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

[2AD_Vet]

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.....

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[2AD_Vet]

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!"

[D-BOMB]

Why just used by America?

[2AD_Vet]

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.....

[browningautorifle]

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

[2AD_Vet]

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 ...

[browningautorifle]

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?

[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.

[Rob]

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

[2AD_Vet]

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.