Was the M2 Carbine the first US assult rifle?  I guess the answer depends on the 30 Carbine cartridge capability.  It's effective range is greater than any pistol caliber cartridge but no way near today's assult weapon cartridge.

So what do you say? Yes or no?

uhh.. you mean m1?

btw, no such thing as assult weapons, unless it's full auto...

No, I mean M2 carbine. M1 Carbine was semi-auto while M2 was full auto carbine.

opps, hehe, sorry

No, it was a rifle.  I hate the tem "Assult rifle" because it is so misleading, assult is a verb not a noun.  But in the media's definition of the word it still wouldn't qualify.

sgtar15

A general guide:
Semi auto, Bbl longer than 16"=assault rifle
Semi auto, Bbl less than 16"=assault pistol
Semi auto, bbl less than 3"=pocket rocket,SNS
Revolver, bbl less than 3"=pocket rocket, SNS
Revolver, Bbl longer than 3"=Hand Cannon
Bolt-action rifle=Sniper rifle

I don't mean "assult rifle" as used by the media but in military term.  

The classic definition of an assault rifle is a selective fire rifle or carbine firing an intermediate cartridge.  The .30 Cal Carbine round has been called a pistol round by some and an intermediate rifle round by others.  The M2 Carbine meets the criteria for classification as an assault rifle, if you classify the cartridge an intermediate round.  With this in mind, the M14, G3 and FAL are not Assault Rifles, as they fire a full power rifle round

Using the criteria of a select fire rifle firing an intermediate caliber rifle cartridge. I would say the the first U.S. assault rifle was the M-16. Then again, compared to the .30-06 the .308 is an intermediate rifle cartridge. So it could be the M-14. I still consider the .308 an intermediate rifle cartridge.

With the exception of America, every other country used a reduced length Rifle cartridge. Germany used the 7.92mm (From Mauser), Russia the 7.62mm (From Mosin-Nagant). America used the 5.56x45mm. As far as I know there was never a full-power 5.56mm round. If America had followed the example, we would have used a reduced size 30.06 or as it was called the 30 Carbine.

The M2 is closer to being a subgun than an assault rifle due to it's underpowered cartridge.

What then would you call the .30-06 case shortened by nearly 1/2 inch? A .308?

I have had this discussion before with some other shooting enthusiasts and this is what we collectively decided; all in our opinions, of course.

Since the range of the M1/M2 carbine is at the edge of the maximum range that the majority of small arms combat takes place (300-400yds), has FA capacity, the rifle is shorter and lighter than a full size battle rifle, but larger and more powerful than a sub-machine gun, the M2 carbine in fact does fit the description of the "assault rifle" criteria.  Camparing the M2 carbine to the German StG44, the cartridges have very similar performances and the rifles have similar ranges, and mag capacity is the same.  The StG44 is a bit heavier and bulkier, but much of that has to do with materials the weapons were made of.  

I claim not to be an expert, and I did not consult any of my manuals before typing this response, but do think that the M2 does in fact qualify as an assault rifle in a military sense, but a weaker one at that.  Perhaps more a long range sub-gun than an assault rifle?

JRB