What is your favorite military bolt gun?

[Mauser48]

I recently got a 1943 03-A3 thats all remington that im really liking. I figured out exactly where my sights hit and have no problem hitting at 600 yards.

[tdoyka]

about 20 years ago i bought a mauser 98 action for $75. i had the bolt handle bent, a timmeny trigger installed, a douglas premium for the barrel and then i had it drilled and tapped for a scope mount. since this was going to be my boy's i decided a synthic stock(looks like wood) put on. oh, the barrel was chambered for the 7x57 mauser. boy could it shoot!!! 139gr hornady flat point with a charge of imr3031 would do 1/4" groups at 100 yards. my son only has about 150 of the hornady's left. then i have to go to the 140gr ballistic tips.
this november i got a 1898 springfield armory in 30-40 krag(bubbaized) and from what i can tell it shoots a 165gr ranch dog with a chagre of h4198 around 1 - 1 1/2"" at 50 yards(open sights). i'll try it this spring, but it shows some promise.
my dad also has a ww2 30 carbine and two french guns that i really have to look at. they both bolt actions, one is a carbine(7.5mm) and the other is a full sized military gun also it is 7.5mm. i really got to take a look at them.

[tdoyka]

i got the french guns, the first one is a carbine and is classified as mle 1907-15 m 34 mas and it is a 7.5 french



the other is a chatellerault mle 1907-15 and i'm guessing it is also a 7.5 french or 8mm lebel(no markings)

[Silfield]

My favourite at the moment is a M1886 Steyr Kropatschek in 8x60R. I only got it last year but it has been an education casting and reloading for it but it is a fine accurate rifle with an action that is butter smooth.
Next on the list of favorites is an 1887 Martini Henry (sorry, no bolt!) then a JP SauerCE44 k98.
For long range shooting I have a Winchester M70 Stealth that has been modified a bit by myself and is now very accurate out to 1000 yards.

[DGNY]

Thanks, BruceB for that recounting of your personal "close encounter". Glad the carbine did what it was born to do. Hope I never am in such a spot!

Regards,

Dyson

[muzzleblastm38]

M48 shoot grenat with any load

[Klaus]

i feel that there exist a lot of good military bolt actions
personally i favor a for a US Krag - Joergensen but this is a very expensiv behavior here in German because they are very rare.
anyway my stuff are

Commision Rifle 1888 Amberg 1891 / Turkis Contract 8x57 IS
Gewehr 98 / Turkish Contract 1939 / bubbarized to a sporter 8x57 IS
Carl Gustav M96 / 1916 6,5x55 SE

For Mauser Actions the best for myselfe is the Sweden Mauser , best Craftmanship, best Steel, best Finish at all.
and with distance the best shooter with commercial and reloaded Rounds.

Klaus

[jrap]

I love my lee enfields but my k31 is sweet

[mrrch]

+1 on the K31 but my Mosins are also fun to shoot so is the Enfield and waiting to try the Carcano.
Just realized they are all favorites

[longbow]

I used to really like Mausers but since I got a Lee Enfield #5 then another, then a sporterized #4, then a stock and very nice #4 I think Lee Enfields are taking over as favourites. Still like the Mauser but I do like my Lee Enfields!

Longbow

[fa38]

1895 Chileno 7 mm Mauser.
Just because its at least 115 years old, looks like new, is very accurate with cast bullets.

[kawasakifreak77]

Mine was a 1903 Springfield. It was my deer rifle by 14, with a steel tube Weaver 3x9 on top. Helped put meat on the table with that one. Dad gave it to me awhile back & now I'm wondering if I could have someone put sights back on it.

Then it was the Swedes. Oh me oh my. Light recoil, flat shooting, amazing accurate rifles. But you lose the versatility of 30 caliber. Still, I'm building an old world period correct sporter on a 1919 action. It will hang on my wall.

Then I got a K31. Craftsmanship & heretidge of the Swedes & versatility of 30 caliber. This just might be it!

Honorable mention: the 1917. Another round in the magazine & 2" more barrel. If I could pick between a perfect 1917 & a1903, I'd probably go with the 1917.

[nagantguy]

Mosin nagants; all country, numbers and flavors. Have examples of most of the rifles listed and I do.really lobe my 03a3 but the crude cheap and ugly nagant rings my bell. Guess the ugly crude and cheap would help.explain. my first marriage.

[koger]

I love the Swede 96's and 38"s in 6.5 x55, most accurate out of the box WW 1 and2 era rifles I have ever handled, shot, and I have had them all numerous times over!

[jrap]

I also love mosin's even though they're definitely not the best lol

[CHeatermk3]

My new to me Mauser--Don't know what marking this is; looks like a star-in-crescent under a triangle? Kinda frosty bore but real strong rifling..haven't shot it yet waiting for tools!

[TNsailorman]

No contest, either a 1903 or 1903A3 followed very closely by the US 1917 Enfield. From there it would be 96/38 swede, 98 mauser. I don't really have anything against the British .303 except it is butt ugly. As far as shooting is concerned, in excellent condition it is great. I never owned or wanted a 91 nagant so I can't really say anything about it. I have been a military rifle man since my first one at age 12 in the mid 50's. I think I paid something like $8.00 for one in excellent condition. It made meat on more than one occasion. Now a days I don't buy military, they have gone up to the point that they are not a bargain and I don't throw money around, I'm cheap. james

[texaswoodworker]

No. 4 Mk I* Enfield made in the US by Savage. I'm wanting to pick up a Swiss 1911 rifle, and I have a feeling it would be one of my favorites too.

[GabbyM]

My new to me Mauser--Don't know what marking this is; looks like a star-in-crescent under a triangle? Kinda frosty bore but real strong rifling..haven't shot it yet waiting for tools!

I found the 660 numeric code.

Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, Steyr, Austria (superseded by 'bnz'). Found on small arms

[CHeatermk3]

Thanks Gabby==any info on the star-in-crescent mark? Some arab or maybe Iraq property mark?