What was the first semi auto rifle? The first semi-automatic rifle adopted and widely issued by a major military power (France) wasthe Fusil Automatique Modele 1917. This is a locked-breech, gas-operated action which is very similar in its mechanical principles to the future M1 Garand in th...
There have been dozens of different types of designs over the years to make a pistol do this, but probably 99% of semi-automatic pistolsare either blowback designs or recoil operated. Blowback: How Israel Helped Create Hamas 40 related questions found Which is better blowback or non blowback?