re: #106 erik_t

Yes, the entire point would be that the characteristics you stated (semi-auto rifle with large magazine) are not sufficient to differentiate between the two. You stated in #76 that they are ‘essentially the same’ conditional on only those features; this is not really correct.

Although, speaking of straining credulity, linking to the primary light machine gun of WW2 and saying it couldn’t decimate a couple of classrooms of kids is stretching it, isn’t it?

Plus, the M16 was really more of a replacement for the M1 (especially if we only consider semi-auto fire).