Best bolt action military rifle...ever.
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tark
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The type 38 fired a barely sufficient cartridge.
Really? The "last ditch" rifles had to pass proof, the same as the earlier guns. They also had to meet the same minimum accuracy and function tests. I had one, it was rough as a cobb, but it was accurate and would have served quite well. Just because the Japanese omitted as many things as they could and used cheaper materials, ( the wooden buttplate ) doesn't mean the guns weren't effective weapons.
Uhhh... yes...it most certainly is! The chrome was nearly impervious to corrosive priming salts and moisture. My type 99 was given to me by a widow who's husband had brought it back from the war. When I looked at the bore I couldn't see anything but multi colored crud. I don't think it had ever been cleaned since the last time it was fired in anger. The rifling was bare visible.
A few patches revealed a bright, shiny, brand new looking bore. Thank you, Mr. Chromium.
NIGHTLORD40K
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Heres mine-
I thought it was an isolated incident, but my buddy has one broken through the wrist as well- his is stitched back together with dowels.
I saw a third years ago at a gunshow, also broken at the wrist and wrapped in wire similiar to a grenade launching Enfield.
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tark
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Wanna give us some reasons why? The 98 was overly complicated, compared to most, more expensive to make, no more rugged or accurate than many others. It was not the most powerful. The fact that it may have been "prettier" than the rest is irrelevant. I would take my type 99, or an 03A3 Springfield, over any 98 Mauser.
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tark
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Can't argue with those pics! I have learned something. But I don't think the problem was widespread.
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MachIVshooter
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M1903 gets my vote. It's a Mauser, but with a couple nice bonus features that make it just a little bit better.
I do like the P14/M1917, though. In pure military configuration, I'd take a 1917 over a K98.
I do like the P14/M1917, though. In pure military configuration, I'd take a 1917 over a K98.
NIGHTLORD40K
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Aa much as I love my FR8 (and would take one over an '03 Springfield)- I dont know if any ever saw actual combat. Maybe against Basque seperatists?
BreechFace
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I about spit my coffee seeing the Carcano on there. I have one for the historical nature but man are they terrible.
NIGHTLORD40K
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The WW1 Carcanos werent that bad in their day, but the later models, shortened, simplified, and with steadily decreasing build quality were pretty abominable
BreechFace
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The French MAS36 is a very nice bolt action, mines a dandy!
Wish 7.5 French was abundant but as it isn’t my MAS 49/56 gets a lot less use than the MAS36.
Wish 7.5 French was abundant but as it isn’t my MAS 49/56 gets a lot less use than the MAS36.
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NIGHTLORD40K
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Oh, I dunno....a K98 firing that super hot Warsaw Pact MG42 ammo from the 80s might take the cake for milsurp muzzle energy.
BreechFace
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I’m mainly a WW2 collector so hence the reason why my response to the Carcano. You’re right the previous iterations are much nicer specimens.
NIGHTLORD40K
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Ever see a Type 1 Carcano? They were made by Terni and Berretta for the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1939/40 and fire the 6.5 Jap round. Basically a 91 Carcano action in a Type 38 lookalike stock and feeding from an internal box rather than a clip.
All were made to a high standard and are quite nice rifles.
One of my greatest gun blunders was not grabbing an unissued example when I had the chance....
InTheSwamp
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Mauser 98 - Best Bolt Action Ever
For the Military, Enfield. A higher round count and shoots faster.
For the Military, Enfield. A higher round count and shoots faster.
Barnfixer
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Missed that! Being that it’s a superior weapon is way the Swedes didn’t get in any skirmishes I guess.
BreechFace
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Ever see a Type 1 Carcano? They were made by Terni and Berretta for the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1939/40 and fire the 6.5 Jap round. Basically a 91 Carcano action in a Type 38 lookalike stock and feeding from an internal box rather than a clip.
All were made to a high standard and are quite nice rifles.
One of my greatest gun blunders was not grabbing an unissued example when I had the chance....
