What is/was the best rifle used by the military?

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 09:23:10 -0500

Okay "gun freaks", lets get your thoughts on this.  The military has gone through a lot of different style rifles since the Army took to battle with flint lock muzzle loaders in 1775.  Since then, thanks to improvements in technology, the primary rifle carried by ground units have improved.  Keeping in mind, these changes haven't always been welcomed.  When the M16A1 was first introduced to the military, a lot of service members didn't like it.  <div><br></div><div>So with that in mind, if you could go in combat with any weapon that either was part of the inventory or is CURRENTLY part of the inventory, which one would you pick?</div>

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Feb 13 at 2014 2:22 PM

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:22:22 -0500

I would go with the M249 saw. It is light enough where one person can handle it, and enough firepower to do more damage than the M16!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2014 2:31 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:31:12 -0500

I like the M14 EBR. It is not as compact/lightweight for use in an urban environment as the M4, but for engagements at a greater distance, the 7.62 has better reach and knockdown power.<br>

Response by TSgt Scott Hurley made Feb 13 at 2014 2:34 PM

TSgt Scott Hurley — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:34:02 -0500

OH This is a tough one. Hmmm..... Lets see....

Tommy gun
M1 Garand- Enough said
Browning Automatic rifle- Can cut thru concrete
M-16 any variant (I call the M-4, A Short barrel M-16)
M1911 .45
Winchester repeating rifle- The Rifle that won the west. God only knows why the Army didn't want it in the first place.
M-14- Still a good rifle

There are others, but these are the ones I would want for needing to be ready and in small areas to.

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2014 2:42 PM

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 14:42:49 -0500

Best RIFLE? I'd have to say the M1 Garand. I wouldn't want to carry one now as I think the M4A1 is more versatile. But the Garand was in its day a trail blazer. It was the best battle rifle carried by any soldier in at least two wars. It was our first gas operated, semi-automatic. It validated the efficiency and ease of maintenance that comes with a gas piston. Although it used a staggered en bloc clip and not a box magazine, it was our first rifle that could be immediately reloaded with more than 5 rounds. The Garand and the 30.06 round were sufficiently accurate to be adapted to use as a sniper platform. The Garand was also the foundation for another contender, the M14, which has been reintroduced for SDM use and was posthumous MOH recipient SFC Randy Shugart's weapon of choice. Would I want to clear a room with a Garand? No. But given its innovations and influence on other great weapons, I'd say it's the best. It's an American classic and represents the best of American industrial design and manufacturing.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Feb 13 at 2014 5:12 PM

SFC Stephen P. — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 17:12:53 -0500

M4A1. I absolutely hate the sight radius of the M4, but the advantages of weight and size over the M16 make up for it. Slap on an Aimpoint or other quality optic and the deficiency of the iron sights can overlooked. I would prefer a dissipator style (16" barrel, full length hand guard) but to my knowledge it has never been used by our military.

A burst limited M-4 would be my next choice, then M16A4, then A3, then A2. I've put thousands upon thousands of 5.56 rounds through the AR platform; that kind of familiarity can't be easily replaced.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made May 17 at 2014 5:43 PM

MAJ Jim Woods — Sat, 17 May 2014 17:43:45 -0400

#1 M1903..... accurate and lethal.
#2 M1 Garand.
#3 M14.

Notice they are all .30 cal. M16/4 series won't hold a candle to these.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2015 6:13 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 18:13:55 -0500

In no particular order.

M1903 (any variant)
M1917 Enfield
M1918 BAR
M1
M1916 Mosin–Nagant
....and for giggles M1911

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2015 4:25 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 04:25:27 -0500

For the time, the Mauser K-98. To this day, people still copy the mauser action.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 17 at 2015 12:44 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 12:44:29 -0500

Honestly the AR platform is just good. Ignore the round (5.56) for a moment. The platform itself is solid. You can take anyone on the planet, go 2 weeks, and within two weeks have someone that is capable of putting rounds on target at 300 yards with iron sights. It's light weight, relatively easy to maintain, inexpensive, holds 30rds in a standard mag.

Now don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a 7.62. going from a .22 to a .30 would bump up the takedown A LOT, but AR platform is just solid as it is.

Additionally, it's modular. Going from the A2 to the A4 or the M4, adding optics, or the M203 is just nice. Especially as we get into MOUT style engagements. We've had other great rifles, but, the problem we've had with them is that they stay "rifles." They can't be adjusted after procurement. The AR platform can.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made May 3 at 2015 9:19 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Sun, 03 May 2015 09:19:31 -0400

M14 since piston AR10s haven't been a part of the U.S. Armory.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2015 10:50 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 May 2015 10:50:11 -0400

Spencer repeating rifle. I am saying this for it's impact on the Civil War. It was one f the first rifles that really redefined warfare for us. After rifled barrels the repeaters in Civil War drastically improved the firepower of just one unit. This played out well for the Col. John T. Wilder’s famous “Lightning Brigade."