15 Best Assault Rifles In The World | 2023 Guide

The rifle is an iconic weapon with a rich and storied past. Rifles have come to dominate the battlefield since their introduction, although their early history is obscure. One subset of these firearms is known as assault rifles.

What is an assault rifle?

A selective-fire rifle that fires intermediate cartridges and has a removable magazine defines an assault rifle. Assault weapons saw their first broad use and production escalation during WWII. Assault rifles didn’t really take off until the German StG 44, a refinement of the Mkb 42, was introduced.

NATO nations initially used battle rifles after WWII, but the development of the M16 rifle during the Vietnam War drove the widespread adoption of assault rifles throughout the alliance.

As the 20th century came to a close, assault rifles had supplanted full-powered rifles and sub-machine guns as the primary weapon of choice for armies around the globe. It’s safe to say that the AK-47 and the M16 family of weapons are the two most popular assault rifles in use today.

Hundreds of variations of assault weapons have been manufactured around the globe. There are pros and cons to each one, and some are now just of interest to collectors because they are no longer in use. We have also written an article about top best sniper rifles across the globe; give it a glance to know more.

So which are the best assault rifles in the world?

To figure out which assault rifles are best, the list of the top 15 best assault rifles in the world is drafted here.

ACR, USA

Initially known as the Masada, the Adaptive Combat Rifle (ACR) is a modular assault rifle created by Austin, Texas-based Magpul Industries. Bushmaster Firearms International and Magpul came into a licensing arrangement in late January 2008 under which Bushmaster will take over the Masada’s production, further development, and sales.

Back then, it was called the Bushmaster ACR. The rifle, known as the Remington A.C.R., is made under contract by Remington Arms for the US military and US law enforcement agencies.

As a result, Bushmaster Firearms International is in charge of the ACR’s selective fire variant, while Remington Arms is in charge of the ACR’s semi-automatic-only version. On November 13, 2008, US Army officials saw the Remington ACR on exhibit as part of an invitation-only Industry Day. It also took part in the competition for the Individual Carbine to replace the M4.

The FAMAS, France

The Saint-Étienne Weapon Factory produces the FAMAS, or Fusil d’Assaut de la Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne, an assault rifle with a bullpup design.

Due to its unusual design, it is most commonly referred to by the French military as “Le Clairon” (The Bugle) and has been in service since 1978. It fires the NATO-standard 5.56 mm bullet and has a characteristic bullpup design similar to the SA80.

The FAMAS-G2 and a few F1s make use of the common NATO Accessory Rail, which enables the mounting of a wide range of sights, including red dot sights and night vision devices. A built-in bipod is another feature of some versions.

FN SCAR, Belgium

The renowned Belgian Fabrique Nationale created the FN SCAR modular assault rifle to satisfy the US Special Operations Command‘s request. Various calibers of new combat rifles were desired by the US Special Forces. The modular assault rifle platform for the FN SCAR was created from the ground up.

Nothing about it is based on an earlier design. It is a gas-powered weapon with selective fire. The SCAR-L (light) is chambered for the 5.56×45 mm round, while the SCAR-H (heavy) is chambered for the more potent 7.62×51 mm round. Additionally, there is a Soviet 7.62×39 mm round chambered.

Heckler & Koch HK416, Germany

Heckler & Koch created the HK416 assault rifle in the 1990s to satisfy a demand from the US Army’s Delta Force. The M4 carbine, which is commonly used by the US military, has been modified. The HK416 was created and modified separately. More than 20 countries currently employ the HK416; mostly, special forces and law enforcement organizations do.

The HK416 may be used with a variety of scopes and has a Picatinny-style scope rail. Additionally, the forearm has a supplementary rail on each of its four sides. The HK416 is compatible with the majority of modern M4 and M16 accessories, including a 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher.

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M4 Carbine

In essence, the M4 carbine is an M16A2 assault rifle that has been made lighter and shorter. It was created between the middle of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, and the US Army approved it in 1994.