The reason why the Type I Carcano's were so nice is because they were not a Carcano (or better put Carcano in name only).
They had more shared features with the Arisaka. Arisaka Nariakira started the design, but in my opinion his predecessor Kijiro Nambu made some significant small improvements; simplifying the design with fewer parts, using the bolt knob race front and back for some camming help, rear bolt protrusion behind the lug to prevent deformation of the primary lug when pulling the bolt back to stop, designing the bolt dust cover (like it or hate it), improving the gas control coming back through the bolt raceway to redirect away from the shooter, etc. Nambu was great at refining a good design into a better design.
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lightman
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There are many great ones but I would have to think it would be one of the Mausers.
BreechFace
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I chose "Mauser 98" and "Other"
The other being the Winchester M70.
The other being the Winchester M70.
theotherwaldo
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I have examples of all of the weapons mentioned above that fit the OP's criteria except the Greek and the Madsen.
Frankly, I have a hard time picking between them.
I really like my Swedish 94/14s and the rest of my Swedish Mausers.
I also like my Finn Mosins.
The Type 99s are solid from origin to last gasp.
The early Carcanos were OK, the later ones gave varying results for me,
The British Lee Enfields and Lee Metfords performed well when properly fed.
All of my American military rifles did likewise, from Krags to 1917s and 03a3s.
The various French rifles served their various users well
And, of course, the Mauser line has always served well, from their earliest single-shots to the Zastava M48.
They're all good.
Frankly, I have a hard time picking between them.
I really like my Swedish 94/14s and the rest of my Swedish Mausers.
I also like my Finn Mosins.
The Type 99s are solid from origin to last gasp.
The early Carcanos were OK, the later ones gave varying results for me,
The British Lee Enfields and Lee Metfords performed well when properly fed.
All of my American military rifles did likewise, from Krags to 1917s and 03a3s.
The various French rifles served their various users well
And, of course, the Mauser line has always served well, from their earliest single-shots to the Zastava M48.
They're all good.
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theotherwaldo
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The K31 is an excellent rifle that may have kept the Swiss out of the wars.
-But - it has not fought in any wars... .
-But - it has not fought in any wars... .
BLACKHAWKNJ
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I have read that in WWI the Germans had the best hunting rifle, the US the best target rifle, the Brits the best battle rifle. More Doughboys carried M1917s than M1903s because 3 large factories were tooled up for P14s, since it had originally been designed for a rimless cartridge it was fairly easy to redesign it for a rimless cartridge-took 29 days from the decision to do that to the first samples being delivered.
The Mosin-Nagant rather crude and clunky by our standards, but for an army of largely illiterate peasants with few mechanical skills.....
The Mosin-Nagant rather crude and clunky by our standards, but for an army of largely illiterate peasants with few mechanical skills.....
Speedo66
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My “other” would be the Swedish Mauser for the following reasons:
As per your criteria, they were the best at the time. They were made with Swedish steel, considered the finest of that era.
Their cartridge has low recoil, yet punches above its weight due to excellent sectional density, considered to be a very accurate cartridge.
They are rugged guns, and as mentioned above, although Sweden was neutral, the Finns used the 77,000 rifles bought from Sweden with devastating results vs. the Russkies in the “Winter War”. Russian dead and wounded were approximately five times that of the Finns.
When Hitler saw how badly the Russians did, he thought they would be an easy target, and attacked. Needless to say, that was a mistake.
@tark great idea for a thread!
As per your criteria, they were the best at the time. They were made with Swedish steel, considered the finest of that era.
Their cartridge has low recoil, yet punches above its weight due to excellent sectional density, considered to be a very accurate cartridge.
They are rugged guns, and as mentioned above, although Sweden was neutral, the Finns used the 77,000 rifles bought from Sweden with devastating results vs. the Russkies in the “Winter War”. Russian dead and wounded were approximately five times that of the Finns.
When Hitler saw how badly the Russians did, he thought they would be an easy target, and attacked. Needless to say, that was a mistake.
@tark great idea for a thread!
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