Best semi auto rifle of ww2

[BeaverMeat]

The Garand has one downfall. The En Bloc clip.

Single rounds can not be loaded. The sound if it ejecting would alert the Germans of a reload and/or position. But, the Americans used this to their advantage later on. They would take an empty clip and throw it against the ground. When the German popped up... ka-pow.

Title of thread should read " your personal favorite" not "best"

 

[Brutus]

^I hear so much of this strange legend, that I'm beginning to think this is just an urban legend. In the din of battle with HMGs, grenades, and lots of other long strings of gunfire, the little sound of a single empty clip hitting a hard surface, (IF you can hear it) is a very poor clue that an axis soldier can take as a brief respite in local danger. Besides, the M1 design makes for a super fast reload with a fresh en bloc clip. That single noise (clue) should be quickly accompanied by the operator reloading his rifle and the bolt slamming home a live round. (another clue maybe)
What about the Garand user's fire team partner using a carbine, SMG or a BAR, squad, platoon, etc??

 

[sledge]

I think the fact that the Garand was used by so many nations after the war, and in Italy they used it a very long time, that it proves that it "worked". The sights on it are amazing, maybe some of the best iron sights ever.
The enbloc is inferior to a detachable magazine, but it also enabled very quick reloading.
With just a minimal amount of practice I have been able to reload my Garand very quickly.
I would definitely take it over an SVT-40. Sorry Ivan...USA... USA!

But given a choice with a Sturmgewehr 44....maybe not. That thing looks like the Cadillac of WW2 semi's. Never fired or handled a Sturm though.... But I did fire an MP-40 full auto in Vegas this summer and it was fantastic. Even full auto from the hip I put every shot on paper. Those Germans knew how to make semi auto fun and easy. Great for the whole family!

 

[Goo98]

I cringe every time I hear that story.

Can't really picture someone jingling a bag of enblocs making every Axis soldier pop out of their positions.

The Garand has one downfall. The En Bloc clip.

Single rounds can not be loaded. The sound if it ejecting would alert the Germans of a reload and/or position. But, the Americans used this to their advantage later on. They would take an empty clip and throw it against the ground. When the German popped up... ka-pow.

Title of thread should read " your personal favorite" not "best"

 

[Brutus]

I think the fact that the Garand was used by so many nations after the war, and in Italy they used it a very long time, that it proves that it "worked". The sights on it are amazing, maybe some of the best iron sights ever.
The enbloc is inferior to a detachable magazine, but it also enabled very quick reloading.
With just a minimal amount of practice I have been able to reload my Garand very quickly.
I would definitely take it over an SVT-40. Sorry Ivan...USA... USA!

But given a choice with a Sturmgewehr 44....maybe not. That thing looks like the Cadillac of WW2 semi's. Never fired or handled a Sturm though.... But I did fire an MP-40 full auto in Vegas this summer and it was fantastic. Even full auto from the hip I put every shot on paper. Those Germans knew how to make semi auto fun and easy. Great for the whole family!

My Springfield manufactured (1944) and VAR barrelled M-1 was factory re-done in 1993. Which I suspect they did this just before selling it on the open market. I spoke with Swedish soldiers, 1987 in Cyprus. Thier issue rifle on that island nation & a short time later in Lebanon was the H&K G3.
(As the Ak-4 in thier army parlance)
Back at home it was always the M-1 rifle in 30-06. (The G-1 In Sweden)

 

[smellie]

Most guys, I notice, are posting the ONE with which they have a bit of experience, or simply repeating whatever propaganda has been fed to them. I thought this was about firearms DESIGN, not about which one you can AFFORD.

A few points:

1. somebody should listen to the dsigners some time. Garand wanted to build his rifle with a 10- or 15-round Lee magazine.

2. Garand built an M-1 into selective-fire with 20-round mag, in 1944. Gummint didn't want it until he retired, then it became the T-44 with a slightly-shorter receiver, then it was the M-14.

3. 1957 to 1962 is FIVE years, not 30. US Army went over to M-16 in a big way, dumped/surplused/gave away/scrapped their M-14s. Many went to Israel, Taiwan. M-14s in service today are new production, rebuilds, buy-backs, anything they can scrape up.

4. only relation between Springfield Armory that makes the M-1A and the one that made the M-14 is the NAME. Originals were made in the Government arsenal, moderns are made by a private company.

5. Kar-43 needed a gas adjustment.

6. SVT needed an EASIER gas adjustment.

7. Garand was a good rifle but MUCH too heavy.

8. Soviet Onion got a LOT of help from Britain, Canada and the Evil Americans. If not for that, they would have been out of the war in'42. Shermans, Harleys, Jeeps, Studebaker trucks, Rosses, complete steel mills, Stalin's Dunhill pipe, hundreds of tons of antique furniture, half of the world's supply of Thorium, 2/3 of the world's supply of Airacobras, a fleet of merchant ships. NONE of it was ever paid for. Read "Colonel Jack's Diary" some time.

