Actually, I'm fine with the idea of the rifle having a rapid-fire option as long as it's balanced by enough muzzle-climb that it's necessary to switch to single shots to reliably hit anything beyond half a dozen squares or so. As things stand, the rifle is excellent for long-range sniping but a positive liability up close, while the SMG is a fantastic CQB weapon but utterly useless beyond spitting distance. I'd like to see some middle ground between the two, though personally I'd rather leave the rifle as it is and add a fourth weapon that lies roughly between it and the SMG in terms of damage, range and ROF.

When you hold down the fire button, the rifle will keep firing until you run out of ammo.

THAT is what the OP is referring to with "automatic fire". He is NOT suggesting that we make the shotgun and rifle capable of rapid fire. That would be horribly overpowered.

Man, I feel like I'm GORDON FREEMAN!

semirifle only has semi fire.
smg: burst/single/auto
shotgun: FUCKING GORDON FREEMAN DOUBLE BARREL BLAST

This would be a really good idea for the smg, makes it more useful. but then i would like to see semi, burst and full automatic.

Well if you suggest on giving it to the overpowered rifle, why not the shotgun? A double shot is good because a single shot (at mid range) is usually not enough, and a double shot can ensure a kill.

I did read. You're the one that brought up the shotgun.

"I'm mostly thinking of the SMG, but I see no particular reason it couldn't also apply to the rifle if anyone wanted it to. "

Lrn2read

He's talking about a feature that prevents you from firing continuously when you hold the trigger. Burst fire for the rifle and shotgun would just be silly.

Double shot rifle? No thanks.
Double shot shotgun? Maybe.
3 round burst SMG? YES.

i would like this just like ghost recon advanced warfare (1)

This would be helpful.

inb4youdontneedit

Self-explanatory, really: A toggle between single shots and fully automatic fire, possibly with a three-round burst function in between and maybe even a safety catch function for the sake of completeness. I'm mostly thinking of the SMG, but I see no particular reason it couldn't also apply to the rifle if anyone wanted it to.