The first one I ever saw was in a gun rack (remember when you could hang three or four long guns in plain sight in the cab of your pickup and nobody messed with them....Or you?). It was around 1964 or so and I asked my Dad what kind of rifle it was. Of course, I already knew about bolt, lever, and pump action rifles and shotguns, and knew the M-1 Garand and M-1 Carbine, along with the BAR even back then. Dad knew the man driving the pickup in front of us and simply said something along the lines of "Oh, that's just a German rifle Jim "found" in Germany during the war and brought back home with him. He brought back a bunch of stuff he "found" like a lot of soldiers did. That one he uses for deer huntin'." Now in 2024, that rifle is in the collection of his great grandson, the 4th Jim in fact, and is still used as a deer rifle.
In my early 80's high school parking lot there were plenty of trucks with full racks. In every classroom you could find at least a couple guys with a Buck knife on their belt. Life was good.
@@jacka55six60 Hell, I'm so old I can recall many of us country boys, and more than few country girls, who wore our skinning/hunting knives to school every day. Since many of us were farm raised our knives were simply tools of the "trade". Not that we didn't also carry a good quality folding knife in a pocket of our jeans too. And yes, life was good back then (early 1970s), and a whole lot more peaceful if you know what I mean. I know for a fact that I was not the only one who felt just a wee bit naked without our sheath knives when we went off to college. But we still had our folders in our jeans pockets....For emergencies.
Who messes with you now for having long guns in a rack ? In my state ( Ohio ) it is legal. Thanks to the fucking NRA there are virtually no gun laws anywhere yet gun nuts still whine about being persecuted.
I had an early Walther G43 years ago. I would NOT have recommended it over an M1. The internals are somewhat delicate compared to the M1 (Yes I own an M1 too). I was fascinated by the G43 and just had to get one. It was interesting to break it down, clean and inspect everything. I did replace the gas system with Apfeltors kit to keep it from beating itself to death. While the concept was good, it was limited to the materials they had available at the time. It was basically a semi-auto they could get out there as fast as possible and not meant to survive in the long term. I read somewhere that the German snipers at the time preferred the K98 for reliability and I would agree with that. When times got tough for me I would up selling my G43 but I will never sell the M1.
@@caseyquinn9282 Roger THAT, Gents! My old legacy M1 Garand spitting out the M2 ball...nothing like it in the world. After I go, IT goes to the grandkids.
It's amazing to me how they shot calibers that would knock down a moose and used them on human beings. You got hit one of those you were going down for the count
this video takes me back to 1968 when my older sister's boyfriend let me take care of his G-43 when he went away to college....... I saw him do some amazing shooting with those iron sights from 200 to 300 yards.......thanks for sharing , an old guy down in Florida, Paul
I mean we flat stole it with the Springfield, and ppl still swear by them. Im not a ballistics expert. I would ask the differences between 30-06:and 8mm mauser?
The spent lead and copper is what he's referring to I think you'll find . And yes it could track like a major skirmish😂 that or the entrance to an old lead mine ☠️😬..🤣🧙🏻♂️ In the UK 🇬🇧 detectorists help walk English Civil war and earlier battlefields to turn up and plot musket and cannon shot.
if it's somewhere in the U.S., then there's a very goof chance a major war was fought there. there have been many small and large battles fought here over the years.
It should be mentioned Germany began developing the G41 before the invasion of the Soviet Union as they recognized the need for a semi-auto rifle pre-WW2. The G43 was developed after the invasion utilizing SVT-40 gas system.
@@skepticalobserver2135 The G43 copied the SVT-40 gas system after recognizing that the G41 bang-gas system wasn't that functional in weather like Russian Winter.
My father and two Uncles always swore by their M1 Garand and if they could find one, a 1911. Ammo was easy to get in most especially in the Pacific and CBI (China Burma India) areas. As for me, I'd take a semi-auto over a bolt gun any day.
30 years ago I had a G 43 and a K 43. They both were good shooters. Both were over gased for reliable use in cold weather . Also they had a side mount for a scope and a detachable 10 round mag. Not easy to break down for cleaning. The G 43 I bought an aftermarket gas bushing to lower the over gassing and reduce wear and tear . One thing to check on these rifles is the rear receivers for bulges from over gassing. Quality control was shoddy after mid 1944 . So if I had to pick a rifle it would have to be a M1 Garand.
Great great granddad fought in the 2nd Boer war many Australians liked the Mauser over the Lee enfeild .303 for certain use, especially longer range. Both were reliable, rugged, easy maintained and very effective killers.
"better" is relative. The G43 was a better design as far as ease and cost of manufacturing, but there were design flaws with the bolt and receiver fragility because they were over gassed. If the G43 design had gotten 10 years of peacetime R&D like the Garand did, then it likely would have the issues sorted out and would have certainly been a better rifle. Same could be said about the M41 Johnson for the same reasons. A rushed wartime development that was equal or better to the garand in many ways.
@@kbjerke True. I'm just reaffirming that it was not better in any way in its original form. If you upgrade the gas system so it's reliable and not as violent its a fine gun. In terms of shooting in my collection my favorite is my 41' Johnson rifle, then my M1 then my G43.
@@bad74maverick1 Gotcha. I love my Garand, but my personal favourites are the "Old West" guns like the Colt SAA or Winchester and Marlin lever rifles. Best wishes to you! OH - forgot - I really like the Swedish AG42B. Sweet rifle.
I G43 back in '68, but considered a POS . Fire one round, and the slide would jam to the rear. (No it was not the follower). I used a piece of 2x4 to pound it back. I tried another round, and the same thing happened. I should have kept it anyway, considering what they are worth. In '63, they sold for $175, equipped with a ZF-4 scope. Of course the same catalog sold artillery Lugers for $110, and the 32 round snail drums and loaders @ $19.95. (They also had early Colt ARs for $189.95 with a 20 rounder).
Recently I was reading a diary memoir from a German sniper in WWII. He wrote that the 98K was very hard on the shoulder, and at one point for close in work he recieved a G-43 Karbine that he said was effective and comfortable to shoot, accurate to 150 meters for his type of work.
Had an invite to attend a sniper course in '83 during my 2nd year of service. The M-1 Grande was the most accurate rifle I've ever got to fire, with or without a scope. Never jammed. Was easy to disassemble, assemble and clean.
