To answer your question on select fire modes in real life. A gas bolt operated AK47 in the hands of a trained soldier is capable of dumping half of a "magazine" of 30 rounds into a one foot round target at 50 meters, I've done it. A spring operated bolt, "cheaper variants', no way in hell as the barrel does not slide to reduce recoil, you are semi correct. The m4A1, completely different animal. You can all 30 rounds from a standard "mag" into a one foot round target at 50 meters without missing a beat! Flip your mag and resume fire without taking your sights off target. Select fire or the "three round burst" you speak of was introduced more for ammo conservation than recoil mitigation. One well placed round from either of these weapons will kill out to 500 meters no problem. As far as the damage mods go I'll look into it before I engage a debate as you may be correct.

You are mostly correct, but that's all under optimal conditions. Non-moving shooter, non-moving target, etc. But hitting a 1x1ft target at 500 meters while standing? No sir, definitely not with the AK, and not even the M4. Maybe in the prone. Kneeling? You'd have to be DAMN good. And again, under optimal conditions.

It somehow outcompetes every other weapon in multiple ways.

You're right, It out competes every other weapon, it has more RPMs than an HMG, more damage than a Charge Sniper Rifle, more range than a Sniper Rifle, more damage build up over time than an LR, more accuracy than an LR, a larger splash radius than an MD, a higher head-shot critical damage than a Scrambler Pistol, a larger clip size than an HMG, a faster reload speed than an SMG, and.......oh wait, you're saying it's none of those things?

Stop over-reacting, be thankful this isn't E3 where everyone and their mother used a Creodron Assault Rifle.

I'm going to point out that most HMGs out-range my AR(maxed sharpshooters vs my lvl 3 sharpshooter), with better RPMs the only thing my AR does better than an HMG is damage per shot, plus the HMG gets more accurate with time, while my AR gets less accurate with time.

So by the logic that the AR is OP, the HMG is doubly OP.

HMG definatly does not outrange ARs, and we usually die before the cone of fire can get reasonably small. Thats why I only use my HMG fit on small maps.

HMGs can outrange ARs with maxed sharpshooter, but with equal sharpshooter AR definately outranges HMG. Either way, maximum range isn't everything. Accuracy is also important at longer ranges. HMGs are less accurate when they start firing, ARs are more accurate when they start firing.

HMG definatly does not outrange ARs, and we usually die before the cone of fire can get reasonably small. Thats why I only use my HMG fit on small maps.

HMGs can outrange ARs with maxed sharpshooter, but with equal sharpshooter AR definately outranges HMG. Either way, maximum range isn't everything. Effective range is more important. Accuracy is also important at longer ranges. HMGs are less accurate when they start firing, ARs are more accurate when they start firing.

Assault Rifles versus...
Sniper Rifles? There's no comparison at close range, only murder.

It makes me sad that no one has had fun times learning to CQC with a sniper yet.

It makes me sad that no one has had fun times learning to CQC with a sniper yet.

AR does not need a nerf. It sounds like you need to learn how to use a weapon properly and are learning that sharpshooter is a core skill.

AR need TRUE recoil, not this fake recoil we have now.

The AR is broken, and it breaks the game.
Even after damage mods have exposed as properly balanced, some people still say that the AR is fine.
Can you see through your own bias?

Doing well with a sniper rifle in an ambush for me is hit or miss. I'll go 2-3, when it's bad match, and spend the rest of the match running away from pursuers because it's so frickin cramped.
But give me an assault rifle and suddenly i'll do like 15-3 if its BAD match, then 20-0 or 30-4.
That's not skill. That's use-to-win!
I deliberately avoid using the full-auto AR, because it is too easy, and I HATE playing that role. I despise it. I abhor and detest it.

Aim with no consequence, fire with no consequence. Run around killing with impunity. Nothing stops it. (Except a REALLY sucky set of blueberries) Assault role is so imbalanced vs. everyone else it makes me want to pull my hair out.

It's TOO easy to play as an assault. Way too easy. The AR doesn't have average performance in every area it has excellent performance in every area. It owns EVERYTHING, all you need is a pinch of aim, and you'll ruin everyone's day. I've already done it. I call myself a niche player, but I'm at Proficiency 3 with my AR.
The weapon is a joke, and the moment some niche player succeeds in embarrassing someone that relies on the shield-tank Assault/AR fit, they come to the forums to complain.

It's OP. I pray that we get a slew of utility weapons to poop on the Assault role AND the AR come May 6.

There are no individuals that are OP with the Assault role. Focus on killing them, and they will die. Trust me, I KNOW this.
It's the ease of the role itself that's OP.

If you find some individuals OP as Assaults, then ask them why they never play any other role... they will likely tell you 1 or/both of 2 things:
1. They suck at the other roles.
2. They think the other roles are next to useless, with the exception of logi.

That's it. The good players won't do any other roles, because the other roles simply suck by comparison of usefulness.
You have some good determined Heavies that put on a good show ( I literally remember seeing one in an allied corp dance around in an open field during a practice corp match, desperately trying not to get shot. lol it was hilarious, because he was semi-successful).
But currently it feels as if the game is so geared toward making life swell for the Assault role....

Whatever, I drop the argument like a hot potato, here and now. I said I was going to drop this until May 6.

So there it goes...

*PLOP*

It somehow outcompetes every other weapon in multiple ways.

AR need TRUE recoil, not this fake recoil we have now.

Not when that weapon is used in it's niche

It out competes every weapon when used outside of that weapons element. Because it is the midground weapon, the "jack of all trades" weapon, the go anywhere and use it weapon, and it always has been and is supposed to be that way.

Assault Rifles can easily out damage Shotguns at close range, the only thing the Shotgun has on it's side is burst damage. Assault Rifle easily out damages an HMG at medium to long range, the only thing the HMG has on it's side is raw damage potential at close range. Assault Rifles easily provide better suppressive fire than Mass Drivers at most ranges, and HMGs at longer ranges, despite those weapons supposedly being for suppressive fire. The only thing a Mass Driver has on its side is alpha. Unless you have mad skills, that is, but still... Point is, Assault Rifles are not only the "Jack-of-all-Trades", they are also the "Master-of-most-Trades".