9. ...... oh, about 40 other points. Fingers are tired.

10. Let us all now sing:

"Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the Coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage
where the Grapes of Wrath are stored......."

 

[twosteam]

Will you guys stop it? Smoke is coming out of smellie's ears.
jan

 

[shredder]

Geez, smellie, take it easy!!! Steam coming out the ears can't be good.

When I said the M-1 had been in service for some 30 years, I meant the basic design, not the rifle itself (although given Springfield Armory's production problems, the M14 was in Vietnam service until the mid-late 60's before Colt could produce enough M16's to arm all the troops.) The M14 design is, with the exception of full-auto capability, detachable magazine, and shorter barrel/gas system, the M1 that John C. Garand designed in the 30's.

Don't forget that, until 1970, the M14 WAS the rifle the US Army's troops in Europe were equipped with, as most if not all M16 production was tagged for the troops fighting in Vietnam.

 

[Claven2]

Well there were about 1/2 a million Stg44 produced, not exactly small numbers considering how late to the party they were. I'd love to agree with Claven but have to reserve my opinion to the day I can actually fire one. Which is probably never

If you want to come to Ottawa, you can try mine

 

[shredder]

^^^ Is that a REAL STG44 or a semi-auto only clone?? (both prohibited, are they not???)

How'd YOU get a SAP permit to shoot it?? Enquiring minds wanna know!!!!!

 

[Claven2]

I have experience with it, and it is effective on full auto - short range. A light gun with NO muzzle climb - like a garden hose. Surprisingly the metal fore end does NOT get hot. It is an excellent submachine gun with a more powerful cartridge. My favorite of all the full auto's I've used.
A great CQB SMG.

However -
In semi it is notorious for poor accuracy (my test showed same) , even at short range, thus limiting its use in battle.

I would much rather safely pick off a threat from long distance, while under cover, with a powerful single bullet than have to risk getting close and using burst fire.

My vote is the Garand (unless in a jungle - then its the 44).

Given that I have one and have probably shot these more than many, my results show they are generally on a par with an SKS for accuracy in single-shot. The open-bolt MKb42 was far worse. And it's no more a submachine gun that an AK47 or M16 is. It's an infantry RIFLE firing a high-velocity FMJ spire point round. It does not fire a pistol round like an SMG.

 

[Claven2]

^^^ Is that a REAL STG44 or a semi-auto only clone?? (both prohibited, are they not???)

How'd YOU get a SAP permit to shoot it?? Enquiring minds wanna know!!!!!

Mine is a BD44 with real MP44 furniture, bolt, oprod, etc. The trigger group is still SSD semi-only for legal reasons. Fun toy.

 

[Ballsofice154]

AG 42B ljungman

 

[contact148]

STG44 hands down IF you had ammo..... my grandfather (now dead) was issiued one in the last months of the war he said it worked well but ammo was hard to come by esp in the last few weeks in berlin

 

[Nelson84]

STG44 hands down IF you had ammo..... my grandfather (now dead) was issiued one in the last months of the war he said it worked well but ammo was hard to come by esp in the last few weeks in berlin

That must have sucked to be in full retreat and to lose the biggest war ever fought. What a disappointment for the rest of your life.

 

[Claven2]

That must have sucked to be in full retreat and to lose the biggest war ever fought. What a disappointment for the rest of your life.

I rather suspect a bigger disappointment if one ended the war in Berlin was living under the yoke of Stalinist rule after having fought a war, ostensibly, to defeat Bolshevism. Other than that, he was probably elated just to have survived.

 

[36 hamon]

i have a real one sitting in the basement ...never had a chance to shoot it cuz of our a$$hat govmint ...never shot my vickers either bas tards

 

[gaff]

I have a real stg44 sitting in the basement also, but my vote goes to the svt 40 . The Germans used them when ever they could.

 

[36 hamon]

i have a real nice svt 40 that came into the country in the 1970's with a gunsmith from burlington ont he used to go over to europe to buy milspec and sell it here ...mostly lugers he also brought my MP44 over around the same time ...my svt40 is all matching no EP bright bolt all numbers matching and stamped ..the stock is dated and sn to the rifle overall condition is newish ..shoots awesome love it ..better to shoot for me then my garands mostly cuz i shoot lefty and the damn clips always ping off my head ..lol

 

[Nelson84]

I rather suspect a bigger disappointment if one ended the war in Berlin was living under the yoke of Stalinist rule after having fought a war, ostensibly, to defeat Bolshevism. Other than that, he was probably elated just to have survived.

There you go again, just nailed it. Your right I was looking at it all wrong. All those redneck canadian and Americans trying to get a kill before the war ends and you dodge all those bullets! Damn rights he is a survivor. Never thought of it like that.