My grandfather was one of the first in at the Battle of the Bulge and he always had a Tommy gun, Garand, and a samurai sword standing up in the corner of the room I slept in. He didn’t care but they raised good kids back then and had nothing to worry about. 😂
What an Absolute beautiful rifle, that is on rifle I've been looking for to add to my collection, I have a M1 garand, so proud to have gotten one, and I have 3 different types of mausers. But that Gwer 43 is Beautiful, thank you for taking the time to share with us. You and John make wonderful videos
Another semi-automatic rifle of the period was the MAS 1940, in 7.5mm French caliber and fixed 10 shot magazine, the development was completed , but due to the armistice was its production canceled, but finaly 6200 rifles called MAS 44 was built between 1944 and 1945 for the french marine commandos, with only difference with mle MAS40 a detachable magazine... Ultimately its mass production took place, with minor differences, in 1949, with a modification in 1956 to make it capable of firing heavy rifle grenades: the MAS 49-56 who is very appreciated in the US today : some was converted to 7,62 Nato, but the rifle works better with the original ammo (some ejection issues with low quality 7,62 cartiges)
I have never heard of this semi automatic German rifle. I knew they had the “assault rifle“ and of course, the main weapon, the bolt action but I never in all my life, seen this semi automatic rifle in the German arsenal. Thanks Hickok.
It would never have enough production volume to matter materially to the war just as happened. And being intended for sniping and light support duty as WHB Smith mentions made it a lower priority from the start. Great fun and review!
Logistics. The issue with magazines is they cost so much more to manufacture that you don't want to lose them. the clips could just be handed out and not retained as you'll get more. They're cheap. It's thin metal versus much nicer thicker metal with a carefully machined follower spring, and that if it gets damaged it's a problem. Clips are better for impacts and in the grand scheme of things, you can issue a soldier more clips in this case than magazines and take up less space. Back then, there was a good argument in the middle of a war like this to manufacture a bunch of clips and issue them widely, than manufacture a bunch of magazines that cost more, take up more space, and are more costly to lose. Even the british didn't give their Lee Enfield riflemen that many extra magazines. They still preferred them to load with clips.
It was the dark of the moon at the pop-up rifle range, Camp Pendelton, California, summer of 1963. My 40-man Recruit Platoon was there to witness the fire intensity of a Platoon in a combat engagement. Each Private was equipped with his M-1. Every forth private was then issued a BAR with three, twenty round magazines, simulating a Fire Team. EVERY ROUND WAS A TRACER! Note, The only thing the Marine Corps. EVER throws away is toilet paper and then...Maybe...The NCO's placed five, eight round clips at each M-1 position. Yes, damnit, they were clips! We were instructed to take up a prone position and upon command, load with one eight round clip, take aim at the targets and await the command to fire. Further block of instruction was to continue to fire for two minutes, loading and firing as many clips/ magazines as possible, in that time, await the command to cease fire, and clear all weapons. Any and ALL, unfired, loose rounds and still loaded clips/magazines were to be left at the firing positions and then fired by the following relay, if possible, in two minutes. The NCOs added Five more loaded clips at each rifle position after each of the firing relays. As the third shooter I found Eight loaded clips at my assigned position for a total of SIXTY-FOUR rounds. Upon the cease fire command, I had Zero unfired rounds remaining. The bolt of my weapon was locked to the rear, the clip had been ejected and my jaw was open in awe of what I had just witnessed! There were NO Alibies among the shooters using our weapons which had been long ago issued to Infantry units then Engineers, then artillery, then Graves Registrations, Chaplains Assist. and Field Musics, before being issued to Infantry Training Regiment. So, is the Garand M-1 rifle obsolete, obsolescent or ineffective? I think not, in the hands of a United States Marine.
@@TheGhostOfSmedleyButler Good story, but yeah no...the M1 is absolutely obsolete and obsolescent. It is effective, sure, but compared to a modern military rifle? It's no contest, it's absolutely obsolete. It'll work, in the same way a Mosin will still kill a man at 300 yards. It just isn't an ideal rifle for modern circumstances.
Not a story...Every word...Every syllable is the truth...do the math and you will see that the M-1 will continue to fire at a SUSTAINED rate of fire equal to, or better than any Air-cooled, Semi-automatic, Weapon out there...@@Stargun-vj1uh
My father had a shortened, or sporterized version of a WW2 Mauser he used for hunting, claiming the jacketed, blunt-nosed 8mm bullet was great for brush cutting (wouldn't deflect in foliage). I have no idea if this really works in fact, as the only time I used it was after he retired and I borrowed it to hunt for deer like he did. Because the scope or sights were misaligned, or my being not used to the weapon, the first shot I took (in a protected refuge flush with game and recently opened by lottery to the public) I missed a peacefully standing deer entirely -- deer 1, novice 0. Since the DNR had wanted the herd thinned out, they had to laugh as I explained my bad luck in leaving the refuge empty-handed.
The soviets actually put together earlier quite a nice gun SVT 40. It was far better than G43, and especially G41. And even before SVT 40, they had AVS (automatic rifle of Simonov) which dates back to 1936. Originally was intended to serve as semi-automatic, eventually it could fire in full auto. Although, it was highly recommended to shot short-burst only, as the gun was not very reliable..
You have to compare apples to apples. The M1 was really well made. It was a pretty good design and we could make a lot of them. The Germans had all kinds of metal issues, and manufacturing issues. So that makes the M1 the better rifle at the time. If you fixed the issues with the German rifle and used good steel at a good factory. Maybe the German rifle is better, but that is not how it went. Just like German tanks. Sure on paper they may have been better, but they broke all the time and were hard to fix. Allied tanks were easier to make, easier to repair and did not break down as much. The joke Germans told was a Panther can take out 10 Sherman tanks, but they always bring 11.
The ‘German Garand’ had its problems, mostly due to contradicting limitations put on the rifle’s development and not due to material but disagreement from the Heer and the powers that be as to what they wanted. I’ll take the Garand any day. With battle sights and Kentucky windage I took my last deer in the shoulder at 225 yards without a problem. Now the ’03, for me, is the most accurate and that took the Mauser action, so there you go, even though it is not the .308 round. The US government actually paid Mauser royalties during WWI for use of its patent.
in 10.000 years scientists will dig up the earth on hickock45's ground, assuming that there was a heavy battle: "look at all this deformated rounds..."
I owned a G43 and used it in a competition. It functioned flawlessly, until the bolt shattered. Discovered later from the pieces that the metal the bolt was made from was substandard, probably war expedient. If modern materials were used, a G43 today would be pretty great.
I have a 22lr revolver made the same way , I researched it and said it was made in Germany post WW2 from scrap metal . All it pretty much said was don't fire it , so I used 22 shorts .
BS!The bolt shattered,because these guns,were gased for adverse Russian conditions,and average troop was not expected to out-live the rifle!-There are now shooters-kits available for these rifles!
