oldest semi-auto with detachable magazines

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Indiana

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • Kart29

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Jun 10, 2011
    373
    18
    What was the first commercially available semi-auto rifle that used detachable magazines?

    I think the BAR and Thompsons had detachable magazines but they were full-automatic. The M14 probably joined the military in the late 1950's or early 1960's. But I don't know when it became available in a semi-automatic, civilian form. I suppose the Ruger 10/22 and Mini-14 have been around a long time. But surely there must have been earlier examples. With automatic pistols and fully automatic rifles having been commercially available for over 100 years, surely there must be some very early semi-auto rifles with detachable magazines. I just don't know what they are.
     

    mcapo

    aka Bandit
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Mar 19, 2016
    20,561
    149
    East of Hoosier45 - West of T-dogg
    What do you mean by "commercially available"? The most prevalent examples will be post WWII surplus and arsenal guns such as the M1 Carbine with its 30 round detachable magazine.

    If your question is leading into the current political conversation: I wonder what the first "high capacity" semi-auto gun specifically designed and marketed for the civilian market was?

    Without asking google, I'll bet it was a rimfire....
     

    Brad69

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jul 16, 2016
    5,104
    77
    Perry county
    .22
    Winchester model 1905

    Centerfire
    Remington model 8 ( Remington Auto Loading Repeating Rifle ) 1906
    Most had fixed Magazines some models had extended detachable Magazines like the one Texas Ranger Frank Hamer used.
     

    Leadeye

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Jan 19, 2009
    36,696
    113
    .
    The Remington Model 8 was a pre WW1 semiauto that was modified to shoot with extended and removable magazines. These were add on features though, they came factory with 5 round internal mags.
     

    Hop

    Grandmaster
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    16   0   0
    Jan 21, 2008
    5,084
    83
    Indy

    two70

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    19   0   0
    Feb 5, 2016
    3,725
    113
    Johnson
    I'm guessing by his response he may have a Model 8 or ten laying around but probably not a 1905. Only reason I knew about the 1905 is because I've been tempted by 1910s in .401 WSL a few times and looked up the history.
     

    Kart29

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Jun 10, 2011
    373
    18
    The Winchester 1905 Self Loading was a centerfire. It was preceded by the model 1903 rimfire.

    That seems like a perfect example.

    So, it would be accurate to say that the general public has had access to semi-automatic rifles fed with detachable magazines for well over 100 years. Today's so-called "assault weapons" are literally antique technology.

    If "gun violence" has increased in recent decades, it certainly is NOT the types of weaponry available.
     

    Kirk Freeman

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    8   0   0
    Mar 9, 2008
    47,969
    113
    Lafayette, Indiana
    Sorry to be all gun geeky.

    Madsen-Rasmussen of 1896.

    madsen_1896_slr.jpg
     

    mcapo

    aka Bandit
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Mar 19, 2016
    20,561
    149
    East of Hoosier45 - West of T-dogg
    That seems like a perfect example.

    So, it would be accurate to say that the general public has had access to semi-automatic rifles fed with detachable magazines for well over 100 years. Today's so-called "assault weapons" are literally antique technology.

    If "gun violence" has increased in recent decades, it certainly is NOT the types of weaponry available.

    What has changed is the quantity and ease of availability to the masses.

    But to your point, in ~1965 my dad bought an M1 carbine with a bunch of 30 round mags for something well under $100. It’s reasonable to state that we have had access to weapons of war with high capacities for more than 60 years. Something has change in society.
     

    Kart29

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Jun 10, 2011
    373
    18
    Something has change in society.

    Seems so obvious. Why do so many people refuse to recognize this fact and address the basic source of the problem? Would the nation be willing to listen to some prominent person who says we need to take a close look at ourselves and change who we are as a people?
     

    SmileDocHill

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    61   0   0
    Mar 26, 2009
    6,159
    113
    Westfield
    Lewis and Clark had a semi-automatic air gun that probably kept them alive. He would be sure to demonstrate it to every new tribe he encountered and conveniently fail to mention that not all the guns the other guys were carrying were capable of such rapid fire. It was an air gun but would still put a man down.
     

    indy1919a4

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    41   0   0
    Jan 7, 2011
    2,009
    48
    First in the gun world is always tough.. There is always some genius who thunked an idea years before.. But you could buy these through Colt,, And they would be glad to see you and sell you one back in the day...

    but we can kick the detachable box magazine to the 1860s and 1870s with the great Gatling Gun

    1861 Development Magazine?????.. Magazine dump???
    Model1862Gatling.jpg


    1865s
    militaria-the-gatling-gun-antique-print-1870-92763-p[ekm]400x266[ekm].jpg

    m107-1.jpg


    1860s box magazine

    gatlingtinbox.jpg


    1870s
    c07a.jpg


    full


    1870s - 1880s

    1465.jpg



    1880s
    49634a1.jpg
     
    Last edited:

    T.Lex

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    15   0   0
    Mar 30, 2011
    25,859
    113
    The Bath school massacre was accomplished with explosives that were readily available at the time. I believe that remains the deadliest school attack in US history. (Perhaps only eclipsed globally by the attack on the Beslan school.)

    The counterargument will go that by making explosives less available, fewer people have resorted to those kinds of attacks. Similarly, making whatever firearms less available, fewer people will resort to those kinds of attacks.
     
    Top Bottom