Automatic Firearm

An Automatic Firearm is a firearm that continuously fires ammunition as long as the trigger is held and ammunition remains, using the weapon's own operating energy for cartridge cycling.

• AKA: Automatic Weapon, Self-Loading Firearm.
• Context:
  • It can (typically) harness gas operation, recoil operation, or blowback operation for automatic cycling.
  • It can (typically) require selective fire mechanisms for fire control.
  • It can (typically) utilize feed systems like magazines or ammunition belts for continuous supply.
  • It can (often) incorporate safety mechanisms to prevent uncontrolled fire.
  • It can (often) include cooling systems for heat management.
  • It can (often) feature rate reducers for controlled fire rate.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Light Automatic Firearm to being a Heavy Automatic Firearm, depending on its weapon weight.
  • It can range from being a Simple Blowback System to being a Complex Gas System, depending on its operating mechanism.
  • It can range from being a Low Rate of Fire to being a High Rate of Fire weapon, depending on its cyclic rate.
  • ...
  • It can employ various operating systems for automatic operation.
  • It can integrate buffer systems for recoil management.
  • It can utilize extraction systems for spent case removal.
  • It can implement feeding systems for ammunition supply.
  • It can incorporate fire control systems for burst limitation.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Machine Guns, such as:
    • Light Machine Guns, such as:
      • M249 SAW for squad automatic weapon role.
      • RPK for automatic rifle support.
    • General Purpose Machine Guns, such as:
      • M240 for medium support weapon role.
      • FN MAG for sustained fire support.
  • Submachine Guns, such as:
    • Open Bolt Submachine Guns, such as:
      • Thompson Submachine Gun for pistol cartridge automatic fire.
      • MP40 for compact automatic weapon role.
    • Closed Bolt Submachine Guns, such as:
      • MP5 for precision automatic fire.
      • UZI for compact defensive weapon role.
  • Assault Rifles, such as:
    • Gas Operated Assault Rifles, such as:
      • M16 Rifle for selective fire capability.
      • AK-47 for automatic rifle role.
    • Modern Assault Rifles, such as:
      • HK416 for enhanced reliability operation.
      • FN SCAR for modular weapon system role.
  • Machine Pistols, such as:
    • Converted Automatic Pistols, such as:
      • Glock 18 for automatic pistol capability.
      • Beretta 93R for burst fire mode operation.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Semi-Automatic Firearm, which requires separate trigger pulls for each shot.
  • Lever Action Firearm, which requires manual operation for each shot cycle.
  • Bolt Action Firearm, which needs manual cycling between shots.
  • Pump Action Firearm, which requires manual fore-end cycling.
  • Single Shot Firearm, which has no automatic cycling capability.
• See: Operating Mechanism, Selective Fire, Rate of Fire, Cyclic Rate, Gas Operation, Recoil Operation, Blowback Operation, Feed System, Ammunition Belt, Magazine (Firearm).

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