Top Ten Combat Rifles, according to the Military Channel

[mirage]

U.S. Military Channel has released the list of top ten combat rifles built over the last one hundred years. A panel of American and British experts painstakingly examined every firearm used by humans battling one another since the time of the Russo-Japanese War up to the Desert Storm.

The experts used the following criteria while drawing up the list of the world’s most famous firearms: accuracy, reliability, combat effectiveness, design originality, and handling.

It is plain for all to see that the Americans have rewarded four out of ten positions of the list to U.S.-made firearms. However, the overly patriotic Americans could not but put the Soviet Kalashnikov assault rifle, the best combat rifle of all time, on top of the list. The firearms legend created by Mikhail Kalashnikov was unanimously found to be a first-rate weapon by all criteria but one i.e. accuracy.

http://english.pravda.ru/world/ameri...-Kalashnikov-0

1. AK-47, USSR, 1947
2. M16, United States, 1960
3. SMLE Mk III, Great Britain, 1885
4. M1 Garand, United States, 1936
5. FN FAL, Belgium, 1950
6. Mauser Kar 98, Germany, 1898
7. Steyr AUG, Austria, 1960
8. Springfield, United States, 1903
9. Sturmgewehr 44, Germany, 1944
10. M14, United States, 1957

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[narsil]

The SA-80 didn't quite make it then...

[Fraser]

What, no SA 80? Shurely shome mishtake.



Beaten to it by Narsil.

[mirage]

999. A broken stick with a rusty cap pistol duct-taped to it.
1000. SA80



mirage

[PS_Bond]

The SA-80 didn't quite make it then...

But the SLR kind of did

[mirage]

FN FAL: "The free world's right arm"!



mirage

[spamel]

The A2 SA80 is a much improved weapon. I am surprised it didn't make it as it boasts the best barrel of all the in service rifles world wide for accuracy. It is also just the right length to prop one end of your basha up!!!

[metalbudgie]

The M14 is an improved M1 Garand in a better caliber so delete that and add the FG42. Complex, handmade in tiny numbers but the ultimate large cartridge multi use automatic weapon of the war.
Father to numerous weapon systems post war as well.

[roger986]

Surprised the MP5 didn't make the list!

[Andy]

Does that count as a combat rifle?

P.S. I didn't think we talked about weapons on this forum

[narsil]

More of an SMG really, although H&K do make some fine rifles.

[Danzo]

P.S. I didn't think we talked about weapons on this forum

That is rather a good point Andy.

Danzo

[leon-1]

Does that count as a combat rifle?

P.S. I didn't think we talked about weapons on this forum

That was is possible if it has been used in full scale armed conflict.

There are a number of major oversights in that list from my personal point of view especially when you consider the major flaws of the M16 when it was originally issued, that is why the americans are now on the A3 version of it. They also mention the KAR98 which had a bad reputation for breach explosion, some say it killed more German Snipers (the people using it) than any other weapon on the battlefield.

Failure to mention notables like Stoner, H&K and Isreali Military Industries are really poor.

The Cetme and the H&K G3 (design highly disputed as they are more than similair). The South African R4 , the Finnish Valmet (looks similar to the AK series) and the Isreali Galil are also more than just noteworthy. There are also no mention of the sniper rifles that are in current service with the British and other forces (Accuracy International).

[roger986]

Does that count as a combat rifle?

P.S. I didn't think we talked about weapons on this forum

The boys from hereford are partial to it!

[Dicken]

…The firearms legend created by Mikhail Kalashnikov was unanimously found to be a first-rate weapon by all criteria but one i.e. accuracy.”

“ The Candy floss knife created by Dicekn was unanimously found to be a first-rate knife by all criteria but one i.e. cutting ability.