what semi-auto battle rifle has the highest effective range?

Answer 1

I will have to disagree with the answers for the M1 Garand. Don't get me wrong - the Garand and .30'06 are a great rifle and cartridge, and they did great in their time.

However, the M14 (M1A) outpreforms the M1 Garand in every way, accuracy and beyond. The .308 Winchester (7.62x51) is a more accurate cartridge, and is effective beyond 1000 yards. The M14 (M1A) can accurately place these rounds at range, making it more effective than the great Garand already. Combine that with the added features of the M14 (M1A) and it is a winner. Remember, effective means it has to not only have knock-down power at range, but be able to put the rounds at range accurately.

Worth noting, anyone wondering about the M14 (M1A) it IS a semi-auto rifle. The old 1957 M14's with a full-auto selector are few and far between, and were never that numerous compared to the semi-auto only models in the hands of many military and civilians today.

Answer 2

I agree with WWD - the '06 round carries farther than any in a battle rifle set-up. M-16s shoot the 223 and they just don't have the meat to stretch out that far. The AK-47 shoots the 7.62X39, which does have some long legs to go long, but not nearly as far as the 30-06. Even rifles like the G3 shooting the .308 Win round won't go quite as far. The only semi-auto rifles I can think of in 06 are the M1 Garand and the Browning BAR, but the BAR is not designed for long range shooting like the Garand.

Answer 3

The Garand's gas system actually was designed for "M2 Ball" ammo, 152gr and lighter load than what we know as modern .30-06, so I'm not sure if the ballistics of M2 would be superior than the later 7.62x51 NATO round (which is actually a lighter load than .308Winchester). If you shoot a lot of modern .30-06 in a Garand you will wreck the operating rod.

To the 7.62x51 NATO class, you have the M14, FN/FAL, CETME and it's derivative the HK G3.

There's also the AG-42 Ljungman, shooting the 6.5x55 Swede which was quite accurate at long ranges, although maybe not deadly "effective".

The biggest cartridge semi-auto MBR may have been the Ljungman's bastard child, the Egyptian Hakim rifle, which was made when the Swedes sold the entire Ljungman factory to Egypt and they beefed it up to handle 8x57 Mauser (more powerful than M2 Ball and 7.62 nato).

Heck, you also need to consider the Soviet 7.62x54r heavy ball shooting SVD. While the ancient Russian round does not top the 8mm Mauser typically, some of the ammo from some factories has been clocked so hot it may top the 8mm mv/energy numbers.

Answer 4

While the modern semi-autos in 7.62 x 51 are easier to shoot I do not find the accuracy in them that the older M1 and M14 had. The sights alone were better in those old days. Now it seems that the sights are too big and hard to adjust. And the triggers are terrible on the newer "government issued" rifles. I put that government issued part in there so that we were not talking about civilian versions with competition triggers. The Army still thinks that we should use a rock to pull our triggers in the latest military rifles. Keeps the armorers busy too cleaning up and adjusting trigger pulls. So my answer would be a toss up with the M1 and M14 with the M14 getting the nod because of the lighter recoil.
Sarge

Answer 5

M1a Effective Range

Answer 6

I would have to go with a semi-auto chambered for the .308 NATO or 8mm. My choice would be the M14. My favorite rifle is the M1 Garand, but can't reach quite as far "effectively". The NATO round can get you out there at 1000-1100 meters and still take care of business. You could also get the M1A chambered for the .308 round and that would be an excellent choice as well.

I would also fall back on the FN FAL or HK91 if cost was no object I would say one of these or the CETME, the cheaper cousin to the HK.

What am I saying, I would love all of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

The 30-06 Ball M-2 cartridge used in the Garand and the 7.62 have the same ballistics so the maximum effective range would be about the same. 600-1000 yards depending on the sights and the shooter. True you can load the 30-06 hotter than the military load but it may not function reliably in a Garand they can be picky.

Answer 8

If you will accept the .50 BMG as a battle rifle, then it wins hands down with a maximum effective range in excess of 2,000 yards. I would classify it as a battle rifle since it is used extensively by the snipers in the various branches of the U.S. military. However, if you will only want me to make a selection from the rifles carried by the average "grunt", then I would vote for the venerable M-1 Garand.

Answer 9

Currently, the M-14

Answer 10

The M-14 & M1, that being said the two(2)* longest shots fired in combat at two (2)* enemy soldiers was at 1500 yards using a Model 70 Winchester in 308 caliber.* Two (2)* shots Two less enemy.* That of course was a bolt action, not semi-auto.*