Best *BOLT ACTION* Battle Rifle

Best *BOLT ACTION* Battle Rifle

  • Mauser '98k

    Votes: 26 22.0%

  • Finnish Mosin-Nagant

    Votes: 6 5.1%

  • SMLE No.4, Mk.1

    Votes: 54 45.8%

  • Springfield 1903

    Votes: 20 16.9%

  • Other

    Votes: 12 10.2%
  • Total voters
    118
C

Cosmoline

New member
This is a variation on the earlier poll, but only includes bolt action rifles to prevent the Garand from throwing the results.
 
Thats hard for me because I am familiar with the Mauser, Nagant, & Enfield. But if I had to use it as a battle rifle I would have to go with the Enfield.

The bolt is very slick, and it has the largest capacity. Depending on what kind of Enfield it can also have really good sights. (or cruddy sights on some models).

I would take the Mauser second. Very slick, very accurate. Easy to shoot well.

Third would be the Springfield. Very similar to the Mauser, very hard to pick between the two.

Fourth would be the Nagant. As much fun as they are to shoot, they have the hardest bolt throw, and the most difficult to operate safety. Super accurate though.
 
I'm sorta partial to the 1917 Enfield in .30-'06, maybe because that was my first-ever centerfire rifle.

No flies on the Mauser 98; they're probably the best as far as fine machine work and smoothness of the action. I've always enjoyed the Springfield, as well--got two sporters and a pristine Mark 1, right now.

But my old Enfield was a shootin' SOB!

:), Art
 
Zip experience with any of those mentioned - other than the occasional M16/AR15, I'm not a "military guy" any longer - my head still "goes there" from time-to-time though.

Any rifle that'll shoot POA for the competent shooter/owner will cause the other guy some amount of decent grief.

I would be hard-pressed to sneer at an accurate .223/.22-250 bullet coming my way & would most heartily heave to behind goodly cover if 7mm-.30+ was incoming.

A citizen army could put to very good use quality varmit rifles on up.
 
I posted the 03 on the other thread in which the Garand was included.I did not mention a rationale for having done so but now will.The Springfield is superbly accurate,rugged,durable'chambered for the best cartridge to ever come down the pike and fits my very small hands to a "T".In addition it was good enough for Gen.Matthew Ridgeway to jump into Normandy with.They do not get any better than that! Of course this is just my ever so humble opinion.:) Scarborough.
 
'03 Springfield

Best cartridge (of those listed), extremely rugged, VERY accurate.

Almost bought one a couple of years ago. Seller wanted about $50 more than I could come up with. Wish that I'd have borrowed the difference from a friend, now.
 
The K31 is one of the fastest repeating rifles I've ever seen, except
for pump actions and some lever actions.
 
Well the Mauser 8mm is nearly the same as a 30-06, and the Springfield is a Mauser copy. The Burly Russian nagant has long reach and rugged simple construction but its awfully long. The enfield has a bigger magazine and its got a fast bolt. But honestly.. the rifle feels a little wierd to me.

Mauser.. could I pick a Mauser in 30-06? Oh wait thats a Springfield.

I think I like the GI stock on the Mauser better than the Springfield.
 
I'm with the obviously brilliant gentleman of uncompromising tastes who said, "a Mauser in 30-06? Oh wait thats a Springfield." SMLEs just don't float my boat, the M-N has its moments, but that '98 action is just hard to beat.

Steve
 
I own several models of each of the rifles in the poll, except the Springfield.

I have a hard time picking between them, but my favorite is the Enfield. It just feels right.
 
enfield
largest mag capacity (10)
fastest action (shortest bolt throw)
user friendly (no need to break "cheek weld" while working bolt)
longest active service
available in 7.62x51mm (just replaced as issue UK sniper rifle)
 
In today's world, if I was going to bring a bolt gun to battle, it would be one of two things. Either a short range sniper rifle in 223 Rem (or whatever the semi-auto I was carrying was chambered in), or a long range sniper rifle chambered in 300 Win Mag or greater.
 
FR-F2 and second choice FR-F1. They have been in use by French forces for over 30 years and they still are in use today. Tough, accurate and ten round mags.
 
Easy question.
Answer: The P17.
The only way they could have made it "better" is to increase the magazine capacity to ten rounds.

The Mauser 98K and the 1903 are great weapons, but not quite as battle worthy as the P17.
The SMLE and its like suffer from crappy caliber, rimmed cases and two piece stocks. Despite this, it is an effective killer, and notable for its continued success.


I am currently designing a rifle I call the BABAR (Bolt Action BAttle Rifle)
It will have all of the best features of the P17, plus a larger magazine, synthetic stock, and other modern improvements.

God only knows when I will find time to actually build the damned thing though.
 
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