NRO readers know their small arms. A reader writes to dispute my citation of Max Hastings' opinion on the superiority of most German equipment in World War II:

I have read all three books you mentioned & your review is very perceptive.  But your generalizations, while quite true in the broad sense, nonetheless conceal some error.

    You mention "rifles."  I can assure you the M-1 is a vastly superior infantry rifle to the Mauser carried by the Germans.  That is not to say the Mauser was a bad weapon.  The rifle the M-1 Garand replaced is the M1903 Springfield, very much the equivalent of the Mauser.  The Springfield was still in service in limited ways when I was in the Marine Corps in the late 60's, which shows just how good it is.  That said, the M-1 was just as accurate at combat ranges as the Mauser and had a much higher rate of fire.  I have use the M-1 in combat and it's very similar successor the M-14.  I have also used the Springfield.  Trust me, any soldier worth his salt would take the Garand over the Mauser in a heartbeat.

    With regard to pistols, not exactly a decisive issue I admit, I would argue the Browning M1911 is superior as a combat weapon to the Walthers & Mausers preferred by the Germans. The stopping power of the Browning (.45 cal/11.4mm vs. 9mm/.35 cal) is vastly superior and the mechanism more robust & reliable.  Again, I have used the Browning in combat.  (A very old one it was.  In 1968 the Marines had not purchased a pistol since 1945.)  I have also used 9mm pistols.

    As between the old Mauser from WWI & the Browning, the Browing is better on every point: faster cycle, less prone to jam, easier to maintain, and must more stopping power.

    That said, this is very much a subject of diverse opinion.  There are those that prefer 9mm pistols (Walther, Beretta, etc.) as easier  to use & easier to shoot accurately.  But by no means superior.

09/29 02:54 PM