The best bolt action rifle from each army?
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For hyper modern long range punch I would agree with imagedude. Followed closely imo by the CheyTac Intervention in .408. But there's no class or panache there is there so id actually say the mauser 98k. 7.92x59 cartridge with plenty of punch even at range, a reliable strip clip mag, they came factory fitted (sniper rifle variant) with a 4x Zeiss scope and others with brilliant optics. Accuracy that rivals modern rifles, a bolt that gunmakers still copy the design of and a crisp trigger. If anyone needs further proof that it was any good, they stopped making them in 1945 and there are units still in service!
For myself and a lot of my friends it would be the Lee Endfield no.4 mk1 in .303 British, just a plain work horse that doesn't fail. You could buy one for 10 - 15$ now they command 400$+ depending on shape and series. Our Arctic Rangers still use it in the far north as they are that reliable, accurate and powerful. It was my first centre fire and unfortunately I am now without one but not for long.
I would agree the Lee Enfield no 4 is almost unparalleled as a bolt action rifle. For my money the mkII is superior. Certainly in 303. Ten shot magazine as opposed to the five shot nearly all others had, flip over precision and battle sight, Stripper feed for full and partial reload...its was in my view the best mass issued bolt action rifle. But the 98k, Moisin Nagant and others were fine rifles.
ETA Pictures were requested. This one is mine
Enfield No 4 Mk 2 with No 4 Mk 2 bayonet by British Red, on Flickr
ETA Pictures were requested. This one is mine
Enfield No 4 Mk 2 with No 4 Mk 2 bayonet by British Red, on Flickr
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German: The 98 Mauser. Accurate, reliable, durable, and a lethal caliber
American: The 1903 Springfield (actually copied from the above Mauser. All the attributes of the rifle it copied (said Mauser) plus a new caliber , the 30-06, that would become a universal favorite of military and hunters alike.
Beyond those two I'd only be speaking from what I've read or heard as I have no personal experience with others (although the reputation of the Lee Enfield suggest that it would be the British rifle chosen)
American: The 1903 Springfield (actually copied from the above Mauser. All the attributes of the rifle it copied (said Mauser) plus a new caliber , the 30-06, that would become a universal favorite of military and hunters alike.
Beyond those two I'd only be speaking from what I've read or heard as I have no personal experience with others (although the reputation of the Lee Enfield suggest that it would be the British rifle chosen)
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Another vote for the LE No4, and a to its more modern successor the L42. Both superb rifles.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I had the rare privilege of using the L42A1 for a few weeks in the TA. They ran a shortened sniper cadre for us, but unfortunately out battalion would never let their collection of L42's out of the armoury, so never got to use one again.
I can still remember the scope clicks from 100-900m 2-3-3-3-4-4-6-7, such a simple system, count the clicks back from 100 till it stops and you can set the scope to any distance without looking at the turret.
I'd like to add the arisaka type99 rifle to my last post: the one hiroo onoda carried was still fully functioning after 30 years of hiding in the jungle....
And the M28-30 carried by simo hayha
wonder what happened to both...
And the M28-30 carried by simo hayha
wonder what happened to both...
AI L115A3 with Schmidt & Bender PM11 and fed with Lapua 185 grain = Good night.
As previously stated..Useless on Bunnies though... unless you prefer them pre-minced...
Here's mine..
As previously stated..Useless on Bunnies though... unless you prefer them pre-minced...
Here's mine..
Lee Enfield No4 .303...... only one I shot with and that dates me. I was better with the Bren but didn't like carrying it.
We learned rifle drill on the No1, which had the back sight just where your hand hit to order arms- very painful! The No4 had a lovely smooth part there as the backsight was far better placed behind the action.
We learned rifle drill on the No1, which had the back sight just where your hand hit to order arms- very painful! The No4 had a lovely smooth part there as the backsight was far better placed behind the action.
The only bolt action rifle I have ever fired was a SMLE 3 and was pleased to see WW2 dated models (1939 if I recall correctly!) issued to the game guards looking after me in South Africa - a real confidence booster!
L96 in 7.62x51. Its a heavy beast compared to your average stalking rifle. It has a versatile cal you can get ammo for easily if you can find one on the private market. Superbly accurate, designed in part, by one of the UKs full bore olympic champions. I liked it more than the L42.
Infantry mans rifle would be the Mk5 Jungle carbine in .303.
Infantry mans rifle would be the Mk5 Jungle carbine in .303.
Didnt this have problems with double feeds used it and i remember in instruction this had happened a lot
If I remember correctly it was, alledgedly, a combination of out sourced parts that where substandard and some user error. Both quickly sorted out with a slap to the subcontractor and better user training. That being said I never witnessed any problems when I retrained from the L42.
Just remember the story of a Gurkha having a double feed and the obvious result from it. No more info was given
Norway: Easy to answer; there have only been one bolt action rifle in the army (except the sniper rifles), the Krag Jørgensen M/1894 and a lot of karabine models.
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