There are many characteristics that would decide this: 1. Ease of Operation (In actual field conditions) a) Weight b) Firing Options 2. Range 3. Accuracy 4. Maintenance and upkeep 5. Interchangeability of parts Everything has to be looked and evaluated. Small things like weight have a great significance which I am sure every Infantry man would appreciate. Range matter especially when switching from Assault to Support fire roles. All considered I thik the G11 was technically the best ever (Maybe it was like a Mercedes / Maybach - but very costly ammo and maintenance) but the greatest would be the Aug Styr. (Like the best car being a Toyota nowadays !) Any Comments please add on the Forum

Since I'm a vietnam era vet and a life long hunter, I have to vote for the m14. You guys that support the m16/m4/ak47 types then How come my son is carrying a m14 in Iraq. He's the squad des. marksman. If you have to reach out and touch someone you can do that, or go auto and throw out a lot of lead. Look for the m16/m4 replacement be in .270 (6.88 mm) caliber.

Most influential: the brown bess no joke!

Unfortunate that it wasn't a rifle eh?

I'm no expert but by common sense it seems - Technically, the AK47 is a carbine and not a rifle. The AK47 could well be the best carbine but the M1 Garand could be the greatest rifle (if the Mauser 98 or the Springfield 03 isn't). The AK47 is only better than an M1 for a conscript from a society with no shooting tradition or at a range below 50 yards. One disadvantage of bolt guns vs M1s when the M1 was introduced was stated to be that with the action of cycling the bolt, the bolt rifle shooting troops' hand motion was easy to detect at a distance giving away their location.

I've wondered about the bullpup, ambush. It sure looks to be designed for one handed operation, say while driving in a vehicle. I am thinking of a bullpup stock for the Mini 14 I once saw.

I've wondered about the bullpup, ambush. It sure looks to be designed for one handed operation, say while driving in a vehicle. I am thinking of a bullpup stock for the Mini 14 I once saw.

The Brown Bess was indeed a smooth bore but it was the 18th century AK47.

AK-47. I have one and I have to say wow! I have owned it for several years and I have never cleaned it! Never jammed and never misses targets within its effective range. Plenty of firepower, stopping power and ergonomically correct. Recoil is a little stiff compared to my normal weapons but nothing too harsh. Oh and the price! What a steal!

Other than some outward resemblance Ak47 and StG-44 are not related. While I'm sure mr Kalashinikov had seen all respective german weapons to that date he didn't copy StG-44. On the other hand m43 soviet round and 7.92 kurtz resemble one athoer quite much.