There have been a few threads regarding "Best" and "Favorite" Small Arms recently. I was wondering how many of us here have Actual experience in handling and firing WWII weapons? Besides our honored Vets here obviously LOL. That goes with out saying LOL. IMO Video and Computer Game knowledge just don't cut it lol. I for one own quite a few and have fired a good many weapons from WWI and to the present. Up to and including for example the good ol "Ma Duece" 50 .cal.

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman

WWII small arms

Done already.

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“It is well that war is so terrible, or we should get too fond of it.”

Yep And I posted there too . And Im not looking for the "Best" nor "Favorite" as that thread was started about. Just actual experience and perhaps where you have fired them? How did you score? LOL. Do you hunt or target shoot?

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman

But i thought that thread is full of people telling what they fired?
And some speculation of bullets apparently :P

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“It is well that war is so terrible, or we should get too fond of it.”

There are some that have posted that LOL. But his question was ""For those of you out there who have had the honor of firing small arms from the WWII era, which one was your favorite to fire and why? Mine is I want to know who here have real experience as opposed to just in games. For some posters here that don't have the priviledge to actually fire a weapon I also wonder what they base thier opinions on when talking about what they consider the "Best" or "Favorite"?

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman

Now I have noticed that alot of the posters that do own WWII era weapons look to be mostly from the US. How many of our Europeans posters are able to own or fire any? I know that the Gun Laws in the UK are pretty stiff when it comes to handguns. With a Curios & Relics license you can purchase quite a few WWII era weapons without having a Dealers license. Is there anything like that in Europe? I would think that some WWII era weapons would be quite plentiful there LOL.

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman

What we have fired, you are askiing?

M-16
AR-15
AK-47
Uzi
SMLE
45-70, Don't remember the maker. It was an old US Army rifle from the 1870s or 80s that kicked like a mule. Once was enough for me. It was sighted out to 1000 yards and I dang well thought it would have made it, too.
Gewehr-98
A Turkish made Mauser rifle - don't remember the bore -8mm?
All manner, makes and sizes of shotguns up to 12 guage, single, pumps and semis.
30.06 bolt action
30.30 bolt action
SKS Russian made
.22 (single, bolt and semi)
.243 bolt action
.270 bolt action
.32 revolver
.38 cal revolvers of all types
.357 cal revolver
.380 semi
.40 cal semi
.45 cal semi
Corker (small over & under double barrel "pistol" that will shot 410 shotgun shell or .45 cartridge)
.22 pistols (revolver and semi)
Derringer
Crossman air rifle
Various and assorted paintball guns
spitballs
rubber-band gun
slingshot
crossbow
compound bows
blow gun

I'm getting rediculous now, so I will stop. I couldn't really shoot the blow gun, didn't have enough lungs to getting it going good.

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Best Regards,
JW

Nice list there smarty LOL . I was just referring to WWII era weapons Jeez! LOL. Kinda off topic but I found some plans to make a Blackpowder 6 Gauge !!!!!

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman

Oh, well, then delete all except for the
Gewehr 98
SMLE
Mauser (it was around then, just belonged to a non-beligerant)
30.06 (sorta)
.45 (I forgot to say it was a M1911
and the rubber-band gun (my father used one when he was boy to clear the Germans out from around his house.)

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Best Regards,
JW

Jeff do you mean the Gewehr 98 of WW 1 or the Karabiner 98 of WW 2 ?

the K-98. Seems like he said it was made in 1936. It was 24 years ago that I fired it. Loud and tough on the shoulder.

It was my cousin's, as was the SMLE.

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Best Regards,
JW

I have owned and shot at one time or another the following:

German
Gewehr 98 (1915 Oberndorf)
K98k. Owned one and sold it.
(Recoil from both 8mm rifles is obstreperous - more than I like for informal target shooting)

British
Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk. III (BSA 1927). One of my favorites, even thought the bolt cocks the striker arse-backwards

American
M1903A1 Springfield. As enjoyable to shoot as the Enfield.
M1 Garand. Not a favorite, since I've never cared for self-loaders, rifles or sidearms.
M1 Carbine. Fired a friend's once. What a hoot to empty a 20-round magazine as fast as the trigger can be pulled.

Russian
SKS. I've fired a few hundred rounds through mine. It's a pretty crudely made rifle, but certainly serviceable.
M1891 Mosin Nagant. Shot it a few times only, then sold it.

HANDGUNS
Many. I'll make up a list soon.

JT

In no particular order:

.50 M2 machinegun
M 60 machinegun
M 14
M 16 (alot....too much)
M 1 carbine
M 1 Garand
Type 99 7.7mm japanese
8mm Spanish mauser
6.5mm Italian Carcano carbine
9mm pistol (any number of types of automatic)
45 cal pistol (including one interesting one that was a revolver using special little clips to give the rounds a rim for use in the gun)
.22 rifles
12, 16 and .410 gage shotguns (various sorts)
L7 and L8 37mm non-lethal munitions weapons
pepperball air rifle
.38 pistol
.380 pistol
.44 magnum pistol
.303 SMLE
M1859 Sharps .54 cal rifle and carbine
Remington 45/70 M1898
Sharps 45/70 carbine
.222 remington
400 Weatherbee
SKS
AK 47 (7.62)
7.62 Mosin Naguat
.303 Ross (Canadian...very scary gun with a very weak action)
Martini-Henry
.30 Winchester / Henry
40 cal Manard High Wall
Well, I know I'm forgetting a bunch here too but I think this is a good picture.

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Truth is stranger than bullshit!

The M-'03 feels like a target rifle while the Lee has a more military feel to it. The LE's bolt feels better but the '03 is better once you've lined up the sights.

Never did well with the garand.The dimensions feel wrong for me (I'm 5'6".)

In comparing the M-16 with the AK-47, imagine being a raw conscript in the 15th century and choosing which weapon to master, the bow or the musket. I can learn to shoot the musket-16 in three days. The bow-47 on the other hand, is a tougher one to master.

Having said that the armalite is a lot easier to master and shoot, I ask myself which would give me more confidence when walking into the bush? I'll have to be honest. The AK-47 will be my weapon of choice.

In Finland, you cannot own a fully automatic weapon. Some pistols under certain size, that can be hidden in your pocket, are banned aswell.

Bolt-lock, and half-automatic rifles are alllowed, but you need a good reason, or a good collection to get a permit for them.

But i think the authorities don´t like people owning WW2-era weapons, most that i have seen on sale, are deactivated, and even they cost quite a lot. I.e K98 DEKO costs round 500-600 euros. No idea how much a working one does.

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“It is well that war is so terrible, or we should get too fond of it.”