The 50 best guns of all time. According to Field and Stream

[-Jason-]

1. Winchester Model 70
2. Mauser Model 98
3. Winchester Model 12
4. Remington Model 1100
5. S&W Model 29
6. Winchester Model 94
7. Remington Model 700
8. Benelli Autoloader
9. Remington XP-100
10. Remington Model 870
11. Browning Superposed
12. Ruger 10/22
13. Browning Auto-5 Standard
14. Springfield Model 1903
15. S&W Model 500(Big Ass .50 Magnum)
16. Moseberg 500
17. Remington Nylon 66
18. New Ultra Light Arms Model 20
19. Weatherby Mark V Deluxe
20. S&W Triple Lock
21. Savage Model 110
22. Ruger Mark 1
23. Parker
24.Browning Gold
25. Marlin Model 336.
26. Marlin Model 39A
27. Ruger Single-Six
28. H&R Topper
29. Perazzi MX Series
30. Ithaca Model 4E
31. Thompson/Center Contender Pistol
32. Winchester Model 52 Sporter
33. Ruger Number One
34. Tar-Hunt RSG-12
35. Savage Model 99
36. Dakota Model 76
37. Knight MK-85
38. Ruger Blackhawk
39. Ithaca Model 37
40. Remington Model 600 Magnum
41. Winchester Model 71
42. Remington Model 32
43. A.H. Fox
44. Freedom Arms Model 83
45. Jarrett Signiture Rifle
46. Winchester Model 21
47. Westly Richards Droplock Double Rifle
48. Beretta SO6 EL Over/Under Shotgun
49. Tikka T3 Hunter
50. Merkel Model 2001EL

The worst

1.MBA GYROJET MARK 1 MODEL B
2. The orignal Kimber Rifles
3.Winchester Model 1400

[Maj.Exec]

I must have missed it, but where is the M1 Garand, the rifle that shaped all other semi-automatic rifle to come?

[-Jason-]

I must have missed it, but where is the M1 Garand, the rifle that shaped all other semi-automatic rifle to come?

He only put two military rifles on the list. Its a hunting/fishing magazine more so I guess you dont go hunting with a 30/06 round. I really dont know. No ARs are on there either.

[SMERSH]

I must have missed it, but where is the M1 Garand, the rifle that shaped all other semi-automatic rifle to come?

i dunno maybe 'cause feild and stream is full of crappies?

[Maj.Exec]

so I guess you dont go hunting with a 30/06 round

Really? Most of my rifles are 30/06, a few .308s, a .223 and then there's the .50.....

[Cricket]

Yea... most of those rifles wouldn't be very good for us I think...

[minengr]

That's not the list I'd come up with, even sticking to hunting rifles. I love both my Mod 70's, but I don't know if it's the best hunting rifle ever made.

[Gunner]

And how about the 1911, or Glock??

these area list of PC guns only.

My vote

1. 1911
2. M1 Garand
3. M1917 MG
4. Ar-15
5. Cetme
6. Glock

[Coal-Cracker]

1. Winchester Model 70
2. Mauser Model 98
3. Winchester Model 12
4. Remington Model 1100
5. S&W Model 29
6. Winchester Model 94
7. Remington Model 700
8. Benelli Autoloader
9. Remington XP-100
10. Remington Model 870
11. Browning Superposed
12. Ruger 10/22
....

I agree that the bolded ones deserve to be at least in the Top 10.

[Civilian Scout]

Yes, it's 'Field & Stream' - so they're only concerned with sporting weapons. That's why it's mostly rifles and shotguns. The few handguns that are on the list are among the handguns that pioneered handgun hunting, the S & W Model 29 and the Ruger Blackhawk. The Ruger Mk I is a .22 LR pistol, the first really successful one in this country and a hugely popular handgun. The '03 Springfield is on there because it's the rifle that introduced most of the people in this country to the bolt-action. Before that, most hunters used lever-actions or single-shots. The Mauser 98 is on there because it's the weapon that turned the rest of the world on to bolt-actions. The Model 70 and Model 700 have been used extensively by military snipers. Most of the shotguns on the list have been used by military personnel at one time or another. It's fairly interesting, but I wouldn't put too much stock in it. I'm glad to see a few things I own made that list, though. I'm certainly fond of them.

