The best rifle of the twentieth century (10 photo + letter) Bashny.Net

American Military Channel television station made a rating of the best examples of firearms, created in the twentieth century. Each model was evaluated by military experts in precision fire, combat effectiveness, originality of design, ease of use and reliability. First place went to the legendary AK-47, to get the most points in 4 categories of 5.

10. M14

Type: automatic rifle, with the option of a single lamp.
Country of origin: United States.
Caliber: 7, 62x51 mm.
Muzzle velocity: 850 m / c.
Rate of fire: 700-750 rounds per minute.

In World War II, each infantry platoon US Army has used as many as four types of small arms with different types of ammunition. It was not too comfortable, so the army authorities decided to develop a new universal rifle, capable of performing all necessary functions at once. The result was the M14, the standard cartridge of caliber 7, 62 mm. Large-scale fighting test rifle was held in Vietnam. Soldiers liking characteristics rifle M14, but it was too heavy for shock assault weapons, and replaced by a lighter M16. However, until now, some men prefer the classic version of the rifle, primarily as a sniper weapon.





9. Sturmgewehr 44

Type: automatic assault rifle.
Country of origin: Germany.
Caliber: 7, 92 mm.
Muzzle velocity: 650 m / s.
Rate of fire: 500 rounds per minute.

At the end of the Second World War, Germany was faced with the overwhelming superiority of the Soviet Army in the automatic small arms. Main German infantry weapons, the Mauser rifle with a longitudinally-rotating bolt, urgently needs a rapid-replacement. She was supposed to be a revolutionary shotgun Sturmgewehr 44, which marked the beginning of a whole new family of small arms - assault rifles. The key difference from Sturmgewehr 44 perform a similar function machine guns was to use a shortened 7, 92-mm cartridge, the transition between the classic pistol and rifle ammunition. The machine appeared at the final stage of the war and has not had time to play it in any way a significant role. Whatever it was, it is entitled to receive high marks for originality and innovative nature of the structure.



8. 1903 Springfield

Type: rifle with a longitudinally rotating bolt.
Country of origin: United States.
Caliber: 7, 62 mm.
Store: 5 rounds.
Muzzle velocity: 820 m / s.
Rate of fire: 10 rounds per minute.

Numerous deficiencies Norwegian rifles Krag-Jorgensen, used by the Americans during the war with Spain, the United States forced the army authorities to think about the creation of their own, a better infantry weapons. Gunsmiths used the sliding bolt borrowed from 7 mm Mauser rifles, have made a minor modification and added to his shop for 5 rounds. The result was a very successful construction - Rifle has established itself as an extremely accurate, powerful and reliable weapon. 1903 Springfield was widely used during both world wars, and even visited in Vietnam as a sniper rifle.



7. Steyr Aug

Type: automatic rifle, with the option of a single lamp.
Country of origin: Austria.
Gauge: 5, 56 mm.
Shop: 30 or 42 rounds.
Muzzle velocity: about 940 m / s.
Rate of fire: 650 rounds per minute.

This machine, which appeared in 1977, there is one very serious flaw - too it is similar to some of the regular blaster fiction saga. According to many analysts, its futuristic look once deterred many potential buyers. Developers used Steyr Aug layout type "bullpup» (Bull-Pup), in which the gate and other details of the trigger are transferred into the butt. It is allowed to make compact and light weapons. Among the other interesting features of the rifle should be mentioned transparent plastic shop, an integrated optical sight and the ability to fold the sleeve as the right and left - at the request of a fighter.



6. Mauser K98k

Type: rifle with a longitudinally rotating bolt.
Country of origin: Germany.
Caliber: 7, 92 mm.
Store: 5 rounds.
Muzzle velocity: about 860 m / s.
Rate of Fire: 10-15 rounds per minute.

Mauser rifle 98, released at the end of the XIX century, absorbed the most promising achievements of the then arms industry. These include smokeless gunpowder, ammunition clips, which can be simply inserted into the store, and finally longitudinal rotating bolt, is still used for most hunting rifles. Weapon very well established in the First World War, and in the 1930s. During the German army rifle re-subjected to modification as a result it has become easier and more comfortable in aiming. Improved Mauser K98k is one of the most legendary rifles of the twentieth century.