@@pe.bo.5038 LOL someone calls BS on a failure of an 80 year old rifle made in war expedient conditions, and sight unseen no less. I bet you're a war hero professional gunsmith from 1943 who secretly designed and built every G43, huh? Ask me how I guessed your secret bro!
@@pe.bo.5038 If you read the comment carefully, it states from the pieces they could tell the metal was substandard. So it seems that the broken pieces were analyzed.
I once owned a M1 Garand made in 44, and a M1 carbine made in 42, and like the fool that I am I sold the both of them. The G43 seems like a quality rifle, but is it as robust as the Garand? The magazine of the M43 is an improvement over the clips in the Garand that would make a noise when empty, but overall I'm not sure it's better.
Keep in mind that the G43 was loaded primarily with the 5 round stripper clips just like the K98. Typically, the German rifleman that was issued the G43 was given 1 spare magazine and the rest of his ammo was issued just as if he were a rifleman with the K98k. Same with the Soviets and the SVT-40, it was typically loaded via 5 round stripper clips.
My personal favorite German WW2 firearm is the Volksturm rifle, it was a last ditch designed semi auto rifle at the very end of the war for the volunteer civilians fighting the Western Allies and the Soviets. It used StG 44 mags but what was cool about it, the reason I love it because it's the only gas driven blowback rifle I've ever seen... It's really cool to see in slow motion.
G43 was left behind but Mosin-Nagant still used to this today. Mosin-Nagant has good things for it being reliable, accurate. Mosin-Nagant is my best friend in video games.
i like how the mag is changed and the bolt cocked left handed ~ dont have to shift around to much and stay pointed in a dangerous direction , but there is the bolt slaming towards the left eye if running and gunning close range
I have owned several as well as a Walther G-41. I own a Garand and would choose the Garand over the G/K-43 due to its robust build. The G/K-43 has serious issue with developing stress fractures in the bolt housing. Even the later ones which had holes in the gas housing to reduce stress.
G43...Magazine fed. M1 Garand...clip....Imagine heavy fighting with lots of firing. The mags go empty, dropped and another mag inserted. The mags....How many will be carried? The M1.....no worry of LOADING MAGS. Resupply of ammo....Fill the magazines. Imagine had Mr. Garand modified the rifle to take ten round clips in caliber .276.....
At that point in time, they had limited resources, they made a new type of cartridge and a huge other type weapons that needed the same resources were made. Stopping these and retooling and educating the skilled employees might be a to difficult operation in a time they could not afford it. And a Austrian corporal also prefered tanks, big huge complicated tanks,
I have one of the 1st 5 thousand made... if you've done your research the earlier one had threaded barrels and locking mechanism on the bolt and scope mount . And it also has the ability to lock back when you shoot the final round. The first five thousand is rare since the plant was bombed and they where force to move the plant underground which forced the developers to cut corners on certain aspects of the rifle. For instance the gewehr 43 hickock 45 is shooting is a later war g43.
Having owned G-43's, G-41, SVT40's, M1's, M1 carbines, and a Johnson I find that the G-43 has a number of deficiency's, the extractor can work its way loose, it is a bit heavy and the difference between early manufactured ones and late war is really evident. The Tokarev is actually a great weapon and was used by the Germans when one was captured. The M1's main failure is in sub-zero weather as the operating rod has a tendency to have metal failure. As an aside the best semi auto rifle which had been invented but not put into production is and was the FN49 in 30-06. If it had been put into production in say 1939 the Germans would have suffered a lot more casualties when they invaded Belgium. I have owned four FN49's and love them. When I started collecting in the mid 60; s you could pick up an FN49 or G43 for under $90.
Built because the STV 40 was no longer falling into their hands. Still didn't equal the STV 40 or the Garand, but nice looking rifle. Of course meanwhile the Enfield Mk 3 is sipping tea with a smirk.
SL 7 was a standard H&K in a G 43 looking stock. Nice attempt to jump the shark on the assault rifle ban. Thing is, people looked at it and wondered why.
HICKOK- I still think the Russian SVT-40 (WHICH YOU TESTED YEARS AGO) takes the cake on the entire semi-auto rifle question in WW2 VERY accurate and you have the added bonus of 10 aimed rounds instead of 8 in the M-1. The G-43 also has 10 but I really wouldn't trust it in winter, unlike the Russian equipment!!
The German's were impressed by the soviet SVT-40. They used them when they could get them. The Gw43 was not a popular alternative. It was rushed to production with problems. The bolt flying at the face displays the fearless nature of the natsie enemy. But I would choose the Garand Rifle over either of those. Though, SVT-40 being very collectable.
I have used both for many years and the they both get the thumbs up, but the M1 is by far more long term reliable in heavy usage . . . and using enblocs instead of mags, the M1 gets a second nod-
I noticed that between the first and second magazine’s worth of ammo, he slipped a recoil pad over the back of the stock. I guess that metal buttplate was a bit rough on the shoulder! LOL
'90s when General Reno, & Handler some Slick Willy, said our churches had to be BATF Approved, I beat it to local Gun Club for NRA Natl Match Course, givin 5 - Cartridges in old worn-out Garand, but only put 3 holes in target @200 yds. Old WW2 surplus ammo, guys! Shots #1 & #2 both Rangers, #3 exact center of bullseye, #4 shot out glass spotter, & #5 shot out new glass spotter. So you're sayin' we should check out some come along too late for WW2 German semi-auto, to get better performance? Local Priest at Club borrowed target w/appropriate qualifications, was at local Business Supply for copies @8AM, put them in beautiful Oak Framed Plexi holders w/Local Press covering installation, ON EVERY CHURCH IN THE COUNTY!! RENO'S Henchmen showed up as threatened, studied Target on door...AND LEFT, never challenging Mich Milishia!!! M1 Garand to the rescue, one more time, my friends!!! Father had labeled target's, "New Member's First Day"!!!
You didn't show anything on the M1 Garand which was used by soldiers and Marines in WWII in Europe and the Pacific. My Father was in the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific, he was given a M1 Gurrand in boot camp in 1942 and when the war was over he turned the same one in, it had 3 machine gun rounds in the stock and it still functioned perfectly. That says a lot because on Cape Gloster it rained every day he was there and on Pelielu and Okinawa wasn't much better. I believe it speaks for itself.
Yep. It was so bad my wife's great uncle shot himself in the foot to get out of New Guinea. He was on the Kokoda track and his mate was killed by the Japs.
Unlike the US , the germans and the russians were never able to equip their Infantry completely with semi- auto rifles, the british did not even try it. The german attempts with semi-auto rifles were quite ill fated compared with us and soviet designs. StGw 44 was a real step into modernity, but had no influence on the outcome of WW2.
