47CubPilot
Member
GBExpat, I stand corrected. You did mention it!
favorite military rifle
- Thread starter scottbird
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JRH6856
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Fg 42
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scottbird
Member
I was reading some things online about my #1 mk3, the #1 mk3 did not come into production untill 1926. my rifle is dated 1918, therefor a mk3 rifle, not sure if there is much differnce, if anyone knows please let me know. is it just barrel length, or were there other changes also?
Swiss K31
The rifle is stupid accurate and the best trigger on any milsurp. And of course the straight pull always elicits questions at the range. Everyone seems to think it's an Enfield at first glance with how fast the bolt cycles.
The rifle is stupid accurate and the best trigger on any milsurp. And of course the straight pull always elicits questions at the range. Everyone seems to think it's an Enfield at first glance with how fast the bolt cycles.
tark
Member
Limited to WW2? The M-1 is heads and shoulders above all others, leaving us to quibble over the merits of the various bolt actions. If I had to go to war with any of them, the Jap Arisaka type 99 would be my choice. For many reasons:
The gun was simple and easy to manufacture, it was enormously strong, it was totally reliable, it was accurate enough, and the sights were surprisingly quick and easy to use once you got used to them. The firing/safety/ bolt assembly consisted of only seven parts. The bolt cover was a stroke of genius, if you learned that whacking it with a hammer in the right spot pinched it, and it stopped rattling.
And then there was the ultimate stroke of genius, that chrome lined bore. It didn't rust, even in the tropics with corrosive ammo. Of course I am talking about the good ones, not the last-ditch junk. The Germans had the same problem..
And Excuse me for saying "Japs" instead of Japanese. When they admit to the Rape on Nanking I'll clean up my language.
The gun was simple and easy to manufacture, it was enormously strong, it was totally reliable, it was accurate enough, and the sights were surprisingly quick and easy to use once you got used to them. The firing/safety/ bolt assembly consisted of only seven parts. The bolt cover was a stroke of genius, if you learned that whacking it with a hammer in the right spot pinched it, and it stopped rattling.
And then there was the ultimate stroke of genius, that chrome lined bore. It didn't rust, even in the tropics with corrosive ammo. Of course I am talking about the good ones, not the last-ditch junk. The Germans had the same problem..
And Excuse me for saying "Japs" instead of Japanese. When they admit to the Rape on Nanking I'll clean up my language.
theotherwaldo
Member
My current favorites are the ones that I'm working on right now:
-a Finn New England Westinghouse Mosin '91,
and
-a '98 Krag, tastefully Bubbafied in the 'thirties and scoped in the 'fifties.
I'm fickle, though. I'm about to start work on a Spanish '16 Mauser with a new NATO barrel... .
-a Finn New England Westinghouse Mosin '91,
and
-a '98 Krag, tastefully Bubbafied in the 'thirties and scoped in the 'fifties.
I'm fickle, though. I'm about to start work on a Spanish '16 Mauser with a new NATO barrel... .
C.R.
Member
how about the good old tommy gun?
JRH6856
Member
Well, technically, it's not a rifle.
Vern Humphrey
Member
I cut my teeth on the M1 Garand (I was in one of the last Basic and Advanced Infantry training units to be trained on the M1 and associated weapons) and carried an M1 as an Adviser my first tour in Viet Nam. My personal M1 is an H&R made in the mid-50s with all the latest modifications.
But I have to agree with Mike Venturino -- for general shooting and even hunting, the best military rifle is the M1903A3 with it's peep sight. I have two of them, a Remington and a Smith-Corona.
But I have to agree with Mike Venturino -- for general shooting and even hunting, the best military rifle is the M1903A3 with it's peep sight. I have two of them, a Remington and a Smith-Corona.
offthepaper
Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 1,446
Bolt Action: Finn M39
I have 6 and all of them are shooters, with 2 of them able to challenge my K31's. Plus the history of these rifles and the brave men who carried them. Talk about the "Mouse that Roared".
Semi Auto: M1 Garand
Because, well, its a Garand.
Auto: M2 Ma Duece
Because few things say "get the f*^% outta here like 50 cal.
Pistol: 1911
Hands down, one of the Premier designs ever to come along.
I have 6 and all of them are shooters, with 2 of them able to challenge my K31's. Plus the history of these rifles and the brave men who carried them. Talk about the "Mouse that Roared".
Semi Auto: M1 Garand
Because, well, its a Garand.
Auto: M2 Ma Duece
Because few things say "get the f*^% outta here like 50 cal.
Pistol: 1911
Hands down, one of the Premier designs ever to come along.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Ah, the Ma Deuce. My second tour, I commanded a Mechanized Rifle Company. Each APC had a Ma Deuce, and when you could get an APC into a base camp, the Ma Deuce was an awesome weapon.
