Best milsurp sniper rifle

Except the concentration camp-produced ones. Somehow the quality wasn't quite as good.

They all started out with the scope rail, some, especially the bcd (Buchenwald) ones, had theirs milled off... most likely to poor manufacturing and groupings.

Also, many inferior receivers that were previously rejected, were made into full rifles later in the war when arms numbers needed to be pulled out of a hat, and quality was no longer an issue.. :(
 
I gotta go with either the Garand or the #4MK 1 T. Wish I had both, but my stock versions of them will hit man sized targets at 1000 if I do my part. My son, on the other hand shoots the 1000 yd man with his #5 MK 1. Not luck either, cause he does it repeatedly. So much for the wandering zero in his. Please don't take this as bragging, I'm just real proud of my boy. He's training to be a gunsmith and is doing well
 
My vote goes to sniper rifles made on the platforms of

-K98'' (including Czech copies)
-Swedish Mauser,
-Mossin (including Finn copies)
-Arisaka (both calibers)


(But my list is not made in a particular order).
Sorry, no pics.






edit to add:
I would consider G43 as being far from the idea of "best",
but they were "ok" as non-sniping rifles.

Also, SVT was (is) a piece of crap
even as an infantry service rifle (forget about sniping)
and it is considered
an embarassing failure of the Russian small arms industry
even by their own experts themselves.
Yeah, Tokharev screwed up that one big time.
 
Last edited:
Just gotta hold higher and further into the wind...lol. I understand your hesitation, however I'm pleased to say there have been independent witness present when he had made these shots
 
edit to add:
I would consider G43 as being far from the idea of "best",
but they were "ok" as non-sniping rifles.

Also, SVT was (is) a piece of crap
even as an infantry service rifle (forget about sniping)
and it is considered
an embarassing failure of the Russian small arms industry
even by their own experts themselves.
Yeah, Tokharev screwed up that one big time.


WWII_German_SVT40.jpg


True enough, but I'm quite sure the German soldiers who were lucky enough to pick up a 10 shot semi automatic and ditch a 5 shot bolt action, were probably quite pleased with their battlefield expedient... IMHO...
 
Also, SVT was (is) a piece of crap
even as an infantry service rifle (forget about sniping)
and it is considered
an embarassing failure of the Russian small arms industry
even by their own experts themselves.
Yeah, Tokharev screwed up that one big time.

In Russia, nothing is considered a failure!

I don't think that's a popular opinion on the SVT-40. Compared to the G43, it's quite a good rifle and was well-regarded enough to have its gas system copied over and over again by Russia and by its enemies.

It was also a popular rifle to capture on the Eastern Front and was only put out of production because more Mosin-Nagants could be produced in a shorter time span.
 
If it were'nt for that @#$%*&# rabbit gun Weaver 330 scope,I'd say the 1903A4 Springfield. The Lyman Alaskan was the preferred scope,but production problems meant that the rifle had to be fielded with the much inferior Weaver.
 
Also, SVT was (is) a piece of crap
even as an infantry service rifle (forget about sniping)
and it is considered
an embarassing failure of the Russian small arms industry
even by their own experts themselves.
Yeah, Tokharev screwed up that one big time.

Are you sure you didn't mean the AVS-36 or SVT-38? :(

The SVT-40 was rather well-liked, esp. by enemy forces...;)
 
DESERT FOX;
"especially the bcd (Buchenwald) "
How did you come upon this information ??
BCD was the code for Gustloff-Werke, Werk Weimar they made .37cm Flak 43, Kar98k and many other smal arms.
John
 
DESERT FOX;
"especially the bcd (Buchenwald) "
How did you come upon this information ??
BCD was the code for Gustloff-Werke, Werk Weimar they made .37cm Flak 43, Kar98k and many other smal arms.
John

...which was later transferred to the Buchenwald KZ (Concentration Camp) just 15 minutes out of the lovely town of Weimar, home of such German icons as Goethe... and they even had an Oak tree in the KZ named after him too... how sweet... :mad:

I have been to KZ Buchenwald, and the town of Weimar. In the large building that was used as NKVD special camp number 2 after WW2, there is a huge collection of wartime artifacts including many leftover G43's made at the camp.

6a00e554e81be38834010536c87820970b-800wi


Perhaps purchase a copy of "Hitler's Garands" to get some background info on all the different G43's and variants...

I do have bcd coded K98's that were made in the town of Weimar, and not the concentration camp, but it is believed that ALL bcd coded G43's were made at KZ Buchenwald, which was a sub contractor of Gustloffwerke under SS supervision.
 
For the Mosin, the designers had created a rifle that would not break in any condition, was so simple it could be fired by a retarded chimpanzee with one eye and would still be able to take down any enemy presented.
Cheek rests take extra time and effort to make - not something you look into when you have a couple million enemy soldiers marching in on you.

I have to agree with you 100%

To the detractors of the Mosin I say sure it is easier to produce a more esthetically pleasing rifle if one:

1) Is spending years in secret planning to take over the world.

2) Is in a position to never be attacked.

3) Is building arms for others a comfortable distance away from the conflict.
 
Just gotta hold higher and further into the wind...lol. I understand your hesitation, however I'm pleased to say there have been independent witness present when he had made these shots

I didn't want to call your honesty or that of your son into question, I manage to squeeze out 1 - 1-1/2" 3 shot groups with mine, and it's good for the gongs at 200 yards, I would like to try it out with a scope some time just for fun at say 400 yards or so, I certainly like mine and it's not leaving my possession any time soon. :)
 
To the detractors of the Mosin I say sure it is easier to produce a more esthetically pleasing rifle if one:

1) Is spending years in secret planning to take over the world.

2) Is in a position to never be attacked.

3) Is building arms for others a comfortable distance away from the conflict.

Well-said...;)
 
Back
Top Bottom