An automatic weapon is not a semi-automatic. An automatic weapon will fire more than one round per trigger pull. A semi-automatic will only fire one round per sqeeze. The media intentionally tries to blur the difference.
An automatic weapon may be semi-automatic or fully-automatic. The “automatic” is inherent in the nomenclature.
“An automatic weapon will fire more than one round per trigger pull.”
If it is fully-automatic, it will fire a round then automatically chamber and fire subsequent rounds till none are left or the trigger is released. When the trigger is released the weapon will have automatically cocked, ready to fire (given more ammunition) with the next pull of the trigger.
“A semi-automatic will only fire one round per sqeeze.”
Agreed. And it will automatically chamber another round and automatically cock, readying itself to fire again with the next squeeze.
“The media intentionally tries to blur the difference.”
Undoubtedly, but I believe the language used by the firearms community has become corrupted.
In regard to the Automatic Colt Pistol line of cartridges (the .25 ACP, .32 ACP, .380 ACP and .45 ACP:
Which of the cartridges was first developed for use in what you among many refer to as an automatic weapon and and which for a semi-automatic weapon?
For those first developed for a semi-automatic weapon, how long was it before they were used in a fully-automatic weapon?
Has there ever been a fully-automatic weapon that fires the .25 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridge, other than something custom made?
What's the significance of the word “Automatic” in the designation “Automatic Colt Pistol”?