Top 10 Best Guns of World War II

An American-issued rifle for many infantrymen, similar to the M1 Garand. Six million of these weapons were produced during 1941 to 1945 for both European and Pacific campaigns.

I really like the Thompson because it has a really nice rate of fire, and I like its quick reload. I do realize that it was not the lightest of submachine guns during WWII, but it still had 30 rounds in its stick magazine. It didn't have too much recoil, so I like it like that.

Containing a powerful .45 ACP round, this submachine gun became popular quickly. It offered the choice of a drum magazine and a foregrip, reducing recoil and providing a larger ammunition capacity.

You guys are mad.

1: MG 42
2: PPSh-41
3: StG 44
4: M1 Garand
5: Kar 98k
6: Browning M2
7: Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I
8: Thompson
9: M1 Carbine
10: Walther P38

Runners up:
1: MP40
2: Colt M1911
3: Mosin-Nagant
4: Sten gun
5: Springfield M1903

There isn't a "best gun." There are only the best in each category, e.g., SMG - PPSh-41, Machine Gun - MG 42, Pistol - Walther P38, Rifle (not counting the StG 44, an assault rifle) - M1 Garand.

This list isn't very accurate, in my opinion. The M1 Carbine, though light, handy, and reliable, had a weak cartridge that was only effective up to 200 yards (as in one shot to the chest takes a man down). Compare that to the 7.92×33mm Kurz cartridges of the StG 44. It was accurate up to 400 yards and was effective beyond that. Oh, and it could also take a scope and fire automatically at 500 rounds per minute.

The M1928 Thompson was reliable, accurate, and had stopping power, but it was too expensive for mass production (even the M1A1). It was also heavy and bulky to handle. It was replaced by the Sten gun and M3. In contrast, the PPSh-41 was tough and extraordinarily reliable. Though it was heavy, it had one huge advantage over the Thompson: it was cheap and easy to produce. Literally millions were made, and it became the standard weapon of the Red Army. On the other side, there were never enough Thompsons or MP40s. Ask the war vets.

The M1903 Springfield was mass-produced, accurate, and reliable, but it was no better than the Mauser. Also, Mauser sued Springfield for copying their design and won, collecting royalties until 1917. In terms of impact on the war, the Mauser clearly wins. More Mausers were produced in WWII alone than all the Springfields ever produced. Don't forget that the Springfield action was almost just a copy of the Mauser one. Finally, any war vet will say that the Mauser was better.

The BAR overheated rapidly when fired on... more

The rifle that won World War II, the greatest battle implement ever devised. These two comments alone sum up the greatness of this weapon.

But here's why I like it:

Sure, it's less accurate than a bolt-action rifle, but its semi-auto action makes up for it. Oh, you missed your shot? It's okay. You'll make up for it in half a second.

It's still decently accurate anyway.

Eight rounds of one of the most powerful infantry rounds of the war, compared to five in German and Japanese rifles. It's also very reliable.

It's somewhat light for a weapon made out of wood and metal.

It was a revolutionary design.

Best weapon ever made.

Complex for its time, it found itself in the hands of many German soldiers. This weapon had many interesting features, including 20 to 40-round magazines, and moderate recoil. The MP-40 was known as the 'Schmeisser,' though it was actually designed by Heinrich Vollmer and Erma Werke.

The PPSh-41, a Russian firearm, was based on the design principles of the Thompson. It provided a more reliable option than some of the German main weapons. Compared to the Thompson, it was a much more rugged firearm, with a faster firing rate and larger ammunition capacity.

Equipped with bipods, this machine gun was found in the possession of many frontline soldiers. It was known to burn through 550 rounds in just a few minutes.

Originally designed for long-range sniping, the Springfield M1903 found its way into medium-range situations. The weapon also had a scope attachment that allowed targeting infantry at further distances.

An assault rifle from Germany capable of firing up to 600 rounds per minute. It could be fired accurately up to ranges of 600 meters in semi-automatic mode. The best weapon you could ever have in WWII. Only around 426,000 of them were produced.

The StG 44 was innovative, featuring rapid fire and a 30-round magazine. It was well-suited for both close and medium-range combat.

Do you like assault rifles? This is the one that started it all.

Great machine gun, the predecessor of the StG 44.

Like the Mosin Nagant, this weapon offered soldiers versatility for combat at various ranges. Its performance placed it above many others in its weapon family.

I love this gun. It's a great sniper rifle at 20 meters.

It was used by the Soviet Army before WWII even occurred. A standard-issue bolt-action rifle that contained a 5-round internal magazine that fueled the weapon's firing rate. Some even say that experienced soldiers using bolt-action rifles, like the Mosin-Nagant, could fire rapidly.