Having the m1Garand, SVT40 and the G43, I can say the Garand is the best all around. The other two are more finicky and delicate compared to the robust M1.
I owned a K43 (the same rifle, just different designation) briefly as well as a couple of Garands. Of course, I had to completely disassemble and examine everything about it! Having done so with both the G43/K43 and the Garand, I would say that the G43 is by no means better than the Garand. The K43 internals are nowhere near as robust as the Garand; I can't imagine, for example, attempting to replace a K43 extractor somewhere on the frozen Eastern Front. The manufacturing processes were definitely crude when it came to externals but did look pretty good internally. I certainly can't imagine rechambering a K43 for .458 Win Mag as has been done with the Garand! Same goes for cleaning; skimp on cleaning with corrosive ammo and I'm pretty sure that the K43 would soon come to a grinding halt. Add to that the issue of assembly by slave labor and the possibility of sabotage and I think the question is answered. FYI, I did not fire the K43 that I had as it was practically pristine except for a dirty stock, which excited my suspicions as to why it hadn't been fired - I sold it. The buyer may have been willing to chance doing that and risking failure due to sabotage or simple receiver deformation (something the G43/K43 definitely was prone to) but I was decidedly not.
Some of the highest end bolt action hunting rifles, like for instance, Rigby, use the Mauser Bolt Action. It really is a perfect rifle, with a serious 6 year blemish (WWII Holocaust) on it's record.
@@Jackthgun There is merit to a Lee Enfield as a Bolt Action Hunting rifle, the follow up shots will be faster. But, I Put it to you, how many Bolt Action rifles currently being produced use the Mauser Action? (ALOT) Vs. How many use the Enfield Action? (I think 0)
@@Jackthgun Well, there is also the magazine capacity of 10 rounds. Unheard of in terms of Bolt Action rifles, that usually carried 5. 5 more rounds before having to reload is HUGE. It is kind of surprising that since it is the fastest bolt action that it has not been copied. Bear in mind that I am not arguing with you, I agree that the Enfield has some really great features as both a battle rifle and a hunting rifle. .303 has stopping power, no doubt.
@@Jackthgun The Lee Enfield was a great rifle for fast encounters at short range, but Mausers outclassed them at long range, as seen in the Boer War. The Mauser had the simplest, safest (no hot gases to the face of a case ruptured) and strongest action: That is why modern hunting rifles are based on Mauser's design.
I’m glad that when I enlisted in 1980 I had an M-16A1,a select fire(full auto not burst) rifle. I joined the Army to carry a machine gun. Wooden rifles are for civilians not an 80’s Soldier.
You may be right. Every Senior NCO who had a desk, seemed to have his name and rank engraved on the broken stock of an M-14 that had been broken at the small of the stock. I often wondered what he would do if he got promoted. I guess there were plenty of broken M-14 stocks around back then...never saw a broken M-1 name plate though...
I carried a G43 in many team death matches years ago. Never had a problem.
Not one malfunction!
The first one I ever saw was in a gun rack (remember when you could hang three or four long guns in plain sight in the cab of your pickup and nobody messed with them....Or you?). It was around 1964 or so and I asked my Dad what kind of rifle it was. Of course, I already knew about bolt, lever, and pump action rifles and shotguns, and knew the M-1 Garand and M-1 Carbine, along with the BAR even back then. Dad knew the man driving the pickup in front of us and simply said something along the lines of "Oh, that's just a German rifle Jim "found" in Germany during the war and brought back home with him. He brought back a bunch of stuff he "found" like a lot of soldiers did. That one he uses for deer huntin'." Now in 2024, that rifle is in the collection of his great grandson, the 4th Jim in fact, and is still used as a deer rifle.
In my early 80's high school parking lot there were plenty of trucks with full racks. In every classroom you could find at least a couple guys with a Buck knife on their belt. Life was good.
@@jacka55six60 Hell, I'm so old I can recall many of us country boys, and more than few country girls, who wore our skinning/hunting knives to school every day. Since many of us were farm raised our knives were simply tools of the "trade". Not that we didn't also carry a good quality folding knife in a pocket of our jeans too. And yes, life was good back then (early 1970s), and a whole lot more peaceful if you know what I mean. I know for a fact that I was not the only one who felt just a wee bit naked without our sheath knives when we went off to college. But we still had our folders in our jeans pockets....For emergencies.
200 grain sp will work
That is actually german copy of svt-40 russian rifle.
Who messes with you now for having long guns in a rack ? In my state ( Ohio ) it is legal. Thanks to the fucking NRA there are virtually no gun laws anywhere yet gun nuts still whine about being persecuted.
I had an early Walther G43 years ago. I would NOT have recommended it over an M1. The internals are somewhat delicate compared to the M1 (Yes I own an M1 too). I was fascinated by the G43 and just had to get one. It was interesting to break it down, clean and inspect everything. I did replace the gas system with Apfeltors kit to keep it from beating itself to death. While the concept was good, it was limited to the materials they had available at the time. It was basically a semi-auto they could get out there as fast as possible and not meant to survive in the long term. I read somewhere that the German snipers at the time preferred the K98 for reliability and I would agree with that. When times got tough for me I would up selling my G43 but I will never sell the M1.
I love my M1, would definitely be the last gun I’d sell, including my EDC.
@@caseyquinn9282 Roger THAT, Gents! My old legacy M1 Garand spitting out the M2 ball...nothing like it in the world. After I go, IT goes to the grandkids.
The germans soon had the assault gun 43/44, which was far superior to the G43
Loved Apfeltors. Managed to get a few goodies from them for my G-41 (W). Luckily my 43's were later and were ported.
It's amazing to me how they shot calibers that would knock down a moose and used them on human beings. You got hit one of those you were going down for the count
this video takes me back to 1968 when my older sister's boyfriend
let me take care of his G-43 when he went away to college.......
I saw him do some amazing shooting with those iron sights
from 200 to 300 yards.......thanks for sharing , an old guy down in Florida, Paul
"I SEE A SQUIRREL RUNNING THERE. BUT I AM NOT GOING TO HURT HIM". I salute you for this
Yes we salute him for that but the squirrel was staying there after few shootings?????
@@S.D-s.d-y5z Squirrel is probably pretty used to it :D
Hickok45 TRUTH on Mauser 98:
"It will never die."
I mean we flat stole it with the Springfield, and ppl still swear by them. Im not a ballistics expert. I would ask the differences between 30-06:and 8mm mauser?
