The Fighting Submachine Gun, Machine Pistol, and Shotgun

For the latest in his combat weapons series, Tim Mullin researched the combat performance of more than 50 SMGs, machine pistols and shotguns from around the world from World War I to the present – and then tested each under conditions as close to real combat as possible. Here he reveals which weapons you can count on and why, as well as which to avoid at all costs. He also discusses whether the SMG is still a viable war weapon, what features really matter on a combat weapon, why some firearms area poor choice for militaries but ideal for police use, the importance of caliber, how different ammo affects performance and more.