The Best MBR
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M-14,no doubt about it.I have several FALs and love them,but an M14 is magnificent.
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What gun\action has been produced or in service the longest? Brit Enfield, the Mauser or the AK.
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562 Posts
m-14
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1,234 Posts
Kalashnikov!
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251 Posts
Portuguese AR-10, ask the man who owns one.
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Yes what does constitute a "Battle Rifle" and who decided this? as for Kalashnikov I think its seen its share of combat !
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490 Posts
Oh!!
Well then if we're only considering "30-06, 308 type" stuff.......I'd have to go with FAL!!
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If talking 308/30-06 calibers I'd say the garand is the most proven. Of the later 308 rifles is there really a bad one? To me it all comes down to dependability, accuracy and price. I'd pick a nice JDL G3 first, accuracy is outstanding 1-1.5MOA, dependability is great (zero malfunctions in just under a 1000rds), cost is very affordable $800-1200 for the rifle, $3-5 mags. Next would be the AR10, cost is again in the $800-1200 range but mags cost more at about $30 each, accuracy is above what I'd expect from the G3 although not enough to warrant the added mag cost, dependabilty is alittle lower then what I'd expect from the G3 or M1A. 3rd would be the FAL, at about $600-1200 cost is affordable although accuracy isn't nearly as good as the other 2 (I've owned 7 and none would do much better then 3moa) mag cost is decent at $5-10 each and reliability while again lower then what I'd rate the G3 isn't so bad I'd worry about it. Last would be the M1A, at $1200-1800 cost is high, mag cost at $25-35 each is high, accuracy and dependabilty is very high but over all the added costs don't do it for me.
so there if forced to pick...
Nice JDL G3
AR10
FAL
M1A
so there if forced to pick...
Nice JDL G3
AR10
FAL
M1A
You really should break that down into "which rifle in XXX time frame" in order to get things rolling. Different rifles ruled different time frames.
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2,161 Posts
I'm voting M14/M1A.
Aside from reliability and accuracy, one must not discount ergonomics
Yeah, I read "Boston's Gun Bible"...the gun parts, anyway. And I agree with much of his rationale.
The AK-47/AKM rifles are not "battle rifles", but "assault rifles". Most sources of information make this distinction. I just sold my Yugo-built AK off to fund the purchase of a CMP "Special Grade" M1 Garand and I absolutely do not regret that decision.
If your goal is to arm a bunch of illiterate cannon fodder so they can rush in close to the enemy and spray at close range, the AK is the rifle for that. You have to get in close with those arms. At Fort Riley's private weapons range I was NEVER able to hit a man-sized target at 300 yards with an AK. I tried two of them, one a Norinco and the other a Hungarian SA-85M. Mind you, I was trying to hit a 300 yard target from a bench off of sandbags with me sitting in a chair and I couldn't put a round on paper.
The SA-85M was about as good as you could get, quality-wise, for the AK design.
That alone should be enough to disqualify the AK-style, but you can still kick the thing when it is down. The "third hand" style magazine catch/release is decidedly inferior to the M16. The manual safety on the AK is just about the worst I've seen on any modern semi-auto. Try being stealthy in the bush when you click off that safety and everyone in the county hears you doing it.
The sights are no great shakes either. Not easily adjustable for windage without that c-clamp tool and the sight radius is very short and the front sight post very thick. It is decidedly inferior to any rear peep/aperature sight America has been using since the Springfield 03A3.
I have to agree with Boston's rationale for rating the M14 just a hair above the FAL in terms of the best battle rifle. Some FAL rifles have that funky folding charging handle on the left side of the receiver. I wouldn't want to mess with that if I needed to clear a jam and I was wearing gloves.
Accuracy-wise and reliability-wise, the M14 and FAL...both contemporaries, are arguably equal. The M14 edges just ahead for reasons of ergonomics.
Aside from reliability and accuracy, one must not discount ergonomics
Yeah, I read "Boston's Gun Bible"...the gun parts, anyway. And I agree with much of his rationale.
The AK-47/AKM rifles are not "battle rifles", but "assault rifles". Most sources of information make this distinction. I just sold my Yugo-built AK off to fund the purchase of a CMP "Special Grade" M1 Garand and I absolutely do not regret that decision.
If your goal is to arm a bunch of illiterate cannon fodder so they can rush in close to the enemy and spray at close range, the AK is the rifle for that. You have to get in close with those arms. At Fort Riley's private weapons range I was NEVER able to hit a man-sized target at 300 yards with an AK. I tried two of them, one a Norinco and the other a Hungarian SA-85M. Mind you, I was trying to hit a 300 yard target from a bench off of sandbags with me sitting in a chair and I couldn't put a round on paper.
The SA-85M was about as good as you could get, quality-wise, for the AK design.
That alone should be enough to disqualify the AK-style, but you can still kick the thing when it is down. The "third hand" style magazine catch/release is decidedly inferior to the M16. The manual safety on the AK is just about the worst I've seen on any modern semi-auto. Try being stealthy in the bush when you click off that safety and everyone in the county hears you doing it.
The sights are no great shakes either. Not easily adjustable for windage without that c-clamp tool and the sight radius is very short and the front sight post very thick. It is decidedly inferior to any rear peep/aperature sight America has been using since the Springfield 03A3.
I have to agree with Boston's rationale for rating the M14 just a hair above the FAL in terms of the best battle rifle. Some FAL rifles have that funky folding charging handle on the left side of the receiver. I wouldn't want to mess with that if I needed to clear a jam and I was wearing gloves.
Accuracy-wise and reliability-wise, the M14 and FAL...both contemporaries, are arguably equal. The M14 edges just ahead for reasons of ergonomics.
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