Best Rifle of WW2, Par Deux

Alonzo

Alonzo

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We have had heated discussion on the best semi-auto rifle of WW2...I suspect this has already been visited. While it is still fresh in everyones mind, let's try it for bolt actions.

The Best Bolt Action Rifles of WW2 are;

Number 1- Lee Enfield, No.4

Number 2- M1903 Springfield/Remington

Number 3- Mauser K98


NO...The STG-44 and the SKS, do not count as a bolt action rifles!!!

Any other thoughts.

Cheersd
 
1st mauser 98 hands down still made today!
2nd enfield fast bolt
3rd schmidt&Rubin most unique and workable bolt for its time
4th sweedish m96 carl gustaf
all in my opinion.
 
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1. M96 - M38 Swedish. (Yes, it has seen action in the hands of Swedish volunteers in the Finno-Russian War).
2. Moisin-Nagant
3. K98
4. Arisaka, both calibers.
 
I'm going to split my answer into 2 parts.

Part 1: The best for fighting a war

1) Lee Enfield No. 4: fast, large magazine, excellent sights, extremely dependable
2) Mauser K98: great action, strong extraction, reliable
3) Mosin Nagant: rough and ready, works under poor conditions

Part 2: The best quality bolt

1) Swiss K31: best accuracy, best trigger, best machining, cool and fast action -- the Swiss weren't pinching pennies with this rifle and it shows!
2) Swedish Mauser: accurate, well made and reliable
3) Lee Enfield No. 4: best sights, everything you need to get the job done
 
While I love Swedish mausers, even if we count them in, you have to admit the Mauser 98 was an improvement in the M96's basic design.

Also, the question is misleading. I assume you meant "what is the best bolt action BATTLE rifle of ww2?", right?

If so, I'd have to say:
1) No.4Mk1 Lee Enfield. Not because of great fit and finish, nor because of any innovative extraction system endeared to sportsmen, and not because of fantastic target sights, but rather because of general durability, magazine capacity, parts interchangeability and very rapid bolt operation.
2) Mauser K98k. Argueably the most advanced bolt action turnbolt ever fielded as a general issue arm. The controlled round feeding and superior gas handling likely made this gun the safest bolt action rifle fielded during the war (I consider the Arisaka and the 1903 Springfield to be Mauser variants).
3) Mosin Nagant M91/30. Built like a tank. Minimal training required. Least refined, but most mass-produceable bolt action rifle of the war. It was the blunt instrument the Red Army used to smash its way into Der Fatherland.
 
I don't credit the Enfield anything on the magazine capacity, as with WW2 the engagements were different than in WW1. For example, being charged at while you were in a trench would happen far less often than in WW1...
I just don't find the extra magazine capacity to be that important.
Apart from that I prefer the Mosin bolt to the Enfield bolt.
I have never had the luck to handle an Arisaka, but my ranking is based on what I have read about it. I would really like to buy a nice Type 99 with the mum intact some day...
 
I'll speak to what I have experience with...

1. Finn Mosins (M28/M39) - good enough for Simo Häyhä, good enough for me
2. Enfield - fast action, nice balance
3. Russian Mosins - Cheap, reliable, easy to mass produce
 
ilovepotatos said:
I don't credit the Enfield anything on the magazine capacity, as with WW2 the engagements were different than in WW1. For example, being charged at while you were in a trench would happen far less often than in WW1...
I just don't find the extra magazine capacity to be that important.
Apart from that I prefer the Mosin bolt to the Enfield bolt.
I have never had the luck to handle an Arisaka, but my ranking is based on what I have read about it. I would really like to buy a nice Type 99 with the mum intact some day...
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but your not a soldier either :p :D



Enfield, rugged sloppy and dependable, ride hard put away wet, and it goes bang everytime.

and cleaning could be done by pissing down the bore :D to remove the salts from corrosive primers.




:popCorn:
 
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I'd agree that the m98 is so far ahead of anything else that comparing them is almost laughable. The ultimate test of time has proved it out over and over, as it's STILL being made today.

In a FAR distant second I'd go with the Springfield 1903, and tied for third would be the Enfield, the P14/P17, and the various Nagants
 
1) Der Allmächtig Karabiner 98k auf jeden fall!
2) Longbranch No.4 Mk. 1
3) Springfield 1903

Mosin Dead last even after all others.
 
no. 4 mk 1 hands down.i've played with the mauser and mosin but haven't really shot them,but that lee...the absolute best stripper clip/guide combo.who else lets you load a stripper and just slam the bolt forward without removing the clip first??
 
Pissing down the barrel doesn't remove the salts. There isn't enough ammonia in piss to kill the salt, and the piss is at 38 degrees or whatever the soldiers body temp is...nothing close to the 100 degree heat needed to widen the cracks in the barrel to get the salt out. Sorry!

I have abused my bolt mismatched Austrian Mauser to the point where my hands hurt more than my shoulder. I did the same with my No.4 Mk1 and a piece of the extractor went flying off. Never found it.
A gun cannot operate without an extractor. What were you saying about the Enfield being reliable? :p

woodchopper said:
but your not a soldier either :p :D



Enfield, rugged sloppy and dependable, ride hard put away wet, and it goes bang everytime.

and cleaning could be done by pissing down the bore :D to remove the salts from corrosive primers.




:popCorn:
Click to expand...
 
No contest

Winners of 2 World Wars.......Lee Enfield.......mag capacity is a major factor every country manage to catch up later on in the 50s...US with M14, etc...reloading takes the focus away from the engagement...so 10 rds mag beats every thing else for that period.
End of thread.................................................. . or is it?
 
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