Editing Rifle (section)

==Modern==

[[File:Vz24.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Czechoslovak rifle vz. 24]]

In the [[Russo-Japanese War]] of 1904–1905, military observers from Europe and the United States witnessed a major conflict fought with high velocity [[Bolt action|bolt-action rifles]] firing [[smokeless powder]].<ref name=Keegan1999/>{{rp|179,229,230}}<ref name=Menning1992/>{{rp|104,105}} The [[Battle of Mukden]] fought in 1905 consisted of nearly 343,000 Russian troops against over 281,000 Japanese troops. The Russian [[Mosin–Nagant]] Model 1891 in 7.62&nbsp;mm was pitted against the Japanese [[Type 30 rifle|Arisaka Type 30]] bolt-action rifle in 6.5&nbsp;mm;<ref name=Menning1992/>{{rp|104,105,155}} both had velocities well over {{convert|2,000|ft/s|m/s}}.<ref name=Menning1992/>{{rp|187}}<ref name=MRJapan2006/>{{rp|28,29}}

Until the late 19th century rifles tended to be very long, some [[long rifle]]s reaching approximately {{cvt|2|m|ft|0}} in length to maximize accuracy, making early rifles impractical for use by cavalry. However, following the advent of more powerful smokeless powder, a shorter barrel did not impair accuracy as much. As a result, cavalry saw limited, but noteworthy, usage in 20th-century conflicts.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

The advent of the massed, rapid firepower of the [[machine gun]], [[submachine gun]] and rifled [[artillery]] was so quick as to outstrip the development of any way to attack a [[Trench warfare|trench]] defended by riflemen and machine gunners. The carnage of World War I was perhaps the greatest vindication and vilification of the rifle as a military weapon.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

The [[M1 Garand]] was a semi-automatic rapid-fire rifle developed for modern warfare use in World War II.<ref name="npr.org"/>

[[File:Hunting rifle 02.png|thumb|upright=1.4|[[Remington Model 700]] in [[.30-06 Springfield]] with mounted [[telescopic sight]] and [[suppressor]]]]

During and after World War II it became accepted that most infantry engagements occurred at ranges of less than 300&nbsp;m; the range and power of the large full-powered rifle cartridges were "overkill", requiring weapons heavier than otherwise necessary. This led to Germany's development of the [[7.92×33mm|7.92×33mm {{lang|de|cat=no|Kurz}}]] (short) round, the [[Sturmgewehr 44|MKb-42]], and ultimately, the [[assault rifle]]. Today, an infantryman's rifle is optimized for ranges of 300&nbsp;m or less, and soldiers are trained to deliver individual rounds or bursts of fire within these distances. Typically, the application of accurate, long-range fire is the domain of the [[Designated marksman|marksman]] and the [[sniper]] in warfare, and of enthusiastic target shooters in peacetime. The modern [[marksman rifle]] and [[sniper rifle]] are usually capable of accuracy better than 0.3 [[Radian#SI multiples|mrad]] at 100 yards (1 [[minute of arc|arcminute]]).{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}