Comments: Just Call This Submachine Gun 'The Annihilator'
I got to fire a full auto (drum) Thompson last year and it was an experience. I've fired several full auto guns in the past but the Thompson had the most violent performance. Completely uncontrollable and I had to let off of it to keep from losing it. I got about 15 rounds out of it and backed off. Also popped a ligament in my left ring finger and it still hurts some 10 months later. Other than looks, I don't know what the value is in such a gun other than as a long 2 handed pistol. They do look cool though so I wouldn't mind having one in my stable.
Posted by ghostsniper at January 30, 2015 2:06 PM
I've used the M3 "grease gun" quite a bit. The rate of fire is much less but it is quite controllable. Very easy to get of single shots, or 2-3 round bursts and keep them on target. When you have a pouch of full magazines on your bet you know you are carrying something.
Posted by Lazarus Long at January 31, 2015 6:28 AM
LL, I carried the M3 in the Nam early on too. Great close in but wasn't worth shit over distance.
We changed over to the 47 simply so we didn't give ourselves up during fire fights.
Also we could carry less ammo; took what we needed during the LRRPs. Not authorized but then the hats weren't out there either.
That 47 is one tough weapon.
Posted by Vermont Woodchuck at January 31, 2015 7:48 AM
I'll vouch for the AK-47, never misfired even if totally neglected. Rinse out the action in the nearest puddle, use a drop chain with a patch hook down the barrel, lock and load and GTG. If you wanted to get fussy you could clean the thing with gasoline and lube it with 30w motor oil.
I clicked on the link and the cover photo shows two GIs, one with a Thompson and behind him a guy with a BAR. I'd take the BAR any day.
Posted by chasmatic at January 31, 2015 11:07 PM
Although it just missed out on the Great War, the Thompson was designed for the close-in hell of trench warfare, its short length, heavy slug, and high rate of fire all meant to give the infantryman who carried it the ability to mow down a lot of Boche, quickly. The BAR served a different purpose entirely, being essentially a light machine gun, which could lay down a base of fire for the small unit that had one. Unlike the Thompson, the BAR did see action in WW1, where it was found to be vastly superior to the Chauchat, a French light machine gun that had a distressing tendency to malfunction. And yes, that 30.06 slug the BAR fired could reach out a very long way.
Posted by waltj at February 2, 2015 11:21 AM
That 800 rpm cyclic rate was knocked down substantially in later generations, it was simply uncontrollable. Later versions ran somewhere in the 450-600 rpm range.
Posted by ThomasD at February 3, 2015 7:48 AM