For sheer number produced, length of service, and number of variants produced/in service with other nations - the Mauser Model 98 series wins hands down!
Semi-auto: The Garand was the most famous and mass produced.
The limited production Johnson was possibly the most
advanced and due to recoil reduction might have been
the most accurate for the average American GI not
experienced with firearms going into WW2.
Bolt: The Japanese had the most metallurgically strong
action of WW2.
Submachinegun: The Australians had, what later become by consensus,
was the best submachinegun of WW2.
Cheapest to mass produce: The British 9mm at
U.S $4.00 per machinegun.
Costliest to produce: The American Thompson at the
beginning of WW2 that was soon redesigned by Savage
Arms to become more affordable.
Least liked by soldiers: The American Grease Gun
by General Motors. When fired at night the flash
caused temporary loss of night vision. If you read
the non-fiction Another Town, Another River the
American tank crew left their grease gun unassembled
in the box tied
to the outside of their tank while in combat. The
gunner (who later wrote this book) assembled it after
their combat in WW2 ended.
Anyway, the study of WW2 guns is a fascinating subject. You can find many differing opinons.
My guess is that anyone that live through it thinks that the best infantry combat rifle was the one that kept him alive.
That being said and since my parents were both born after the war ended:
Semi: M1 Garand (The SVT-40 looks cool, but the Russians scrapped it because of reliability to go back to the Mosin Nagants).
Bolt: Tie between the Mosin Nagant 91/30 and the Mauser K98k, for different reasons. Mosin for the simplicity and ruggedness with a powerful cartridge. Mauser for the elegance, accuracy and powerful cartridge.
Machinegun: MG-42, hands-down. Fastest rate of fire at 1200rpm and had the interchangeable, quick-change barrel that could be done in the field with ease.
Sub-machinegun: Thompson .45acp. If one's good enough to knock a guy down out of a 1911, a stream of 'em should do nicely, I should think.
Pistol: 1911 Gov't... Need I say more?
(By the way, I know this was supposed to be "combat rifle", but I got a little carried away... sorry. )
__________________
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CETME Owners - Founder
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I'd say semi auto, M1 for It's rate of fire, fast reloads, accuracy, and reliablity. Bolt, really probably be the Brittsh SMLE for It's accuracy and the rate of fire that could be achieved with it.. Sub machine gun, PPSH-41 for It's huge mag, high rate of fire, reliablity, and low cost. Machine gun, MG-42 because the rate of fire was so high it became something of a physcological weapon too, then there's It's reliablity and low cost also. I think the biggest breakthrough in small arms, during the Second World War, would be the STG- 44, the first modern assault rifle. Even though it had some major issues, such as a very weak metal used for the reciever, it was still a shock. Just too late to make a big difference, by that time us and the Russians already had our industrial gears cranking fast and hard. My two cents. lol
id have to actually say the garand was a good gun, but not the best. ive never shot one or handled one but from what i understand it is very heavy, and the fact that it makes that distinct ping when you run out of ammo. and you essentially have to use all 8 shots before putting anymore in. i know that doesnt make much sense but when compared to a sub machine gun or like a bolt action where to have a full clip or whatever you either drop in a few more rounds or just put in a fresh magazine
It all depends on the combat environmentas to what's the "best."
In extreme cold, you're probably better off with a Mosin. The bolt is stiff, but it will cycle. The Garand had a problem with winter cold, about its only failing and due more to its lubricant than to a design flaw. Dad mentioned that in passing once when he was watching Battleground, one of the very few World War II movies he approved of.
In the urban environment, I would say it's a toss-up between the Schmeisser machine pistol and the Thompson. The Schmeisser puts a lot of lead downrange very fast and is easy to maneuver in tight quarters. The Thompson is heavier and has a slower rate of fire, but hit someone with a .45 round and they are going down.
But for just about any other combat environment, the M-1 Garand rifle is the champ.
I have fired most of the bolts from ww2 and several semi and full auto's and I agree with Patton the M-1 was the best. Not sure of the best handgun tho maybe the colt 45 or maybe the hi power or even the p-38? If not so heavy the BAR or Bren might have got my vote.
Last edited by big boomer; 02-20-2008 at 05:40 PM.
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