Most reliable rifle?

[seeker_two]

Remington Rolling Block or Martini-Henry .577...

The rest are slightly more complicated...

 

[ChairborneRanger]

David mentioned the M1 Carbine. It is easy to clean, but I'm not so sure it fits the definition of reliable----they are always having extractor or ejector problems. My vote would have to go to the AR15A2---carbon all over them----but do they ever pump out one he!! of a lot of lead!

 

[telewinz]

My SAR-1 is so starved for care and attention that I once watched it move 8 inches in a 5 minute time span (it didn't know I was watching) so it could be closer to a can of 3in1 oil! I took pity on it and rubbed some oil on the stock but other than that I don't believe in "spoiling" a truly great rifle with any unnecessary cleaning and such.

 

[Sven]

Sir Galahad: LOL!

 

[DMK]

Edited to read:
DMK: Don't feel guilty about cleaning your M1 in that manner. We were issued NM M1's for the 3-4 month match season in the early 60's and that was SOP. We never dissassembled the rifles unless something broke.

Thanks for the reassurance, it does help make me feel a little better. I'd hate to be harming my Garand, it's such a good rifle. I agree with you about wearing the stock out and loosening the bedding.

You mention the difficulty of bolt removal on the Garand. All you have to do is drop the stock, remove op rod spring and then the op rod to get bolt out if that is necessary.

Oh yea, it's not like it's extremely difficult, but for a FAL it's: Push release and break rifle in half. Bolt slides out. For the SKS it's: Push release, pull pin, remove top cover. Bolt slides out. Much easier!

 

[Selfdfenz]

In case someone didn't mention it...get some decent cleaning equipment and a rig to hold the rifles.
I have a crappy contraption made by Hoppes or MTM. Got it for Christmas years ago and surmised it was junk at firt sight.
WRONG
The thing is wonderful and will hold any and every kind of rifle or shotgun I ever placed on it.

Debussy , Oh yes.
Cigars, afterward, double oh yes.
But Copland for the days you really take too many guns to the range at one time and shoot each one of them. Especially the ones made in America.

S-

 

[J-Man]

Can't beat the FAL. I can break open the gun, slide off the top cover, and pull the bolt/carrier out in under 3 seconds. The upper receiver is so bare and open at that point that the chamber is RIGHT there starring at you! Clean from the breech with no problems. I shoot 200 rounds of Port a weekend out of my DSA SA58 Medium Contour Tactical. You get some carbon in the gas piston area but nothing that would stop the gun by any means. The piston plug can get a little stiff to remove from buildup but nothing that couldn't be done by hand. No problems with the gas regulator and I clean that every 1000 rounds or so. Lower receiver stays super clean and is also very easy to strip (no tools). Firing pin (spring loaded for no slam-fires I might add) also comes out with no tools. The extractor is very beefy but unless you are Superman you need the FN tool to remove it easily. A lot of crud builds up under the claw but nothing that has caused problems (the Port is clean looking but fires pretty dirty I think). My only complaint with DSA (other than price) is the non chrome lined Badger match barrels. Great accuracy but I literally spend all week soaking the bore to remove the copper fouling. Don't think it would affect reliability but I can't stand seeing copper streaks in my barrel!
After the FAL comes the AK....

 

[Bostonterrier97]

Most RELIABLE rifle?

Lee Enfield (no gas system to malfunction)
Works better in mud, sand and snow than a Mauser

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

Andrews Sisters or Glen Miller for the Garand and the 1911s.

Wagner for the Walther, esp the Ring Cycle.

Del McCoury or Doc Watson for the shotguns and revolvers.

Mussorsky or Prokofiev for the Mossin.

Verdi for the rest.

Actually, Verdi for anything.

 

[Gewehr98]

Most reliable military rifle...

I'm kinda partial to the Remington Rolling Block, but I suppose a Trapdoor Springfield would do in a pinch. Blackpowder-equivalent smokeless cast bullet loads would keep the cleaning interval down to a minimum, too.

Funny thing is, when I clean my Rolling Block Creedmoor, I have Copland's Appalachian Spring playing through the pentode 6550C vacuum tubes, myself!