5. FN FAL

Type: automatic rifle, with the option of a single lamp.
Country of origin: Belgium.
Caliber: 7, 62 mm.
Shop: 20 rounds.
Muzzle velocity: about 820 m / s.
Rate of fire: 650-700 rounds per minute.

Gunsmiths Belgian company Fabrique Nationale (FN), have created a rifle FAL, were clearly inspired by the German assault rifle Sturmgewehr 44. Initially, they used the weapons are almost the same as the shorter rounds and the German sample, but the ammunition did not meet the standards of NATO, so at some point It has been converted into a longer and more powerful cartridge. It is in this form FAL became a classic weapon of the Cold War. More than 50 countries have taken it into service - despite the low accuracy of fire in automatic fire. FN FAL served the Australian troops in Vietnam, Israeli soldiers during the Six-Day War, it was used by both sides during the Falklands war.



4. M1 Garand

Type: semi-automatic rifle.
Country of origin: United States.
Caliber: 7, 62 mm.
Shop: 8 rounds.
Muzzle velocity: about 860 m / s.
Rate of fire: 30 rounds per minute.

Rifle M1 Garand, the Americans accepted into service in 1936, well proven in the course of World War II. In the mid-forties General Patton called it the most effective weapon of all, ever created by man. Of course, this is a strong exaggeration, but there is no doubt that at that time, M1 was the most successful, exact mass and semi-automatic rifles. Its production was curtailed only in the early 1960s, but all were released more than 6 million. Copies.



3. Lee-Enfield SMLE

Type: rifle with a longitudinally rotating bolt.
Country of origin: United Kingdom.
Caliber: 7, 7 mm.
Shop: 10 rounds.
Muzzle velocity: about 740 m / s.
Rate of Fire: 15-20 rounds per minute.

Serves as the primary infantry weapon of the British during the First World War, the rifle remained in service until 1956 for non-automatic rifles Lee-Enfield SMLE had a phenomenal rate of that was due to an extremely successful design closure and capacious store that can accommodate 10 rounds (this indicator Lee-Enfield SMLE was in the lead throughout the first half of the twentieth century). A trained shooter could produce from it to 30 rounds per minute, hitting a target 200 meters distant. Similar demonstrations were called "mad minute". Note that achieved with the help of Lee-Enfield fire density is comparable with that of the modern semi-automatic rifles.



2. M16

Type: automatic assault rifle with the option of a single lamp.
Country of origin: United States.
Gauge: 5, 56 mm.
Shop: 20-30 rounds.
Muzzle velocity: about 1000 m / s.
Rate of fire: 700-950 rounds per minute.

M16 emerged as a modern alternative to the semi-automatic rifle M1, and its counterpart M14. During the Vietnam War, a new rifle has found a very nasty tendency to jam, but little refinement will make it a little more reliable. Since then, the M16 has established itself as a highly accurate, easy to use, robust and effective weapon. Among the absolute novelties, which the designers have gone this rifle, you should include the use of lightweight alloy and plastic parts. In addition, the rifle uses a lighter 5, 56 mm cartridges (instead of 7.62 mm in M1 and M14). All this has allowed approximately double the amount of ammunition that is able to bear every soldier.



1. AK-47

Type: automatic assault rifle with the option of a single lamp.
Country of origin: USSR.
Caliber: 7, 62 mm.
Shop: 30 rounds.
Muzzle velocity: about 1000 m / s.
Rate of fire: 710 rounds per minute.

According to experts, to date, the world has produced more than 75 million. Kalashnikovs (AK-47 and AKM). This weapon, created in 1947, still is in service with dozens of armies in the world. Argued that the Kalashnikov assault rifle is based on the German assault rifle Sturmgewehr 44. Between them, there really is quite obvious resemblance, but by its design, they have a very, very strong. AK-47 consists primarily of stamped components, which makes it extremely easy to produce and cheap device. This machine has a remarkable reliability - it can easily withstand the most severe operating conditions, can incapacitate any other rifle. Accuracy of shooting an AK-47 is rated as average, but the lack of it is compensated by the high firepower, light weight, reliability and ease of use.



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