If you had to fight with WWII bolt actions, which would you pick?

[Freebooter]

Hello all,
Just curious, if you had to fight with nothing but WWII bolt actions, which would you pick (not including sniper rifles)? I would pick the early war Japanese Arisaka Type 99 7.7mm rifle. It is light, short and handy, and accurate, at least mine have been. My 2nd choice would be the Mosin-Nagant 91/30. The comb of the stock is comfortable to me and has a comfortable, natural feel to it.
FB

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[gunner]

Hi,

my choice would be the Lee Enfield No4 MKI*. I own two of them and they are good rifles with an complete upper forestock against miraging( not so the Mauser´s), good to handle, easy made and they have an very good back sight too.

Regards

Gunner

[Freebooter]

Hey Gunner,
I have never owned an Enfield, just handled a couple of them. But of them, I like the EnfNo1Mk3. I like its size, length, sight set up, etc..
FB

[gunner]

Yep, i like them too! But good ones are hard to get over here.

Regards

Gunner

[us019255]

Back in the DCM days our club had to show each of us "qualified" each year. Over the years I used a Garand (obviously), M1903A3, a M1917, and a No 4 Mk I*. First choice of the bolts was the '03A3, second was the No. 4.

The reason was the 03 was easier to reload from strippers.

Both are good rifles, and will do the job.

[Freebooter]

Hello all,
I have only handled and shot the '03 a couple times, one of my friend's wpns. It shot ok but to me it was too long and bulky feeling and I do not like open, unprotected front sights, especially blade type. I like the globe front sight hood or like the Jap 7.7mm, side wings up front with the post in the middle and aperture rear. Of all WWII bolt action rifle sights, and I have held and handled Enfields, '03s, k98s, MAS, Carcanos, and of course Japanese, my favorite is the Type 99 Arisaka; so light, fast, handles well with its length, and to me the perfect sights.

Hey Gunner, you said Type 99s were hard to get "over there". Where do you live? Here in Alabama you can find any number and variety of WWII bolt action rifles in gun stores and in the countless pawn shops. I picked mine up, a fairly early war Japanese Arisaka Type 99 "Short Rifle", Series 3; Made by the Turiimatsu Factory of the Nagoya Arsenal, at a pawn shop for about $250.00 a year or two ago. I got a bayonet also made by Nagoya from Stewart's I think. Anyway, the rifle is in great condition but did not have the aircraft side-sights, monopod, or dust cover. These I ordered, repros, and put on it to make it complete. I am well aware that after a while even the early war rifles started coming out without the monopods, aircraft sights, etc.. I am not a collector. I just wanted a complete early war rifle that was in good shape (they are such fine rifles to me!) I could go shoot or hunt with. And it is a beauty too!

Now that I think of it, those repro pts, the dust cover, monopod, etc, looks so good on it and are so well made I have not a doubt in my mind that there are some people who use these repro pts and claim that they are original pts and that their rifle came with them.
FB

[smellie]

The Kar98k definitely was the prettiest bolt rifle of the Second World War, especially with the laminated stock. It was handy, quite accurate if you were willing to use the sights and balanced nicely. That said, recoil was murder with the heavy-bullet loadings and it was just about impossible to do long rapid-fire strings with. It was TOO nicely-made, believe it or not! The one time I tried a long rapid-fire string, it was with a brand-new rifle, all-matching. After 30 rounds, the bolt was sticking and working it at all became nearly impossible after 35, requiring a solid WRENCH to lift it at all. That's where I stopped and let it cool down. Oil was oozing visibly from the handguard and forestock and burning on the barrel. Rear sight was MUCH too hot to adjust: instant second-degree burns at least.

The Number 4 Rifle wasn't as pretty but ergonomically it was a better design. With 6 butt lengths available, you could pick the rifle suited to YOU. The bolts worked fast and free and there was enough wood on the critter to protect the shooter from almost anything. The sights, in my opinion, were the second-best ever put onto a service bolt rifle AND they were well-protected. (The Ross Battle Aperture Sight of World War One was the BEST rear sight put onto a combat rifle, but you needed a college degree to get the best out of it AND it was unprotected). The Number 4 also fed fast and flawlessly if you knew how to load the chargers. This was part of basic training in the British Army and in the Canadian forces as well, right to the end of the Service career oif the Number 4 Rifle. We were well-drilled on precisely how to do it and how to use the things. The problems only come about when people who were not trained on these critters attempt to use them THEIR way instead of the ARMY's way.

(It absolutely cracks me up to see guys showing up for a shoot with their pockets filled with LE magazines..... and then find that they have bumped a round or three out of alignment and it won't feed or they have trouble changing mags rapidly and dump rounds all over the firing-point. The rifles were NOT issued with spare mags for a REASON: it is actually, measurably FASTER to reload from chargers rather than changing-out your whole magazine AND feeding is flawless when loading from chargers.)

All of that said, I would put the Number 4 in top place, definitely. I know it's the one I would grab, that's for sure.

[Freebooter]

Hello Smelie,
While a mauser is a "purty thang", I still love the early war Arisaka Type 99 Short Rifle. When I say early war I mean with a fine stock, all its doo dads (monopod, dust cover, etc.). It is just a fine weapon. It is so light and handy, an easy pointer and does not have that bad of a kick! I love it.
Later, Freebooter

[Freebooter]

Hey Smellie,
Go to World War II Guns - Articles to see some pics of the rifle I speak of. The one in the pic/article is actually one of those repro airsoft things, but looking at the pics it is hard to tell it from a real one. But click on the pics and check out the beautiful blueing and all. Gives you an idea of how fine they must have been when first issued (early war that is).
Later,
Fb

[JamesB]

Another for the No 4. Very good sights (aperature sights are better than tangent). Better magazine capacity. Very fast action. Simple and durable.