Best Battle Rifle of World War II

[bobkk]

I have used both the M1 and BAR. M1 kicks harder after a few hundred rounds. Always liked to shoot the Browning better. With bi-pod I could shoot it more accurate. One time in Germany on a live fire exercise we jumped some deer every one shoot at them with M1'S BAR'S and carbines. Never touched a deer. Expert marksmen?

[Cameron Hare]

I belive that the Mauser 98K for fear factor alone should be in the running, i am not pro german but when you think about it during the retreat into germany one lone guy with a 98k could hold up a who advance

[Terry_P]

I fired both the M1 and M14 for record and only qualified expert on the M-1. It is a great rifle. There have been TV shows about the same subject and the "experts" always pick the AK-47 first and the M-1 around 4th or 5th. I can't say I agree with them but I have never fired an AK or even an AR so what do I know.

[DJC7]

i can't say for sure what i think is the best, but what i do know is that i own two Mauser 98Ks and i love them. very accurate. i would definitely like to try out the M-1, though.

[AJshooter]

first of all...

you cant compare a semi-auto with bolt actions . because 19 times out of 20 most ppl will pick the semi-auto. now having said that... think about that ping that the m1 made when it was empty, if your enemy was close... that sound proposed a problem. but you can deal with that right? soldiers have their ways of coping with that. as far as fire superiority doctrine... the m1 has it. however at the time the semi-auto took more time and money to construct. and it was harder to design a semi-auto.

now lets look at your bolt actions. costs less money to build one . more accurate . now compare the sights of an m91/30 and a kar98k . the kar98k is more accurate at long range. but since the front sight has a fine tip, it takes longer to aim than the mosin nagant rifle... mainly due to just that front sight. plus the kar98k is smaller and more versatile than the m91/30 as well as an M1. those heavy M1's... whew!! now those are a work out to carry for long periods of time to even weight lifters.

so what is the best rifle. they are all the best rifles... my reasoning for that is that america when testing out new rifles pre ww2 tried both mausers and mosin nagants (look it up, its there i promise). and if im not mistaken... even a british rifle was tried. but mainly... if there was a best. then probably all countries would have used stikingly similar models. each gun worked out better for there own countries. but personally im a huge kar98k fan. but i think the SVT40 beats all of them.

[Dutchman]

Out of the ones listed the m1 is the best. I say that even tho I'm really an old fan of the 98k and have owned more of them than any other type of carbine.

[bbqznbeer]

My first post ,
....so I might as well let it be known , right off the get-go , the Lee Enfield No4 Mk1(*) is #1 in my books

1943 Canadian Longbranch No4 Mk1* .303brit


1968 RFI 2A1 7.62nato


1947 ROF Fazackerly No5 Mk1 .303brit

[TranterUK]

Originally Posted by bbqznbeer

My first post ,
....so I might as well let it be known , right off the get-go , the Lee Enfield No4 Mk1(*) is #1 in my books

Welcom to the TFF, we need more people with the good taste you clearly have.

Though I always wondered if the No5 ever really offered any advantageous over the No4. It's not very different in build, yet seems to produce a lot more recoil.

[bbqznbeer]

Basically the same receiver as the No4 but made lighter along with the whole rifle and shorter length.
Not as accurate as the No4 but fought it's way through dense jungle pretty good.
Being lighter and using the same ammo , the recoil is abit heavier , yet wouldn't be very noticable when things got hairy ( or bearing down on a buck )
Same said about the recoil between the Mosin Nagant M91 and the M44.

[stetson]

I have to say the M-1 grand is the best all the round battle rifle.The bolts go in the following order : british 303,german kar,mosin-nagin,and the crude of the crude the japanese artiska.I left out the german assault rifle as too few were made to make an impact on the outcome of the war.

[BodieBill]

Tracer
When the Army landed on Guadacanal they did trade for the Marines 1903 Springfields but the primary reason was:
The M1 Garand had not yet been issued with a grenade launcher, which was vital in close combat jungle warfare.
The Leathernecks did the Army a favor and got a great deal.

Now that is what I call true bi-partanship, not that B.S. in Washington DC that is nothing more than compromise on principles.

[dge479]

US Rifle, Caliber 30
I love my Garand, have not caught my thumb yet, and will try not to.

[44-40 Willy]

As the Winchester 1873 in 44WCF was a bit obsolete by that time, I'll have to be contrary and go with the SMLE.

[Laufer]

A guy who stopped his car in Canada or Alaska etc due to the 'call of nature' was surprised by a charging grizzly .
He must have anticipated trouble, as he had his rifle with him.
From what I read, his LE Jungle Carbine stopped the huge beast with four rounds. He must have nerves of steel.

The LEs must cycle much faster than my MN 44s (?) and that Jungle Carbine has a strong appeal.
A customer at my favorite gun store had one shipped in and let me handle it.
What a 'wicked' little babe.

