Top Ten best WW2 rifles!

If you want to limit this to bolt guns, everything fielded in WW2 was basically a re-warmed/refined version of what was used in WW1 with all of the pros and cons associated with these. The semi-auto Garand, SVT40 and K43 were the only truly new basic infantry rifles in WW2. Industrial strength killing with artillery, mortars and machine guns was the big determinant on the battlefield. The LMG was the basis of firepower and maneuver in the infantry squad/section, at least in the German and Commonwealth armies. Often the bolt rifle armed troops were used as mules to tote the ammo for the squad/section LMG. It worked out a bit differently in the US Army where the Garand bumped up squad firepower a lot and helped to offset the limitations of the BAR which was more of an automatic rifle than a true LMG.

In hindsight the Garand was a great success both in terms of performance and numbers, with some 4 M copies being produced, more than enough to equip every infantryman in the US Army and Marines. We were still stuck with the "good old" Lee-Enfield through the Korean War where it's firepower limitations became very evident in the face of the Chinese hordes, so much so that extra BRENs were issued to compensate for this. What really saved our a$$es in Korea was that we enjoyed an overwhelming superiority of artillery against a foot-borne peasant army who were operating at the end of a very tenuous logistics system.
 
Australian SMLE No 1 MkIII, Lithgow
SMLE No 4 Mk1 or 2, Long Branch manufacture
Springfield Armory manufactured Garand
Mosin Nagant, with German teethmarks on the stock
folding Arisaka (or with monopod intact)
Meiji 38, complete with dust cover on bolt
K98k, late war with laminated stock
Gewehr 98 (on guard duty) restamped from WW1
Springfield M1903.

Did I get 'em all? Welcome to CGN
 
purple said:
If you want to limit this to bolt guns, everything fielded in WW2 was basically a re-warmed/refined version of what was used in WW1 with all of the pros and cons associated with these. The semi-auto Garand, SVT40 and K43 were the only truly new basic infantry rifles in WW2. Industrial strength killing with artillery, mortars and machine guns was the big determinant on the battlefield. The LMG was the basis of firepower and maneuver in the infantry squad/section, at least in the German and Commonwealth armies. Often the bolt rifle armed troops were used as mules to tote the ammo for the squad/section LMG. It worked out a bit differently in the US Army where the Garand bumped up squad firepower a lot and helped to offset the limitations of the BAR which was more of an automatic rifle than a true LMG.

In hindsight the Garand was a great success both in terms of performance and numbers, with some 4 M copies being produced, more than enough to equip every infantryman in the US Army and Marines. We were still stuck with the "good old" Lee-Enfield through the Korean War where it's firepower limitations became very evident in the face of the Chinese hordes, so much so that extra BRENs were issued to compensate for this. What really saved our a$$es in Korea was that we enjoyed an overwhelming superiority of artillery against a foot-borne peasant army who were operating at the end of a very tenuous logistics system.
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Good post Purple, i always enjoy reading your posts
 
One thought I had, whilst entertaining this thread, was that ten bolt action rifles from WW2 pretty much is all of them! Unless you get into the various 'Marks' of whatever rifle, most lists (IMHO) will look the same.

All the same I do miss my G3.
 
I would still go with the M1. The reason being that it was available prior to the war and issued to everyone. Anything else was wartime production so not all the troops got a semi-auto rifle though the marines were the last to get them

I once knew a marine who was on one of the Island invasions. at the time they still had 03's After they had secured the beach head the army landed to go inland. His buddy ran up from the beach shouting "they all got machine guns! (Garands). he said a lot of soldiers went to sleep witn an M1 and woke up with an 03;)
 
Well sorry guys I should have been more precise about the list, but forgive me lol im new to milsurp and posting/reply in forums so sometimes it might looks confuse lol.

I should just have said top ten milsurps to have :-D

The reason why I have asked you this question is to make my own list. For now my no1 is Lee Enfield no4mk1*. So feel free to tell me whats your best for you and why, cause one is never enough :-D
 
I'd say the Garand was the best all around rifle in WW2. It was reliable enough, very accurate for what it was, and a semi-automatic with eight shots against men with bolt action rifles with a maximum of five rounds in their magazines gave troops carrying it a huge advantage.

The Lee Enfield was the best bolt action. Superior ammunition capacity, fast bolt action and very accurate. You can argue accuracy to the death with regards to the WW2 bolts actions, but the Lee Enfield could more than do what was expected of it. Most contacts took place under 300 meters during WW2 anyway, all the main service rifles of the day were more than capable of meeting that challenge.
 
The ag42 Swedish semi auto seen service by the Finns, swede volunteers and the SS against stalins hordes.
This rifles gas system directly influenced eugen stoner and is the parent of DI op. system
It is by far more advanced and better deigned than the garand or svt40
 
I own and shoot most of the rifles mentioned on this list.

If I had to take one into combat, it would be the Garand.

It has the best sights. A rear peep beats an open sight on the barrel every time. Unlike the #4, it is click adjustable for both elevation and azimuth.

It hold more rounds than most rifles and is probably the fastest to reload.

Second choice is the #4T. It works well.

Third is the MN sniper. It also works well and is probably less fussy than the #4.

My next choice is the Bren. Just as accurate as most rifles, has a big mag and I can still get low to the ground.
 
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