Greatest bolt action battle rifle in history...

[Ovidio]

Great rifles, indeed. But I really think they are too well made, with tight tolerances. Consider mud or sand, or even the freezing Russian front.
When I shoot my K31 every now and then a clean round needs some encouragement to be fully chambered and the action perfectly closed.
Factory ammo would prevent this side of the issue, but the “real world” would add soil, grit, mud, ice.
And prevent the high standards of maintenance the Swiss soldiers are trained to apply to they rifles.
I think that rifle could have caused headaches. Maybe even not. Just my thoughts.

[Ced1942]

Great rifles, indeed. But I really think they are too well made, with tight tolerances. Consider mud or sand, or even the freezing Russian front.
When I shoot my K31 every now and then a clean round needs some encouragement to be fully chambered and the action perfectly closed.
Factory ammo would prevent this side of the issue, but the “real world” would add soil, grit, mud, ice.
And prevent the high standards of maintenance the Swiss soldiers are trained to apply to they rifles.
I think that rifle could have caused headaches. Maybe even not. Just my thoughts.

Imo they would perform Ok, i mean the Mannlicher M95 served austro-hungaria pretty well even if they do have a reputation to jam in dirt, its nowhere as close to the canadian ross reputation. The swiss even used mannlicher design carbine in 1893 as cavalry carbine so id say build quality on the austro-hungarian rifle was there otherwise the swiss would not have purchased said rifle. I dont think the K31 could qualify as the "Greatest bolt action" but im pretty sure they could have served with success. Especially in WW2 as fighting condition were way better than the WW1 trench the M95 and ross rifle were exposed

[Aragorn243]

The K31 was designed for hard use in harsh conditions so I don't think that is a valid argument to discount it. The rifles were used and abused which is apparent from the stock conditions on most. I've seen a lot of training films with them using the rifles as lifts to get over obstacles etc, something I wouldn't do with my rifles now. And their tactics involved fighting in the Alps in the snow and ice.

[Lee Enfield]

It all depend how you define the question;

The best bolt action "battle rifle" by combination of features has to be the No4 Lee Enfield, 10 round magazine, excellent sights, adjustable length of pull, reasonable combat effective cartridge.

The "best" action has to be the M.1898 Mauser action; it is the only one in continuous production (functionally unchanged) for 120 years - in fact you should be able to fit a (standard cartridge) bolt manufactured today to an action manufactured in 1898, and vice versa.

[Gil Boyd]

Told you so, now you are seeing through the smoke..........................Parker Hale M85 Mauser action

[CINDERS]

Only those that own a P&H rifle would understand that Gil I've had one for the best part of 33 years though only in 22/250 but its still a massive action for that cartridge.

[Gil Boyd]

Firmly built to last!!!

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Uh, no. You can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig.

I am sure good argument can be made for putting lipstick on a pig.

[Ovidio]

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I did not say I could make it.