@240B
Legally and mechanically any firearm that fires more then one round with one pull of the trigger is automatic.
Personally I hate the 3 round feature. It compensates for a lack of training.
@driftdiverThank you for your response.
The M16A1 had full auto. It was issued in Vietnam. But that's when the Army discovered the 'spray and pray' syndrome. When the soldiers would contact enemy, being justifiably afraid and jittery, they would use up all their ammo in seconds. Then it was bayonets, grenades, or run like hell.
That is where the 3 round burst came from. It was deliberate by the Army to keep the soldiers from spaying all their ammo in a matter of minutes. The Army wanted them to slow down, to identify the target, and to shoot with deliberate intent.