Rank your WW2 Bolt actions :)

[SKSer45]

Or ones that you shout or handled before. Just give a simple mention to as why BTW its all in the eye of the beholder.

1. Lee Einfield. 10rd Mag which trumps all the other rifles and smooth bolt. Finally was able to get my hands on one this weekend and taught how to use the bolt correctly (thanks you know who) and it is easily seen as why the Germans thought they where getting shot by a Machine Gun not a rifle. An accurate one too
2. Swiss K31. 6 rounds which you can load on top or detach mag. Strait bolt back is like silk and probably the most accurate out of the bunch. Shooting 600 yards with iron sights never been easier and fun
3. Der Furhers 98k Mauser! He loved it so much he made it the official rifle of the Whermact and millions were made. Well made, reliable, smooth action and bolt and millions where made. 8mm round hits hard and is accurate as well.
4. Arisaka type 99. Finally glad I was able to shoot one and as ugly as that thing is it was a pleasure to shoot it. The twist safety is a neat feature but what makes this stand out is its strong action/bolt. In fact it is one of the strongest out of all the rifles during post war testing. Something to be respected especially in the Pacific.
5. Last but not least the old faithful Mosin/Nagant/m44/m38. This rifle is so ugly its pretty Really crude looking IMO however, reliable, fairly accurate, fun recoil, and getting a 30-06 for less than 100 bucks is awesome. Hence mosinitis (yes rojo I know..)

Honorable mentions (which never owned or shot) MAS, 1903 Spring field, Finnish Mosins, Swede Mausers, Carcano Rifles, and any other WW2 bolt actions I never shot or owned.

Ok your turn!

[EM2]

My:
1903 Springfield cause it's american made. accurate as he!!, just plain fun.
Enfield no4 mk1 cause it's fun, balances well.

[SKSer45]

My:
1903 Springfield cause it's american made. accurate as he!!, just plain fun.
Enfield no4 mk1 cause it's fun, balances well.

ahhh +1 on the Enfield as well. I was really surprised how balanced that thing was. I need to get one...next year

[bob7122]

Or ones that you shout or handled before. Just give a simple mention to as why BTW its all in the eye of the beholder.
1. Swiss K31. 6 rounds which you can load on top or detach mag. Strait bolt back is like silk and probably the most accurate out of the bunch. Shooting 600 yards with iron sights never been easier and fun
2. Der Furhers 98k Mauser! He loved it so much he made it the official rifle of the Whermact and millions were made. Well made, reliable, smooth action and bolt and millions where made. 8mm round hits hard and is accurate as well.
3. Last but not least the old faithful Mosin/Nagant/m44/m38. This rifle is so ugly its pretty Really crude looking IMO however, reliable, fairly accurate, fun recoil, and getting a 30-06 for less than 100 bucks is awesome. Hence mosinitis (yes rojo I know..)

????. Lee Einfield. 10rd Mag which trumps all the other rifles and smooth bolt. Finally was able to get my hands on one this weekend and taught how to use the bolt correctly (thanks you know who) and it is easily seen as why the Germans thought they where getting shot by a Machine Gun not a rifle. An accurate one too
Honorable mentions (which never owned or shot) MAS, 1903 Spring field, Finnish Mosins, Swede Mausers, Carcano Rifles, and any other WW2 bolt actions I never shot or owned.

Ok your turn!

i have changed the order and i have never shot a lee einfield.

[D-rock]

Lee Enfield all the way. 10 rounds= hella firepower

[SKSer45]

i have changed the order and i have never shot a lee einfield.

ahhh like the Swiss k31 too hu? I wonder why the put 6 rounds instead of 5 or ten. I bet you Latigo would know.

[secondshooter]

Lee enfield! over here(nz) many are still in regular use by hunters, some of the boer war versions are still going strong after more than 100 years.

[mls343]

For me, it would be:

1. Swede Mauser - not technically a combatant, but you gotta love that action, cartridge, and feel.

2. Japanese Type 38, 44, and 99 - one of he best adaptions of the 98 action with lots of bells and whistles. People usually judge on the last ditch examples, but originally configured an intended (monopod not withstanding...), a very nice and strong example.

3. Enfield - I like the stubbies, but the Mk4 gets great reviews for accuracy, reliability, service life, and a 10 round magazine. Sounds silly, but I think the Jungle Carbines are cool even though they kick like a mule, dig into your shoulder, and are super loud.

4. M1903/1903A3 - really love the feel, accuracy, performance, reliability, of the finger stock 03. Like the sights on the 03/A3. Refined and American, my Grandfathers favorite rifle - Semper Fi Gramps!

