Battle rifle
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A battle rifle is a rifle in use with a military force for martial purposes, as opposed to rifles that would be used for hunting or target shooting by civilians. A main battle rifle is a battle rifle that is used as a military service rifle. Battle rifles may be bolt-action, semi-automatic, burst fire, or full-automatic. Modern battle rifles are often capable of selective fire.
The most common distinction between a battle rifle and an assault rifle is that a battle rifle fires a full-power cartridge such as .30-06 (M1 Garand) or 7.62x51mm NATO (M14, H&K G3, many others). Assault rifles fire smaller, "intermediate" rounds such as 5.56x45mm (M16 family) or 7.62x39mm (AK47). There is some overlap; for example, a number of compact assault rifles have been designed which fire 7.62x51mm rounds.
The battle rifle's range and accuracy make it well-suited to engaging targets at long distances, while its length and weight make it cumbersome in close quarters. During World War II, tacticians on both sides began to realize that most small-arms engagements took place at 100 yards or less, with few occurring beyond 300 yards. At short ranges, the battle rifle's potency is mostly wasted and a lighter, more maneuverable weapon is desirable.
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