This list is just based in my personal opinion, experience and assumptions with the bolt actions rifles form Germany and Italy factions (Axis), in base with how well they work and their individual stats, this is just an overthinked topic.
There are 13 bolt action rifles (excluding sniper class ones) all from the main “rifleman” class, I’m also excluding the special K98K variants with grenade launchers (with an small ranking for them), and one slot shared with 3 rifles, as they are IMO the same thing.
It would leave the list in 9 rifles/ranks in total.
Obviously I’m only taking into account funcionality over style and roleplaying, as that is more of a personal preference.
9 “Kar98k Kriegsmodell”
Being a worst version of the original Kar98k having slow reload with clip type magazine, slow RPM, and no bayonet to compensate his lack of power.
8 “Carcano M1891”
While I like how it looks I have to be honest, its a bad weapon in practice, it may have the same damage and 6 bullets with and the mannlicher type of clip, but it has the second slowest muzzle velocity of the game and it’s just slightly faster that the former, while it has a bayonet, it is unlocked so late that there is no reason to use it more than the looks and roleplaying.
7 “Carcano m41”
At simple sight it seems like an italian version of the kriegsmodell, but it has more advantages than you may think, but it has the same RPM, less damage and has a the slowest muzzle velocity of all BA in the Axis.
It has 6 bullets per reload, and the mannlicher type of clip that (atleast for now) allows you to reload all the bullets at once even if there are still bullets chambered;
It reload faster than the previous rifle and it even has a bayonet for melee combat.
6 “Gewehr 33/44, Vz. 24 and K98k”
It seems odd that I’ve added these three together but think about it, what makes them so different from each other?
Sure the 33/40 has less damage and muzzle velocity in comparison but better reload;
the Vz. 24 has greater damage but slightly slower RPM than the other two, but better reload speed than the K98K;
And for last the classic K98K, practically the same damage, RPM, reload and magazine, and all of the has a bayonet so here is more about what do you prefer instead, firepower? raw damage? or speed in general?
5 “MAS-36”
While it is slightly more faster than the next rifle, and has the greatest muzzle velocity of BA, it works basically the same as an K98K, and also it has the regular clip of 5 rounds that in case you want to reload while it is not empty, you’ll do it individually, making it slower, overall a decent weapon with a bayonet attached (not removable)
4 “Carcano Mod 38”
I see this rifle as an upgraded version of the K98K, while it has slightly less damage and muzzle velocity, it has (as the Carcano m41) 6 bullets and the mannlicher type of clip, and a faster reload speed.
The rest of its stats are practically the same, and it also has a bayonet.
3 “Pre-war K98K”
A simple and straightforward upgrade of the K98K, better reload and RPM with maybe some minimal changes, with a bayonet.
2 “Mannlicher M1895”
The best BA for those who don’t want to use semi auto rifles, the best RPM within the BA of the Axis, having a decent reload speed, but having a slower muzzle velocity than the K98K and no bayonet, to mention that it uses the regular clip with 5 bullets, so it is quite annoying to reload individually if it is not empty.
1 “VG2”
My favorite rifle and what I consider the best option in general, while it doesn’t have the RPM of the previous rifles and no bayonet, but it has exactly the same stats as the K98K, with the exception of its large magazine, with 10 bullets and an astonishing reload speed (considering its doubled) you can easily clear a whole squad, and the best part is that you can change from each magazine without needing to reload individually.
Let me know what you think about the list and share your opinion about it, it could be fun.