What is the best all around bolt action rifle of ww1 and ww2?

depends on what you consider best, for cost and ease of training/cleaning/durability the Mosin Nagant is a Contender for both wars. In the hands of semi-trained of better troops the Lee Enfield hands down however they cost more so depends on the size of force you are fielding, quality/training of said force and conditions they will be fighting in. The Lee Enfield can fire more rapidly that most other bolts I am aware of, its easily as accurate as most bolts out there but is heavy is more maintenance and cost heavy than some other options. War is not simply won by quality of arms. Numbers and ability to use the arms provided carry good weight to the discussion.

Fastest Bolt
Lee Enfield

Cheapest Bolt
Mosin Nagant

Accurate Bolt
K98 or Ross (Springfield is really a cross btw the two)

Averages Weighed out I'd chose
Lee Enfield No4mk1 with the adjustable sight, then probably the K98 followed by a springfield

If I was throwing masses of conscripts at the enemy in attrition type warfare I would use the Mosin Nagant for the bulk on my troops a-la 1915-1917 or winter 1941-fall 1942
 
sgt.rock said:
#### on opening of the Enfield, plus being an actual battle rifle, makes it my choice as well. No better war bolt-rifle for the previous 150 years.
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Enfield are #### on Closing. Mausers, and their derivatives, are #### on open.

Overall The Lee Enfield series, specifically the No4, is likely the best of all worlds. High capacity, good sights, rugged and fast shooting. I think it's the winner in the bolt-action category.
 
All of the above are solid battle rifles , but I'd go with the Lee Enfield No4 Mark1 . Ultra reliable , better sights than other bolt guns of the period , 10 rd mag and speed of action . Others , I'm sure , may disagree .
 
All around in the last century goes to the K98. The action is still being used today in modern hunting rifles and associated derivatives. It's the most simplest and strongest action ever developed.

The best of both wars was the Enfield No4. Unmatched speed and magazine capacity, with better sight pictures and battlefield readiness than the Mauser K98. It didn't last after the war in major conflict usage.

If you gave me either one to go to war with today I'd pick the K98. It's simpler and parts availability is rampant.
 
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Lee Enfield for sure, but then again Mosin Nagants saved all our butts, but then again those beautiful German 8mm Mausers were pretty sweet...I have all these in various forms and am conflicted as they are all great and historic rifles.
 
Conscript said:
All around in the last century goes to the K98. The action is still being used today in modern hunting rifles and associated derivatives. It's the most simplest and strongest action ever developed.

The best of both wars was the Enfield No4. Unmatched speed and magazine capacity, with better sight pictures and battlefield readiness than the Mauser K98. It didn't last after the war in major conflict usage.

If you gave me either one to go to war with today I'd pick the K98. It's simpler and parts availability is rampant.
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There are plenty of rifles which are simplier than a K98k. Mosin Nagant, Arisaka (a simplified and improved Mauser itself), etc.

Strength of action really doesn't matter to much on the battlefield, as long as it can use the ammo it was designed for it doesn't make a difference if it can handle two to three times the pressure of that round as no one is using that pressure.

Plenty of bolt actions have strengths in different areas. Mosin Nagant is the ease of manufacture. Lee Enfield has speed. Mauser has a generic platform. Carcano has being the most average rifle ever issued, not really fantastic in anyway however reliable and easy to use, and certainly many steps above a Mosin Nagant. Arisakas are a better version of a Mauser, faster to shoot, tend to have better sights (especially in the later models) and pretty much all the other advantages a Mauser has. Austrian-Hungarian M95 have speed of reloading and are pretty fast to shoot. Austrian M88/90 has the same reload time as a M95 but a faster bolt (the action wears out significantly faster though). Hungarian M35s combine that quick reloading with a more traditional turnbolt design.

Then there are others, Mannlicher Schroders, Commission 88s, Mannlicher M93s and M95s (of the turn bolt variety). Lebels, and Berthiers. MAS 36, and Rosses. Even Krags. Overall they tend to be all fairly serviceable firearms, some were clearly outdated at certain points, but in there heyday they were all sufficient.

Personally my favourite to choose would be something like a M1904 Portuguese Mauser-Varquero, fast action, easy to strip bolt (once you understand how for my mechanical mind it is a thing of beauty), and light round. Otherwise I am quite attached to the Swiss Rifles, not much you can do to improve those.

These types of questions are like what type of food tastes best? The reality is everyone is going to have a different favourite for different reasons. Everything has pros and cons. The Lee Enfield for example has the risk of rimlock and requires more effort to produce and maintain.
 
SMLE.

Although I would imagine that the degree of advantage it conveyed over the others in combat was not dramatic, all else being equal.
 
I love the Mauser however the Enfield is a way better battle rifle.
Better sights on the Enfield
Larger capacity with the Enfield
Faster and smoother cycling with the Enfield
Both can be fed with stripper clips
Both are controlled round feeding
Rifle to rifle both are equally accurate
Both are rugged simple and easily repaired
Weight is similar
Powerful round edge would go to the 8mm but I doubt your helmet could tell the difference

The only shortcoming of the Enfield in a Battle is the rimmed cartridge that could cause a magazine lock in a stressful moment and kill you.
 
Mosin Nagant - Is the best bolt action rifle/carbine of ww1 and 2 as well as other wars up to today. 12 millions were made may be more. No other bolt action was used in actual combat more than MN. Yes there are better made rifles or faster action ones, however Service record and numbers built make all others left in the dust.
Cartridge and rifle availability plays big role in this, no wonder it is still in use in sniper variant around the globe.
 
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