What was the first assault rifle?

Question

I have heard that the German Stumgawer 44 was the first assault rifle but what about the American B.A.R...Shouldn't it be the first assault rifle

Answer 1

"If the term is applied retroactively, the first assault rifle was the Italian-made Cei-Rigotti, which was developed in the 1890s and finished around 1900. While tested in Italy and the United Kingdom, it never entered military service, however. The first service assault rifle was the Russian Fedorov Avtomat issued for the first time in 1915, chambered for the Japanese 6.5x50mm Arisaka rifle cartridge, which was only used in small numbers."

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_rif...

Answer 2

(Q1. What was the first assault rifle?

(A1. The German Sturmgewehr 44 was the first assault rifle. It was the first select (semi- or fully automatic) fire rifle using an intermediate cartridge that meets all the criteria of an assault rifle.

(Q2. what about the American B.A.R...Shouldn't it be the first assault rifle

(A2. No. The BAR isn't an assault rifle. Like the French Chauchat and the British Lewis gun, it is a light machine gun or squad automatic weapon. The BAR fired the .30-06 not an intermediate cartridge like a true assault rifle and lacked the select fire option (it was fully automatic only though its slow rate of fire compensated for this). It was a step in that direction, but it was really intended to give WWI infantry the ability to take a machine gun with them when they went charging into no man's land to lay down supporting fire and to defend a newly captured trench. This role was intensified/clarified after WWI when bi-pods were added to the BAR, cementing its role as a squad automatic weapon/light machine gun.

Answer 3

The Maschinenpistole 44, subsequently re-christened Sturmgewehr 44 [AKA the STG 44], is the firearm generally considered the first true assault rifle.

In a strict definition, a firearm must have at least the following characteristics to be considered an assault rifle:

An individual weapon with provision to fire from the shoulder.

Capable of selective fire.

Intermediate-power cartridge between pistol and traditional rifle.

Ammunition is supplied from a detachable box magazine.

Fires from a closed bolt with the breech locked.

The BAR does not have selective fire, it does not use an intermediate-power-cartridge, and was not fired from the shoulder.

Answer 4

a matchlock muzzleloader.

the indians didn't have firearms when the spanish arrived to the new world!!

Answer 5

The BAR had an auto function, but was really designed to be fired from a crouch in a semi-auto burst style. It was ungodly large, but you still wanted a BAR-man next to you.

Iwo Jima flag raiser Ira Hayes was a BAR guy.

Answer 6

You were correct with your first thought, the Sturmgawer was the first "assault rifle" it never really caught on because of the high expense to produce it and during that point in time the calibers being used were larger, i.e. the Mauser, M1, Mosin Nagant.  I have heard mixed reports that Hitler liked or did not like the idea of the Sturmgawer, but I think that it was an indication that the n**i's forsaw the future of military combat.  The AK47 in my opinion is really the quintisential assault rifle as it was the first to be truly mass produced and a highly efficient weapon for what it was and is today.  

In regards to the BAR, it really was a more portable machinegun, I've never held one, but I've heard that they are immensely heavy and therefore not condusive to tight quarters and urban combat.  

I hope this helps.

Answer 7

It's the StG 44.

The BAR is an automatic rifle that can only be managed by an unusually large and strong soldier. I have had the experience of shooting one; I'm familiar with using automatic weapons, 6 foot just under 200 pounds and fit, still work out with weights and excercise regularly, and I can tell you it is a bear of a gun to handle from a standing position on full auto.  

Besides the other parameters for an assault rifle that the BAR does not meet, another criteria is that it be used for para troops as a primary weapon. A squad of soldiers armed with only BARs up against a squad of soldiers armed with traditional bolt action rifles will be a losing proposition.

Answer 8

"assault rifle" is a term the liberal media applied to make semi auto firearms sound more dangerous. Any rifle used against another person IS an "assault rifle" beginning with the earliest black powder firearms in china then moving into Europe and into the west.

So, if you re word your question, for example are you asking what the first fully automatic battle rife was? or what wass the first pistol calber firing sub gun etc etc, then we can give you a better answer. I'm looking forward to your new question.

Shoot safe

Answer 9

The BAR is an Automatic rifle, chambered in .30-06, a full-sized rifle cartridge. the STG-44 used an intermediate cartridge, making it the first assault rifle, though it pretty much founded that class of weapon.

Answer 10

Naw...not really.

The B.A.R. is a big heavy automatic rifle. Big cartridge, long barrel, accurate, etc.

The MP-44 is lighter rifle, a intermediate sized cartridge, shorter "carbine" barrell, faster rate of fire, etc..

The "assult" rifle was produced with things like weight and rate of fire in mind. Not meant to compete with the accuracy of long barrelled heavy guns.