Let me start this article by saying I hate the term ‘assault rifle.’ It is thought to have been originated by Adolf Hitler to describe the Sturmgewehr 44, both for propaganda and to differentiate it from German submachine guns.
Its use to describe ARs and, eventually, several other rifles grew out of a misunderstanding of the initials “AR,” which stand for Armalite Rifle. The anti-2A crowd, with their usual disdain for facts, continue to use it to describe any rifle with attributes they find scary with the goal of outlawing their sale. The shooting community has countered with the term Modern Sporting Rifle, but the other guys stick to Assault Rifle for their own purposes.
The Basis for ‘Assault Rifle’ Gun Control
According to the FBI 2019 Crime in the United States report, rifles of all kinds were used in 2.6% of all homicides. Firearms (type unknown), which no doubt includes some rifles, were used in an additional 23.9% of homicides. But even if every gun in the type unknown was a rifle, which it certainly would not be, it would still only be around half of the 45.7% of homicides committed with handguns. Knives and blunt instruments like hammers account for another 22% of all homicides, leaving rifles well in the minority.
However, the spectacular nature of their use in mass shootings makes ARs a convenient target for gun control legislation. This is in spite of the fact that the total death toll from most mass shootings is less than the homicide rate for a few days in many large cities. For example, there were 21 homicides in Chicago during the last week of October 2023 alone.
Facts notwithstanding, the anti-2A crowd have rifles they consider assault rifles firmly in their sights. This leaves us as responsible gun owners who enjoy having ARs and AKs for sporting and home defense potentially in a bad place. All it would take is an election cycle with Democrats in control of both houses of Congress and the Presidency for the sale, and possibly even the possession, of anything they choose to call an assault rifle to be made illegal nationally. Add to that state governments, some of whom already have such laws on the books, and the situation for having a solid home defense rifle could be bleak.
The Scary Characteristics
The list of things that make so-called ‘assault rifles’ scary and are used to ban them in places like New York and California is interesting, to say the least. Most make no sense whatsoever and are aesthetic features at best. Here are some of the things they include.
- Folding or telescoping stock
- Pistol grip
- Thumbhole stocks – Apparently, because it mimics a pistol grip.
- Flash suppressor – In some cases, a threaded barrel is banned altogether, while in others, you can have a muzzle brake but not a flash suppressor…go figure.
- Bayonet mount – Because so many people are bayoneted to death.
- Grenade launcher mount – Because so many grenade launchers are used in crimes.
- Detachable magazine – This is the biggest and most limiting feature.
Experienced shooters know that most of these are insignificant in influencing the effectiveness of a rifle, and some are downright silly. But when you have no actual knowledge or understanding of firearms, you can only go for things that are visible to the untrained eye. The central characteristic is that the rifle has a detachable magazine. Many of the other characteristics are fine if the rifle uses an internal magazine.
Alternatives to Assault Rifles
Many manufacturers offer state-specific versions of their AR rifles. These do away with banned features and modify others, like the pistol grip, to meet freedom-challenged state’s requirements. But gun laws are irregular and often subject to frequent change, as the ATF’s ruling on pistol braces demonstrates.
The situation could potentially get even more restrictive if the federal government got involved. Consequently, it doesn’t hurt to look at some alternatives that would still allow you to have a legally owned repeating rifle. Several good alternatives will provide you with a rifle that does not fall under the legal definition of an assault rifle and is capable of semi-auto fire and reasonably quick reloading.
Lever Guns
Lever guns have been around since the mid-19th century. The 1860 Spencer Carbine, which fed from a seven-round tube magazine in the stock, was issued to Union troops during the Civil War. The Winchester 1873 was probably the most famous lever gun and featured the pattern of a tube magazine under the barrel and a side loading gate that is the standard today.
Lever guns are chambered in versatile calibers like .30-30 Winchester and pistol calibers like .357 and .44 Magnum. Magazine capacity is usually between 5 and 8 rounds, depending on the caliber. That isn’t a lot compared to a 30-round magazine, but at least you can easily add shells through the side gate while continuing to shoot.
The lever action is fast to manipulate and can be worked when firing from the hip. Prices range from well over a thousand dollars for a nice Henry to under $500 for a used Marlin. Most come in traditional wood stocks, but some, like my Mossberg 464 SPX, feature a synthetic telescoping stock and integral rails. Since it does not use a detachable magazine, the politicians don’t consider it an assault rifle. Mounting a rail and optic on any lever gun is easy, and they are very accurate out to about 300 yards.
SEE ALL Henry Repeating Rifle DEALS
The SKS
The SKS was an interim military rifle design the Soviet Union developed at the end of WWII to replace their venerable Mosin bolt action rifles. Its semiautomatic action and 10-round capacity were a major improvement at the time. The SKS was only in front-line service for a few years before being replaced by the AK-47.
Even though the Soviets phased it out, several other nations used it for many decades, including China and North Vietnam. It’s a robust 7.62X39 rifle with decent accuracy and better ergonomics than the AK. On the downside, it feeds from an internal 10-round magazine, but at least it uses stripper clips for faster loading.
