M49 submachine gun (Yugoslavia)

Caliber	7,62x25 mm
Weight	3,8 kg empty
Length	847 mm
Barrel length	267 mm
Rate of fire	750 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	35 rounds
Effective range	200-250 meters

The Yugoslavian M49 (Model 1949) submachine gun at first glance appears to be a clone of Soviet PPSh-41 submachine gun. On close examination. however, there are more than a few differences between those two guns, with some features (most notably the bolt group and safety) being taken from Italian Beretta M38A submachine gun. It must be noted that M49 had apparently a relatively short service life, being replaced by the latter M56 submachine gun, which was more compact and of slightly more modern design.

M49 submachine gun is blowback operated, selective-fire weapon which fires from open bolt. The trigger unit with fire selector lever, located inside trigger guard, is copied from Soviet PPSh-41. The bolt group, with return spring enclosed in tubular guide, is a derivative of Beretta M38A, and the cross-bolt safety, located in front of trigger guard, is copied from Beretta M38/49, although the location of button is slightly different. The basic layout with wooden stock and shrouded barrel is also similar to PPSh-41, although the barrel shroud and receiver are made from steel tubing rather than stampings. The disassembly procedure is different, as M49 is disassembled by screwing off the rear cap of receiver and then pulling the bolt group out of the receiver. The bolt system incorporates a separate spring buffer, and because of it, and slightly longer receiver, rate of fire for M49 is somewhat less than of PPSh-41. The feed system, along with folding magazine release lever, is similar to Soviet prototype, but M49 were issued only with 35-round curved box magazines and no drums.

Vigneron M2 submachine gun (Belgium)

Vigneron M2 submachine gun, right side

Vigneron M2 submachine gun, left side

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	3,28 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open)	695 / 872 mm
Barrel length	300 mm
Rate of fire	620 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	32 rounds
Effective range	100 meters

The Vigneron submachine gun was developed during early fifties by the officer of the Belgian army and produced by Belgian company Precision Liegoise SA. It was adopted by Belgian army in 1953, and saw some combat in then-Belgian Congo. Vigneron submachine gun was quite conventional in design and appearance, and not much more can be told about this weapon.

Vigneron submachine gun is blowback operated, selective fired weapon which fires from open bolt. Fire mode selector / safety switch is located on the left side of the grip, just behind the trigger. It is interesting that in full automatic mode short pull on the trigger will still, produce single shots, and only a long pull will produce full automatic fire. Additional automated safety is built into the backstrap of the pistol grip. Cocking handle is located on the left side of the receiver, and is stationary when gun is fired. Ejection port has a spring-loaded dust cover. Barrel is relatively long and has two ports just behind the front sight base, which serve as a muzzle rise compensator. Sights are fixed, with rear aperture set for 50 meters range. Stock is made from steel wire and is retractable, with several positions so shooter can adjust it to his own preferences.

Reising M-50 and M-55 submachine gun (USA)

early production Reising M50 submachine gun, so called "commercial" or "police" model, with 20-round magazine

late production Reising M50 submachine gun, "military" model

Reising M55 submachine gun, with shoulder stock folded

Reising M60 semiautomatic carbine

	Reising M50	Reising M55
Caliber	.45 ACP
Weight	3,06 kg empty	2,81 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open)	857 mm	556 / 781 mm
Barrel length	279 mm	263 mm
Rate of fire	550 rounds per minute	500 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	12 or 20 rounds	12 or 20 rounds
Effective range	100 meters	100 meters

The Reising submachine gun was designed by American Eugene Reising and patented in 1940. Production of the new submachine gun commenced in 1941 at Harrington & Richardson (H&R) arms factory. In 1942, US Marine Corps signed first contract for delivery of Reising M50 submachine guns, and several tents of thousands of Reising M50 SMG's were delivered to USMC during the war. It must be noted that USMC weapons were slightly different in appearance from original version, having different trigger guard, larger takedown screw head, and other minor changes. Similar weapons were sold to various US agencies to guard military facilities and other important locations in USA. For USMC paratroopers and tankers H&R produced a folding-stock version, known as Reising M55. H&R also produced a semi-automatic only version of the M50, known as M60, which was used for training and guard purposes. The least known version is the Reising M65, a training semi-automatic weapon chambered for .22LR ammunition. It must be noted that US Marines generally disliked the Reising gun for its poor reliability, especially when gun was fouled or dirty. However, it was quite accurate and sufficiently reliable in "urban" conditions, so many Reising submachine guns were used by various US Police departments through several post-war decades.

Reising M50 submachine gun is delayed blowback operated, selective fired weapon. It fired from closed bolt and has a separate striker (non-pivoting, sliding hammer) which hit the firing pin when gun was discharged. The delay for opening movement of the bolt was provided by displacing its rear upper edge from the recesses, made on the inside of the receiver. The fire mode selector was located at the right side of the receiver, in front of the rear sight. Charging handle was unusually located in the slot, formed on the underside of the stock, in front of the magazine. To cock the gun, shooter must insert his finger into the slot and pull the cocking handle back, and then release it. Feed was from box magazines; standard magazine capacity was 20 rounds, with cartridges held in double stack and with single position feed. For training purposes, H&R also produced 12-round single stack magazines. Currently, aftermarket 30-round magazines are available for all .45 caliber Reising weapons. Sights included front post and a diopter rear, adjustable from 50 to 300 yards range. Original M50 submachine guns featured an one-piece wooden stock and a muzzle flip compensator. "Paratrooper" Reising M55 guns had wooden stocks with pistol grip and side-folding stocks made from steel wire, and no muzzle compensators. Both types of submachine gun featured partially finned barrels. Semi-automatic only Resing M60 carbines featured longer barrels with no fins.