# Machine Gun Vs. Assault Rifle: What's the Difference? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 22, 2002, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-gun-vs-assault-rifle-whats-the-difference/120166 "2002-07-22T03:02:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-gun-vs-assault-rifle-whats-the-difference/120166/41 "2002-07-22T23:24:03Z")
As noted there is a gulf between the traditional definition of _Sturmgewahr_ and “Semi-automatic assault weapong” as legislated in 1994. Curiously federal law considers machine guns and assault weapons to be entirely exclusive of each other. As an example one way to own a machine gun is with a registered drop in auto sear. This is a single part that for certain reasons could be registered as a machine gun in itself up until 1986. The 1934 GCA includes parts needed to make a machine gun as one of the definitions. An auto sear and some other parts can be installed into some semi-automatic weapons converting them into a functional machine gun. A friend owns such a converted submachine gun, that is effectively an H&K MP5K. The auto sear was installed in an SP-89 pistol which is similar to the MP5 except it is semi auto and has no buttstock. As a machine gun it is not subject to the 1994 assault weapons ban or the NFA definition of a short barreled rifle. If he removed the auto sear and did nothing else the weapon would be illegal unless he installed a 16" barrel or removed the buttstock. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-gun-vs-assault-rifle-whats-the-difference/120166/42 "2002-07-22T23:47:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > \*\*Pardon me, that came out unnecessarily snotty. What I should have said is that the GQ question of what is the (legal) distinction between a machine gun and an asault weapon has been fully and accurately answered. \*\* You’re right and my apologies too, for the tone of my post as well. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-gun-vs-assault-rifle-whats-the-difference/120166/43 "2002-07-22T23:54:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > \*\*True enough, Johnny. But I wasn’t the person who brought up the (federal) legal definition, and that’s as close as you’re going to get for an “assault rifle.” > > (In point of fact, I assume Congress used the broader “assault weapon” because is establishes definitional critieria for semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns under that umbrella term. Again, see 18 U.S.C. \*\* Of course, those criteria are, in further point of fact, cosmetic: > [@](#): > > (30) > > The term ‘‘semiautomatic assault weapon’’ means - > (A) > any of the firearms, or copies or duplicates of the firearms in any caliber, known as - > [several different particular models of semiautomatic rifles and revolver shotguns] > > (B) > a semiautomatic rifle that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of - > (i) > a folding or telescoping stock; > (ii) > a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon; > (iii) > a bayonet mount; > (iv) > a flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor; and > (v) > a grenade launcher; > > © > a semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of - > (i) > an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip; > (ii) > a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer; > (iii) > a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the nontrigger hand without being burned; > (iv) > a manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; and > (v) > a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm; and > > (D) > a semiautomatic shotgun that has at least 2 of - > (i) > a folding or telescoping stock; > (ii) > a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon; > (iii) > a fixed magazine capacity in excess of 5 rounds; and > (iv) > an ability to accept a detachable magazine. …As you well know. Why do you play this cite game? You know as well as the rest of us that the majority of the criteria are purely cosmetic, but you pretend that it’s not true until somebody cites it. That kind of crap may be cute in a courtroom, but not in real life, and not here. Two of: a folding stock, a bayonet mount, a flash suppressor, and a pistol grip. These are the things that make a magazine-fed semiautomatic rifle illegal. Tell me, which of these actually makes the rifle more deadly. Is it the pistol grip? The flash suppressor? What? Oh, it does list a grenade launcher, which is, I believe, already controlled as **ordnance**. But none of the other features affect functionality in any way. They’re cosmetic. All they do is make the gun look scarier. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-gun-vs-assault-rifle-whats-the-difference/120166/44 "2002-07-23T00:01:05Z")
Johnny, would you care to take it to GD? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-gun-vs-assault-rifle-whats-the-difference/120166/45 "2002-07-23T01:06:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Johnny, would you care to take it to GD? Not particularly. You and I have gone round and round on this, and neither of us will convince the other. I think we’ve both said as much as we can on the subject in previous threads, and we’re at loggerheads. Thanks, but I’ll pass. ---
**Author:** ![gunpedia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@gunpedia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gunpedia)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-gun-vs-assault-rifle-whats-the-difference/120166/46 "2013-04-24T11:24:33Z")
Hi Rick, I found your post so well written that i joined the Forum just to tell you how awesome it is. By the way i’m starting a little Gun/FireArm Blog thing, So i’m trying to gather as much info as i can on FireArms/Artillery for this. I know nothing about guns, shot very few times,don’t own a gun and i barely know the basics of guns. I’ll be joining some lessons soon. So for the blog may i use your post on the difference between Rifles and Machine Guns? Thanks > [@RickJay](#): > > Generally speaking, an **assault rifle** is a personal weapon that is, in fact, a rifle, and that has automatic or semi-automatic fire, and carries a magazine. An M-16, AK-47 or AK-74, FN-FAL, etc. are all assault rifles. > > A **machine gun** is a weapon that is capable of holding very large box magazines or firing belt ammunition, or some other loading mechanism that allows many rounds to be fired without reloading. Machine guns are generally larger than rifles and normally are either mounted on a vehicle or platform, or can have their own built-in mounting devices, such as a bipod. SAWs, M-60s, and the famed German MG-43 are “machine guns.” Machine guns ALWAYS have full automatic fire, whereas assault rifles sometimes do not. Actually, IIRC, the SAW doesn’t have have a single-shot option. The Canadian versions I fired didn’t; the only choices were “Safe” and “Full bore blast’em.” > > The difference between an assault rifle and a machine gun is one of degree, not any one specific thing. Assault rifles are personal weapons with magazines usually around 20-50 rounds. Machine guns are larger weapons designed to provide supporting fire for a whole squad or more, usually holding more than 50 rounds. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-gun-vs-assault-rifle-whats-the-difference/120166/50 "2015-12-15T01:09:39Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > The famous M1-Carbine is completely exempt from the “assault weapons” law: it was _the_ WWII rifle by the U.S.A. > [@Fenris](#): > > Explain why M1 Carbines ais exempt from laws regulating “miltary stile semiautomatic weapos” when it was the (IIRC) MOST USED MILITARY RIFLE IN THE WORLD until fairly recently. You appear to be confusing the [M1 carbine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_carbine) with the [M1 rifle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Garand). ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-gun-vs-assault-rifle-whats-the-difference/120166/51 "2015-12-15T01:43:53Z")
**Moderator Action** This thread was raised by a spammer who has since been disappeared. Since this thread dates back to 2002 and involves both the legal definitions of an assault rifle as well as the military definitions, it’s probably best to close this. If anyone wants to discuss the current definition of the term “assault rifle” (or variants thereof) within the current political climate, feel free to start a new thread, in the appropriate forum. You may be able to find newer threads that already exist on this topic, however. If you want to discuss the factual military definition of assault rifle, again, feel free to start a new thread, though you can probably find an already existing thread that is much newer than this one. Thread closed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-gun-vs-assault-rifle-whats-the-difference/120166.md?page=2)