Favorite WW2 Bolt Action Battle Rifle

Other = SWISS K-31

I like Enfields as well.

I like the 1903 over all but the smidt Rubin in 7.5x55 is number 2 on my list now.

The Mauser ,its The Most Copyed Rifle Action

<----------- Guess which one!!!

I have a SMLE No. 1 Mark 3 (no asterisk) and haven't even shot it yet, but I am so impressed with the quality and action that I voted for it over the Mosin Nagant, which I have put hundreds of rounds through.

K31 does it for me.

The K-31 isn't any more of a wwII bolt action than a FN-FAL.

And please spare me the "Hitler feared this rifle so much............." line

For me it's a tossup between the 1903 and the Mauser 98K. I picked the 98K by a narrow margin because I love its action and I find it a beautiful design. It's a tough call though because the 1903 is so wonderfully balanced.

Swiss 39-45 K31, (actually love them all ,but these were during the war years). French Mas 36 ,LOVE it!. The others get a ho-hum.

Cheating a bit, but my all-time favorite bolt action rifle, period, is my DWM 1909 Argentine cavalry carbine, which undoubtedly saw personal service through WWI, WWII, revolutions, and whatnot all the way until sold off in the early '70's....THE best manufactured bolt action I've ever worked the action on.....maybe a Krag would give it a run for the money in glass-smoothness, and a close second would be my early-80's Sako AV Magnum 375, but the '09 is the smoothest, most infallible gun I've ever owned or fired....completely detail stripped, there's not a machine mark on any part.....so, short answer would be any pre-WWI for-export reissued Mauser, better than anything even the Germans had due to lucrative export contracts so vital to the company.....and the Mauser design needs no hoopla from this poster in regards to battleworthiness.....

How do you match a K-31 to a FN-FAL?? The K-31 IS a bolt action where the FN is a semi-auto. The K-31 was made from 1933 to 1958. The FN from 1953 till 1986. The K-31 is in 7.5mm where the FN is a .308. The K-31 was used in WW2 and the FN wasn't. PS: I love my K-31!

Swiss K-31. Why? Because

"Hitler feared this rifle so much............."

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No? Okay, then it's my M38 Swedish Mauser, because

"Hitler feared this rifle so much............."

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Just kidding

I marked "SMLE" but my real favorite is the No. 4 MKI.

On a related note, the week before last, I brought out my No. 1 MKIII* (Lithgow 1944) for a "show-and-tell" for a few friends. Of the six guys who shot my rifle, five had never shot an Enfield before. They all loved it and two of the guys seriously want to buy their own Enfields.

Enfield, Mas 36,mauser, Mosin Nagant

while the K31 is a great rifle and easily more accurate than any above its major failing and the reason NONE of the Swiss mercenary's who fought in WWII would even consider using it...... it can't handle dirt, the straight pull action is so precise the rifle is completely useless outside of the relativly sterile Swiss environment, out here in AZ all it takes is a good dust storm to get the bolt to start gritting up if actually cycled without a thorough wipedown preventing the sand dust from getting into the bolt......

What did those mercenaries prefer? the French MAS 36 primarily and before that the Lebel, the Swiss as a country were neutral however they were famouse for their mercenaries who were some of the most dedicated warriors money could buy and made up a large part of the foreign legion

The K31 was a great home gaurd rifle which is what it was intended for..... but far down the list as the best WWII battle rifle as it never woulda survived the mud filled trenches of Europe

its easy, the mosin, nothing says "mass production" and "easy to use" like a rifle that was designed for farmers

How do you match a K-31 to a FN-FAL?? The K-31 IS a bolt action where the FN is a semi-auto. The K-31 was made from 1933 to 1958. The FN from 1953 till 1986. The K-31 is in 7.5mm where the FN is a .308. The K-31 was used in WW2 and the FN wasn't. PS: I love my K-31!

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Because NEITHER took part in wwII in the slightest way.

did'nt no any swiss mercenarys took any part in world war 2 and if they joined the legion they'd have been issued whatever the legion used.

The swiss rifle isn't a ww2 rifle as it took no part in ww2 the gnomes being to busy counting nazi gold

It seems to me that the OP is asking about your favorite rifle, not which would be better in battle. Maybe he can correct me if I'm wrong.

My favorites as range toys would be in this order:

1) K31 because it shoots so sweet and has such an interesting action. This rifle is in a different class than the others. If it had the sights of the Enfield, it would be almost perfect IMO.
2) 1903 Springfield because of its rich American history and attractive lines. I love just looking at this rifle.
3) No4 Enfield for its great sights and smooth action.
4) M39 Mosin for its history and accuracy
5) K98 Mauser for its history and as the symbol of a defeated arch enemy.
6) Arisaka for the same reasons as the K98, but the ammo is hard to find, so its not as fun to own.
7) Russian Mosin Nagant - So crude and simplistic, it has a certain charm of its own. Plus ammo is/was dirt cheap.

If I needed an ancient bolt action rifle for battle then the Enfield would be on top of the list, followed by the Springfield.

Well, of the one's you listed, I only own 3.The K98, an M44 Mosin, and a Savage Enfield No4MkI*. Of the 3, the Enfeild is by FAR the best shooter, and has a really fast, smothe bolt, plus the bigger magazine, so it's the clear winner for me.

mine:

Mauser 98 especially the Czech VZ-24 version.

Finn Mosins- High quality low production rifle that are slick and accurate as heck.
Swedish mauser- very low numbers used, extremely high quality, top of the heap accuracy.
Russian Mosins- high production low quality rifle that works, especially in mass numbers.

Enfield- fast, has a good battle sight. Design looks cobled together- difficult to disassemble. Magazines work well when everything is tuned properly, will jam up solidy if not.

woodybrighton said:

did'nt no any swiss mercenarys took any part in world war 2 and if they joined the legion they'd have been issued whatever the legion used.

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did alota studying up on it after meeting one of them at a retirement park here in Tucson he had tons of old pictures and stuff got me real interested, never realized they been a primary source for mercenaries since the dark ages

I love my M39's.
The history just drips off them.

You left out the M95, and the K31 was WW2 eara but never used.

My order of favorite bolt action rifle:
1. Swedish Mauser
2. Swiss K31
Both rifles was maybe the most accurate from WWII era. Excellent workmanship and they was both from a neutral country.

OK - it's not on the list but my favourite is my Enfield No 4 Mk 1*

Here's a pic of me giving it a good workout last weekend

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Phil

philuk44 said:

OK - it's not on the list but my favourite is my Enfield No 4 Mk 1*

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Uhh that would be #2 on the list LOL!! Another name for your Enfield is SMLE stands for

Short
Magazine
Lee
Enfield