Semi-automatic rifle

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A semi-automatic rifle is a type of rifle that fires a single bullet each time the trigger is pulled, without the need to manually operate a bolt, lever or other firing or loading mechanism. Such a rifle can fire single rounds in this manner until the firearm's supply of cartridges is depleted. They are also commonly known as self-loading rifles ('SLR').

A semi-automatic rifle is distinguished from a fully automatic rifle or machine gun in that it can only fire once each time the trigger is pulled. Depending on context, the term "automatic rifle" may refer to a semi-automatic/SLR rifle.

Semi-automatic rifles are mistakenly believed by many people to be capable of full automatic fire or easily convertible to have that functionality. These perceptions have attracted the attention of gun control advocates, who have introduced and passed legislation restricting the sale, importation, ownership, and manufacture of semi-automatic rifles. In the United States, semi-automatic rifles with a military-style appearance were prohibited from manufacture or importation by the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. Certain U.S. states such as California, Massachusetts and New York have stricter laws in regards to semi-automatic rifles.

Modern semi-automatic rifles are not easily convertible to full automatic fire. Many semi-automatic-only versions of automatic rifles are available, but in the U.S., BATF regulations require that the internal parts to be extensively modified to the point at which new parts and expert machining would be needed to convert it to fully automatic fire.