Fredericianer
Member
The Lee Enfield No.4 is probably my favourite, but I have a soft spot for some of the Scandinavian rifles too. I have a Norwegian M/94 and a Swedish M/38 short rifle. They're both lovely rifles.
favorite military rifle
- Thread starter scottbird
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Edarnold
Member
My favorite would have to be the Swiss K31. Fine workmanship, very fast rate of fire, a great trigger, and the GP11 ammunition is match grade accuracy with excellent ballistics. The only drawback for those of us with aging eyes is the open rear sight: if the Swiss had upgraded with an integrated peep sight it would be the ultimate manually operated battle rifle.
Going into battle in WW2, no choice but the M1 Garand. For all it's faults, still the finest weapon of it's day.
Going into battle in WW2, no choice but the M1 Garand. For all it's faults, still the finest weapon of it's day.
JeeperCreeper
Member
Out of what I own (until that boating accident):
Prettiest: 1903 Springfield
Favorite to shoot: Mosin M44 Carbine
Most Interesting: Jap 6.5 Type 97 Sniper
Prettiest: 1903 Springfield
Favorite to shoot: Mosin M44 Carbine
Most Interesting: Jap 6.5 Type 97 Sniper
Bohemus
Member
SVT-40 - light, mild recoil, no broken thumb issue, uses magazine, you can mount optics on it.
More over its cheap and shoots cheap ammo.
More over its cheap and shoots cheap ammo.
Kaeto
Member
Turk K Kale Mauser.
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,299
I grew up around '03 Springfields and M1 Garands. That along with the Model 1898 Krag Jorgensen have to be my favorite military rifles.
GBExpat
Member
Probably the most correct answer for me (and, perhaps, many of us) is, "Whichever one I happen to be removing from the gunsafe at the moment".scottbird said:
K98k, Lee-Enfields Nºs1/4/5, M1, 03, 03A3, M1917, SVT-40, M1 Carbine, M39, Mosin-Nagant 91/30, M38, Wz29 ...
Geno said:
Glockula
Member
I have to say this is a hard question. I own an M1 Garand, M96 and M38 Swede, K98 8mm. Mosin Nagant 91/30 and two 1943 Smith Corona 03a3 rifles. With of those has the stock sporterized. I would have to pick the 03a3. Both of mine are tack drivers and the sights are great.
I find Mauser sites hard to shoot well. If that were not the case the M38 Swede is right up there.
I find Mauser sites hard to shoot well. If that were not the case the M38 Swede is right up there.
shotgunjoel
Member
I'm amazed that no one has said the MP44/Stg44. I would have to go with either the Japanese Type 38 carbine or the Swedish Model 38. The Type 38 is a beautiful gun with a great cartridge. The Japanese did some really smart things with their rifle designs, like having the receiver tang as a separate piece to ease manufacturing, or the two-piece stock design. The Swede has an equally good cartridge and has what has to be one of the best Mauser actions I've ever handled.
InkEd
Member
In that time frame, I have to go with a Garand of some type. If we are allowed to pick from non-standard issue weapons I'll take a sturmgewehr.
cheesebigot
Member
I'm a big fan of the wartime carbines, I had a lot of love for my Japanese Type 44. She was solid but not burdensome, powerful but not painful (recoil-wise), handy and a pleasure to shoot. I just wish 6.5 JAP was more commonly manufactured.
I was also a fan of the Czech VZ 52, but her prime (if she ever had one) wasn't until post-WW2 and it cost me the farm to feed her for an outing.
I was also a fan of the Czech VZ 52, but her prime (if she ever had one) wasn't until post-WW2 and it cost me the farm to feed her for an outing.
silicosys4
Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2012
- Messages
- 3,667
Of the ones i've shot/handled,
FAL.
Edit...FAL wasn't in either wars, so it would have to be the garand, as its the only world war rifle I've shot.
FAL.
Edit...FAL wasn't in either wars, so it would have to be the garand, as its the only world war rifle I've shot.
Last edited:
maxxhavoc
Member
Of the ones I have:
M1 Carbine is the most fun to plink with
Swedish Mauser is the most accurate
M39 is almost as accurate, but can shoot much cheaper ammo
The Garand just feels good in the hand
I can't pick.
M1 Carbine is the most fun to plink with
Swedish Mauser is the most accurate
M39 is almost as accurate, but can shoot much cheaper ammo
The Garand just feels good in the hand
I can't pick.
aarondhgraham
Member
I'm so glad you said "favorite" instead of best,,,
I'm so glad you said "favorite" instead of best,,,
Because I've never been able to define that best thing.
