Best military caliber/rifle idea with a twist

[Crosshair]

Here is a "Best caliber" idea with a twist. What if the US military, instead of adopting the 30-06 and 1903 rifle, stuck with the Krag and the 30-40 into the 20th century. Now here is the setting.

The year is 1910. With the continued rise of the US as a wold power and the arms race in Europe in full swing, the military releases that the Krag and 30-40 round are long obsolete. The military decides to look at other militaries weapons and service rounds for inspiration. The military leadership considers it acceptable to adopt a foreign designed round and rifle. (After all, the Krag was not designed in the US.) You are on a military commision whose task is to recomend a service round and rifle. You have access to samples of every military round and rife currently (1910) in use. You need to recomend a rifle/round combination that you feel would be the most effective in combat. You are free to mix and match rifle/round combinations. Example: SMLE in 7x57. You can also change load data if you wish. Example: Load a 7.5x55 with a 130 grain bullet at 2400fps.

OK everyone, lets hear your ideas.

 

[JesseL]

I think I'd go with a 98 mauser in 6.5x55 loaded with 130-140gr spitzers as fast as I could reasonably manage. Alternately, I'd update the Krag design with another locking lug or two and load it with lighter spitzers.

 

[phoglund]

I like the 6.5X55 as well but would probably put it into an Enfield action lightened up a bit on the stockwork and issue more than one magazine per rifle. The already high for the time capacity of 10 rounds plus multiple magazines would make the Enfield even more formidible a rifle to help the machine guns stop the charges of enemy infantry.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Remington-Lee in 7x57. They were actually made for the civilian market and not too much modification would've been required for US military use.

 

[High Planes Drifter]

I'll go with the 6.5 Swede also, in an Enfield jungle carbine. Who knows, had we adopted a round like that back then , it might still be used in some military application today.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'd go with a Model 98 Mauser in 8X57. But I'd stretch the case a quarter of an inch and neck it down to .30 caliber.

 

[Eightball]

Either the K31 in unadultered form, or the M1891/30 in unadultered form.

K31 because it rocks, M1891/30 because "mother russia" would probably have plenty to spare.

Or maybe a K98 in the 6.5 swede cartridge.

 

[Correia]

I would summon John Browning, give him my list of specifications, and tell him to do whatever he wants. When he's done, we'll buy half a million of them.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

M1891/30 because "mother russia" would probably have plenty to spare.

Of course the M1891/30 wasn't available in 1910 -- just the M1891. And Russia didn't have more than a fraction of what she needed. Russia bought M1895 Winchester lever actions in 7.62X54R, and also contracted for the productions of M1891s in the United States.

 

[.45Guy]

Select fire Remington model 8, capable of accepting detachable mags. Or maybe a Mondragon in 7x57.

 

[Cosmoline]

Actually, the US Army DID in fact use surplus M-91's. Our soldiers were issued them during the Russian Civil War and the US had millions of them that were made here but never delivered because the Czar went on permanent vacation. I believe there were quite a few in the reserves of Army garrisons and guard units prior to WWII.



As far as what rifle, I'd go with the one that got away--the Savage 99. The '95 was considered but not adopted back in the day. There's nothing more American than a levergun, and it's awesome rate of fire, easy balance and fast handling would have been excellent for trench warfare. As far as chambering, any number of cartridges could have been used but one of the high-velocity Newton designs like the .250-3000 would have been pretty brutal.

 

[azredhawk44]

I'd just go with the SMLE and the .303 british round. Our ally uses it, it's powerful, and can be reloaded quickly with stripper clips. The bolt is fantastically fast, too.

Problem solved.

 

[vmfrantz]

i think i'd go with the .275 rigby. it was ahead of its time with the 140 grain pointed tip @ 2900fps

 

[Eightball]

Of course the M1891/30 wasn't available in 1910 -- just the M1891.

Gahhh, how stupid of me . Thanks for catching my error.

 

[rangerruck]

id go with waht they were really contemplating back then , the 6mm lee navy.

 

[Mumbles_45]

I like the 6.5X55 as well but would probably put it into an Enfield action lightened up a bit on the stockwork and issue more than one magazine per rifle

I like that Idea a lot. I like Correia's Idea a lot too.

Russia bought M1895 Winchester lever actions in 7.62X54R

That sounds like a bad idea. Or was 7.62x54R a little rounder back then? Or is the whole "pointy bullets stacked end to end can cause a disaster when you fire your rifle" thing a myth?

 

[PirateJoe]

swiss k-31 platform in .270 win or 6mm rem. with 10 round magazine.

 

[JesseL]

That sounds like a bad idea. Or was 7.62x54R a little rounder back then? Or is the whole "pointy bullets stacked end to end can cause a disaster when you fire your rifle" thing a myth?

The 1895 Winchester used a box magazine, so no issue with pointy bullets on primers.

 

[Mumbles_45]

ah.

 

[ChristopherG]

Savage 1899 in .300 savage, the long lost papa of the .308 Winchester.

 

[gazpacho]

Mauser 1898 for qualified marksmen.
Winchester 1894 for regular troops.
Winchester 1897 for close in support.

 

[Crosshair]

Everyone saying "K-31" needs to remember that the K-31 was not introduced until 1933. The best that was available was the K-11. Though it is good to see that people are favoring the 6.5x55.

 

[JesseL]

So Crosshair, what would your choice be?

 

[jerkface11]

Savage 99 in the perfect cartridge .250 savage. Then in the 50's stoner could design his rifle to use it too and today you'd be able to get milsurp .250 savage. Surely a perfect world.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I don't think there is any pratical difference on the battlefield with any of the cartridges mentioned above. I mean, can anyone name one battle that was won or lost based on what high powered rifle round was being used?

If its not broke, don't fix it. I will stick with the 30-06 in the 1903 A3 and later on, in the M1 Garand. If you can't become a world power with that combination, you don't deserve to be.