Book excerpt: Assault Rifle provides a comprehensive account of the development of the military assault rifle and its ammunition from WW2 to the present day. The book is in two parts. The first part includes: Brief historical summary of the assault rifle, its origins and development; Gun design including operating mechanisms and weapon configuration; Ammunition design and performance; Ballistics, especially the balance between recoil and effectiveness; History of assault rifle cartridge. The second part includes: National military rifle programs since the end of WW2; History of developments in each country including experimental programs; Detailed descriptions of the principal service and experimental weapons.