Best Battle Rifle

Which is the Greatest Battle Rifle?

  • Mauser '98K

    Votes: 5 5.3%

  • SMLE NO.4 Mk.I

    Votes: 7 7.4%

  • M1 Garand

    Votes: 78 83.0%

  • Springfield 1903

    Votes: 2 2.1%

  • Finnish Mosin-Nagant M91

    Votes: 2 2.1%
  • Total voters
    94
C

Cosmoline

New member
Of these, which would you rank as the greatest battle rilfe of all time? My own vote goes to the Mauser '98, since it was the basis of all modern bolt action rifles. The Garand was great, but didn't see much service compared with the others.

Oops! I meant to type Finnish M-N model 1939!
 
No contest. Of those you mentioned, the M1 stands head and shoulders above the rest. Speed, accuracy, and capacity (only beaten by the Enfield and by only two rounds at that) are a hard combination to beat.
 
My vote goes to the Enfield. No4 MkI* (wartime simplified construction) to be more precise.

Tough as nails, detachable mag plus stripper clips, easily field strippable, you can even adjust headspace in the field with nothing more than spare bolt heads, go-no go guage and fingers!

But then again, I'm a sucker for these babies...
 
M1 Garand! I would rather have one M1 Garand than a dozen of each of the others in a true battle situation.
 
i mauser is a great bolt action rifle, but the enfield #4 mk1 is the superior battle rifle based on it's larger mag capacity and more rapid bolt cycle (not having to break your cheek weld to cycle the bolt)

compared to the garrand, the enfield has the larger mag (loaded with stripper clips) that can be topped off with loose rounds if only partially depleted, comprable accuracy, superior sights (i really like flipping up the ladder and a service life that extended past WWII, Korea, throughout asia and africa, and was only recently replaced in the sniper role.
 
I voted Garand. But you missed a lot of good rifles Cosmoline. Such as the M 14 and FAL. There are many others, but I don't think I have to list them. These are very limited choices.
 
The best bolt would be one thing, and I wouldn't question the sanity of somebody who disagreed with me there, but if you throw the Garand into the equation, this gets pretty lopsided real quick.

Steve
 
The M-1 Garand is the only battle rifle I have had experience with so it's the only one I can comment on. I would not feel under-gunned with this rifle in almost any circumstance I can imagine. It's a well-built, solid and accurate rifle with a good cartridge.

I suppose all of the rifles mentioned will do the job; it just depends upon which one you like best.
 
Destructo6, I agree, but the topic wasn't 'Best WW2 battle rifle' but 'Best battle rifle'. Which is more open. I believe a 'battle rifle' should be semi or full auto, today. Given the choices, I still believe the Garand is the best choice, being a semi auto gives it a decided advantage over a bolt action in most normal combat situations.
 
I would include the SVT-40 and the MAS 49/56. The MAS, while a underdog, has to be one of the best battle rifles ever. Not withstanding the poorly converted .308 version offered by Century.
 
IMHO, the question and the alternatives are not in balance. Garand wins if that is the bunch to choose of, but what is the logic? For example, in the USA Garand was replaced by M14, in Germany by G3, both belonging to the same group of (full power) battle rifles as the Garand, and superior to it.

If the question is "best rifle of the WWII", then the alternatives should include German StG44 and 45, as well as FG42. So please, some logic to question and alternatives given. It's no real poll if alternatives are given with aim to get a self given "winner".

Ossi
 
I think the theme was the standard issue battle rifle of the beligerents of WW2. The FG-42 and STG-44 were specialty items and/or didn't fully replace its predecessor (thank God).

Ding, I don't fully understand your statement.
 
I would have to say the Garand.
But my real choice is not listed. For that answer, look at my user name. :D
 
Well the Mauser is the best hunting rifle, the Enfeild is the fastest bolt action, and the Springfield is a copy of the Mauser. I have a springfield and in military trim its heavy, so is the Garand. But to me, the garand doesn't really kick (compared to a modern light wieght hunting rifle). The en bloc clips are handier to load than stripper clips, and the 30-06 ballisticly is a flat shooting cartridge. I handled a Polish m44 nagant carbine, robust is an understatement. Remember that those steel butt plates were for cracking skulls and launching grenades etc. The garand had a that wicked 10 inch spear point bayonet with a longer reach.

I have to say, of these choices. Garand.

If it was best bolt gun, I'd opt for the Mauser.

Of all weapons in WW2 small arms aresenal, nothing beats a BAR.
 
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