1. The M1 Garand
The M1 Garand definitely laid the ground for today’s generation of automatic and semi-automatic weapons. This semi-automatic rifle chambered for the .30-06 Springfield rifle cartridge was widely used by the US Army from 1936 to 1957. It was the very first standard-issue semi-automatic military rifle. The name comes from that of its designer John Garand.
It gave the United States forces a distinctive advantage in various firefights during World War II. Their Axis enemies who relied on the slower-firing bolt-action rifles were no match to these effective standard-issue rifles. In addition to being semi-automatic, the M1 is air-cooled, clip-fed, gas-operated, shoulder-fired weapon. These features make it an exclusive military rifle.
Sources For Further Reading:
Military Trader – The WWII Type 99 Japanese Rifle
Warfare History Network – Was the 1917 Enfield a Good Rifle Compared to the Springfield?
American Rifleman – A Look Back at the 1917 Enfield
National Interest – The Lee Enfield Rifle Is So Good That It Outlasted The British Empire
Military Trader – Tips And Values Of WWII French MAS-36 Bolt Action Rifles
National Interest – The Mosin-Nagant: The Russian Sniper Rifle Nazi Germany Feared Most
Prepare for SHTF – The Mosin Nagant a Great Survival Rifle
The Armory Life – Garand: The Man Behind The Legend
National Interest – The U.S. Army Loved the M1 Garand Rifle, But It Wasn’t the Only Option
Forbes – This ‘Rifle That Won World War II’ Is Likely To Be The Most Expensive Ever
History Collection – 10 Deadly Infantry Weapons of WWII
National Interest – World War I: The Infantry Rifle to End All Rifles