[Teejay9]

I cast my vote for the Garrand. I've had them all of the except the Moison-Nagant, and would not want that constant pounding you take with either the K98k or the SMLE (any model). The Garrands' recoil is helped out by the semi-auto action and is quite manageable and accurate. So, without having to ponder this for very long, The Garrand hands down, TJ

[swanshot]

Originally Posted by Pistolenschutze

I agree, X. The BAR was indeed a powerful light machine gun, and served us well in many cases, but you're right, it was awfully heavy and an ammo bearer was really needed to keep the clips coming. They only held 20 rds if memory serves me. With two men needed anyway, you may as well have an air-cooled Browning MG with belted ammo.

Oh c'mon pistol please---The BREN was the only sensible substitute for a BAR.
But as most have said before me; It's a no brainer. All other arguments aside, the fact that the Garand could reliably increase the fire power of the infantry man by a god only knows what factor make it the hands down winner. That combined with the American grasp of logistics that dictated the need to keep the bloody ammo comming no matter what. and the ability to do so, made for an unbeatable combination.

[Charlie the sniper]

Italian Carcano !, Best rifle of WW2.........for the Allies....."why", because if the Italian Army had used Mauser's, they may have managed to hit something.
Just think, running backwards trying to hit something with a Carcano.

Remember Italian Tanks, 1 forward gear, 5 reverse gears, Armament 20 inch white flag.

[swanshot]

Originally Posted by Charlie the sniper

Italian Carcano !, Best rifle of WW2.........for the Allies....."why", because if the Italian Army had used Mauser's, they may have managed to hit something.
Just think, running backwards trying to hit something with a Carcano.

Remember Italian Tanks, 1 forward gear, 5 reverse gears, Armament 20 inch white flag.

You do have a point there Charlie. I must say I had never considered it that light. My farther fought in the Western desert, Bengazi, Tobruk, the whole thing. (Australian) and his opinion of the Carcano was about on par with your's.

[artabr]

Originally Posted by swanshot

You do have a point there Charlie. I must say I had never considered it that light. My farther fought in the Western desert, Bengazi, Tobruk, the whole thing. (Australian) and his opinion of the Carcano was about on par with your's.

The desert war had to be pure hell.
I don't know how people did it, and are doing it today.


Art

[TranterUK]

Originally Posted by artabr

The desert war had to be pure hell.
I don't know how people did it, and are doing it today.


Art

I certainly wonder how troops are doing it today, what with all that hi tec equipment.

My own limited experience, which cant compare with the years spent in the deserts by some, are that there are three main problems, sand, water and sand.

Remember your first time with various things? I will remember the first time I took a drink of water from a canteen in a desert, and it was very hot!!! I met a couple of Australians who explained how its done 'You need a big cool box, beer and lots of ice'. They had other suggestions, but here is not the place!

[Charlie the sniper]

My cousin was in the first gulf war (tanks), he once said
" sand, the only place it doesn't find a home, is in your heart".

[artabr]

Originally Posted by Charlie the sniper

My cousin was in the first gulf war (tanks), he once said
" sand, the only place it doesn't find a home, is in your heart".

That, I can believe. I hate sand, give me the mountains over the beach any day.


Art

[swanshot]

Originally Posted by artabr

The desert war had to be pure hell.
I don't know how people did it, and are doing it today.


Art

At the worst stage of the Tobruk siege they were down to a ration of 4 pints per man per day for all purposes. They were expected to shave.
110 degrees during the day. freezing at night, and sand, sand, sand, except when you wanted to dig. Most of the Libyian costal plain was actually a broken shale with layer of blown sand on it. If you wanted to dig you needed a pick.


They had about a million cans of Frys Beef stew, and a working bakery, and that was it about it. But! they did have tea, lot's of it. When the war started, or so I've heard it said, the Britian, and her dominions brought up just about every leaf of tea that was avaliable on the world market An empty stew tin, couple of small holes punched in the bottom, fill it with sand, pour in petrol would boil a pint of water for tea just perfectly.

[swanshot]

Originally Posted by TranterUK

Though I always wondered if the No5 ever really offered any advantageous over the No4. It's not very different in build, yet seems to produce a lot more recoil.

The Australians who were transferred to New Guinea and Borneo from the Middle east in 1942 (8th and 9th division) were re-equiped in Aus with the #5 and after they tried them they flatly refused to part with their #4s.
Have a look at the pic's of Australian troops in the pacific and you'll see a mixture of #4s and #5s. The new recruits had no choice, but the old hands hung on to their old faithfulls, and the army let em.

[Charlie the sniper]

Four pints a day........Fosters or Castlemaine xxxx.

My dad had the opposite, wet clothes,damp food..............Burma, jungle.
Not to mention those blood sucking parasite's .....Officer's!