For our discussion, the lack of a detachable box magazine takes it firmly out of the political ‘assault rifle’ category, as does the solid wooden stock. It does have an integral bayonet, but that can be easily removed. Other positive attributes are its durability and the fact it uses plentiful 7.62X39 ammo. With practice, you can learn to load very quickly using the 10-round stripper clips.
SKS rifles used to be available for under $100. These days, they fetch a considerably higher price when in nice condition. You can also do what I did and buy one that has been sitting in a cosmoline bath for the last 30+ years for a couple hundred dollars. Mine is technically still a work in progress since I still need to refinish the stock, but after stripping it down completely and cleaning it thoroughly, it shoots very reliably with cheap Eastern European ammo.
A word of caution. Because the SKS uses a floating firing pin, well-used models can be prone to slam fire issues. If you go the SKS route, I recommend sending the bolt carrier assembly off to a good SKS gunsmith for rebuilding. I used Murray’s Gunsmithing in Bowie, Texas, and haven’t had a single problem with the operation or a slam fire.
M1 Garand – Honorable Mention
The Garand is a venerable design that has been obsolete in terms of military guns for decades. It’s big, heavy, and uses an internal 8-round magazine. On the other hand, it is accurate, powerful, and very reliable.
A Garand is too big to be used easily inside a house, but you would be hard-pressed to find a better rifle for longer ranges that still provides semi-auto operation. Although the internal magazine only holds eight rounds, it can be loaded very quickly using the 8-round en bloc clip. The clips are inexpensive and easy to purchase. Since it doesn’t use a detachable magazine and doesn’t look like a scary assault rifle, it’s safe from anti-2A legislation.
On the downside, the Garand rifle is neither easy to find nor inexpensive. You can plan on paying over $1000 +/- for one. Another problem is ammunition. Although it chambers standard .30-06 Springfield cartridges, you should not use regular .30-06 ammo because it is too hot for the rifle. Prolonged use can easily lead to a catastrophic malfunction. Fortunately, several ammunition makers offer .30-06 Garand ammo specifically for it.
Rimfire Rifles
No one usually recommends a rimfire rifle for a defensive rifle. Under most circumstances, the cartridge just doesn’t have enough horsepower to quickly stop a threat. But high capacity and a high rate of semiautomatic fire mean they do have their uses. Unfortunately, some proposed anti-gun legislation included wording that would outlaw even benign rifles like the Ruger 10/22 because it uses a detachable magazine. Fortunately, nothing that restrictive has passed…yet.
There was a time when many manufacturers offered semi-auto .22 rifles that used an internal tube magazine. They were either under the barrel or in the stock, and some held as many as 20 rounds. These days, most .22 rifles use a detachable magazine, and many are an AR pattern, although there are lever and pump action rifles out there. If you want a semiautomatic internal tube magazine .22 rifle, you will have to prowl the pawn shops to find one.
Rifles That Are on The Edge
The biggest determinant of whether a rifle will be targeted by the anti-2A crowd or not is the removable magazine. Some proposed legislation has attempted to target any rifle that has one. However, in general, if a rifle doesn’t have any of the other characteristics of an assault rifle, and especially if it doesn’t look like an AR or AK, it may escape becoming an outlaw. That puts a couple more good rifles on the alternates list.
Springfield M1A
The M1A is a semi-auto version of the M14 rifle. It is chambered in .308 and can use either 7.62NATO or .308 Winchester ammunition. It’s powerful, accurate, and available in several models, including versions with 16” and 18” barrels. While you can get SOCOM models with a telescoping stock, most come with a standard wooden or synthetic rifle stock.
It uses a detachable box magazine, so its legality could be in question depending on what other features any legislation might take into consideration. Springfield does offer a New York-compliant model, so that is an option if you live there. You would have to check your state’s laws if you live in another freedom-challenged state, and there’s no guarantee what future legislation might dictate.
The M1A is an expensive rifle but a very nice firearm. It is an excellent alternative to AR and AK rifles that fall under the ‘assault rifle’ category that still uses a detachable magazine. The SOCOM and Scout Squad models are short enough to be maneuverable indoors.
Ruger Mini-14
The Mini-14 is, as the name implies, a scaled-down version of the M14/M1A rifle. It uses the same action and has the same lines as the original. Although there are models available with collapsible stocks and pistol grips, most Mini-14s feature a wood or synthetic traditional rifle stock. That should keep them from looking too scary.
The Mini-14 is chambered in 5.56 NATO and feeds from a detachable box magazine. It is small, maneuverable, and easy to shoot. If you prefer 7.62X39, the Mini-30 model is chambered in that caliber. They are not cheap, and a new one will cost over $1000, but you can probably pick up a used one for less than that.
The biggest drawback to the Mini-14 line is that they use a Ruger proprietary magazine rather than being capable of using AR magazines, which are inexpensive in comparison. Nevertheless, they are a solid rifle that does not include many of the features that are specifically listed as characteristics of ‘assault rifles.’
