Your favorite WWII gun

[bl4ckh4wk64]

M1 Garand. I realize every game featuring the thing requires expending the clip to reload, and that may be the case in real life, but I've always loved it. Quintessential American Rifle.

Yes, you have to either fire all the rounds to reload, or you can pull the bolt back until the bandolier shoots out making that load *Ping* sound. It wasn't really a drawback either, because what a few Americans did was they counted their shots, waiting until they had fired 6 or 7 rounds (the bandolier holds 8) and then they'd toss an empty bandolier on a rock. The Nazi, or IJ soldier would then raise their head from cover, thinking the American was reloading, and the American would proceed to shoot him.

 

[Shock and Awe]

M-1 Garand. Both as a Battle and a Drill Rifle. The best combat rifle of the war by far(with the possible exception of the Sturmgewehr 44) and it is perfectly balanced in weight.

 

[shotgunbob]

The M-1 Garand by far if you just want to talk about standard issue rifles.

Best Machinegun: MG42

In terms of Sub-machineguns they were all fairly evenly matched, although the Thompson was the most widely produced.

The most widely produced SMG in WW2 was the Russian PPsH-41

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PPSh-41

Anyway, my vote goes to this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PTRD

One of the best small arms weapon systems ever designed. IIRC either Hungary or Austria still produces a variant for use with their military.

Learn something new everyday, thank you sir.

 

[enlargedhousecat]

holy crap, an article about favorite WWII weapons and no one mentions the Luger. Thing is freaking beautiful.

 

[Zannkimaru]

Mauser C96. I just seem to love something about it lol

 

[Xskills]

George Patton called the m1 Garand "the battle implement ever devised" and this was guy was a tank commander. Few battle rifles have the service record of going to Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, North Africa, Saipan, Iwo Jima, Peleliu, Makin Atoll, Okinawa, and Korea. Plus one more thing...
GET OFF MY LAWN!!!

 

[Demonio Penguino]

The M1 Garand! WOO!

 

[Kaytastrophe]

I would go with the M1 carbine. Sure it doesnt have the power of the M1 Garand but its not as heavy and pain in the ass to lug around.

 

[TheMann]

I've fired just about every major standard issue WWII battle rifle those being the Mosin-Nagant 7.62mmR, The Mauser k98 8mm (Though not the full size Mauser 98) the Lee Enfield .303 and the M1 Garand. I own the Mauser and the M1, my friends have the rest.

I'll tell yow that the M1 takes the taco. Compared to the others (standard issue, no variant) it's like nachos with a side order or curly fries. 8 round auto-loading as opposed to 5 round bolt action, robust, reliable and deadly accurate with the .30-06 round and peephole sights, as opposed to the others that were still using the notch leaf sights. It even has a storage compartment in the butt for your cleaning kit and what have you. General MacArthur called the M1 Garand the greatest combat implement ever devised. At the time, he may have been on to something.

As far as sniper rifles, it's a tough call between the Mosin-Nagant and the Springfield M1903.

As far as the submachine guns: The MP40 was a good solid, easy to operate 9mm. However, there's just something about the Thompson M1A1 .45 that just gives me goosebumps and sends me to a happy place.

 

[direkiller]

Any 'one-shot' calibre weapon.

- Mosin-Nagant
- M1 Garand
- The German version [ Forgot name ]

It's satisfying to reload after each shot again and again, love those weapons!

KAR 98

OT: Flack 88

small arms MG 42 or MG 42L

 

[Elementlmage]

George Patton called the m1 Garand "the battle implement ever devised" and this was guy was a tank commander. Few battle rifles have the service record of going to Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, North Africa, Saipan, Iwo Jima, Peleliu, Makin Atoll, Okinawa, and Korea. Plus one more thing...
GET OFF MY LAWN!!!

The Mosin-Nagant has fought in every major conflict since the Vietnam War, and even a few minor ones like Somalia. And yes, I mean EVERY one. It is still kill our men to this day in Iraq and Afghanistan and a new one hasn't been produced since the early 60's, with most being produced in the 30's and 40's. Now THAT is a service record!

Also, it is more bad ass than Chuck Norris. Although Chuck Norris fighting himself is purely theoretical, the Mosin-Nagant fought against itself TWICE and won both times!

 

[BustaNinja]

The Mosin Nagant. Its a beast of a rifle, and surely the right choice for a Zombie invasion. Cheap, and easy as sin to maintain. Plus, it sports a massive 7.62 round.
Also, no Colt 1911? That's hands down the most combat effective pistol of all time. I mean, its still used in variants TODAY! That is almost 100 years of service life from a PISTOL! It better be damn good.

 

[zama174]

M1 Garand

 

[kurtzy23]

The Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR)

 

[Larkin99]

Gotta be the PPSH-41. Or the .30 cal Browning heavy machine gun.
There are too many runner-ups...WW2 produced the some amazing guns.

 

[Rottweiler]

StG 44 is my personal favorite, followed closely by the Thompson.

 

[Absimilliard]

I would say the M1911A1. Beautiful and effective. For full auto I'd say the Sten Gun, as it is versatile. (And you could fit a silencer on it, though that would cost you the full-auto capability.)

I'm also a fan of the Luger. I've tried one one a firing range, and it is an absolute pleasure to use. However, it is not that good as a combat weapon, frequent jams being the biggest issue.

 

[Neurowaste]

My Mosin-Nagant M44, Grandpa served in the red army, so it's only natural, pictures later!

 

[Xskills]

George Patton called the m1 Garand "the battle implement ever devised" and this was guy was a tank commander. Few battle rifles have the service record of going to Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, North Africa, Saipan, Iwo Jima, Peleliu, Makin Atoll, Okinawa, and Korea. Plus one more thing...
GET OFF MY LAWN!!!

The Mosin-Nagant has fought in every major conflict since the Vietnam War, and even a few minor ones like Somalia. And yes, I mean EVERY one. It is still kill our men to this day in Iraq and Afghanistan and a new one hasn't been produced since the early 60's, with most being produced in the 30's and 40's. Now THAT is a service record!

Also, it is more bad ass than Chuck Norris. Although Chuck Norris fighting himself is purely theoretical, the Mosin-Nagant fought against itself TWICE and won both times!

How many WWII rifles other than the M1 Garand are handled by Clint Eastwood? and the M1 Garand evolved into the M14 which lives on in both the M21 sniper rifle and Mk. 14 EBR that's used by the Navy SEALs TODAY. Modern fighting forces don't use derivatives of the Mosin-Nagant (not even Russia), but John Garand's system is very relevant to law enforcement (the Ruger Mini-14) and the U.S. military.