Beretta M38A vs Suomi kp/31 (w/ John Keene) (Ad-free)
Added 2024-11-04 11:00:07 +0000 UTCIf you had to pick one, would you take an early Beretta 38A (with bayonet), or a Finnish kp/31 Suomi? Both have semiauto selectors, although the Beretta's its easier to use. The Suomi has a higher rate of fire and larger magazine capacity, but is slower to use. Both have roughly equivalent sights and are very controllable. The Suomi is heavier, but the Beretta is longer. So which would you take?
Comments
What comes to the myth that Suomi drum mags were that difficult to lead so you needed a second guy load them, it´s not exactly true. Often second guy was needed simply because Suomi was used like a squad full auto gun and mags were getting emptied fast, like any light machine gun and machine gun woul do too. There is a famous instance where one Finn with a Suomi-smg emptied 17 mags in one battle against hundreds of Soviet soldiers. He hold the position. And many smg mags from the same era are double stack, single feed. Those are not really great either to load. You need a loading tool and still it´s bit finicky job.
TJ
2024-11-13 05:07:20 +0000 UTCi would take the suomi hands down, got drum and stick mags
Reed Gregory
2024-11-06 01:48:27 +0000 UTCIf im waiting on the Mannerheim line to face down the red hordes, Id probably want a submachine gun that takes a drum. If Im out patrolling, Ill probably take the beretta and more comfortable and easily loaded stick mags.
z c
2024-11-05 13:03:56 +0000 UTCMy ancestry is half Italian, so the Beretta for me.
Tom DeGisi
2024-11-05 04:03:38 +0000 UTCMy grandfather (on the other side) was escorted to 24 hours from the border at gunpoint with a SMG, and told he had 12 hours to get over the border AND NEVER COME BACK or they would shoot him in the face. It could easily have been the weapon that John was holding.
David T Klein
2024-11-04 17:55:45 +0000 UTCI am sure this puts me in minority, and feel free to send any vitriol or h8 to the trash. The Nazi markings are an instant "NO" to me. I would not pay one red cent for the arms that killed and exiled my family. If you gave me for free, I would go to an auction house and find out how I could trade it for and SMG that was not part of the slaughter of my forebears. My grandmother (should rest in peace) had five brothers. I could have had an entire infield of grand-uncles. She was the only one who made it out of Poland. Plus, the Suomi is pretty rad, even if it has that weird drum magazine instead of a normal rectangular magazine like most submachine guns.
David T Klein
2024-11-04 17:48:22 +0000 UTCNo experience w/either, but have "experience". I'd go with the Suomi kp/31, because I know way about it than I do the Beretta M38A. I have a fair amount of experience with full-auto systems & use, so a high rate of fire is something I can work with. Also, I really appreciate the reported accuracy of the Suomi. And, as someone else here stated, it would be possible that I'd have some "stick" mags & not just drums - this is a fantasy "what if" so I get all the mag options. :-)
Derek Elsberry
2024-11-04 17:15:06 +0000 UTCHow reliable is the Suomi in the desert? How reliable is the Beretta in heavy winter conditions? There must be feedback on the Beretta from the Italians and Germans--maybe even the partisans and the Brits.
ViejoLobo
2024-11-04 17:09:17 +0000 UTCgiving the price and age... never?
Guido Schriewer
2024-11-04 14:41:50 +0000 UTCtake home the suomi. HAVE TO use and bet on it... well I would never go with high rate of fire as mg42/mg3 suomi ingram famae etc if I could get a nice slooooo....ooow 450rd/min bang..back on target..bang..back in target..ba..... one advantage of the suomi would be the beretta force one in a VERY high position prone. the suomi drum much lower. yet again a subgun shines when on the move, I guess.
Guido Schriewer
2024-11-04 14:41:16 +0000 UTCWould this will be even queustion, if would you have 36 or 50 round stick magazines for your Suomi? :)
Jiří Kučera
2024-11-04 13:53:00 +0000 UTCWhat I'd like to know is when is Ian doing Finnish Brutality with a Suomi?
James Steed
2024-11-04 13:21:22 +0000 UTCI'm going to go with the Suomi simply because I have always marveled at the design of the Suomi drum. The ability to fully wind the drum and then load the drum with the cover removed is far more convenient than drums such as the Thompson.
Patrick W
2024-11-04 11:30:38 +0000 UTC
