Thanks, that is what I thought, but someone told me it had to do with magazine size.
Heck, by ATF definitions, you don't even need a magazine. Just enough parts to assemble something that COULD fire 2 shots (or more) with one trigger pull.
Thanks, that is what I thought, but someone told me it had to do with magazine size.
The terms are interchangeable and synonymous.
No, they're not. A 3-round burst is still a machine gun, but I would argue that it is not also "full auto".
By strict definition, there are differences:
Fully automatic - when the trigger is depressed, will continue to fire until ammunition is exhausted.
Burst - when the trigger is depressed, will fire a set number of rounds, load a another, and stop.
Semi-automatic - one shot (and new cartridge chambered) with each trigger pull.
Select Fire - The ability to switch between at least 2 of the above.
Machine Gun - An ATF definition. Any firearm that fires, can be made to fire, or the collection of parts needed to make it fire, or even just the serialized FRAME of something that once was able to fire; more than a single round with each trigger pull. This can be full-auto, burst, or even a double-barrel that fires both on a single trigger pull.
The terms may be interchangeable by laymen, but really do mean something totally different. Kinda like "hogs are pigs, but not all pigs are hogs" (or whatever that saying is).