Where Things Stand
Generally speaking, it is still legal to own firearms the government terms ‘assault rifles’ in most states. Some, like New York’s assault weapon law, prohibits manufacturing, transporting, disposing of, or even possessing an assault weapon. Others, like Washington, make it illegal to manufacture or transfer one, but if you already have one, you can keep it.
If you don’t already own a Modern Sporting Rifle and can legally buy one, I suggest you do it soon. If it’s already too late, there are some alternatives that will at least give you something to use in its place. As the saying goes, they aren’t ideal, but they’re better than nothing.
Very interesting article regarding the Mini 14. I completely disagree with the fact listed that it shoots 5.56 bullets. The data on the Mini 14 show that shooting a 5,56 will blow the firearm up in the shooters face. I have a Mini 14 and will NEVER shoot a 5.56 in it because of the factory specs. Other than that, very fine article
Thank you. You are correct that the older Mini-14s were .223 only and could suffer a catastrophic malfunction if you loaded them with 5.56, but the new ones are rated for 5.56 and .223. Go to the Ruger site and you can verify it. I used to have an older one and could never understand why Ruger built them for .223 instead of 5.56, so the new ones are a big improvement.
The term ‘sturmgewehr’ literally translates to assault rifle, following standard German weapon identifiers of the time. It’s official designation was StGw44 (‘Assault Rifle 44’.)
The coining of the term ‘assault rifle,’ for rifles with specific features, can be traced to ‘Slick Willy’ Clinton.
Clinton malappropriated the term as part of a redirection to take the focus (and the blame) away from his administration’s FUBAR.
Clinton, in his first term, was saddled with bad Iraq policy and a painful tax hike, by the Senior Bush admin. Rabid to make his mark on history, Clinton imagined himself to be the Modern Statesman; the guy who brought China in to the world economy. He oversaw a trade deal, in which he gave a large chunk of the Long Beach Pier directly to the Chinese, giving them direct control over management, facilities and warehouses.
The Chinese company given control was100% owned by the Chinese government.
Unfortunately for him, EVERYTHING related to PRC business and finances, is owned or controlled by the CPC.
And 2 years later, it was discovered that the PRC was using the LA port facilities to transit military grade AKs, and other arms to rebels and allies.
Military grade hardware restricted and controlled by the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986, which prohibit the possession of Fully-Automatic weapons (“MACHINE GUNS”) without a Federal Tax stamp and ban personal ownership of any fully automatic weapons manufactured after 1986.
These were modern Chinese AKs, pistols and even, grenades and rocket launchers.
More so, the Chinese were selling these weapons to the Street Gangs en masse. The Chinese were providing modern, military grade weapons to the Crips, Bloods and others.
Weapons that a lawful US Citizen is prohibited from owning!
At costs not much higher than civilian, semi-auto, NON-MILITARY WEAPONS were costing. Some of these weapons still turn up in raids and shootings.
This caused significant embarrassment to the Clinton White House, as there was a great deal of opposition to allowing the Chinese to own the harbor facilities. Clinton was exposed and this threatened to be a crippling blow to his image, preceding his reelection campaign.
Ever the masterful NLP practitioner, and surrounded by a brain trust, the Clinton White House was suddenly “alarmed” by the mere possession of any import, semi-automatic weapons with military style features. Features such as removable magazines for 20 rounds or more, pistol grips and flash hiders or muzzle brakes, all cosmetic features that make the weapon more comfortable to control and fire with negligible improvements in lethality.
Clinton chunked up (conflated) the problem to be a “Gun Violence epidemic” perpetuated by “cheap foreign guns” being sold willy-nilly to criminals, the most popular being the “military assault guns,” with “high capacity clips,” capable of killing police even with body armor.
The White House and the Democrats borrowed the term “assault rifles” to define these NON-MILITARY, NON-ASSAULT RIFLES and launched a broader campaign against all imports, declaring them to be a non-existent threat.
In politics, how do you slip out from under a f**k up and avoid responsibility?
One way is to spin it in to a global issue, making it a symptom of a larger, non-existent problem and become the champion who will eradicate this “menace.”
Manufacture it in to a bigger “Crisis” and make yourself the one to solve it.
The problem, according to Slick Willy, wasn’t him giving the PRC complete control over a huge chunk of one of the largest ports in the Western Hemisphere, with ZERO oversight or control, allowing them to run an arms dealership for Dictators, rebels, and the odd gangbanger, unrestrained, from a US port.
It was those evil foreign gun manufacturers providing criminals with thousands of war-gunz to shoot cops and kindergarteners.
He didn’t earn the nicknames “Slick Willy” and “The Teflon President” only because of a stained blue dress.
Excellent summary. As I mentioned, politicians and social justice warriors deflect attention from the actual problems of a broken legal system and other societal factors, by blaming it on something that isn’t the real issue but is visible so they can make it look like they are doing something to address the problem.