5. M98k - classic, reliable, and the yard stick for military bolt actions. Kind of generic for me, but just about everything you want in a bolt action military rifle.

6. Moisens - so many and so reliable. Gotta be ranked in the top 10.

Again, just my opinions as I can add more...

[Noonanda]

If I was to list guns that Actually fought during WW2 the Swiss rifles would be out, and there would have been few Swedish mausers.
so my list is as follows
1) The Mosin Nagant (of all flavors) This rifle fought against itself and still won (the Finns used them as well as the Russians). Cartridge is still in active service today, the oldest cartridge still in active service in fact (100+ years). Reliable in all extremes, design is so simple a peasant can use it.
2) Lee Enfield (of all flavors) Solid cock on closing, 10 round magazine gave more firepower than any other bolt action design, very good sights.
3) Type 99 Arisaka. This Rifle is one of the strongest actions in the world, stronger than the K-98(read hatchers notebook), simple and reliable. Was originally designed with fancy do-dads and whatnots (aircraft sights, dust cover and monopod) but the basic rifle design never changed. was designed with a Chrome lined bore, one of the few rifles of its time to have this done. 7.7x58 was similar in ballistics to all the other cartridges in use.
4) K-98 This Rifle was actually at a disadvantage in some of the places it fought due to the germans tight tolerances and the extreme cold experienced on the eastern front. Solid design, powerful cartridge, many modern bolt actions are simple modifications of the K-98 design. The M-1903 and the .30-06 cartridge were both modifications of the k-98 and 8x57 cartridge, the US govt was sued by Mauser in patents court prior to WW1, when we entered the war we told em pound sand. After the war the US was taken to court again and lost and had to pay royalties.

[SKSer45]

oo you know what...we forgot to say Steyr Rifles! Some of them where use as 2nd line rifles and police units. Anybody ever shot one of those or owns one? that strait bolt does look fun.

@noon I have to agree with you on the Mosin Part especially in the Winter War. Mosin vs Mosin and Mosin FTW! yay! I am glad I am peasant and know how to use it

[paul0660]

I go with the OP's list, because K31's would be better than Enfields IF they didn't launch the expended into your face or hat so frequently. Also, Mosins are incredibly variable. My M38 needs two strong, accurate slaps to open and close after firing, my ex-dragoon an easy slip and slide.

Never shot a Arisaka.

[pitfighter]

I collect Mauser rifle's and their variants.

But, I learned to shoot a long time ago, in a place about 5000 miles away, with a .303 Lee Enfield No.4, and it is still the most responsive and alive feeling military bolt action I have picked up.
It is very simple mechanically and scarily easy to shoot accurately - which is good for me, as I am an inconsistent shooter - basically if i get fed up with my poor shooting with the other rifles I'll pick up the No.4 and it hits where it's pointed.

It's performance on the battlefield was very good, it was still being fielded in a sniper role until fairly late into the last century, so it was around - in one form or another (from Metford to Enfield, .45-70 to .303) - about 100 years as a working, trusted weapon, that is the best proof of worth.

My two cents.

[SKSer45]

I go with the OP's list, because K31's would be better than Enfields IF they didn't launch the expended into your face or hat so frequently. Also, Mosins are incredibly variable. My M38 needs two strong, accurate slaps to open and close after firing, my ex-dragoon an easy slip and slide.

Never shot a Arisaka.

Wow Paul you actually agree with me!!! But yes need to shoot an Arisaka. Its a fun rifle and the recoil is not to bad. Fairly accurate too as well and all else fails you can always do a Bonzai Charge! Bonzai!!!!!!!1

[7.62x63mmUS]

I'm a Mauser fanboi, but I pulled the Enfield No. 4 MK I out of the safe recently and I gotta say the action really is quicker. It's perplexing to me that the British wanted to develop a Mauser patter rifle before WWI to replace it. Maybe they wanted a stronger action? And as for the K31 its a shame it was never battle tested but my guess is if properly maintained it would do fine against any of the others if not surpass them because of the strait pull action. I think the Mauser was so prolific just due to its strength and relative simplicity. A good compromise of many traits.

[DennisCA]

Here's my 2-cents: (From what I shot)
1. M39 Finn: It is accurate as hell and a one beautiful weapon (a bit on the heavy side though)
2. Lee Enfield (No 4 Mk 1) Almost as accurate as the Finn but no quite
3. Yugo 24-47 8mm Shoots well and has a very smooth action, one drawback though: the damn thing is really light so shooting after a while is a gets to be a pain in the.......... shoulder (I bet you thought I was going to say something else, huh?)
4. 91-30 Mosin Nagant: (As someone all ready stated) ulgy as hell but a blast to shoot!