China once modified a batch of Thompson submachine guns to fire 7.62×25mm caliber versions.

[-]

Suzumebachi14@reddit

I know it's because they likely had switched to the 7.62x25mm caliber as their standard pistol cartridge, but how does it compare to .45 acp ? Is it more or less powerful ? And would the recoil of the Thompson be even more stout as a result ?

[-]

jaylom_011@reddit

Afaik, the 7.62 has higher velocity and a lighter bullet, so more penetration and longer range, where the .45 has more damage potential but less range and pen. I'd say the 7.62 has a sharper recoil, but I don't think it would have much impact on usability even in a pistol, much less a relatively heavy, stocked submachine gun like the thompson

[-]

RamTank@reddit

.45 is a fat and slow bullet. It works out of a pistol but it’s really not ideal out of a smg because the drop is so heavy, which really limits your effective range.

7.62 Tokarev on the other hand is a bit overpowered out of a pistol, with excessive flash, but it’s basically the ideal smg round for the 40s.

[-]

OnkelMickwald@reddit

I wonder how it would affect rate of fire.

[-]

LachDochMal@reddit

My thoughts exactly

[-]

AlpacaPacker007@reddit

Overall id argue it would be an improvement. Really the Thompson was only chambered in 45 ACP since that was the standard pistol cartridge for the US. 9 mm is arguably the sweet spot for submachine guns in-between the .45 and the 7.62

[-]

Suzumebachi14@reddit

Thanks !

[-]

Hoovooloo42@reddit

I haven't shot a Thompson in 7.62, but I've shot a full auto Thompson a number of times and I've shot a lot of 7.62x25.

The things are so outrageously heavy for a submachine gun that they just sit in your arms and chatter away. They're extremely controllable as long as you don't get tired holding the thing out in front of you, and I think that 7.62 would probably have a bit more recoil but probably not enough to make a big difference.

7.62 is a bit snappier and feels more powerful, and I'm not sure what exact formulation China was using for their 7.62 ammo but the surplus I've fired is definitely geared more towards a long barrel than a short barrel. Big fireballs out of a pistol length barrel.

If it was similar to what I had then it would have performed much better out of a Thompson length barrel than .45 ACP did, and barring any feeding issues it seems like a sensible choice for a conversion. I'd love to shoot one, I bet it absolutely rips.

[-]

fendtrian@reddit

.45, the lards calibre. Cuz it’s fat‘n slow is outdated for many many years now. There’s an abundance of better calibers out there since it exists basically.

[-]

HYPERNOVA3_@reddit

A bullet is a bullet, so it doesn't make that much of a difference, it will kill no matter what. Now, if we want to give an army the absolute best one, it depends on how they are equipped.

For an SMG focused army like the USSR, 7.62x25 was ideal, it uses a lighter bullet that goes faster, so it had slightly better range and penetration than other pistol rounds, compensating for the lack of rifles in a squad.

On the other side of the spectrum, for a rifle/MG focused army like the USA or Germany, the smg is solely an NCO weapon meant for CQB, so larger calibres with more stopping power that sacrificed velocity and range to get the kill faster made sense for them, .45 being a good example of a big bullet that hits hard but goes slower.

[-]

USSZim@reddit

The 7.62x25mm would be faster and likely more energetic. In terms of effect on target, it likely wasn't much different than .45 with military FMJ ammo. The Thompson, being such a heavy SMG, also likely wouldn't have much practical difference in recoil.

[-]

letdogsvote@reddit

Asking the real questions here.

[-]

Who_wife_is_on_myD@reddit

Can I have a C-96 in . 45ACP ala Shanxi to match? That way my pistol shoots my subguns food and my subguns shoots pistols food .

[-]

I_2_Cast_Lead_45acp@reddit

One went up for sale over on strum. No pictures though

[-]

snailman1999@reddit

Very neat, when did these conversions happen?

[-]

BigFreakingZombie@reddit

1950s most likely

[-]

locolarue@reddit

Probably 1945-1950, when WW2 was over and the Soviets could give more aid to the Communists (so plentiful 7.62 Tokarev) and the Communists had captured a significant amount of the Nationalist's Thompsons. But it could be a little earlier or later.

[-]

Ulysseus9673@reddit

This goes hard

[-]

Climb_Mt_Narodnaya@reddit

Tomislav

[-]

Electronic_Camera251@reddit

This would absolutely require a new bolt assembly and springs as well as the barrel and magazine assembly

[-]

Electronic_Camera251@reddit

That is the coolest thing i somehow never knew about . This is why i love this area of study 40 years of exhaustive research and you see something that says …of course this exists why didn’t i know ?

[-]