Editing Semi-automatic firearm (section)

===Notable gas-operated rifles===

[[File:SKS Flickr.jpg|thumb|right|The SKS is a semi-automatic Russian rifle]]

In 1937, the American [[M1 Garand]] was the first semi-automatic rifle to replace its nation's bolt-action rifle as the standard-issue infantry weapon. The [[gas-operated]] M1 Garand was developed by Canadian-born [[John Garand]] for the U.S. government at the [[Springfield Armory]] in [[Springfield, Massachusetts]]. After years of research and testing, the first production model of the M1 Garand was unveiled in 1937. During [[World War II]], the M1 Garand gave American infantrymen an advantage over their opponents, most of whom were issued slower firing bolt-action rifles.<ref name=Springfield375>{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year=2011 |title=Firsts: Springfield 375 |url=http://springfield375.org/?p=126 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314004454/http://springfield375.org/?p=126 |archive-date=March 14, 2012 }}</ref>

The [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[AVS-36]], [[SVT-40|SVT-38 and SVT-40]] (originally intended to replace the [[Mosin-Nagant]] as their standard service rifle), as well as the German [[Gewehr 43]], were semi-automatic [[Gas-operated reloading|gas-operated]] rifles issued during [[World War II]]. In practice, they did not replace the bolt-action rifle as a standard infantry weapon.

Another gas-operated semi-automatic rifle developed toward the end of World War II was the [[SKS]]. Designed by [[Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov]] in 1945, it came equipped with a [[bayonet]] and could be loaded with ten rounds, using a [[stripper clip]]. However, the SKS was quickly replaced by the [[AK-47]], produced at around the same time, but with a 30-round magazine, and select fire capability. The SKS was the first widely issued weapon to use the [[7.62×39mm]] cartridge.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}