Not much...but we had Warehouses and more warehouses full of the 30-06...@@davidtuttle7556
Years from now, someone is going to use a futuristic metal detector and think that a major war happened on that piece of land. 😂
He reloads old brass
@@ClaudeBohls galaxy brained individual
The spent lead and copper is what he's referring to I think you'll find .
And yes it could track like a major skirmish😂 that or the entrance to an old lead mine ☠️😬..🤣🧙🏻♂️
In the UK 🇬🇧 detectorists help walk English Civil war and earlier battlefields to turn up and plot musket and cannon shot.
if it's somewhere in the U.S., then there's a very goof chance a major war was fought there. there have been many small and large battles fought here over the years.
It should be mentioned Germany began developing the G41 before the invasion of the Soviet Union as they recognized the need for a semi-auto rifle pre-WW2. The G43 was developed after the invasion utilizing SVT-40 gas system.
Oh? It's the same system as the SVT-40? The SVT-40 was produced in vast numbers (not as much as the Mosin, of course).
@@skepticalobserver2135 The G43 copied the SVT-40 gas system after recognizing that the G41 bang-gas system wasn't that functional in weather like Russian Winter.
My father and two Uncles always swore by their M1 Garand and if they could find one, a 1911. Ammo was easy to get in most especially in the Pacific and CBI (China Burma India) areas. As for me, I'd take a semi-auto over a bolt gun any day.
30 years ago I had a G 43 and a K 43. They both were good shooters. Both were over gased for reliable use in cold weather
. Also they had a side mount for a scope and a detachable 10 round mag. Not easy to break down for cleaning. The G 43 I bought an aftermarket gas bushing to lower the over gassing and reduce wear and tear . One thing to check on these rifles is the rear receivers for bulges from over gassing. Quality control was shoddy after mid 1944 . So if I had to pick a rifle it would have to be a M1 Garand.
Great great granddad fought in the 2nd Boer war many Australians liked the Mauser over the Lee enfeild .303 for certain use, especially longer range. Both were reliable, rugged, easy maintained and very effective killers.
Hickoks next level aim never gets old.
"better" is relative. The G43 was a better design as far as ease and cost of manufacturing, but there were design flaws with the bolt and receiver fragility because they were over gassed. If the G43 design had gotten 10 years of peacetime R&D like the Garand did, then it likely would have the issues sorted out and would have certainly been a better rifle. Same could be said about the M41 Johnson for the same reasons. A rushed wartime development that was equal or better to the garand in many ways.
The M1941 Johnson is a pre-WWII design.
Well,"good" is always outclassed by"better".....and this was the Stgw. 44
The M1 used underpowered cartridges for this very reason!
Don't know if it was necessarily "better," but it sure is *nice!* Thanks for sharing, Hickok45!!!
considering that the rear of the bolts and the rear of the receivers are prone to cracking they are no where near as nice let alone better.
@@bad74maverick1 ...as a rare piece of history.
@@kbjerke True. I'm just reaffirming that it was not better in any way in its original form. If you upgrade the gas system so it's reliable and not as violent its a fine gun. In terms of shooting in my collection my favorite is my 41' Johnson rifle, then my M1 then my G43.
@@bad74maverick1 Gotcha. I love my Garand, but my personal favourites are the "Old West" guns like the Colt SAA or Winchester and Marlin lever rifles. Best wishes to you!
OH - forgot - I really like the Swedish AG42B. Sweet rifle.
@@kbjerke Everything the Swedish do is perfection. Their guns are a work of friggin art!
The G43 is my dream rifle and would be the crown jewel on my collection. I even have it on my laptop as " wallpaper ".
It is a good-looking weapon. Very German...
I G43 back in '68, but considered a POS . Fire one round, and the slide would jam to the rear. (No it was not the follower). I used a piece of 2x4 to pound it back. I tried another round, and the same thing happened. I should have kept it anyway, considering what they are worth. In '63, they sold for $175, equipped with a ZF-4 scope. Of course the same catalog sold artillery Lugers for $110, and the 32 round snail drums and loaders @ $19.95. (They also had early Colt ARs for $189.95 with a 20 rounder).
If the reliability issues were worth the cheaper costs of manufacturing, I'd say the G43 was decent at being the Axis' twist on the M1 Garand.
No shit I never expected the Germans to have a cheaper, more mass producible small arm outside of the trash volkssturm weapons.
Beautiful piece! I've got a Gustloff-Werke German trainer rifle in .22 and it is top quality and fantastically accurate. Great vid Hickok!
One thing it got ahead of the Garand was the detachable box magazine. The Garand design got a detachable mag when it was upgraded to the M14.
Recently I was reading a diary memoir from a German sniper in WWII. He wrote that the 98K was very hard on the shoulder, and at one point for close in work he recieved a G-43 Karbine that he said was effective and comfortable to shoot, accurate to 150 meters for his type of work.
Had an invite to attend a sniper course in '83 during my 2nd year of service. The M-1 Grande was the most accurate rifle I've ever got to fire, with or without a scope. Never jammed. Was easy to disassemble, assemble and clean.
That M-1 was Muy Grande!!
D-K Production Group in Kentucky has plans to make new manufactured G/K43s. Their MP44 rifles are apparently a few weeks away from shipping.
My grandfather was one of the first in at the Battle of the Bulge and he always had a Tommy gun, Garand, and a samurai sword standing up in the corner of the room I slept in. He didn’t care but they raised good kids back then and had nothing to worry about. 😂
They? A samurai sword is a tough teacher.
@@MavHunter20XXthe parents of that generation. Moms and dads.
@@OutdoorGirls7 Thanks, I thought he implied the guns and the sword. They would be rough mentors for sure.
Raised by swords,,, lololololol
Imagine if every German soldier had a G43 instead of a K98.
Or an StG 44
Beautiful bit of kit
One thing I love about Hickok is that he can shoot every gun he picks up !
No need for cosmetics when you got 700 to 800 B-17’s at a time to worry about
What an Absolute beautiful rifle, that is on rifle I've been looking for to add to my collection, I have a M1 garand, so proud to have gotten one, and I have 3 different types of mausers. But that Gwer 43 is Beautiful, thank you for taking the time to share with us. You and John make wonderful videos
The rubber recoil pad mysteriously appeared at end of the video.
😄
Another semi-automatic rifle of the period was the MAS 1940, in 7.5mm French caliber and fixed 10 shot magazine, the development was completed , but due to the armistice was its production canceled, but finaly 6200 rifles called MAS 44 was built between 1944 and 1945 for the french marine commandos, with only difference with mle MAS40 a detachable magazine... Ultimately its mass production took place, with minor differences, in 1949, with a modification in 1956 to make it capable of firing heavy rifle grenades: the MAS 49-56 who is very appreciated in the US today : some was converted to 7,62 Nato, but the rifle works better with the original ammo (some ejection issues with low quality 7,62 cartiges)
I have never heard of this semi automatic German rifle.
