Q&A: All About Submachine Guns (May 2025)
This Q&A session with Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons delves into various aspects of submachine guns (SMGs). Key topics include the lack of cultural influence on firearm design, the historical development and contenders for the first SMG, typical military loadouts, the enduring relevance of the MP5, and the obsolescence debate against short-barreled carbines. The discussion also covers cartridge effectiveness, the challenges of rimmed cartridges in SMGs, magazine reliability, the distinction between SMGs and Pistol Caliber Carbines (PCCs), and the design choices behind open vs. closed bolt systems.