Back in the early 60's when a kid could order from a mail order catalog,,,
I mowed lawns and spent all of my money at the Alden's store.
My grandfather gave me my Uncle Banties WW-II bring-back K-98,,,
That was my deer rifle that bagged 5-deer in 5 years,,,
I still have it in original stock and bayonet,,,
It was a very accurate rifle back then.
I ordered a British .303 of some unremembered version for (IIRC) $19.95,,,
It was a rat/skunk/possum killing machine at the old county dump,,,
Using 3 cent a round milsurp ammo I could afford to shoot it,,,
Easily as accurate as any rifle I had at the time.
I ordered a 7.7 Japanese Arisaka for $14.95,,,
It shot well enough but was never a favorite rifle for me,,,
Perhaps it was a near end of war gun because it was sloppily built,,,
The only thing I ever used it for was to collect dust in the rack on my bedroom wall.
Same for a 6.5 Italian Carcano Carbine that I think was also $14.95,,,
It fired well enough but milsurp ammo was harder to find,,,
I never warmed up to the rifle even a little bit,,,
Then there was the Kennedy stigma thing.
The last one I ordered was a Springfield 1903,,,
If my memory serves me I paid a whopping $24.95 for it,,,
The rifle was well made, very accurate, and pretty, but wasn't a favorite.
Then my distant uncle came to the house one day,,,
He had borrowed my Father's rifle to go deer hunting with,,,
That was in 1951, just a few months before my Father was killed in a truck accident,,,
He had kept the rifle all those many years and decided to return it now that I was old enough.
It was a 30-40 Krag Jorgensen and gentlemen,,,
That became my favorite rifle of all,,,
I loved that side loading gate,,,
It was just an elegant rifle.
I don't know if it was originally the carbine or full rifle,,,
This one had been 'sporterized' as was common in those days,,,
The stock was chopped and reshaped to have a lovely Schnabel forend,,,
The barrel had also been shortened by a few inches and a nice ramp sight installed on it.
I never hunted deer with that rifle,,
I got it in 1968, my senior year of high school,,,
I had already taken my 5th and last deer with the K98 Mauser,,,
I never went deer hunting again but the Krag saw extensive use at the old dump.
There was something very gratifying about opening the gate,,,
Pouring in those five rimmed rounds and slap it shut,,,
Five rats would meet their maker that day.
I wish I still owned the rifle but I don't,,,
Back in 1981 I had a severe fit of some kind of lunacy,,,
I gave it to my sisters son as he is the last descendent of my Fathers line.
My nephew and brother-in-law are deer hunters,,,
I thought he would use the rifle at least once but he didn't,,,
I asked about it a couple of years ago and apparently he's never fired it,,,
For the past 32 years it's been on a rack in his closet and hasn't seen daylight since he took it home.
It's a pity because even though it a very old rifle,,,
It shot like a dream and would have served him well on the hunt.
That was my favorite rifle,,,
I've considered asking for it back,,,
But that would probably be a bad thing.
They do go shooting just before deer season,,,
Perhaps I'll ask him if I can accompany them this time,,,
Bring that old gal out, clean her up, and see if she can still dance.
She was my favorite of them all.
Aarond
.
I'm so glad you said "favorite" instead of best,,,
Because I've never been able to define that best thing.
Back in the early 60's when a kid could order from a mail order catalog,,,
I mowed lawns and spent all of my money at the Alden's store.
My grandfather gave me my Uncle Banties WW-II bring-back K-98,,,
That was my deer rifle that bagged 5-deer in 5 years,,,
I still have it in original stock and bayonet,,,
It was a very accurate rifle back then.
I ordered a British .303 of some unremembered version for (IIRC) $19.95,,,
It was a rat/skunk/possum killing machine at the old county dump,,,
Using 3 cent a round milsurp ammo I could afford to shoot it,,,
Easily as accurate as any rifle I had at the time.
I ordered a 7.7 Japanese Arisaka for $14.95,,,
It shot well enough but was never a favorite rifle for me,,,
Perhaps it was a near end of war gun because it was sloppily built,,,
The only thing I ever used it for was to collect dust in the rack on my bedroom wall.
Same for a 6.5 Italian Carcano Carbine that I think was also $14.95,,,
It fired well enough but milsurp ammo was harder to find,,,
I never warmed up to the rifle even a little bit,,,
Then there was the Kennedy stigma thing.
