most accurate military bolt action rifle

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I have a M39 Mosin. Excellent barrel and in better shape than most that I have ever seen. Its a shooter and all stock. With 308 reloads and not military ammo its a shooting machine. the bore is .309 as I measured it. The bore still looks like new. My K31, No 1, 1903A3, No 4 MK2, Krag, 96 Mauser, or No 5 Roller won't touch it. At least with me behind the stick.
 
Long Range (>300 yards.) M1903A3.

Medium Range (100-300 yards.) K31.

Short Range (0-100 yards) Since I can't put the MP5SD3, which I used at 75 meters and got eye shots at hostage taker targets in training, I will agree that the M39 is excellent.
 
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Swede M96/M38. Mostly because of the cartridge, 6.5 x 55. Rifles are well built also. I had a 38 (95%) and let it go. Biggest gun related mistake I ever made.
 
Just getting back into shooting and its reassuring to hear my m96 is well regarded. Now to put some rounds though it and hone the skill.
 
Short Range (0-100 yards) Since I can't put the MP5SD3, which I used at 75 meters and got eye shots at hostage taker targets in training
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:scrutiny:


So which bolt action military rifle is the most accurate? Here are the rules:

Any bolt action rifle, straight pull or turnbolt, will qualify.
No .22s, must be a centerfire military caliber.
I want firsthand accounts of rifles you have actually fired.
No scope sighted sniper rifles, I want standard issue milsurps.
NO AUTOLOADERS. bolt action only (worth repeating)
Must be as-issued. No accurizing allowed.
Any bolt gun will qualify, whether or not it was a successful design.
The gun must have a bayonet lug.
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I guess a person could miss the bolt action qualifier..........:eek:
 
My two best shooting GI bolt gun #1 m17 #2 Mas 36. The frenchie was a unexpected delight. In my old age I need the peep sights of these two.
 
I think the 1903 Springfield would have to fall in this group somewhere.

They won the Wimbolton trophy several times pre-WWII against the best military rifles in the world.
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Those were not off the shelf military rifles. Star gauge barrels, polished actions and triggers. They were built competition rifles.
Swiss K-31, or a Swedish Mauser 6.5
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My faves too. My only Swedes are a couple sporters. I was really comfortable with a K31 the first time I shot one. It really got under my skin and I had to have one.
 
I only own two milsurps (so far); a '95 Chilean Mauser, and an '03 Springfield (from 1911). In my hands, both are minute-of-8-ring. I'm sure they would shoot better than that in the hands of a more talented shooter. I have shot some nice 1-1/2" groups with my handloads from the '03, but not consistently - and that's all me.

Based on everything I've ever read, and seen with my own eyes at local competitions, the 03A3 seems to have a slight edge over the K31. Just my take.
 
Shooting mil-surp ammo it's hard to make a determination between my Yugo 98, my 03 and my m96 swede. But using reloads the 6.5x55 m96 is in a league of it's own.
 
Those M1903's used to win NRA matches and set records were not what the OP specified (Must be as-issued. No accurizing allowed.); they were highly modified to shoot very accurate. And they had Vaver or Lyman rear aperture target sights; a far cry from the military sights on issue ones. I doubt any other country's military rifles were ever used because the ones used in NRA and DCM matches had to be 30 caliber.
 
desidog said:
is that safe to shoot? I'd guess it is not.
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It's fine. It has the "Hatcher Hole", and I only shoot my own handloads in it, which are about as mousefart as you can get from a .30-'06.

You are not the first person to "guess" it's not safe, nor will you be the last. I've been enjoying that rifle for several years now, and have no plans to stop. Appreciate your concern, though. :)
 
I've fired Turkish mausers, German mausers and Swedes. The M38 6.5x55 Swede that my ex=GF stored at my house is the most accurate mil-surp I have shot.
 
is that safe to shoot? I'd guess it is not.
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The few "dangerous" 1903's that blew up were tested with loads that were proof pressure or higher.

The real risk with 1903s (and other milsurps) are those that were assembled/reassembled with non-original bolts and no attention to headspace. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot any M1903 that was in good shape with proper headspace.
 
here in My 03, a low numbered gun. It was rebuild at the San Antonio Arsenal during WWII and put into storage as all low numbered guns were, as "Substitute standard". It was re-barreled at that time. So THIS low numbered gun passed proof at S.A. , shot out a barrel and was re-barreled and then proof tested AGAIN! Did I mention that it doubtless went through a world war between barrels? Remember, the 03 gained fame and its reputation with all low numbered guns?

This old girl is almost as accurate as my Ross MkIII and equally as accurate as my K-31.
 

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That's a beautiful gun, Highpower, but I believe that is a modified Match rifle. Those sights were not what you find on the standard issue Swedish Mauser.

If I am wrong, feel free to slap me down:)
 
My first-ever center-fire, back in 1950, was a DCM in-cosmoline 1917 Enfield. Star gauge barrel. With my father's handloads, it was one MOA.
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I thought it was pretty widely known that the 1917 is generally more accurate than the '03 and many other of its contemporaries. Heck the sights on the '03 cripple it as compared to the '17's. (Excepting the A3 which was not its contemporary, of course.)
 
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That's a beautiful gun, Highpower, but I believe that is a modified Match rifle. Those sights were not what you find on the standard issue Swedish Mauser.

If I am wrong, feel free to slap me down
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Well....it is a military rifle, built to military specs. It was used as a FSR rifle.(Swedish version of the CMP) for match shooting, much like the CMP used to give clubs rifles to use in matches. When I got it the diopter sights were missing and I had to do some research to find out which ones were correct for the hole pattern drilled in the receiver and then source the sights from Sweden.

Years ago I had a different M96 that had never had diopter sights installed and it was just as accurate. I'm not sure there ever was an inaccurate M96 imported to this country.
 
The problem with the question is you can't account for manufacturing tolerance some K31s are gonna be more accurate than other K31s.
 
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