Snipers are among the most cost-effective infantry elements in use in a modern military. The concept is simple, you have a trained marksman that can tie up companies, take out valuable officers, and overall disrupt progress in any theater of operations. With that in mind, let’s look at the sniper rifles of WW2.
Were Sniper Rifles Common in WW2?
Not necessarily, at least in the way we think of them. Sniper rifles during the Second World War were essentially hand-selected rifles with rudimentary optics. They had the same base characteristics of the service rifle, but with the added benefit of magnification.
19. MAS 36
- Maximum effective range: 1,125 ft.
- Country of origin: France
- Year: 1936
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 7.5x54mm, 5-round internal box magazine
18. Mannlicher Model 1895
- Maximum effective range: 1,320 ft.
- Country of origin: Austria-Hungary
- Year: 1895
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 8x50mmR Mannlicher, 5-round internal magazine
17. Arisaka Type 38
- Maximum effective range: 1,475 ft.
- Country of origin: Japan
- Year: 1905
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 6.5x50mm, 5-round internal box magazine
16. Lee-Enfield
- Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Year: 1895
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: .303 British (7.7x56mmR), 10-round detachable box
15. M1917 Enfield (American Enfield)
- Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
- Country of origin: United States
- Year: 1917
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 7.62x63mm, 6-round magazine
14. Mauser Model 1898 (Gew 98)
- Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
- Country of origin: Germany
- Year: 1898
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 7.92x57mm Mauser, 5-round internal box magazine
13. Mosin-Nagant Model 1891
- Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
- Country of origin: Russia
- Year: 1891
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 7.62x54mmR, 7.62x53mmR, 7.92x57mm Mauser, 5-round internal magazine
12. Tokarev SVT-40
- Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
- Country of origin: Russia
- Year: 1940
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 7.62x54mmR, 10-round detachable box magazine
11. Type 24 (Chiang Kai-Shek Rifle)
- Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
- Country of origin: Taiwan
- Year: 1935
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 8x57mm IS (7.92x57mm Mauser), 5-round internal magazine
10. Walther Gewer 43 (G 43 / Gew 43)
- Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
- Country of origin: Germany
- Year: 1943
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 7.92x57mm Mauser, 10-round detachable box magazine
9. Ross Rifle
- Maximum effective range: 1,800 ft.
- Country of origin: Canada
- Year: 1905
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: .303 British (7.7x56mmR), 5-round magazine
8. Mondragon Rifle
- Maximum effective range: 1,804 ft.
- Country of origin: Mexico
- Year: 1900
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 7x57mm Mauser, 8-, 10-, or 20-round box; 30- or 100-round drum magazine
7. Mauser Karabiner Kar 98k
- Maximum effective range: 1,969 ft.
- Country of origin: Germany
- Year: 1935
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 7.92x57mm Mauser, 5-round internal box magazine
6. Springfield Model 1903
- Maximum effective range: 2,000 ft.
- Country of origin: United States
- Year: 1903
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 30-03 (7.62x65mm), 30-06 (7.62x63mm) Springfield, 5-round internal box magazine
5. Enfield Pattern 1914
- Maximum effective range: 2,400 ft.
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Year: 1914
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: .303 British (7.7x56mmR), 5-round stripper clips
4. FEG 35M (Mannlicher M1935)
- Maximum effective range: 2,400 ft.
- Country of origin: Hungary
- Year: 1935
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 7.92x57mm Mauser, 5-round internal box magazine
3. Arisaka Type 97
- Maximum effective range: 2,500 ft.
- Country of origin: Japan
- Year: 1937
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 6.5x50mm, 5-round internal box magazine
2. Arisaka Type 99
- Maximum effective range: 2,500 ft.
- Country of origin: Japan
- Year: 1939
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 7.7x58mm, 5-round internal box magazine
1. Krag-Jorgensen
- Maximum effective range: 3,000 ft.
- Country of origin: Norway
- Year: 1894
- Caliber/Cartridge/Feed: 6.5x55mm M94 Norwegian Krag, 5-round internal magazine
The image featured at the top of this post is ©"Espingardas Enfield, P 14, modelo 1914, Funchal - Image 131015" by Rui Carita is licensed under BY-SA 4.0..