I knew they had the “assault rifle“ and of course, the main weapon, the bolt action but I never in all my life, seen this semi automatic rifle in the German arsenal.
Thanks Hickok.
It would never have enough production volume to matter materially to the war just as happened. And being intended for sniping and light support duty as WHB Smith mentions made it a lower priority from the start. Great fun and review!
Hickock for President !
Hell yeah, better choice than whats out there now
@@garycousino 100%
I think he's too young.
Vote Trump so we can keep our guns @@garycousino
Hickok47, eh?
One thing it had over the Garand was the detachable magazine. English bolt guns had them so I can't figure out why the Garand didn't.
Logistics. The issue with magazines is they cost so much more to manufacture that you don't want to lose them. the clips could just be handed out and not retained as you'll get more. They're cheap. It's thin metal versus much nicer thicker metal with a carefully machined follower spring, and that if it gets damaged it's a problem. Clips are better for impacts and in the grand scheme of things, you can issue a soldier more clips in this case than magazines and take up less space. Back then, there was a good argument in the middle of a war like this to manufacture a bunch of clips and issue them widely, than manufacture a bunch of magazines that cost more, take up more space, and are more costly to lose. Even the british didn't give their Lee Enfield riflemen that many extra magazines. They still preferred them to load with clips.
Advantages of internal magazine include topping up, top load, less weight, and others...
It was the dark of the moon at the pop-up rifle range, Camp Pendelton, California, summer of 1963. My 40-man Recruit Platoon was there to witness the fire intensity of a Platoon in a combat engagement. Each Private was equipped with his M-1. Every forth private was then issued a BAR with three, twenty round magazines, simulating a Fire Team. EVERY ROUND WAS A TRACER! Note, The only thing the Marine Corps. EVER throws away is toilet paper and then...Maybe...The NCO's placed five, eight round clips at each M-1 position. Yes, damnit, they were clips! We were instructed to take up a prone position and upon command, load with one eight round clip, take aim at the targets and await the command to fire. Further block of instruction was to continue to fire for two minutes, loading and firing as many clips/ magazines as possible, in that time, await the command to cease fire, and clear all weapons. Any and ALL, unfired, loose rounds and still loaded clips/magazines were to be left at the firing positions and then fired by the following relay, if possible, in two minutes. The NCOs added Five more loaded clips at each rifle position after each of the firing relays. As the third shooter I found Eight loaded clips at my assigned position for a total of SIXTY-FOUR rounds. Upon the cease fire command, I had Zero unfired rounds remaining. The bolt of my weapon was locked to the rear, the clip had been ejected and my jaw was open in awe of what I had just witnessed! There were NO Alibies among the shooters using our weapons which had been long ago issued to Infantry units then Engineers, then artillery, then Graves Registrations, Chaplains Assist. and Field Musics, before being issued to Infantry Training Regiment. So, is the Garand M-1 rifle obsolete, obsolescent or ineffective? I think not, in the hands of a United States Marine.
@@TheGhostOfSmedleyButler Good story, but yeah no...the M1 is absolutely obsolete and obsolescent. It is effective, sure, but compared to a modern military rifle? It's no contest, it's absolutely obsolete. It'll work, in the same way a Mosin will still kill a man at 300 yards. It just isn't an ideal rifle for modern circumstances.
Not a story...Every word...Every syllable is the truth...do the math and you will see that the M-1 will continue to fire at a SUSTAINED rate of fire equal to, or better than any Air-cooled, Semi-automatic, Weapon out there...@@Stargun-vj1uh
that man can shoot....I'm only 65...when I grow up......))
😂
He's exactly my age. I can shoot, not quite *THAT* well. I don't hope to actually grow up, though. Having too much fun as is.
It is cool, but I still like my M1's better. Much better! Thanks H45.
My father had a shortened, or sporterized version of a WW2 Mauser he used for hunting, claiming the jacketed, blunt-nosed 8mm bullet was great for brush cutting (wouldn't deflect in foliage). I have no idea if this really works in fact, as the only time I used it was after he retired and I borrowed it to hunt for deer like he did. Because the scope or sights were misaligned, or my being not used to the weapon, the first shot I took (in a protected refuge flush with game and recently opened by lottery to the public) I missed a peacefully standing deer entirely -- deer 1, novice 0. Since the DNR had wanted the herd thinned out, they had to laugh as I explained my bad luck in leaving the refuge empty-handed.
The soviets actually put together earlier quite a nice gun SVT 40. It was far better than G43, and especially G41. And even before SVT 40, they had AVS (automatic rifle of Simonov) which dates back to 1936. Originally was intended to serve as semi-automatic, eventually it could fire in full auto. Although, it was highly recommended to shot short-burst only, as the gun was not very reliable..
You have to compare apples to apples. The M1 was really well made. It was a pretty good design and we could make a lot of them. The Germans had all kinds of metal issues, and manufacturing issues. So that makes the M1 the better rifle at the time. If you fixed the issues with the German rifle and used good steel at a good factory. Maybe the German rifle is better, but that is not how it went. Just like German tanks. Sure on paper they may have been better, but they broke all the time and were hard to fix. Allied tanks were easier to make, easier to repair and did not break down as much. The joke Germans told was a Panther can take out 10 Sherman tanks, but they always bring 11.
Exactly right. Part of the design is ensuring it meets requirements including being able to manufacture it with the available materials and systems.
The ‘German Garand’ had its problems, mostly due to contradicting limitations put on the rifle’s development and not due to material but disagreement from the Heer and the powers that be as to what they wanted. I’ll take the Garand any day. With battle sights and Kentucky windage I took my last deer in the shoulder at 225 yards without a problem. Now the ’03, for me, is the most accurate and that took the Mauser action, so there you go, even though it is not the .308 round. The US government actually paid Mauser royalties during WWI for use of its patent.
That is a very cool shooter. Even better with the WWII cred!
Great rifle. Outstanding video and presentation.
in 10.000 years scientists will dig up the earth on hickock45's ground, assuming that there was a heavy battle: "look at all this deformated rounds..."
Thanks Big Buddy, you are always entertaining as well as interesting. You made me realize that 6' 5" at 275 was just a pipsqueek.
The Oil Drum : That all you got Hickok? I'm still standing..
