Baddest, Meanest, *** Kicking Rifle ever used by America......

Thought it would be fun to hear opinions from you as to what rifle was the 'best' rifle ever to be used in battle and why you think so.....

Now since technology has changed over the years as well as tactics, I am going to suggest a couple general guidelines and adjustments to level the field a bit ...

First, the rifle needs to have been used as a individualy carried (no crew weapons) ball, shell or cartridge based battle weapon of some era, but is not limited to rifles that were 'offically' issued during a time of recognized war. For example, rifles used to fight the Indian 'wars'....

Second, the rifle must have been used by Americans (Notice I did not say it had to be used by the "USA", nor did I say it had to be manufactured by Americans so as to include weapons that may have been imports that were comonly used in the old west or colonial days should you want to nominate one)

Third, the rifle's effectivness and impact must considered against the weapons of the enemey as deployed in the same era of use - be it "bow-and- arrows" or AK-47s - each weapon must be viewed in it's own era of technology and tactics and evaluated against the weapons of it's day.

Okay, so what do you think was the 'baddes't one out there, and why..... :)

Thought I would start things off .....

I think one of the baddest guns out there for it's day was the M1897 Trench Gun. It was devasting to the Germans during trench battles and actually made the Germans file a protest as they called it "in-humane". This was one bad boy... as I understand it, it typically had a squad of men that were deployed in pairs of two each with the m1897, and they would drop into the trenches facing opposite directions and use a nifty feature of the m1897, which was the ability to continous fire by just racking the pump.... It really had quite an impact on WW1 and is my nominiation for 'Battlefield Badass!"

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1897_600-1.jpg

Why just used by America?

Well, I thought that would be a good place to start, but if multi-national nominations are the way to proceed, fine by me as long as the remaining criteria is observed..... :)

So...you started us off with a non rifle.

I did say it could be ball, shell or cartridge. Perhaps I should has said 'long gun' instead of Rifle, please feel free to modify the word 'Rifle' in the title and post as I cannot ... :surrender:

But since we're pinning it down this way, I would think the Henry rifle. It wasn't so badass as revolutionary. It WAS used in that great unpleasantness between the North and South by many troops as I understand. If it had made it in GREAT quantity, how could it NOT have effected the duration and casualty lists of the war?

Hands down, the M1 Garand. When every other nation's main battle rifle was a five round bolt action, the USA put the first auto-load, eight shot, .30-06 weapon that was devastatingly accurate, efficient and deadly.

Given the whole context, my vote goes to the M1 Garand.

+1 for the Garand. 30-06 fire power in a semi auto:thup:

Okay, now we're on track - so how about another one -

The Kentucky long rifle. It was a significant contributor in the revolutionary war against the British as it had rifling in the barrel and provided superior accuracy and long range distance well beyond the reach of the standard smooth bore arms of the British. The KLR, and the Guerilla tactics it allowed sniper units like Daniel Morgan's riflemen to utilize, are considered to be a key factor of the Colonial success in the Southern areas of the conflict.

...U.S Rifle Cal. .30 M1

M1 Garand for sure, for already mention reasons.

Also I have to say a Lee Enfield, in particular a SMLE. The pure shock factor that the brought in the opening days of the first world war.

Bolt action Rifle, has to be the Lee Enfild, either the SMLE, the #1 rifle or the #4 rifle. Ten round magazine and the slickest bolt action. Not the most accurate, but it was accurate enough. The most dependable in all conditions. Just all round the most dependable rifle for the average PBI.

BAR (Browning Automatic RIFLE). yes, yes... I realize that was the "Squad Automatic Weapon".
2nd Choice.. M1 Garand
3rd Choice.. M-14
4th Choice.. FAL (actually number 3 and 4 to me are a toss up..it would depend on who else is around you for parts, magazines etc.)

If you go back to WWI it would probably have to be the Mauser.

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Originally Posted by Amsdorf

Hands down, the M1 Garand. When every other nation's main battle rifle was a five round bolt action, the USA put the first auto-load, eight shot, .30-06 weapon that was devastatingly accurate, efficient and deadly.

Given the whole context, my vote goes to the M1 Garand.

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I do believe the venerable Enfield No.4 Mk.1 was usually fitted with a 10-round magazine. But, certainly, the Garand was ahead of its time.

Out of all the rifles used in the Americas, the Lee-Enfield probably killed more people and critters than most of the other .... Combined ...

For sheer numbers, reliability, and accuracy in the worst of conditions -- my vote goes to the Mosin-Nagant.
Yeah, it's "only" a five-shot, bolt action rifle, but it was a solid performer in the very WORST of conditions.

