Rynnäkkökivääris

Rynnäkkökivääri is the Finnish term for assault rifle. An assault rifle is a selective-fire rifle capable of firing in both semi-automatic and fully automatic modes. These weapons typically fire an intermediate cartridge, which is a compromise between the larger, heavier rounds used in standard rifles and the smaller, lighter rounds used in submachine guns. The development of the assault rifle emerged from lessons learned in World War I and II, where soldiers recognized the need for a more versatile firearm than traditional bolt-action rifles, offering greater firepower than submachine guns while remaining controllable and effective at typical combat ranges.

The concept of the assault rifle was popularized by the German StG 44, developed during World War II. This weapon introduced the key features of a detachable magazine, intermediate cartridge, and selective fire. Following the war, many nations adopted similar designs, leading to the widespread use of assault rifles by military forces worldwide. Common examples include the AK-47 and its variants, the AR-15 platform and its military derivatives like the M16, and the FN FAL.

Rynnäkkökivääris are characterized by their ability to switch between semi-automatic fire, where one round is fired per trigger pull, and automatic fire, where the weapon continues to fire as long as the trigger is held down. This flexibility allows soldiers to engage targets at various distances and with different levels of intensity. The intermediate cartridge provides a balance between stopping power and manageable recoil, enabling soldiers to carry more ammunition compared to heavier rifle rounds. Their widespread adoption has made them a standard infantry weapon in most modern militaries.