# Sub-Machine Guns

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-machine-guns/507048>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 20, 2009, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-machine-guns/507048 "2009-08-20T07:32:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-machine-guns/507048/41 "2009-08-22T01:46:13Z")

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> [@Kobal2](#):
>
> The advantage of the drum is that is holds a lot more bullets. So you can spray all day from that model T window, instead of having to change mags every 5 seconds.

A Thompson, on the low end, fired 600 rounds per minute, or ten per second. You’re spraying, not firing in bursts, so you literally need to change magazines every five seconds. 😃

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