The M-1 Garand was known for its accuracy and reliability and saw service in every theater of World War II. Its first documented use in combat was by the U.S. Army troops defending the Philippines during 1941-1942, and it served through the Korean War and into Vietnam where it saw limited use as a sniper rifle.
Simo Häyhä (Finnish: [ˈsimo ˈhæy̯hæ] ( listen); 17 December 1905 – 1 April 2002), often referred to by his nickname, The White Death (Finnish: Valkoinen kuolema; Russian: Белая смерть, romanized: Belaya smert'), was a Finnish military sniper in World War II during the 1939–1940 Winter War against the Soviet Union.
Reliable and extremely accurate, the SMLE is regarded by most authorities as the finest rifle of the First World War.
Machine guns
The machine gun was one of the deadliest weapons of the Western Front, causing thousands of casualties. It was a relatively new weapon at the start of the war, but British and German forces soon realised its potential as a killing machine, especially when fired from a fixed defensive position.
Junkers Ju87 Widely known as the “Stuka”, the Ju87 was one of the most feared aircraft during World War Two. It had a fearsome siren which terrified those who heard it.
In fact, the MG-42 was so intimidating that the War Department created a training film to combat the weapon's psychological effect on soldiers. The film, which downplayed the German machine gun's lethality, was shown to infantry replacements that had not seen combat.
The M1 Garand: The Greatest Rifle of All Time - YouTube. We managed to track down yet another VHS copy of the old Shooting Outdoors program, starring our friend Manny Mansfield. In this episode, Manny tells us why the M1 Garand is and always will be the best rifle ever made.
Derived from the AK-74M, the AK 100 series are some of the best rifles in the world. Foremost among them is the AK-103, which offers superior penetration and stopping power thanks to its use of 7.62 x 39 mm ammunition. It has earned its name for its reliability and ability to withstand punishment in the field.
So, for Simo Häyhä's more than 505 kills, more than 13,550,000 bullets would have been needed in Vietnam. He remains the deadliest sniper who ever lived.
He served in the 3rd Gebirgsjäger Division on the Eastern Front of World War II, and was credited with 345 kills. His longest confirmed kill was reported at 1,100 meters (1,200 yards). Hetzenauer received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 April 1945.
60% of the battlefield casualties in WWI were caused by artillery shells exploding. Shrapnel wounds were particularly brutal for soldiers. The word 'shrapnel' comes from the small lead balls placed in an artillery shell that would spread out over the battlefield when exploded.
At a time when chambered ammunition was fired from mostly single bolt battle rifles, the USA developed the M1 Garand which had better rate of firing than all such rifles. It had an en bloc loading mechanism which used its own gas to cycle rounds.
No gun in America has a deer killing resume that can top the Winchester 94. It was the first rifle chambered for the legendary . 30-30 cartridge, and that rifle/cartridge combo has been a favorite of deer hunters across the country for generations.
There are four to choose from. The bolt-action rifle is undoubtedly the most popular choice among today's deer hunters. Using a bolt with locking lugs to secure the breech when the action is closed and ready to fire, a bolt-action rifle is strong enough to handle the most powerful cartridges.
Lee-Enfield
The rifle saw service worldwide, arming troops in the Boer Wars in South Africa, through both World Wars, and with some UN forces in Korea.
The 88 earned its reputation as the best overall gun of the war. It was justifiably feared by Allied airmen, tankers, and foot soldiers because of its accuracy, lethality, and versatility. The weapon was deployed on German tanks, as an antitank gun, an assault gun, and for antiaircraft purposes.
The Breda 30 was widely viewed as a poorly designed weapon. It had a low rate of fire, low magazine capacity, used sometimes unreliable ammunition and was highly prone to stoppages.
A 7.62 mm L1A1 self-loading rifle (SLR) which was the standard infantry weapon used by the Australian Army during the Vietnam War. It is gas operated with an internal piston and has a 20 round staggered box magazine. It was replaced by the 5.56 mm Steyr F88 assault rifle in the 1980s.
The M16A1 assault rifle was introduced into Australian Army service in 1967 as a section weapon for use by scouts and section commanders. It was used during the Vietnam War by Australian and American forces.