Editing Select fire (section)

== Design ==
Select-fire weapons, by definition, have a semi-automatic mode, where the weapon automatically reloads the [[Chamber (firearms)|chamber]] after each fired round, but requires the trigger be released and pulled again before firing the next round. This allows for rapid and (in theory) aimed fire.<ref name=2000Armada/> In some weapons, the selection is between different rates of automatic fire and/or varying burst limiters.  The selection is often by a small rotating switch often integrated with the safety catch or a switch separate from the safety, as in the British [[SA80]] family. Another method is a weighted trigger, such as the [[Steyr AUG]], which will fire a single shot when 4.0 - 7.1&nbsp;kg (8.8 – 15.4&nbsp;lbs.) of weight is exerted on the trigger, and then become fully automatic when over 7.1&nbsp;kg (15.4&nbsp;lbs.) of weight is applied. This is useful for emergency situations where a rapid volley of rounds is more effective for suppressing a close enemy rather than a single-round burst (multiple single shots with a trigger pull for each round).

Some select-fire weapons offer a burst mode as the second option, where each pull of the trigger automatically fires a predetermined number of rounds (generally two or three), but will not fire any more until the trigger is released and pulled again.<ref name=2000Armada/> The current U.S. standard [[assault rifle]], the [[M16 rifle#M16A4|M16A4]], and the [[M4 carbine]] variant of this rifle fire a maximum of three rounds with each pull of the trigger in [[Burst mode (weapon)|burst mode]]. In this design, it retains the count of previously fired rounds and may fire fewer than three rounds. Other designs reset the count with each trigger pull, allowing a uniform three-round burst as long as rounds remain.

A common version of the [[Heckler & Koch MP5]] [[submachine gun]] (which is widely used by [[SWAT]] teams and [[military]] special operations personnel) fires single shots, three-round-bursts, and automatically. A special variant uses a two-round-burst to minimize the chances of missing with a third round. Some automatic cannons have larger burst limiters to coincide with higher rates of fire.