Top 10 Combat Rifles
- Thread starter ESnel
- Start date
Been around for a while. Ive seen it many times, don't necessarily agree with all the selections. You can definitely see the American Bias as 4 of there rifles are in the 10. The garand, the m14, m16 and the springfield. Not necessarily saying that they aren't great rifles, but I consider other rifles pretty high up there if not better. I was surprised there were no submachine guns involved such as the MP-40, Sten and the PPSH-41.
RememberTheSomme
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
I like the M-14. I think it was a great battle rifle and a great rifle to shoot as a civilian. The FN was a friend and a powerful companion to Canadian soldiers in the Cold War days of the European theater.
The SMLE was second to none in it's time, and would be a devastating rifle in the right hands to this very day. They speak of the Battle of Mons in your video clip, but please refer also to the Battle of Monchy le-preux, part of the larger Battle of Arras in April 1917, where 10 men from the 1st Newfoundland Regiments Headquarters company, held off an encirclement of the town from a vastly superior and determined German counter-attack of 350-500 trying to complete the encirclement and remove the salient created by the NFLD'ers and the Essex in Monchy into their lines. The NFLD Regimental Commander learned that the Newfoundlanders and the the Essex Regiment had be surrounded further to the east and destroyed by a wounded straggler from the Essex, and was able to do so largely due to this small groups very effective use of the greatest battle rifle ever fielded, the Short, Magazine Lee-enfield!
In today's modern combat world, I would be a great fan of any Canadian style C7A1/A2
or US M16A2 variant as a battle winner with optics, their accuracy, ammo load capacity for the individual soldier and reliability, low recoil and ease of shooting with a very flat shooting round..but also the old No4Mk1 sure feels great with the bayonet attached if they get on you as a club and spear combo....
I just can't buy into the Ak-47,...... something just not right to me, I know they perform impeccably and I've fired them and variants like Galil in past, and those Canadian legal variants today, and was actually impressed with these new variants accuracy using old surplus corrosive ball ammo at 200meters.
The SMLE was second to none in it's time, and would be a devastating rifle in the right hands to this very day. They speak of the Battle of Mons in your video clip, but please refer also to the Battle of Monchy le-preux, part of the larger Battle of Arras in April 1917, where 10 men from the 1st Newfoundland Regiments Headquarters company, held off an encirclement of the town from a vastly superior and determined German counter-attack of 350-500 trying to complete the encirclement and remove the salient created by the NFLD'ers and the Essex in Monchy into their lines. The NFLD Regimental Commander learned that the Newfoundlanders and the the Essex Regiment had be surrounded further to the east and destroyed by a wounded straggler from the Essex, and was able to do so largely due to this small groups very effective use of the greatest battle rifle ever fielded, the Short, Magazine Lee-enfield!
In today's modern combat world, I would be a great fan of any Canadian style C7A1/A2
or US M16A2 variant as a battle winner with optics, their accuracy, ammo load capacity for the individual soldier and reliability, low recoil and ease of shooting with a very flat shooting round..but also the old No4Mk1 sure feels great with the bayonet attached if they get on you as a club and spear combo....I just can't buy into the Ak-47,...... something just not right to me, I know they perform impeccably and I've fired them and variants like Galil in past, and those Canadian legal variants today, and was actually impressed with these new variants accuracy using old surplus corrosive ball ammo at 200meters.
Pietro Beretta
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Ontario (G.T.A.)
The list is dead on...not in order though lol....M14 is a force to be recon with 
...number 10 my @$$ , just cause it was the shortest issued rifle in years of service before M16 replaced it. ..but I've seen current live footage of Navy Seals in action, and they were ALL rockn M14's in camo synthetic stocks , f@ck'n A
...number 10 my @$$ , just cause it was the shortest issued rifle in years of service before M16 replaced it. ..but I've seen current live footage of Navy Seals in action, and they were ALL rockn M14's in camo synthetic stocks , f@ck'n A 
300Spartans
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Canada of course
I was surprised the M-16 didn't make number one. Not because it's the best, but because it's an American rifle.
I like the M-14. I think it was a great battle rifle and a great rifle to shoot as a civilian. The FN was a friend and a powerful companion to Canadian soldiers in the Cold War days of the European theater.
The SMLE was second to none in it's time, and would be a devastating rifle in the right hands to this very day. They speak of the Battle of Mons in your video clip, but please refer also to the Battle of Monchy le-preux, part of the larger Battle of Arras in April 1917, where 10 men from the 1st Newfoundland Regiments Headquarters company, held off an encirclement of the town from a vastly superior and determined German counter-attack of 350-500 trying to complete the encirclement and remove the salient created by the NFLD'ers and the Essex in Monchy into their lines. The NFLD Regimental Commander learned that the Newfoundlanders and the the Essex Regiment had be surrounded further to the east and destroyed by a wounded straggler from the Essex, and was able to do so largely due to this small groups very effective use of the greatest battle rifle ever fielded, the Short, Magazine Lee-enfield!
In today's modern combat world, I would be a great fan of any Canadian style C7A1/A2
I just can't buy into the Ak-47,...... something just not right to me, I know they perform impeccably and I've fired them and variants like Galil in past, and those Canadian legal variants today, and was actually impressed with these new variants accuracy using old surplus corrosive ball ammo at 200meters.
I have no shame admitting that even a poorly-scoped Norinco SKS has out-performed some neighbours at the range.....
- Location
- Georgetown Ontario
"...no submachine guns involved..." They're not combat rifles.
"...great battle rifle..." Lasted the shortest time as the U.S. issue rifle of all rifles they ever issued. Really wasn't anything more than an updated M1. The FAL beat it in every Ordnance Dept test except accuracy too. Battle rifles don't need great accuracy anyway.
"...great battle rifle..." Lasted the shortest time as the U.S. issue rifle of all rifles they ever issued. Really wasn't anything more than an updated M1. The FAL beat it in every Ordnance Dept test except accuracy too. Battle rifles don't need great accuracy anyway.
I think the SMLE and FAL were rated exactly right.
The SMLE was IMO a better rifle than the Mauser, simply because of the 10 rnd magazine and how easy it is to manipulate its bolt. The Mauser bolt is pretty slick too, but its 5 round mag is what rated it lower.
The FAL was and is an excellent rifle, with ONE major flaw (the M14 has the same problem btw) - it's all but uncontrollable on full auto. That's why Canadian, Australian, and British FAL's were semi-auto only (the C2 was full auto, but intended for the SAW role, NOT an infantry battle rifle). Flip the switch to A, squeeze the trigger, and watch that barrel climb!
The SMLE was IMO a better rifle than the Mauser, simply because of the 10 rnd magazine and how easy it is to manipulate its bolt. The Mauser bolt is pretty slick too, but its 5 round mag is what rated it lower.
The FAL was and is an excellent rifle, with ONE major flaw (the M14 has the same problem btw) - it's all but uncontrollable on full auto. That's why Canadian, Australian, and British FAL's were semi-auto only (the C2 was full auto, but intended for the SAW role, NOT an infantry battle rifle). Flip the switch to A, squeeze the trigger, and watch that barrel climb!
The RCN had the C1D and C1A1D, full auto capable. It would be interesting to hear exactly why they wanted that feature and how it was, or was intended to be used when the army didn't see the need for it. I have Blake Stevenson's book on the FAL but don't see where the reasoning was explained.
My Aussie L1A1 has the rock and roll switch. - dan
