"Top Five WWII Small Arms" Topic

Well, to continue a great theme:

MP40 'Schmeisser
Moisin Nagant sniper rifle
Walther P38
M1 Carbine, para model
MG34 LMG

M1 Garand
M1 Carbine--I carried one in NAm
M1911A1--knocks them down better than a 9mike mike
MG42
#1=the Tommy Chopper, the M1928 thru M1A1 Thompson Submachine gun.

Again, not necessarily the best, I just likes 'em:

Sten
M1911 .45
MP44
FG42
M3 Grease Gun

MG-42,
Colt 1911,
Thompson SMG,
Moisin Nagant,
Sturmgawehr 43/44

Sturmgewehr 44 – the shape of things to come.
Lee Enfield – tried and tested and never lets you down.
M1 Garand – a step forward on those bolt actions.
Sten – dirt cheap and effective
MG34/42 – the first true GPMG.

M1 Garand
MP40 'Schmeisser
Thompson SMG
Luger P08 pistol

M2 .50 cal machine gun "ma deuce" with the butterfly triggers (Small Arm?) man portable

MG42 – the best MG of the war.
Thompson SMG – Great stopping power in a SMG
Colt 1911 – Great pistol, used for many years after the war.
M1 Garand – Powerful rifle and a semi auto!
Sturmgewehr 44 – The first assault rifle!

Having fired a fair number of the real thing (full auto too!), I would say based on what felt comfortable, was accurate, easy to handle, would be easy to carry and keep fed or a combination of the above:

MP-40
M1 Carbine (which is why I own one)
BAR
Kar-98k
M1911 pistol

The MP-40 is such an awesome weapon. Accurate (for an SMG), easy to control, handle, and carry. The rate of fire is just about in the perfect sweet spot. Light and easy to sight in. The only thing I don't like is the folding stock, which feels like it would not take a battlefield beating well.

The M1 Carbine is an amazing weapon as well and for the same reasons as the MP-40. It feels at home in your hands. Light and easy to swing around and sight in. I love the action, so smooth and responsive.

The BAR is just such a beast. It is heavy, but that actually seems to help in handling while firing. I easily put a three round burst through a small pumpkin downrange and didn't lose the sight picture or lose control of the weapon. The downside seems to be the low count mags, and it would burn through ammo pretty quick. Not sure if I would want to carry one in the field for long, but in a fight, it feels like it would be a solid and powerful weapon.

If I had to choose a bolt action rifle to use in combat in WWII, my choice would hands down be the kar-98k. The action is so smooth and it feels like an extension of your arm. Very comfortable to handle and hold. I love the loading of the strippers too. They slide right in, the rounds go into the magazine easily, and you can close the bolt without even removing the stripper (the bolt pushes the stripper out). It is all a very satisfying and comfortable process. The recoil is very controllable and the weapon sights easily and smoothly. I own a German WWII bnz marked rifle and a post war Yugo and they are both primo weapons.

Lastly, nothing beats the power and handling of the 1911. Unless you fire one of these, you will never know what a pistol was truly meant to be.

But this is from my own experience firing these weapons and owning (some) of them as a recreational shooter. Using these in combat might be a whole other thing entirely…so take it for what it is worth.

I have fired the STG and the MG-42 and while they are fun as hell to shoot…I wouldn't want to have to drag them around and use them in combat.

I have yet to fire the DP LMG or the Bren on full auto (it is fun in semi auto though!).

This thread makes we want to grab the case and head down to the range…

Vickers – for its sustained firepower
MG34 – work of art
Bren – best light machine gun
SMLE – it does exactly what it says on the tin
M1 Carbine – simple works best

M-1
MG-42
P-38
Sturmgewehr 44
M-2

MG 42
Luger
MP40
Gerand
STG44

M1
M-1911
Thompson .45
P.08

I'll admit a nationality-based bias.

Bias also with the Luger, based on the fact I love mine. Also the fact that its really more of a Great War firearm.

I'm also with Iron Ivan on the 98k action, and the M1 carbine.

Ithaca Shotgun.. Whoops banned.. shucks

MG42
Bren
SMLE
Thompson SMG
Vickers MG

My suggest for the best/influential small arms

1) M1 Garand
2) MG-42
3) Bazooka
4) Sturmgewehr MP44
5) Panzerfäuste

No love for the Pepecha? Really? I don't like the word "iconic," but if I had to use it, this would be one example. There are plenty of arguments against the SMG in general, but for reliability and widespread adoption, it's really got to rate.

I'm intrigued by the regard for the M-1 carbine as well. I share this sentiment, but I've had a number of gun-fondlers scoff at me for holding it. Underpowered, they say. Plenty of guys no longer around who would dispute that, I think.

M1 Garand
MG-42
No. 4 Rifle
PPSH
STG 44

M1, PPSH and MG42 would be my top three. Any number of platforms could be #4 and #5.

I was surprised by how awkward the Ppsh was when I handled it and fired it. Might just be my own personal ergonomics didn't mesh well with the Soviet design. I didn't think it was very controllable, accurate, or comfortable. The drum system seemed to not be very reliable, though I think some of the issue was the ammo we were using. I fired both the Ppsh and the MP-40 next to each other and I definitely favored the MP-40. If having to clear a room, maybe the Ppsh would be a good choice, but anything else and I would not be nearly as confident in using it.

Still, it puts lots of lead downrange…

Of the ones I've handled the "Lanchester smg" was my liked gun. Heavy for a smg but felt right. I have to get the "Vickers K" in the pole not handled it but had its effect described (they all hit the dirt).

x42

MG42
SMLE
SVT-40
Browning HP
Bren

M-1 Garand "the greatest battle implement ever devised"

Colt M1911A1 .45 (the 1911 is not quite the same gun, guys)

M3A1 "Grease Gun" (the M3 has a cocking handle but the A1 has fewer breakable parts)

SMLE No.1 Mk.1(T) sniper rifle (preferably the Holland & Holland conversion)

Solothurn S1-100 Swiss craftsmanship in a 9mm SMG – what more could you want?

I'm afraid I'm another one of the M-1 carbines least fans. The cartridge is barely adequate as a pistol cartridge and I found it pretty much useless under combat conditions. Since I had only paid $15 USD for mine (bought it from an ARVN), I traded it away and bought a Stevens 12-gauge pump shotgun from a USAF mechanic. I felt a lot safer after that.

LT

MG42 – fab and a real comfort in it's modern G3 guise; when it hits the fan and it opens up it sounds like angels singing

Colt M1911A1 .45 – you know you've been hit

BAR – used to own one (lend leased to UK in 1942, then taken off N Korean fishing boat in Mozambique channel early 1970's); seriously solid accurate and reliable.

After that my list ends…

Bren
MG-42
PPS-43
M1 Garand
Sterling Patchett

MG42
Browning HP
Lee enfield
MP44
Sterling SMG

My reasons
First semi auto combat rifle
Amazing fire power
Awesome double action hand gun
Shape of things to come
Still around!

M-1 Garand
Stg 44
MG 42
SVT 40 (Soviet semi-auto rifle. Germans loved them)
Bren Gun