I owned a G43 and used it in a competition. It functioned flawlessly, until the bolt shattered. Discovered later from the pieces that the metal the bolt was made from was substandard, probably war expedient. If modern materials were used, a G43 today would be pretty great.
I have a 22lr revolver made the same way , I researched it and said it was made in Germany post WW2 from scrap metal . All it pretty much said was don't fire it , so I used 22 shorts .
Yup, modern steel at a modern factory would make a big difference. No doubt about that. Then the German engineering could shine through better.
BS!The bolt shattered,because these guns,were gased for adverse Russian conditions,and average troop was not expected to out-live the rifle!-There are now shooters-kits available for these rifles!
@@pe.bo.5038 LOL someone calls BS on a failure of an 80 year old rifle made in war expedient conditions, and sight unseen no less. I bet you're a war hero professional gunsmith from 1943 who secretly designed and built every G43, huh? Ask me how I guessed your secret bro!
@@pe.bo.5038 If you read the comment carefully, it states from the pieces they could tell the metal was substandard. So it seems that the broken pieces were analyzed.
Nice shootin'! Noticed from 3:50 to 3:51, somehow that recoil pad made it onto the rear of the stock. Wasn't thumpin' ya was it?
Well, there's another one I will have to get to add to my ars--uh--collection. 😉👍
I once owned a M1 Garand made in 44, and a M1 carbine made in 42, and like the fool that I am I sold the both of them. The G43 seems like a quality rifle, but is it as robust as the Garand? The magazine of the M43 is an improvement over the clips in the Garand that would make a noise when empty, but overall I'm not sure it's better.
Excellent as always, thanks !!!
The. G43 is probably better than the
M14 even though that came almost 20 years later.
Keep in mind that the G43 was loaded primarily with the 5 round stripper clips just like the K98. Typically, the German rifleman that was issued the G43 was given 1 spare magazine and the rest of his ammo was issued just as if he were a rifleman with the K98k. Same with the Soviets and the SVT-40, it was typically loaded via 5 round stripper clips.
My personal favorite German WW2 firearm is the Volksturm rifle, it was a last ditch designed semi auto rifle at the very end of the war for the volunteer civilians fighting the Western Allies and the Soviets. It used StG 44 mags but what was cool about it, the reason I love it because it's the only gas driven blowback rifle I've ever seen... It's really cool to see in slow motion.
This one hasnt come out in a long time!
Another Great Clip💯 Thanks for Sharing 💥💥💥💥💥💥💥
G43 was left behind but Mosin-Nagant still used to this today. Mosin-Nagant has good things for it being reliable, accurate. Mosin-Nagant is my best friend in video games.
i like how the mag is changed and the bolt cocked left handed ~ dont have to shift around to much and stay pointed in a dangerous direction , but there is the bolt slaming towards the left eye if running and gunning close range
The shooter is old but he sure aint obsolete.
I want one badlyyy
Detachable box mag!👍
You're looking at a G43......Yes
Its on my list
Hickok run for the hills with your toys. The Twisted Sister Russians are coming to take them.
I’m sticking with the M1. However it was cool.
I have owned several as well as a Walther G-41. I own a Garand and would choose the Garand over the G/K-43 due to its robust build. The G/K-43 has serious issue with developing stress fractures in the bolt housing. Even the later ones which had holes in the gas housing to reduce stress.
G43...Magazine fed. M1 Garand...clip....Imagine heavy fighting with lots of firing. The mags go empty, dropped and another mag inserted. The mags....How many will be carried? The M1.....no worry of LOADING MAGS. Resupply of ammo....Fill the magazines. Imagine had Mr. Garand modified the rifle to take ten round clips in caliber .276.....
I would say the M1 is more reliable my Dad swore by the M1 and his M14 but I own a SVT 40 and it’s a reliable period gun also
The stg44 now that was a game changer! Now luckily the Austrian corporal did not like it.
At that point in time, they had limited resources, they made a new type of cartridge and a huge other type weapons that needed the same resources were made. Stopping these and retooling and educating the skilled employees might be a to difficult operation in a time they could not afford it. And a Austrian corporal also prefered tanks, big huge complicated tanks,
Never heard of the G43 until now...good demo, Hickok, schooling us well, as usual...😊
I have one of the 1st 5 thousand made... if you've done your research the earlier one had threaded barrels and locking mechanism on the bolt and scope mount . And it also has the ability to lock back when you shoot the final round. The first five thousand is rare since the plant was bombed and they where force to move the plant underground which forced the developers to cut corners on certain aspects of the rifle. For instance the gewehr 43 hickock 45 is shooting is a later war g43.
Having owned G-43's, G-41, SVT40's, M1's, M1 carbines, and a Johnson I find that the G-43 has a number of deficiency's, the extractor can work its way loose, it is a bit heavy and the difference between early manufactured ones and late war is really evident. The Tokarev is actually a great weapon and was used by the Germans when one was captured. The M1's main failure is in sub-zero weather as the operating rod has a tendency to have metal failure. As an aside the best semi auto rifle which had been invented but not put into production is and was the FN49 in 30-06. If it had been put into production in say 1939 the Germans would have suffered a lot more casualties when they invaded Belgium. I have owned four FN49's and love them. When I started collecting in the mid 60; s you could pick up an FN49 or G43 for under $90.
A sporting goods store near me had an M-1 Garand with a new, original design stock in very good condition (metal not restored, reblued, etc) $ 1,600.
How many soldiers carried these? We’re they issued in numbers equivalent to the M1 in US service or did a limited number of units have them?
Built because the STV 40 was no longer falling into their hands. Still didn't equal the STV 40 or the Garand, but nice looking rifle. Of course meanwhile the Enfield Mk 3 is sipping tea with a smirk.
I'm liking the new format and the slightly shorter run times....
NO Military Rifle Ever Made In History,
Will Ever Surpass The The M-1 GARAND Or The M-1 CARBINE, Ever...
Us old guys may not be good for much but we do know how to handle these old guns and shoot what we are aiming at🙌
I noticed you rested your thumb along the right side of the receiver. Does the G43 bust a thumb knuckle when recoiling?
That’s amazing. 11 round magazine. An extended 30 round magazine and a lighter version would have been a game changer in battle.
Did not like the M1 Garand clip. The right thumb was black and blue many times. Loved the carbine.
The SL7 is a modern rendition of this rifle. The SL7 is a blowback rifle. Difficult to find and EXPENSIVE
SL 7 was a standard H&K in a G 43 looking stock. Nice attempt to jump the shark on the assault rifle ban. Thing is, people looked at it and wondered why.