RR

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Originally Posted by RobSmith

Out of all the rifles used in the Americas, the Lee-Enfield probably killed more people and critters than most of the other .... Combined ...

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So you lot are finally admitting that you reckon you own the world.

Was watching American Rifleman last night, airing the second part of their biography of Garand, and one of the guys on it said simply that the Garand is the greatest battle rifle in American history because it opened the gates of the concentration camps, and defeated the two most evil political dictatorships in history: Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.

That comment clinched it for me!

M1 Garand!

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Originally Posted by D-BOMB

Also I have to say a Lee Enfield, in particular a SMLE. The pure shock factor that the brought in the opening days of the first world war.

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I would also add the Spencer lever action to the list for rifles that had significant impact and 'shock factor' and was in use by the US Military.

It was a multi-shot tube fed magazine rifle that enabled the North to overpower the South in numerouse battles at a time when the South had numerical advantage and would have most likely won the battles if the Spencer wasn't deployed by the North.

The National Firearms Museum: U.S. Spencer Lever Action Repeating Carbine

Top 10 battlefield rifles was led by the SMLE .303 over the K98 by virtue of the 10 shot mag and rate of fire and yes the Garand was a head of its time in design but not sure if the German designed Gehwer 44(I think that's it) assault rifle ranked pretty well also

I'd reckon the 2 worst guns to fire would've been the Boys Anti-Tank rifle and this little gem from the Germans in WW1 which is basically a over modified K98 Anti Tank rifle that from most reports said that whoever fired it ended with either a badly bruised or broken shoulder,regards

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Originally Posted by muffett.2008

So you lot are finally admitting that you reckon you own the world.

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Not at all ... And as I recall Australia also used the LE ... I wonder what the tally is once you add people and critters. Most likely is the deadliest firearm Australia ever saw also.

---------- Post added at 10:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 PM ----------

I once had the unique priviledge of handling (but not firing) one of those 13mm Mausers (Even removed the bolt to see the rifling, ok I just like to take things appart LOL).... What a beast !

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Originally Posted by hairbear1

Top 10 battlefield rifles was led by the SMLE .303 over the K98 by virtue of the 10 shot mag and rate of fire and yes the Garand was a head of its time in design but not sure if the German designed Gehwer 44(I think that's it) assault rifle ranked pretty well also

I'd reckon the 2 worst guns to fire would've been the Boys Anti-Tank rifle and this little gem from the Germans in WW1 which is basically a over modified K98 Anti Tank rifle that from most reports said that whoever fired it ended with either a badly bruised or broken shoulder,regards

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M-16, though not my favorite (which would be the Garand) because the M-16 and its progeny are still in use and have been so for a long time, through a bunch of "police actions" across the world. It has legs and has also materially changed the civilian market.

hmmm, the question was asked the baddest A$$ kicking rifle in America, nothing said about being military or used by the military...
so... the .577 T-Rex is the rifle with the most felt recoil made in the US..255LBS of recoil felt by the shooter.{without brake} You Tube it, and laugh as you watch morons get beat up by this rifle....im building one as we speak..
as for what cal, has been used to kill more people in the US? id say the .22LR, second would be the .25ACP..cheap, and Gangbangers love both..
what Cal, has been used to kill more people world wide??id say first 7.62x39. this cal, is ued by more countrys then any other for all time.. 9MM luger is my second choice. 2.62x25 and 9mm Russian id say are right up there. are they badass?? no...but a pistol barrel behind the ear of a tide up prisoner does the job, less mess, cheap, ect..
are those my favorites??nope... personally the only thing iv killed is critters, and have found the 30-06 does the job on anything with hooves on this planet, shot placement speaks for itself.
CCW cal of choice for me? is a .22LR original Stingers..in an AMT .22 backup, from 20 feet blows a steaming hole through meat and bone.. face it, im not going to get into a 50 yard shooting match with someone...if and when it happens , likely it will be face to face within 10 feet..if not closer..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ged4l...eature=related

My vote goes for the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle. Pretty much the first select fire individual weapon to hit the battlefield, even if it was rather heavy and short on ammo capacity to effectively use as an assault rifle.

The M1 was of course ahead of it's time as well and produced in far greater numbers, so arguably it could take the #1 spot.

Except we didn't beat the British with the pennsylvania rifle, though it was good for picking off British officers.
We beat them with the Brown Bess and the French Charleville, using the SAME tactics as the British.