Fighting Submachine Gun, Machine Pistol, and Shotgun: A Hands-On Evaluation [Paperback]

Timothy J. Mullin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999

The third in T.J. Mullin's war weapons series is on semiautomatic machine guns, machine pistols and shotguns, perhaps the least understood of individual weapons. He tests more than 50 battle-scarred weapons from North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and tells you which ones you can count on (an which ones you can't) and why.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Timothy J. Mullin is a former infantry officer in the U.S. Army and deputy U.S. marshall. He is a life-long gun lover and fervent defender of the Second Amendment. His well-regarded series on combat weapons also includes volumes on handguns and rifles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581600402
• ISBN-13: 978-1581600407
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,058,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, well-researched work., October 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fighting Submachine Gun, Machine Pistol, and Shotgun: A Hands-On Evaluation (Paperback)

This is an excellent book. It is well written with plenty of good factual data. Rarely are we given the opportunity to hear a reasoned and well-researched discourse on the merits of various automatic weapons. I was well pleased to see that Mr. Mullins treats the machine pistol as a legitimate (but poorly understood) weapon. I do take exception to his fervent dislike for folding stocks. I don't view the SMG as a main-line general issue firearm, but rather as a piece for issue to those less likely to be in the line of fire. For such a person, ease of carry is critical if you want the weapon to be available when needed. Also, the weapon's high firepower is of particular use when such persons need it. I fully agree that a solid stock makes it much easier to control any weapon's fire. But if the cook will carry a folding-stock PPs-43, then it's better then the full-stocked PPsh-41 in the truck. I picked up my copy at Knob Creek and stayed up late Saturday night reading it. I now consider it one of my favorite reference books. Thanks!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book but a bit boring, May 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Fighting Submachine Gun, Machine Pistol, and Shotgun: A Hands-On Evaluation (Paperback)

This book is well researched, very good illustrated and has enough pages to keep you entertained for quite some time. However, since most of the book is concerned with submachine guns, and most submachine guns are alike anyway, most of the conclusions are the same too. The author keeps pointing out the same problems with regular SMG designs, wich is ok, but after reading the first 5 reviews the author's oppinion on some SMG features is well stated and does not need to be written down again, and again, and again...
However, when you are interested in SMG's and firearms in general, a whole lot of information is given from a practical point of view in this book, so i absolutely recommend buying this book, it is worth the money.

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious firepower!, May 22, 2011

By 

ThorBjorn "Norseman" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fighting Submachine Gun, Machine Pistol, and Shotgun: A Hands-On Evaluation (Paperback)

What a gem of a gun book!

Mr. Mullin, a Vietnam veteran, former Army captain, and law-enforcement officer, gives us a unique book on some modern and vintage firearms.

He gives us his assessment of a large array of 20th century submachineguns, shotguns, and pistols. Most of these are weapons that have been used in combat. In my approximately 18 years of Military service, I've trained on 17 different arms, but only a small handful of the guns featured here. Most of us involved in shooting sports will never experience some of the sampled arms in this book. Some are rare war-relics (and very expensive collector items), ...but some are still easily available at reasonable cost.

Submachineguns are largely obsolete, except in certain military and police special-operations circles. However, having fired two SMGs in service, ...theres nothing quite like it! The hassle and the costs of the special certification, their gluttonous consumption of ammunition, and the generally exorbitant price for such a firearm, ...prevents most people from experiencing them. The legislation governing them: ridiculous! There are still considerable numbers of full-automatic arms out there in legally responsible hands, for those who can afford such things. Actual criminal usage of automatic arms is EXCEDINGLY RARE.

Mullin gives us his evaluation of such classic war-weapons as the German MP-40, the British STEN, Soviet PPS-43, anD American M3A1. Quite a few of the featured guns are from the Cold War to modern era, such as the Beretta 12, Skorpion, and Walther MPL. I was pleased to see summaries of some lesser-known but still interesting guns as the Marlin UD-42 and Reising Model 50 SMGs.