An assault rifle has to have select fire, typically semi-automatic and automatic or burst. An AR-15 can only fire semi-auto(1 trigger pull=1 shot), therefore it is not an assault rifle. Also, "AR" stands for "ArmaLite rifle", the company that developed the rifle, not "assault rifle" like many people believe.
What is the correct term? Sporting rifle? Carbine?
"Rifle" or "Semi-automatic rifle".
An assault rifle has to have select fire, typically semi-automatic and automatic or burst. An AR-15 can only fire semi-auto(1 trigger pull=1 shot), therefore it is not an assault rifle. Also, "AR" stands for "ArmaLite rifle", the company that developed the rifle, not "assault rifle" like many people believe.
Not really... It doesn't use a full size rifle cartridge. If a machine gun fired 5.56, it would be called a light machine gun.
The AR-10, would be an assault rifle if it had select fire, as it fires a full size rifle cartridge (7.62).