| Operation |
Fully Automatic, Blowback |
| Caliber |
.45 (11.4 mm) |
| Muzzle velocity |
280 mps (920 fps) |
| Ammunition |
.45 ACP, 230 gr bullet, 5 gr charge |
| Capacity |
30-round detachable box magazine |
| Weight |
8 lbs |
| Overall length |
2ft 5.8in, stock extended
1ft 10.8in, stock retracted |
| Rate of fire |
350-450 rpm |
| Effective range |
50m (55yds) |
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Adoption of the M3/M3A1 relegated the Thompson submachine gun to "Limited Standard" or "Substitute Standard."
The widespread use of the Thompson was due mainly to the fact that it was the only allied submachine gun in mass production at the beginning of WWII. It had several weaknesses; e.g. weight and control. The Sten, for example, which was of stamped and welded metal construction and finished with a paint-like coating, scored higher than the Thompson when such things as simplicity, accuracy, weight and reliability were measured.
The .45 caliber M3/M3A1 are far easier to manufacture than the Thompson, and have a number of excellent design features in addition. The low cyclical rate of fire makes the gun easier to control than most submachine guns, not only the Thompson. The weapon's straight line of recoil thrust also adds substantially in controlling the gun in automatic fire. The gun's loose tolerances allow for reliable operation even if very dirty and, with its bolt and guide rod design make it more reliable than the Thompson under adverse conditions.
The M3/M3A1 is only capable of fully automatic operation; however, with its slow rate of fire, an experienced shooter can squeeze off single rounds.
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The following additional information is courtesy of Bob Caulkins
"I carried a grease gun in Vietnam while I served with the First Marine Division (66-68). There are a several of neat things about the gun that don't appear in the description and I'd like to tell you about them. The gun had a built-in oiler in the base of the grip. After turning the gun over, the knob seen in the illustration is unscrewed revealing an oil reservoir and an oil applicator. The wire stock was a masterpiece of American ingenuity. It was a wrench for removing the barrel, the barrel had two grooves machined into it into which the wire stock was placed and then turned to loosen the barrel. One of the stock rods was threaded at the forward end to take a bore brush and drilled out to take a cleaning patch, and finally, there was a small "L" shaped piece of steel welded to the butt of the stock, as seen in the illustration, that functioned as a magazine loader. Trying to thumb load 30 rounds into the mag was a chore. This twenty-eight dollar, or so, piece of stamped, welded and machined metal was a beauty, on the several occasions when I needed it, it never failed me. "
Among the different types of submachine guns used by the Chinese Communist forces during the first year of the Korea War was their .45 cal Type 36 copy of the M3A1
The M3A1 is still in use in our armed forces today. Not a bad record for a gun that hasn't been manufactured for over 40 years!
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