MAC-10

Encyclopedia : M : MA : MAC : MAC-10

The MAC-10 (Military Armament Corporation Model 10) is a highly compact, Blowback operated, selective fire submachinegun (technically, a machine pistol) developed by Gordon B. Ingram in 1964.

It is a simple, low-cost design with few moving parts, making it easily manufactured and maintained. The M-10 is actually one out of a series of machine pistols, the others being: the M-11A1, which is a scaled down version of the M-10 chambered in .380ACP; and the M-11/9, which is a smaller 9mm version that has a longer receiver made later by the SWD company. Unfortunately, the compactness and high rates of fire for these weapons (no less than 1000rpm [Rounds Per Minute] for the M-10 and a blazing 1600 for the M-11A1) worked against it. Their small size made them difficult to hold, and this, when combined with their high rate of fire, made control challenging; this was a key factor in their never finding much success with the military. Also, their heavy size make them less comfortable to hold. However, they did see limited service in Vietnam with the Special Forces. It is still used today by some SWAT forces and security outfits.

Contents

1 Calibers
2 Suppressor
3 Appearances in Popular Culture and
4 See also
5 External Links For More Information
6 External Video links

Calibers

The MAC-10 is most common in the version chambered for .45 ACP rounds, but it was originally produced in 9mm Parabellum. In the United States, fully automatic MAC-10 machine pistols are NFA articles, and probably the most common and cheapest automatic firearms available on the American market today. A large amount of sheet metal frame flats were serialnumbered before Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 and this made it possible to continue MAC manufacturing to the civilian market. There are also a limited number of semi-automatic carbines based on the original MAC design. MAC-10 pistols may be easily converted to carbines, and vice-versa, by interchanging commonly available parts.

Suppressor

Probably the biggest reason for the original M-10 finding recognition was its revolutionary sound suppressor designed by Mitchell WerBell III (Sionics). This suppressor had a 2 stage design, with the first stage being larger then the second. This uniquely shaped suppressor gave the M-10 a very menacing look. It was also very quiet, to the point of where the bolt could be heard over the report of the weapons discharge. The suppressor also created a place to hold the weapon, and this combined with the weight it added; made the weapon easier to control. The weapon's barrel threads were originally intended for this suppressor, but civilians have found other uses for them since legal suppressor ownership is very difficult to achieve. Some of the other attachments are: compensators, barrel extensions, fake-suppressors, fore grips, and so on.

Appearances in Popular Culture and

External Links For More Information

Recognition Guide]

External Video links

[Nazarian`s Gun`s Recognition Guide Mac 10 Silenced (.MPEG movie)]

[Girl shooting a full auto M-10]

[MAC-10 .45ACP with fake supressor (Google Video)]