HICKOK- I still think the Russian SVT-40 (WHICH YOU TESTED YEARS AGO) takes the cake on the entire semi-auto rifle question in WW2 VERY accurate and you have the added bonus of 10 aimed rounds instead of 8 in the M-1. The G-43 also has 10 but I really wouldn't trust it in winter, unlike the Russian equipment!!
I've had several German autoloaders and none of them worked well. The 98 is without a doubt my favorite rifle.
The German's were impressed by the soviet SVT-40. They used them when they could get them. The Gw43 was not a popular alternative. It was rushed to production with problems. The bolt flying at the face displays the fearless nature of the natsie enemy. But I would choose the Garand Rifle over either of those. Though, SVT-40 being very collectable.
He put the butt pad on there real slick 😂
Wasn't the G41 reversed engineered from the SVT 38 or 40 and the G43 an upgraded model?
No, the G43 was reverse engineered from the soviet SVT-40.
The Walther G41was a pure german design and a total failrule!
@@Kavics78 Thanks!!!
I have used both for many years and the they both get the thumbs up, but the M1 is by far more long term reliable in heavy usage . . . and using enblocs instead of mags, the M1 gets a second nod-
I noticed that between the first and second magazine’s worth of ammo, he slipped a recoil pad over the back of the stock. I guess that metal buttplate was a bit rough on the shoulder! LOL
I do love the G43
He said BOLT-GUN and my mind went......... elsewhere.
Got to love the classics
'90s when General Reno, & Handler some Slick Willy, said our churches had to be BATF Approved, I beat it to local Gun Club for NRA Natl Match Course, givin 5 - Cartridges in old worn-out Garand, but only put 3 holes in target @200 yds. Old WW2 surplus ammo, guys! Shots #1 & #2 both Rangers, #3 exact center of bullseye, #4 shot out glass spotter, & #5 shot out new glass spotter. So you're sayin' we should check out some come along too late for WW2 German semi-auto, to get better performance? Local Priest at Club borrowed target w/appropriate qualifications, was at local Business Supply for copies @8AM, put them in beautiful Oak Framed Plexi holders w/Local Press covering installation, ON EVERY CHURCH IN THE COUNTY!! RENO'S Henchmen showed up as threatened, studied Target on door...AND LEFT, never challenging Mich Milishia!!! M1 Garand to the rescue, one more time, my friends!!! Father had labeled target's, "New Member's First Day"!!!
You didn't show anything on the M1 Garand which was used by soldiers and Marines in WWII in Europe and the Pacific. My Father was in the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific, he was given a M1 Gurrand in boot camp in 1942 and when the war was over he turned the same one in,
it had 3 machine gun rounds in the stock and it still functioned perfectly. That says a lot because on Cape Gloster it rained every day he was there and on Pelielu and Okinawa wasn't much better. I believe it speaks for itself.
Yep.
It was so bad my wife's great uncle shot himself in the foot to get out of New Guinea.
He was on the Kokoda track and his mate was killed by the Japs.
I had 2 FN49’s (8mm) sold them and wish I never had. 8mm is a lot of fun !
Notice how Hickock added a Butt Pad to the G43 mid video.
Methinks this man may practice a fair bit.
Unlike the US , the germans and the russians were never able to equip their Infantry completely with semi- auto rifles, the british did not even try it. The german attempts with semi-auto rifles were quite ill fated compared with us and soviet designs. StGw 44 was a real step into modernity, but had no influence on the outcome of WW2.
Having the m1Garand, SVT40 and the G43, I can say the Garand is the best all around. The other two are more finicky and delicate compared to the robust M1.
I owned a K43 (the same rifle, just different designation) briefly as well as a couple of Garands. Of course, I had to completely disassemble and examine everything about it! Having done so with both the G43/K43 and the Garand, I would say that the G43 is by no means better than the Garand. The K43 internals are nowhere near as robust as the Garand; I can't imagine, for example, attempting to replace a K43 extractor somewhere on the frozen Eastern Front. The manufacturing processes were definitely crude when it came to externals but did look pretty good internally. I certainly can't imagine rechambering a K43 for .458 Win Mag as has been done with the Garand! Same goes for cleaning; skimp on cleaning with corrosive ammo and I'm pretty sure that the K43 would soon come to a grinding halt. Add to that the issue of assembly by slave labor and the possibility of sabotage and I think the question is answered. FYI, I did not fire the K43 that I had as it was practically pristine except for a dirty stock, which excited my suspicions as to why it hadn't been fired - I sold it. The buyer may have been willing to chance doing that and risking failure due to sabotage or simple receiver deformation (something the G43/K43 definitely was prone to) but I was decidedly not.
An M-1 chambered in .458 Win Mag?? I had to check that out, and, indeed, they were made!!
Thanks
I never read how the German soldiers liked the G43, but they were enamored with the M-1 carbine, and all wanted to get one.
Some of the highest end bolt action hunting rifles, like for instance, Rigby, use the Mauser Bolt Action.
It really is a perfect rifle, with a serious 6 year blemish (WWII Holocaust) on it's record.
For hunting … as a bolt battle gun give me a Lee enfield any day
@@Jackthgun There is merit to a Lee Enfield as a Bolt Action Hunting rifle, the follow up shots will be faster.
But, I Put it to you, how many Bolt Action rifles currently being produced use the Mauser Action? (ALOT) Vs. How many use the Enfield Action? (I think 0)
@@doronstauber7285 I said as a bolt action battle rifle the Lee Enfield is simply the best .
@@Jackthgun Well, there is also the magazine capacity of 10 rounds.
Unheard of in terms of Bolt Action rifles, that usually carried 5.
5 more rounds before having to reload is HUGE.
It is kind of surprising that since it is the fastest bolt action that it has not been copied.
Bear in mind that I am not arguing with you, I agree that the Enfield has some really great features as both a battle rifle and a hunting rifle.
.303 has stopping power, no doubt.
@@Jackthgun The Lee Enfield was a great rifle for fast encounters at short range, but Mausers outclassed them at long range, as seen in the Boer War. The Mauser had the simplest, safest (no hot gases to the face of a case ruptured) and strongest action: That is why modern hunting rifles are based on Mauser's design.
I’m glad that when I enlisted in 1980 I had an M-16A1,a select fire(full auto not burst) rifle. I joined the Army to carry a machine gun. Wooden rifles are for civilians not an 80’s Soldier.
You may be right. Every Senior NCO who had a desk, seemed to have his name and rank engraved on the broken stock of an M-14 that had been broken at the small of the stock. I often wondered what he would do if he got promoted. I guess there were plenty of broken M-14 stocks around back then...never saw a broken M-1 name plate though...