Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
The world of modern military small arms is getting a bit smaller. Military forces around the world are moving away from their own domestically produced designs and seemingly picking up guns like the HK 416, while in other countries, the AK series still rules. While it makes sense for Western forces to standardize, let’s go back to a more complicated time. A time known as the Cold War.
The Cold War seemingly saw an uptick in domestically produced designs and unique rifles across the world. Today we are going to examine some of the best rifles from the Cold War, but we are also going to look at examples you can own right now. These guns are still produced and available in semi-auto-only options for the American civilian shooter.
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The Cold War began right after World War 2, and it was an interesting time for small arms. Military forces were looking to replace their squads of automatic rifles, submachine guns, and mostly bolt-action rifles with a single weapon. This guided the design principles of most of these guns, and it’s still relevant to this day.
The Best Rifles Of the Cold War (You Can Own)
PTR 91
PTR is a company out of South Carolina that has mastered the German roller delayed design. They made their bones by producing G3 clones. The HK G3 was a German battle rifle that came from a Spanish CETME design. This roller-delayed battle rifle fired the 7.62 NATO round and fed from a 20-round magazine.
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It served the German military from 1959 and, to this day, serves with plenty of military forces. It’s a reliable and very capable design that’s accurate enough for the average infantry soldier. Germany produced numerous variants of the gun, including a collapsing stock model for armor and paratroopers, as well as the famed, accurized versions for use by snipers.
PTR makes the classic fixed stock 91 model that represents the standard version of this old battle rifle. They produce the rifle in numerous colors and numerous furniture options, including wood on occasion. They have the standard GI model as well as optics-ready options, a variant in 7.62×39, and even absurdly loud pistol variants. You can’t say they aren’t creative.
DSA FN FAL
The FN FAL was about as close to standardization of Cold War rifles as it gets. The FAL became known as the right arm of the free world because the men who wielded it came from democratic Western countries. The FN FAL was a 7.62 NATO battle rifle that served dozens of countries in numerous configurations.
Such a famous rifle is bound to be beloved enough to warrant some form of remake or refit, and it has been many times. Heck, it’s one of the more popular options for home builds. However, you don’t have to home-build when DSA is around. DSA is the FAL people, and they produce a wide variety of FAL clones, including various models designed to meet the specifications of various military forces. This includes the Israeli FALs with wood furniture, paratrooper FALs, and jungle FALs too.
DSA also produces modern versions with optic rails, modular handguards, and M4 stocks too. They make a wide variety of FAL-type rifles in whatever configuration you could ever desire. This classic battle rifle will live on forever and for a good reason.
Harrington and Richardson M16A1
The death of the battle rifle came from the M16 series rifles. They were the future of rifles, and they’ve shaped Western small arms design. If you want to get your hands on a retro M16A1, H&R is bringing them back! Stoner’s classic design with the 20-inch barrel, carry handle, and smooth cycling rifle-length gas system is tough to beat in the light and handy department.
H&R is now owned by PSA. PSA also purchased Nodak Spud. Guess who is the CEO of H&R? The former owner of Nodak Spud. This way, you can sit nice and tight, knowing that a competent and skilled hand with retro rifle experience is leading the way. These rifles are classics with triangular furniture, bayo lugs, and a Mattel Marauder feeling.
The M16A1 series is a must-have for AR fans. They show you how far the platform has come and better illustrate why it was so revolutionary. The lightweight design will make you forget you’re carrying a rifle-length AR.
Steyr AUG
The Steyr AUG wasn’t the first bullpup, but it’s arguably the first successful bullpup. The AUG came to be in 1978, and in 1978, this gun was radical. The heavy use of polymer, the bullpup layout, and the integrated optic were all brand new to the world of military rifles. This bullpup platform has long since overshadowed other Cold War bullpups and remains in service with numerous military forces.
Much like the AR series, the AUGs are quite modular and can be made into rifle and carbine variants as well as slight support weapons and designated marksman’s rifles. The AUG series have also been modified with rails and various magazine designs. They are very well made, reliable, and robust, and you can get one, a real one, from Steyr. Steyr produces a few variants in different colors.
These AUGs are, of course, semi-auto only, but you can get one from the company that started it all. You can get both modern variants as well as the old-school integrated optic design. The Steyr AUG is still a very capable rifle and one of the true Cold War classics.
WASR-10
The AK series might be the number 1 Cold War rifle. It armed pretty much every enemy of the West and has since armed most of the Second and Third World. The AKM and 47 series has spread its way across the world. The AK is a Russian rifle, but due to the geopolitical situation, we aren’t going to see Russian rifles anytime soon. The closest we can get comes from our Romanian friends in the form of the WASR-10.
The WASR-10 has been imported by Century Arms for decades now, and while simple, it still replicates the design of the Cold War AK perfectly. The wood furniture and metal mag are as simple as its ever been, and guess what? It worked for Ivan, and it’ll work for you. These are likely the most authentic Cold War rifles you can obtain.
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Nothing has changed much. The Romanias still pump them out at a rapid rate, and while prices have risen, the WASR-10 series has always been solid rifles. There are no chances of an exploding trunnion or splitting bolt with these guns.
The Cold War Classics
These are the five guns that come to mind when I think Cold War. Maybe it’s all my time with Operation Flashpoint, but these rifles seem to epitomize the infantryman of the era. What do you think? Would you add any to the list? Let us know below.
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