The last one I ordered was a Springfield 1903,,,
If my memory serves me I paid a whopping $24.95 for it,,,
The rifle was well made, very accurate, and pretty, but wasn't a favorite.
Then my distant uncle came to the house one day,,,
He had borrowed my Father's rifle to go deer hunting with,,,
That was in 1951, just a few months before my Father was killed in a truck accident,,,
He had kept the rifle all those many years and decided to return it now that I was old enough.
It was a 30-40 Krag Jorgensen and gentlemen,,,
That became my favorite rifle of all,,,
I loved that side loading gate,,,
It was just an elegant rifle.
I don't know if it was originally the carbine or full rifle,,,
This one had been 'sporterized' as was common in those days,,,
The stock was chopped and reshaped to have a lovely Schnabel forend,,,
The barrel had also been shortened by a few inches and a nice ramp sight installed on it.
I never hunted deer with that rifle,,
I got it in 1968, my senior year of high school,,,
I had already taken my 5th and last deer with the K98 Mauser,,,
I never went deer hunting again but the Krag saw extensive use at the old dump.
There was something very gratifying about opening the gate,,,
Pouring in those five rimmed rounds and slap it shut,,,
Five rats would meet their maker that day.
I wish I still owned the rifle but I don't,,,
Back in 1981 I had a severe fit of some kind of lunacy,,,
I gave it to my sisters son as he is the last descendent of my Fathers line.
My nephew and brother-in-law are deer hunters,,,
I thought he would use the rifle at least once but he didn't,,,
I asked about it a couple of years ago and apparently he's never fired it,,,
For the past 32 years it's been on a rack in his closet and hasn't seen daylight since he took it home.
It's a pity because even though it a very old rifle,,,
It shot like a dream and would have served him well on the hunt.
That was my favorite rifle,,,
I've considered asking for it back,,,
But that would probably be a bad thing.
They do go shooting just before deer season,,,
Perhaps I'll ask him if I can accompany them this time,,,
Bring that old gal out, clean her up, and see if she can still dance.
She was my favorite of them all.
Aarond
.
47CubPilot
Member
Just curious....
Is the M1917 that bad? No one has mentioned it.
Is the M1917 that bad? No one has mentioned it.
wlewisiii
Member
M1917? Best, bar none, bolt action rifle the US has ever issued. Exquisite sights if you can find one that wasn't raped with a hacksaw.
But the bosses preferred the M1903 & the more hunter's preferred the Krag. Ask Sgt York & he'll tell you what he really used that day ...
But the bosses preferred the M1903 & the more hunter's preferred the Krag. Ask Sgt York & he'll tell you what he really used that day ...
Nom de Forum
Member
I interpreted this thread subject as what is your favorite rifle that saw service in both WWI and WWII based on "WWI-WWII". Apparently not all posters have done the same. Since that is the case I modify my post to Lee-Enfield for WWI. For WWII it has to be the M1 Garand.
GBExpat
Member
It was mentioned, you just missed it.47CubPilot said:
WestKentucky
Member
Spencer, sharps, win94...guns that the soldiers carried as they expanded and explored the territory of the USA...
Guns have to be new at some point, but for me to care they have to be old school cool, with the scars showing their use.
Guns have to be new at some point, but for me to care they have to be old school cool, with the scars showing their use.
Sunray
Member
"...still in use in several countries, including Canada..." Only by The Canadian Rangers. Native support types. Nobody else except for Colour Parties.
The M1A isn't a military rifle and never has been. No such thing in W.W. anything either.
It'd be the M1 Carbine followed by the M1 Rifle. Enfields hurt unless I have my old combat jacket on.
The M1A isn't a military rifle and never has been. No such thing in W.W. anything either.
It'd be the M1 Carbine followed by the M1 Rifle. Enfields hurt unless I have my old combat jacket on.
bainter1212
Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2012
- Messages
- 1,175
I own and shoot many, however my favorite shooter is my Jungle Carbine. I just can't seem to miss steel gongs with it.
OP
OP
scottbird
Member
thanks for all the input. I am going to buy another milsurp soon and am useing all your input to decide what to buy. am looking at the 8mm, and the mosin. I am a fqn of the bolt actions I do not care for the semi's, not that they are bad or anything, just my prefernce. never even held the 6.5, may have to do some resaerch. in any case thanks.
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