Editing Firearm (section)

==== Assault rifles ====
{{main|Assault rifle}}
[[File:Kalaschnikow AK 107 noBG.png|thumb|The [[AK-107]], an assault rifle chambered in [[5.45×39mm]]]]

An assault rifle is commonly defined as a [[selective fire|selective-fire]] rifle chambered in an [[intermediate cartridge]] (such as [[5.56×45mm NATO]], [[7.62×39mm]], [[5.45×39mm]], and [[.300 AAC Blackout]]) and fed with a detachable [[Magazine (firearms)|magazine]].<ref name="BritanicaDef">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Assault rifle |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/39165/assault-rifle |access-date=2023-06-20 |date=3 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124070604/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/39165/assault-rifle |archive-date=24 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">C. Taylor, ''The Fighting Rifle: A Complete Study of the Rifle in Combat'', {{ISBN|0-87947-308-8}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">F.A. Moyer ''Special Forces Foreign Weapons Handbook'', {{ISBN|0-87364-009-8}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated4">R.J. Scroggie, F.A. Moyer ''Special Forces Combat Firing Techniques'', {{ISBN|0-87364-010-1}}</ref><ref name="Musgave, Daniel D. 1967">Musgave, Daniel D., and Thomas B. Nelson, ''The World's Assault Rifles'', vol. II, The Goetz Company, Washington, D.C. (1967): 1</ref> Assault rifles are also usually smaller than full-sized rifles such as [[battle rifle]]s.

Originating with the [[StG 44]] produced by [[Nazi Germany]] during [[World War II]], assault rifles have since become extremely popular among militaries and other armed groups due to their universal versatility, and they have made up the vast majority of standard-issue military [[service rifle]]s since the mid-20th century. Various configurations of assault rifle exist, such as the [[bullpup]], in which the firing grip is located in front of the [[Chamber (firearms)|breech]] instead of behind it.

Examples of assault rifles include the [[Kalashnikov rifle]]s of Soviet and Russian origin (such as the [[AK-47]], [[AKM]], and [[AK-74]]), as well as the American [[M4 carbine]] and [[M16 rifle]].