Defensively, dug in, with the APC run over the top of the machine gun pit for overhead cover, it was unbeatable.
Defensively, dug in, with the APC run over the top of the machine gun pit for overhead cover, it was unbeatable.
CapnMac
Member
"Favorite" is a loaded term (NPI).
When the Second Depression hit, and it was a question of what was in the safe versus having a house to keep one in, the choice was made, slowly, painfully, for me.
The 'duplicate' 1903 (a 1903A1 with a USMC marked barrel, actually). Then, the Garand (a NatOrd rebarreled HR). Last to go was my beautiful Inland M-1 Carbine (especially since I was never going to see its like again for under $400).
So, the last was my first ever purchased (traded an AMT Longslide for, actually) milsurp, my prized Smith Corona 03A3. Thus, it must be my favorite.
When the Second Depression hit, and it was a question of what was in the safe versus having a house to keep one in, the choice was made, slowly, painfully, for me.
The 'duplicate' 1903 (a 1903A1 with a USMC marked barrel, actually). Then, the Garand (a NatOrd rebarreled HR). Last to go was my beautiful Inland M-1 Carbine (especially since I was never going to see its like again for under $400).
So, the last was my first ever purchased (traded an AMT Longslide for, actually) milsurp, my prized Smith Corona 03A3. Thus, it must be my favorite.
GarandBragger
Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2014
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- 25
Easy. The M1 Garand.
• the 30-06 round will punch a hole through a tree and STILL take out the guy hiding behind it. Not too many living things it can't take down. And even better, you've got 8 rounds of it. More than MOST battle rifles of the time. Scope it, and you can do it at impressive distances.
• even better than 8 rounds of whoop-***? Being able to fire it in semi automatic, again something most rifles in the early stages couldn't do.
• out of rounds? Use it as club or personal mortar with a rifle grenade. Now it's a light armored vehicle killer too.
• it may not be the AK of WWII, but it's still up there with reliability.
I don't think many rifles of the time could compare.
• the 30-06 round will punch a hole through a tree and STILL take out the guy hiding behind it. Not too many living things it can't take down. And even better, you've got 8 rounds of it. More than MOST battle rifles of the time. Scope it, and you can do it at impressive distances.
• even better than 8 rounds of whoop-***? Being able to fire it in semi automatic, again something most rifles in the early stages couldn't do.
• out of rounds? Use it as club or personal mortar with a rifle grenade. Now it's a light armored vehicle killer too.
• it may not be the AK of WWII, but it's still up there with reliability.
I don't think many rifles of the time could compare.
C.R.
Member
I suppose the tommy gun would count more as a sub machine gun rather than a rifle.
AethelstanAegen
Member
That would have to be my Norwegian Krag-Jorgensen followed up by my Finnish Mosin-Nagants and the M1 Garand.
Stephen1956
Member
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2014
- Messages
- 49
My favorite has to be the .303 great rifle had one that was made in Canada No.4 Mk1 shoot great bought it for $40.00 put new furniture on it and re-blued it. That was 2004 bought 500 50unds of ammo from the Guide for yes for$99.00 good old days. But the rifle I wish I had kept was a Spanish Mauser chambered in .308 paid $79.00 for it and man it shot great. Paid $89.00 for 250 rounds of linked .308 ammo in the can. But times got hard and had to sell both of them. But the .303 had a smooth action, 10 rounds, and the recoil wasn't that bad so yes the .303 is my favorite.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
Bolt action- Swedish Mauser 6.5x55
Semi auto- M1 Garand
(Gotta love what ya got right..? )
Semi auto- M1 Garand
(Gotta love what ya got right..? )
fanchisimo
Member
I always thought if the Sturmgewehr 44 had come along sooner, it might have been a game changer if it would've gotten distributed more. Plus it was the worlds first assault rifle.
Although I have a deep and lasting love affair with my Springfield 1943 Garand, my real all-time favorite is the M1 carbine. My shoulder (with bursitis, arthritis) can handle a 2-hour session with the little Underwood without complaint. She packs quite a wallop for such a small rifle, 115 grain round nose at 1900 fps is formidable.
The M1841 US "Mississippi" Rifle in it's original .54 caliber. The most handsome rifle ever issued to American troops. Designed as the last round ball firing military rifle issued to troops, accuracy compares easily with any modern military rifle up to about 150 yards.
Hardtarget
Member
I just cannot pick a favorite of my "children".
k98 Mauser, .303 Enfield, K-31 Swiss, 1903 Springfield, .30 carbine, M1 Garand.
I just can't pick!
Mark
k98 Mauser, .303 Enfield, K-31 Swiss, 1903 Springfield, .30 carbine, M1 Garand.
I just can't pick!
Mark
Inebriated
Member
Not even a question, the M1 Garand.
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