Battle rifle A battle rifle is a select fire or semi - automatic military service rifle that fires a full power rifle cartridge , such as 7 . 62x51mm NATO . While the designation of battle rifle is usually given to post - World War II select fire infantry rifles such as the H & K G3 , the FN FAL , or the M14 , this term can also apply to older military semi - automatic rifles such as the M1 Garand . The term ' battle rifle ' as a distinct class of firearms was coined largely out of a need to differentiate the true intermediate - caliber assault rifles ( such as the M16 or SA80 ) from their immediate service predecessors ( such as the M14 rifle or FAL ) . These older rifle designs were still chambered in full - power calibers , but otherwise shared many novel assault rifle - type features with their replacements , such as select fire capability and removable box magazines . Despite the demise of their role as a general infantry rifle , the type has endured due to the continuing manufacture of battle rifles for various specialty roles ( such as the squad designated marksman ) in which their superior range and power can be best utilized . Design . The battle rifle ' s general design theory was a product of the post - World War II technological evolution of the infantry rifle from a bolt action with an internal magazine ( such as the Lee - Enfield , Mauser 98k or Mosin - Nagant ) towards a select - fire rifle with a removable box magazine . World War II had demonstrated that the average volume of fire an infantry squad was able to produce was usually ( all other things being equal ) the determinant factor in a firefight ; the Germans had armed their infantry squads with highly accurate bolt - action Mauser rifles and tasked them primarily with protecting their single extremely fast - firing machine gun . This meant that once their machine gun was put out of commission , they were at a serious disadvantage in volume of fire against American squads armed with the semi - automatic M1 Garand . The bolt - action rifle also proved a major detriment in urban warfare and surprise engagements at close range ; an American with an M1 Garand could empty his 8 - round magazine in the time it took a trained German to fire twice , an advantage that often proved decisive . In essence , the battle rifle was an attempt to expand upon the firing speed , ammo capacity and reloading time of the 1st - generation semi - automatic infantry rifles while retaining the infantry squad ' s ability to deliver effective 1000 - yard volley fire on demand , a standard which had existed since World War I and was considered a core skill for the US infantry squad . Additionally , despite the success of the German StG - 44 and their advantages in recoil and ammo weight mitigation , intermediate cartridges were still in their infancy and were not yet in a position to replace full - power rounds . The battle rifle ' s power and long - range accuracy are intended to engage targets at long distances , but this comes with a trade - off of length and weight that make it relatively cumbersome in close - quarter combat . Also , the recoil of a full - size cartridge makes most battle rifles very difficult to control when using full - automatic fire and generally restricts them to semi - auto only , a disadvantage that gives them less overall volume of fire than the true assault rifles . In contrast , assault rifle s fire smaller intermediate - size cartridges such as the 5 . 56x45mm NATO round used in the M16 , Chinese 5 . 8x42mm used in the QBZ - 95 or the Russian moderate - velocity 7 . 62x39mm and 5 . 45x39mm cartridges of the AK - 47 and AK - 74 series of rifles . However , some overlapping of rifle design and cartridge application occurs ; for example a few relatively compact selective - fire rifles in 7 . 62x51mm NATO caliber have been produced . History . The first rifle which can be considered a battle rifle is the Mondragón rifle patented in 1887 . During World War II both Allied and Axis researchers observed that the majority of small - arms combat occurred at distances of about 300 metres or less , with few engagements occurring beyond that range . At these short ranges the battle rifle ' s advantages are mostly wasted . For this reason , modern armies have favored more compact , lighter , and more maneuverable rifles and carbine s . This dimensional disadvantage provoked the development of the world ' s first true assault rifle that would become the German StG 44 . Recently , however , there has been a general backlash against carbines and light rifles in many armies around the world due to their having less range , penetration and power than battle rifles . Recent conflicts in desert environments have underscored the need for greater range while developments in body armor have created a need for more powerful munitions . . A consequence of this was the creation of the Squad Designated Marksman program in the U . S . Army and the Squad Advanced Marksman in the U . S . Marine Corps . The role of the designated marksman is to fill the " marksmanship gap " between the rifleman ( < 300 metres ) and the sniper ( > 600 metres ) . Instead of relying on the use of smaller , lighter weapons with a higher rate of fire to hit a target , these programs place greater emphasis on marksmanship training , allowing the DM to take advantage of the greater range and power of heavier weapons . This has marked the return of battle rifles such as the U . S . Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle and the M14 , which had been phased out previously due to their limited effectiveness in the hands of beginner marksmen compared to lighter rifles and carbines like the M16 , CAR - 15 , and M4 . Definition . The term " battle rifle " is likely a neologism . It is not defined or frequently used in military field manuals and government documents ( being unofficially used in the field in reference to a Designated Marksman ' s rifle ) . There are some government requisition documents that do make mention of a specific rifle as a battle rifle , but those documents may simply be using the manufacturer ' s marketing name ( similar to how Springfield Armory ' s M14 clone is trademarked as the M1A ) when referring to a semi - automatic / controlled - fire hybrid weapon .