Assault rifles are light, self-loading rifles that are chambered for intermediate calibre cartridges. Designed to engage targets at ranges rarely exceeding 400 metres (around 1,300 feet), they are primarily selective-fire weapons, enabling the user to switch between single-shot, fully automatic, and (in some models) burst-fire modes of operation. 

Military Assault Rifles is a Research Note from the Small Arms Survey offering a succinct overview of this category of weapons. It covers their history, production, and trade.