The Greatest Battle Rifle Ever Devised

Well I like the AK because it's super reliable.



Just couldn't resist...

M82

Click to expand...

You are kidding right? This isn't a battle rifle.

Most will say the M1 or AK.


Since you put in the SCAR and XM8, i will say the bushmaster ACR. It is developed at the same time, but better, IMO.

M1 Garand. No need to look any further for the best battle rifle.

To justify it I guess you could say it whipped the Nazi's arse in the big one.

And of course, its super reliable!

Lets see an AK make a shot at 800 or 1000 Yds.

G3 or FAL

While I do like the AK...I'd have to give the title of "greatest" to the M1 Garand.

HK G3. Because you suck, and we hate you.

Garand.
Then the Mosin-Nagant, AR, AK, and 1873 Springfield.

In terms of service length and sheer numbers of peoples lives ended by it: AK variants.

Ruger 10/22

Hmm.

M14!

Any full power cartridge battle rifle that has enough merit to be product improved and recalled to active service would gain the distinction of being the greatest battle rifle to date.

50 years later and still soldiering on, the distinction goes to the M14.

I should add the M14 never went out of active service, the US Navy continues to use them even before they were rediscovered by the active duty Army.

Century CETME. Becaaus u suk and we hait u.

Extra points if it's loaded with Pakistani ammo.

Best Battle rifles in the first fifty years of the 20th Century

Garand
Lee Enfield
Mauser 98

Best Battle rifles of the second half of the 20th Century

AK
M14
AUG

Got to go with the AK.

If the M1A had a pistol grip, I would probably have given it a closer run to the AK, especially since it is shooting a .308, but overall due to the reliability/caliber/longevity/and quality results based on expectations, I'm sticking with the AK.

Lots of good rifles though, and usually the most important thing about the rifle, is the person shooting it.

this is a tuff one......i never served in the military ........based on what i've read i'd say a toss up between an M14 AK-47

OK,

These 4 are not battle rifles and not for the list, either don't really exist (XM8 , SCAR) or sniper platforms (M82, Drangunov)

M82 Barret
XM8
SCAR
Dragunov

This was already done on the Military/Discovery channel with the top 10 combat rifles based on capability. length of service, innovation etc.

http://military.discovery.com/technology/weapons/rifles-intro.html

It all depends on the time frame of when the rifle/firearm was used. During the Revolutionary War the Penn. rifled long rifle was a great advancement over the smoothbore musket. In todays world I would pick the AK-platform.

You have to take into account that the AK is the single most mass-produced weapon in history

M4

The best battle rifle of all times is the Brown Bess. It was the one rifle used my all imperial forces that largely conquered the world. It wasn't until the advent of rifled muskets and caplocks that the Brown Bess was finally made obsolete. It was also in continual service for over 100 years.

From the early 1700's to the mid 1800's, the Land Pattern musket was as iconic as the AR or AK is today. Most other rifles, the 1861 Springfield, 1853 Enfield, Trapdoor Springfield, 1903, M1 Garand, Lee-Enfield, K98, SKS and FAL are significant to a specific time frame or war, but never had the continued legacy.

Even the AR and AK are relics of the cold war. Most college students today were conceived or just born when the wall came down. The primary technology mover of the mid to late 20th century was thus eliminated. This meant rifles were tweaked and "modernized" instead of completely new designs and directions.

Just as the Land Pattern was made obsolete by rifling and caplock, the rifled musket was made obsolete by the self contained cartridge, the single shot made obsolete by the bolt action to be made obsolete by the autoloader, the AR/AK series will remain the primary weapons until they too are made obsolete by something radically new.

If the AR/AK can hold out for another 50 years, then they can take the place of the Land Pattern "Brown Bess".

If I was going into battle and had someone else to carry most of my ammo, I would choose the M-14. Otherwise I'd have to go with the Kalashnikov


Steve

Honestly, I'd have to say the AK platform. It's not fair to judge it by the crap copies made in 3rd world countries, although it's a testament to its simplicity and reliability. In its modern AK-74 form, it's even got halfway decent accuracy, too.

How many own a 80+yr old battle rifle and it's still as accurate as it was 70 yrs ago.
Which battle rifles have you peed on to cool the barrel and also to clean it.
How many have had jambs just when you needed the battle rifle most.
How many can field strip their battle rifle in under 1 minute then slap it back together in the same amount of time.
Which battle rifles can make the same 4" pattern at 500yds in the most crappiest weather.
Finally which battle rifle can do all the above.
There's more I just can't think of any more right now.







M1 Garand.