[Mugwug]

Nice list..... but hell, I'm a milsurp snob anyway....I am a little suprised the 1911 didn't show up.

I think the lee-enfield should have made the list, although based on my experience trying to hunt down .303 british while in Texas I'm assuming it's not quite as popular south of the line as it is up here.

We could always run our own poll....

[Nightside_Eclipse]

I must have missed it, but where is the M1 Garand, the rifle that shaped all other semi-automatic rifle to come?

i dunno maybe 'cause feild and stream is full of crappies?

Teeeheeeheee


Good one.

[C5TT]

What a boring list!

[Civilian Scout]

What a boring list!

Yea. I'd like to see Soldier of Fortune's version...

[-Jason-]

Or we could come up with one. I can see arguments over 9mms and the 45 as well as the AR-15 and AK starting now.

[Iron]

I think the lee-enfield should have made the list, although based on my experience trying to hunt down .303 british while in Texas I'm assuming it's not quite as popular south of the line as it is up here.

We could always run our own poll....

On a side note if you're an enfield fan have you considered one of the Ishapore enfields? It's chambered in 762.x51 (or its supposed to be). Two downsides to it are I haven't seen one that's been properly blued, they've been slopped with black paint, and you really need to check the chamber with a go no-go gauge to make sure the chamberings done right.

A friend of mine and I bought ours out of the same shipment his is chambered for civilian .308 while mine's 7.62x51 nato. We found out about this by cycling a nato round in his rifle. (followed by a trip to a gunsmith) Serious over pressure there. Amazing what difference a thousandth of an inch or less will do.

Iron

[Mugwug]

On a side note if you're an enfield fan have you considered one of the Ishapore enfields? It's chambered in 762.x51 (or its supposed to be).

I've seen a few Ishapore SMLEs, some in .303, some converted for rifle grenade use (wire wrapped forestock), and some in .308. Personally I'd rather pick up a converted .308 DCRA (Dominion of Canada Rifle Association) SMLE, as they seem to be a little better cared for than the Ishys I've come across (or even an Isreali K98 conversion to .308, the few examples I've seen at the range look pretty slick).

Of course I still think my SMLE is the perfect example of a No.4 Mk1, made in 1944 in my home town, matching numbers and original furniture. If I have to own only one SMLE, it's the one.

[minengr]

The more I look at this list, the more I think the choices reflect how that particular firearm compared to what else existed when it was introduced, or how “revolutionary” it was when introduced.

Of course I could be wrong. A good example is #5 is the S&W 29. I think that was introduced in the 50’s and I think it was the first pistol offered in .44 mag, therefore, it was pretty revolutionary at the time. However, I think the #44 Freedom Arms 83 is a much better gun. I think it’s better made and has a stronger action, it just wasn’t a “revolutionary” when it was introduced.

[Maj.Exec]

Good point, but that still leaves out all of the military firearms, that have yet to be mentioned, that did so much for those of today...

[minengr]

They only left off the auto loaders, probably because it isn’t PC and probably because many feel they have no “hunting” purpose. However, I’d guess millions of soldiers carried both the 1903 Springfield and the 98 Mauser. Also the Winchester mod 12 and the Ithaca 37 saw some combat.

[Maj.Exec]

True, I heard a while back in WWII, in Burma (?) they used them when they were in the jungle because they had such firepower in the confined spaces of the rainforests...

[Civilian Scout]

Shotguns of one sort or another have been issued by the military since the shotgun was invented, including many on that list. Winchester Model 12s were issued in both World Wars and well after. The Ithaca M37s were used from WWII to Viet Nam, and probably much later. Remington 870s and Mossberg 500 Series have all been issued by one branch of service or another since their debuts. Shotguns have been used for security details (MP/SP), trench fighting, jungle fighting, and anything and everything involving 'up close and personal' work. They're being used in Iraq and Afghanistan now. The British used Browning Auto-5's (on the list) in the Malayan Insurgency, and I'm sure other places as well. Now the US military is in the process of standardizing Benellis (also on the list) as the M1014 Joint Service Combat Shotgun.
And remember, it's 'Field & Stream,' so they only care about sporting firearms. Though I'm sure they've been used to kill a few animals over the years, no one really hunts with a 1911.