;t the lever actions and single shots used during the Indian wars "battle rifles"? weren't the blackpowder, muzzleloading muskets used in the early days of our country "battle rifles"?
I this this is just another trm to make a gun be "tough" so that people can feel good about themselves for owning one and so that sellers can ask a higher price for them.

[ceetee]

I this this is just another trm to make a gun be "tough" so that people can feel good about themselves for owning one and so that sellers can ask a higher price for them.


Naw... It's just a semantics game designed to invent a particular form of jargon. Anybody who "gets it" is a member of the club, while anybody who "doesn't get it" is not.


"Assault Rifle", "Battle Rifle", "MBR", "Tactical Rifle", "Sniper Rifle", "Military Weapon"...

All forms of jargon intended to evoke an emotional response from the audience. If used by somebody who "gets it", then he expects a positive response from guys like us. If used by most modern journalists today, the intended reaction is revulsion...

[RepublicanMan]

FWIW I believe Bushmaster is making a pink "barbie" rifle now too... :D

[MrMurphy]

It's to differentiate the "assault rifle" little bullet throwers from their slightly older brothers like the FAL.

And that way you can say "battle rifle" and not be handed a Remington 7600 (which is also .308/.30-06, semiautomatic and magazine fed, but in no way CLOSE to matching an M1 or FAL!)

Bolt action military issue weapons (Mauser, Lee-Enfield, etc) would fit too, but MBR generally means FAL/G3/M14 when I see it used.