This has been my understanding as well.K.Mooneyham wrote:I was always under the impression that the term "battle rifle" referred to such firearms as the M-14, FN-FAL, HK G3, etc. In other words, military full-automatic capable rifles in 7.62x51mm. The term differentiates those "full-power" rifles from the types such as the M-16 and others chambered in 5.56x45mm, commonly known as "assault rifles". Please note, I did not pick those terms, just passing on what I've read elsewhere.
But, I also understand someone referring to a rifle as a "combat rifle", "fighting rifle" or "battle rifle" if they've specifically set it up with that purpose in mind.
Getting this upset about a term is a little strange.