It fires the same 5.56 mm ammunition from 30-round magazines as the M16 but is shorter, thus the name “carbine.” It is possible to modify this carbine by mounting M203 and M320 grenade launchers. The weapon may fire in a variety of ways, including semi-automatic and three-shot bursts.

Due to its considerable wartime service, the M4A1 version has recently undergone improvements. These include full-auto fire mode, ambidextrous safety controls, larger barrels, and improved triggers.

SIG SG 550, Switzerland

Since 1986, the SIG SG 550 has been produced. As a standard-issue military rifle, it was adopted by the Swiss Army in 1990. There are around 20 nations where it has been exported. Elite and special forces units typically employ it.

These assault rifles were produced in excess of 600,000. The design of this weapon is conventional. It is a gas-operated, selective-fire weapon that can fire 5.56×45 mm NATO bullets.

Although it might not be immediately apparent, its operating system is really based on the AK-47. It is one of the best assault rifles in 5.56 mm ever produced. Typically, 20-round transparent magazines are used to load Swiss army SG 550 assault rifles.

However, 5-, 10-, and 30-round magazines are additionally offered. For speedier reloading, standard magazines can be fastened together.

Tavor TAR-21, Israel

Israel Military Industries (IMI) created the Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle in the early 1990s. This weapon is easy to use, durable, and adaptable. It was adopted by Israel in 2006 and used as the infantry rifle standard. More than 20 countries have imported this assault rifle.

It is an assault weapon with selective fire that runs on gas and a bullpup design. It has a 5.56×45 mm NATO standard ammo chamber. The weapon has a readily removable barrel and a modular design. By simply altering the barrel, it may be readily modified for a number of functions. The TAR-21 has shown to be trustworthy.

Galil, Israel

In the late 1960s, the Galil assault rifle was designed. It bears the name of one of its creators, Yisrael Galil. This weapon is based on the M62 assault rifle from Finland, which is a copy of the AK-47 from the Soviet Union. The Galil, however, has a number of other changes in addition to being chambered for a different cartridge.

It was introduced by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in 1972, and up until the early 1990s, it remained the infantryman’s standard armament. The Galil uses the same action as the Kalashnikov assault rifle but modifies the Finnish M62 gas system to lessen recoil.

It has a 5.56×45 mm NATO standard ammo chamber. The IDF has accepted this version. There is also a variation that can fire 7.62×51 mm NATO ammo. 35-round magazines are used to load the weapon’s regular 5.56×45 mm variant.

It is also compatible with the Galil ARM light machine gun’s 50-round box magazines. The 25-round magazines are used for the 7.62×51 mm variant.

Steyr AUG, Austria

Austria is where the Steyr AUG was created. In 1977, the Austrian Army began using it. It was seen as groundbreaking in many ways when it first emerged. As soon as it was released, the AUG gained popularity.

The weapon is chambered to accept NATO 5.56×45 mm rounds. It is a gas-powered weapon with selective fire. However, the layout was peculiar. This assault rifle’s design is modular as well. Therefore, by simply altering the barrel, it may be readily modified for a variety of functions.

Standard, small, carbine, and light machine gun barrels are the four primary types. This feature is advantageous because it allows for the customization of the same weapon to meet mission needs.

Advanced alloys and synthetic materials are used to create the Steyr AUG. It is portable, strong, and trustworthy. Due to its bullpup design, it has small dimensions.

There is no separate fire mode selector on the AUG. The mode of fire is managed by the progressive trigger itself. A single shot will be fired if you pull it halfway; a full auto fire will be fired if you pull it all the way.

AK-12, Russia

Its development involved experts from the Izhevsk Engineering Plant and the Kalashnikov concern. Its design includes a plastic butt, which greatly reduces overall weight. Both right-handed and left-handed users will find it advantageous as the reloading mechanism may be mounted on either side and on either hand.

