SHOOTING THE GREASE GUN

[crazyphil]

As a cryptographer I worked in a high security compound with
high fences, concertina wire on top, and armed guard at the gate.
As if that wasn't enough we had grease guns hanging on the wall.
So, we had to be indoctrinated to the use of the M3/M3A1 grease
gun. The indoctrination consisted of shooting one mag at the range.
I did learn an important lesson. When you pull the trigger
the gun climbs. So it's important to point the gun at the enemies
feet, and let it climb.

The grease gun was a cheap alternative to the Thompson. The
grease guns only cost uncle about fifteen bucks a copy during
WWII where they were used extensively. They were also used
in the unpleasantness in Korea. I don't know about Viet Nam.
That was after my time. Maybe some VN vets can chime in as
to it's use?

The mag held 30 .45 ACP rounds and the rate of fire was about
350 per minute.

 

[RCL-09]

Not a veteran but a friend who is and was in armor in the mid-late 90's said they were still in stock/issued to tank crews.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Last I heard they are STILL issued to tank crews. Very practical weapon for that particular, specialized purpose. I have put a couple of magazines thru one. Their rate of fire is so slow you can single-shot them if you have a good trigger finger. Three round bursts are easy.

 

[Greyman50]

Our unit in Vietnam had several, couple in M-88 tank retriever and IIRC 1 in arms room. Several Sgts " acquired" one , kept in Orderly room.
Had several friends that had one many years later, even re enacted WWII with them and had them in displays at air shows and at MTA, Jamestown along with Thompson, BARs, 1917's and 1919's. Several guys brought them to MG shoots, lots of fun. As with most sub guns you don't let them climb, just shoot few rounds in bursts.

 

[sw44spl]

They had dropped it for tankers right before I joined the army. I was on the M-1 tank and heard about the M-60 crews had them.

 

[Nevada Ed]

We had several in our CB batallion when in Guam & Oki and they were a kick to shoot.
One of the men had a trick of putting a loop in the sling, letting it hang down
and stepping on it, in order to fire from the hip and place rounds in the target down range.
It took practice but he had it down, pretty good.

For 40 yards or less, it was pretty accurate, for the little barrel that it had.

 

[Tu_S]

When it comes to the rate of fire I've always loved the look on Jerry's face in this video.

The second Gulf War was the last time I heard of them being issued to tank crews.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgFDNHBD8Ko[/ame]

 

[alwslate]

My brother had one in Vietnam. As a newby he bought it from a guy who was leaving then when his tour was up he sold it to a newby. He said he liked the gun but loading the magazines was a chore.

 

[AJ]

I was issued a M3A1 when I got to Viet Nam, as there were not enough M16A1's in the Armory for everyone. Finally issued an M16A1 about 3 months later. I remember being told to lock my arms against my body and rock left to right in a figure eight when I shot it. That seemed to work.........

A year later I walked out behind the hanger and there sat the armorer. He had a five pound maul and a bunch of M3A1's. Asked him what he was doing. His response was watch. Then he commenced to smash the M3's. I tried to talk him out of one even offered a $100 for one. He said he had to show the armory officer all the destroyed guns. Just shook my head and walked away........

 

[Grayfox]

1972-74 I was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. I was a mechanic/driver on a M578 recovery vehicle. I was supposed to have a pistol, but there weren't enough 1911s to go around. There were no rifle racks in the driver's compartment. After I broke the 3rd M-16 stock, our armorer found me a M3A1 for a personal weapon. I liked it.
It climbs up and right. Start low and left.

 

[Drm50]

I was in Dusters in RVn. We had a few M3s. I shot them fooling around but wouldn't want one as my main weapon. Some Dusters had clips on the haul that held M3s back in 50s. In my opinion the worst gun the US ever issued.
A Thompson or M2 Carbine is much better weapon. Thompsons were hard to come by but M2 Carbines were fairly easy to find. When they say each gun has its own sound they were right, no mistaking the M3.

 

[robvious]

I prefer the M3 greasegun to the Thompson..

 

[Krogen]

I prefer the M3 greasegun to the Thompson..

Likewise! The Thompson is heavy and thanks to the stock's drop it likes to climb. The Greasegun is light with a slower rate of fire and the straight "stock" makes it easy to control.

 

[crazyphil]

You are not the only one robvious - quite a few WWII vets swear by the M3.

 

[Golddollar]

When it comes to the rate of fire I've always loved the look on Jerry's face in this video.

The second Gulf War was the last time I heard of them being issued to tank crews.

SLOWEST Full Auto Ever?!?! - YouTube

I want one!!!

 

[Birdhunter6]

A friend was issued an M3 as a track commander during Dessert Storm. I'm just a civilian range rat but have shot both the Thompson & M3 but only at short range usually 2 partial mags, 50 round at a time.

For me M3 is lighter, handier and and more controllable but SOOOO slow!
You feel like you are standing there WAITING for the third shot of a burst. We can make Glocks go faster...

 

[crazyphil]

The M3 does seem slow, but actually at 350 Per minute, that's one round
just a little over every half-second. .58 hundredths of a second.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Our version of the Sten gun, easy and inexpensive to produce.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Most (if not all) were manufactured by Signal Lamp Company during WW2. I am not aware of any made after 1945. Only a few machined parts, mostly sheet metal stampings. Standard .45ACP ammo, 20-round box magazine.

A standard accessory was a piece of steel tubing with a 90-degree bend that could be fitted over the muzzle and fastened with a wing nut. That allowed the weapon to be used for shooting at angles (from the turret of a tank, or around the corner of a building, etc) without exposing the soldier to hostile fire. Bullets exited the muzzle, then followed the steel pipe to be expelled in the needed direction. Very creative idea!

Yes, we had M3 SMGs in Vietnam, fairly common during that period. Miculek noted above the very slow cyclic rate of fire, which actually makes the weapon easier to control IMO. Short, fairly lightweight, easily carried in a vehicle, and superior in every way to any handgun.

Still in general issue as late as the 1990s, perhaps longer, primarily for armored vehicle crews. Popular with air crew members during my time in Vietnam.

Last M3s I personally saw were a couple hundred thousand loaded up on trucks at the Pueblo Depot Activity and taken to the CF&I Steel Works to be shredded and melted down, about 1995 or so.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Shot a 1928 Thompson and a MP5, I could control the .45 but couldn't do squat with the 9mm. It was empty before I knew it. Never fired a Greasegun. All my AR .45 builds use greasegun mags. They are tough to load without a tool.