What is your Favorite weapon of WWII?

[GarandOwner]

Im a big World War II buff, and also an avid shooter. While alot of new rifles come with alot of bells and whistles, with the newest lightest composites. I am still drawn to weapons of World War II over these newer "better" guns. So I thought I would start a thread and see what everyones' favorite weapons are from the last great war. They dont have to be ones that you can legally own, or one you have ever shot. Of course your answer can include more than one. Id also like to know why it is your favorite, weither it be how influential it was in the war, its popularity, or just because it looked so dang cool. Also any pictures you might have would be nice Answers can include: Rifles, SMG's, Pistols, and Light/Heavy machine guns

Mine would have to be either the M1 Garand or the 1918 BAR. This bias comes from owning a Garand, and I have never shot a rifle that in my opinion was more comfortable than the Garand. It is accurate as heck, simple in design, and pleasing to the eye. The weight of the garand also helps reduce the recoil from the stout .30-06 round. I believe General Patton said it best "In my opinion the M1 Garand rifle is the greatest war device ever implimented". Also having the benifit of a general issue semi-auto rifle with the accuracy of some bolt-action rifles, while most other nations were still using bolt actions gave us a significat advantage in the war. The BAR is also a great machine rifle that looks intimidating. I would hate to be the one at the busniess end of one of those when the **** hits the fan. For those interested Ohio Ordnance works makes a semi-auto version of the BAR. so if you dont mind coughing up $3000 you can have a nice new toy to take to the range. (I'm getting one in January when they start taking new orders. Rest assured that as soon as I do there will be an extensive range report with lots of pictures for your viewing pleasure)

 

[The Good]

British Sterling.

Not actually used in WWII but still considered by most to be a WWII gun because it was developed and used in that era.

 

[foghornl]

Easy choice.....

US Rifle Cal .30 M1

Popularly Known As "The Garand"

 

[shermacman]

I would vote for anything that goes:

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Ping!

 

[Brian Williams]

1911A1, being a handgun guy, that or a nice 6" Luger

 

[GTSteve03]

MG42, all the way.

Fastest firing non-Gatling MG ever made, I'm pretty sure. Wasn't called "Hitler's Buzzsaw" for no reason!

 

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

Either the Garand or the MP40

 

[SSN Vet]

military history lover.........

favorites....

German
MP-40 machiine pistol
MG-42 machine gun
P-38 pistol

U.S.
Thompson submachine gun
M-1 Garand Rifle
BAR

 

[Mac Attack]

Favorite long rifle - M1 Garand
Favorite SMG - Thompson
Favorite Handgun - 1911


Favorite firearm from WWII = Thompson

 

[Avizpls]

Thats too easy.

US: 1911A1
Them: Ordonnanzpistole 00

 

[Onmilo]

M1 Garand

 

[Deer Hunter]

MP44, easy. I love all the other guns, but this one has to take the cake. You can't deny the importance of the first workable assault weapon.

 

[Dain Bramage]

PTRD anti-tank rifle.

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Browning Hi-Power

 

[redranger1]

They are all my favorite(excluding jap weapons). I am truelly fascinated with all of the weapons of that time. But the one i wanna shoot more then anything is an MG-42. When i was in high school i helped my grangfather make up a dummy from a parts kit that he had bought. Ive been hooked ever since on that gun.

 

[.45Guy]

SVT-38/40... What can I say, I have odd tastes.

 

[ball3006]

"little boy"...and a...

B29.......................................chris3

 

[Haymaker]

My WWII Favorite =

The US Rifle, Cal 30 M1
All the rest were crew served Fireing a bipod mounted M1919A1 was a real hoot

 

[arminius]

M1 Garand

 

[pipboy]

k-43 is you can find one...
stg-44 if you can find one and have enough money to buy the ammo (even repacking)
but above alllllll

the fg-42!

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Favorite weapon of WWII?

BB60 Alabama (in Mobile, Alabama, as a miliary historu museum park)

 

[ajax]

1911 and the BAR. B-17 is pretty cool to.

 

[Terrierman]

I was in the USMC, MOS 0351. 0351 was the "weapons" designation, and the weapons at the time of my AIT included 3.5" rocket launcher (which was already replaced on the line with LAAW), the 106 MM Recoilless Rifle and the good old fashioned flame thrower. The amazingly incredibly heavy and dangerous to the operator flame thrower. The same ones used by fellow Marines who preceded me, in the South Pacific to good effect on our little yellow brothers. What a blast to snap the lighter and launch a streak of flaming napalm through the air! So, my favorite? FLAME THROWER. Not that easy to clean, definitely not that handy to carry, short range for sure, but if you need to clear a cave or a pillbox or heavy gun emplacement, just plain old nothing better!!

The rest of the story: The "weapons" we trained on in AIT were all basically obsolete at the time of training. There were still a few 106 rifles around in Weapons Companies in the Corps, but I never saw one in use or fired one after AIT. The 3.5 was totally obsolete and no longer issued on the line, I wonder to this day why we were even trained on it. Flame throwers though were still around, but not much used. I have no idea if they still are. Once I got out into the Corps, the '51 MOS was pretty worthless, wound up being assigned to first a 60 MM mortar squad and carried a PRC 25 or worse a PRC 75 an M-16, a ruck, and either a baseplate, a tube or bipod during that stretch. Next I got assigned to an M-60 squad and got to carry the rifle the radio and tripod. It sucked to be one of the big guys, they always loaded me down. FINALLY got assigned a Company Armorer position on Okinawa. That was pretty sweet, somebody had to stay in the rear with the gear and guard the rifles when the rest of the Company went camping. I reckon I deserved it. In that position, I was one of the few Marines on Okinawa that was armed most of the time with live ammunition and a .45. In retrospect, those were pretty good times.

 

[kentucky_smith]

just ignore that thing on the bottom:

Gotta go with Garand.

 

[Gunstore Commando]

All I know is...

...the one uncle I had who would actually talk about his WWII experiences set great store by the Thompson SMG.

Carbines were okay. Garands were nice. And you always wanted to get ahold of a .45 if you could. But, Uncle Waltie said, if you really wanted someone to stop what they were doing right now, the Thompson was what you wanted to have in your hand.