[Amsdorf]

In the hands of brave men fighting against the Axis powers, these battles rifles were used to win World War II:

The Lee-Enfield
The Mosin-Nagant
The M1 Garand

I put this video together to give folks an overview of these rifles, a closer look at them, if you will.

Do you have these rifles, or any of them, and what do you think of them?

 

[old grump]

Does 2 out of 3 count, 2 Mosin's and 2 Garands. Got rid of my #5 Mk1 because I was green when I bought it and didn't realize that the "sporterized"
(read bubba) and shortened carbine was going to flash burn my eyebrows everytime I pulled the trigger. I sold it to a cousin who had more money and less brains than I did.

 

[Amsdorf]

Nice, what's the one on the bottom?

 

[old grump]

Nice, what's the one on the bottom?

The Schmidt Rubin K31 rifle.

That gun and the men who shot it may have been a large part of why the Swiss were able to stay neutral.

All the guns shown are real good shooters but the M1 has the edge for long range work. Part of that may just be me and years of competition with it.

 

[Amsdorf]

Thanks.

 

[dh1633pm]

Sweet.

 

[old grump]

Shot it 1030 this morning, -7 F 8mph wind, 25 yards offhand. I figure if the Swiss can shoot in the mountains I should be able to shoot in the snow.

Its sighted in for my brother for 100 yards but its close enough for government work.

 

[Pet-Rock]

Old grump, how can you shoot that well?

I ran into a guy that put had to 70 at the range over the summer. He had put 3 rounds of 45ACP into one hole at 15 yards off-hand, and he was so gracious to let me give it a shot as well. I at least managed to keep the 3 shots on the target. I was shocked.

Maybe its because I'm young and havent been shooting for even a year, who knows. I definitely came away with a new respect for whats possible with muscle control and practice.

 

[old grump]

Old grump, how can you shoot that well?

That old gun has had a lot of practice and I have had a lot of trigger time since my first shooting lesson in the boy scouts 54 years ago. Some people drink some people shoot. Some people smoke and some people buy ammo. Guess who doesn't smoke or drink.

 

[Pet-Rock]

Good to hear! Live to be 100 and something and still be blasting away!

 

[breckenridge]

Cool video!

I have two Mosin Nagants, a re-arsenaled 1933 Izhevsk 91/30 whose force matched parts would've certainly seen service during the war, and an all original 1948 Izhevsk M44, which appears to have seen light duty as a guard rifle of some sort post-war, but rarely if ever shot.

I like Mosins a lot, they are made and shoot well, and their lengthy and varying history is fascinating if you like to research things. There are so many out there that a very nice example of one is attainable for just about anyone, but prices are climbing.

 

[dh1633pm]

I just added a Enfield No 4 to my collection. Add that to a Garand, Carbine, 1903A3, M39 Nagant, Arisaka 7.7, 6.5, M96 Mauser, 30-40 Krag, GEW98, and a Enfield No 1 and I have the war almost covered. Was thinking of adding a K31, there is a guy locally that has one for sale. They are all shooters.

 

[breckenridge]

Nice collection! Those 30-40 Krags have been catching my eye lately, that might be my wallets next stop...