There are few rifles in history that have had profound impacts on how wars were won and countries defined. The repercussions of the long gun itself have shifted historical records around the globe. A few firearms designers have molded the industry.
  • Christian Sharps; inventor of the Breech-loading rifle
  • Samuel Colt; God Created Man, Colonel Colt made them equal.
  • Richard Gatling; Invented Rapid Fire small-arms.
  • Hiram Maxim; Godfather of the Machine Gun.
  • Clement Pottet; invented Centerfire Ammunition.
There is always a debate when a "best of list" is produced. How do you leave out specific designs or concepts that have shaped the world? The following long guns have saved lives, won wars and the west. The following long guns continue to make a difference.

1. M1 Garand

M1 Garand was called "The greatest battle implement ever devised" this high praise came from none other than General George S. Patton. The M1 was the standard-issue service rifle through the Second World War, Korean War, and countless other conflicts. The M1 saw limited service during Vietnam. Designed by Canadian-American John Garand, the M1 started its service in 1936. A significant military advantage of the M1 was its gas-operated semi-auto profile. At the M1 point in history, all other military rifles were bolt-action. Chambered in its original 30-06 cartridge, Classic Firearms offers a true M1 Garand. They built these rifles at the famed Springfield Armory, the primary U.S. weapons factory from 1977 until it closed in 1968. Military drill teams and honor guards use the M1 as their service weapon. Barrel length on the M1 is 24 inches and features an eight-shot en-bloc clip. Iron sights were calibrated out to 1200 yards in 100-yard increments. M1s fire rate for a battlefield soldier was 40 to 50 shots per minute, making the effective range of about 300 to 500 yards. Battle implements like bayonets, grenades, launchers, and many variants are all part of M1s significant historical impact. The M1 was the most technologically advanced battle weapon of its time.

U.S Military M1 Garand

2. Winchester Model 1873

The Winchester Model 1873 has all the credentials to be on a list of top rifles of all time. The Model 1873 is known as "The Gun that Won the West." It is likely the Model 73 saw action at the Battle of Little Bighorn and countless conflicts with Indians. The rifle even had a film named after it. ShootingTimes offers this assessment, "to this day most serious cowboy action shooters consider the 1873 to be the smoothest feeling, fastest-cycling pistol-caliber lever-action design ever made." Winchester's Model 73 was chambered in 44-40, the first center-fire cartridge produced by Winchester. Remington and Marlin chambered the round with newfound rifles. Colt, Smith and Wesson, and others offered alternative chambering; with introductions of a new Frontier Six-shooter and the S&Ws Model 3. Another improvement to the Model 73 was its iron frame. Classic Firearms offers an excellent reproduction of the Winchester, complete with a 24" octagon barrel. The case-hardened receiver is made of iron, and this reproduction weighs the same as the original at 9 pounds. No review of the Model 73 is complete without ample name-dropping. William F. Cody, Billy the Kid, and Butch Cassidy are known to have carried the Winchester.

Winchester Model 1873

3. AK-47

The Soviet Assault Rifle is the most widely used shoulder weapon in the world. Variants on this single design make up the most popular firearms ever made. There are more AK-47s, AKM, and AK-74s circulating in the world than any other platform. Initially chambered in the 7.62x39mm cartridge, the AK-74 offers the ballistically more accurate 5.45x39mm round. Classic Firearms offers an excellent selection of AK-47s and the variant AK-74, chambered in both rounds. Just like the Soviet Union itself, the AK-47 is known for its unyielding reliability under the harshest conditions. The AK-47 and its considerable number of variants around the world are lethal killing machines. Standard magazines are 30 rounds, and the rifle's accuracy is substantial out to 400 meters. AK-47 and its variants will remain in service around the world for decades.

Pioneer Arms FosTecH Edition AK-47 w/ FosTecH Echo Trigger Factory Installed

4. Mosin-Nagant M1891/30

No self-respecting firearm enthusiast can leave out a rifle developed in 1891; over 37 million produced and are still in use today. Mosin-Nagant is a five-shot, bolt-action rifle designed by Sergei Ivanovich Mosin and placed into service in 1891. The rifle was chambered in 7.62x54mmR cartridge. Mosin's saw conflicts in every area of the world, under all conditions, and performed admirably. Through two World Wars and countless regional battles, the Mosin-Nagant became the backbone of the Russian Army and militias in other countries. The 7.62x54mmR is a lethal war cartridge and remains in use today. Classic Firearms offers several options and manufacturers of this excellent round. Classic Firearms offers the highly sought after Mosin-Nagant in several configurations in good to excellent condition. Russia finally realized the battlefield had changed in 1963, replacing the Mosin with the Dragunov SVD. The Mosin-Nagant held up well against a myriad of challengers. The rifle is a fascinating historical focal point.

Russian M91/M30 Mosin Nagant

5. AR-15

The AR series of rifles, including the AR-15, AR-10, M4, and M16 variants, are the second most popular firearm design behind the AK-47. AR-15 is the best-selling rifle in the U.S. with its 16-inch barrel, chambered in 5.56. This semi-automatic is used by nearly every type of household, company, and law enforcement agency in the country. AR-15's ecosystem of compatible gear far outsells any other platform by wide margins. Every gun range in the United States starts with an AR-15 because they are a blast to shoot. Classic Firearms offers the AR-15 in a variety of hunting and tactical configurations. The site also provides a considerable amount of ammo for the rifle. Variants of the AR-15 are available in a wide range of calibers, with the most common being the 5.56x45mm NATO. The rifle is built by several manufacturers, including Colt, Springfield, Smith & Wesson, and Ruger, among others.

FosTecH Phantom Premium Lightweight AR-15

6. Remington Model 700

No other bolt action in American history has sold more than the Model 700. The Remington was the first firearm built for easy manufacturing because of little to no hand fitting. Cheap labor evaporated in the 1950s, and Remington looked for ways to build a cheaper rifle. After two variants in 1962, the Model 700 was born and became the most successful long gun in history. Remington made millions of the model in dozens of calibers. Classic Forearms offers an excellent Remington 700 chambered in .308 Winchester. This rifle is excellent for hunting medium to large game animals. The 700 features the classic 24" barrel with a 1:10 twist. Remington's Model 700 has been the basis for Marine Corps and Army sniper rifles for several decades. The Model 700 is an extremely accurate rifle, no matter the variant. The rifle's balance and its receiver are credited for being deadly accurate. There it is, six of the tops rifles across the world. These designs have endured for decades, which is the mark of innovation.

Remington Model 700 SPS

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