The overall weight is 7.72 lb (3.5 kg) when the magazine is absent. A drum can contain up to 95 rounds, compared to a standard magazine’s maximum capacity of 60 rounds. The assault weapon can fire up to 650 rounds in a minute.

The rifle’s capacity to operate all required tasks—to turn the fuse, jerk the shutter, and change the store—with just one hand makes it special. Four years after the development of the weapons got underway, the Russian Federation’s military started employing them alongside the new Ratnik gear.

Heckler & Koch G3, Germany

Heckler & Koch developed the G3 assault rifle in the late 1950s. It was accepted by the Bundeswehr in 1959 and utilized until the middle of the 1990s when the G36 assault rifle took its place. The German police and border patrol still employ a few G3 iterations.

This weapon was exported widely. Seventy-five nations at one point made use of it as their default assault rifle. It continues to be used by more than 60 nations.

Variants of this weapon are still being made under license in other nations. The Heckler & Koch G3 is capable of firing 7.62×51 mm NATO ammo. It uses an operating system with roller-delayed blowback. Due to the utilization of several stamped steel components, this weapon is inexpensive to create.

AK-47, Russia

The AK-47 also referred to as the Kalashnikov, is a gas-operated, 7.62 mm assault rifle created in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov around WWII. It is the first in the Kalashnikov rifle (or “AK “) series of weapons. It was completed in the year indicated by the number 47.

The muzzle velocity of the 7.62 mm round fired by the AK is 715 m/s (2,350 ft/s). The 7.62 mm M43 projectile has an uncommon propensity to remain whole even after making contact with bone, and it typically does not fragment when striking an opponent.

When the bullet tumbles (yaws) in tissue, the 7.62 mm cartridge causes substantial injury, but when it escapes before starting to yaw, it causes comparatively modest wounding. The M43 round may pencil through tissue with little harm in the absence of yaw.

Heckler & Koch G36, Germany

Heckler & Koch has created the G36 assault weapon to take the place of the G3 assault rifle now in use by the Bundeswehr. The G36 infantry rifle has been a standard issue weapon with the German armed services since 1995. The export of this weapon was successful.

It has been imported into more than 40 nations worldwide. This assault rifle is fed with translucent plastic 30-round box magazines. For quick reloading, two or three magazines can be hooked together. Additionally, a dual drum magazine with 100 rounds can be used with this weapon. This rifle can use any normal NATO 5.56×45 mm magazine after a few tweaks.

AK-103, Russia

The AK-74M assault rifle, which is widely employed by the Russian Army and many other nations worldwide, gave rise to the assault rifles in the AK-100 family. Technically speaking, these assault rifles are comparable to the storied AK-47, but they use modern materials and better production techniques.

The AK-103 is one of them. It is capable of firing 7.62×39 mm rounds. It is the original ammo that the storied AK-47 assault rifle fires. Comparatively speaking, it has better penetration and stopping power than the 5.45×39 mm ammunition-chambered AK-74M. There is also an AK-101 that can fire 5.56×45 mm NATO ammo.

The Kalashnikov functioning mechanism is shared by the AK-103 and other rifles in the AK-100 series. These weapons gained notoriety for their unmatched dependability. Any mistreatment and abuse a soldier can dish out to this assault rifle won’t break it. Although it is not particularly accurate, it will still function in the worst circumstances.

M16, U.S.A

The late 1950s were used to develop this weapon. It was a pretty forward-thinking design at the time. The US Army requested a weapon that was extremely light. As a result, the M16 is made of a variety of lightweight materials.

It substitutes aluminum for steel and wood for construction, respectively. Additionally, the design is ergonomic. Many previously unseen features were included.

It was first introduced under the name “Space Rifle.” The barrel and buttstock are parallel. The recoil is greatly lessened by this function. It is incredibly simple to control and runs well during complete automatic fire.

Because of this, compared to many other assault rifles, it is far more accurate while firing automatically. It has a clear advantage due to its higher accuracy.