GUNS Magazine September 1956

With stock unfolded and left hand pushing clip forward
to resist kick, Swedish m/45 is easy to fire accurately.
Shooting submachine gun in snow under simulated' combat conditions
is done by civilians who put aside their rifles for novelty matches.
The shooting fraternity went to work, sparked by the
Swedish National Rifle Association. Brand new Swedish
M1945 sub-machine guns started coming out to the clubs.
They were government owned, but were permitted to be
taken home by those club members capable of handling
them safely. Other guns were kept in the clubhouse at the
range for instruction purposes. Army and Home Guard
instructors, comparable to the U.S. National Guard, showed
the club members how to handle the guns. Every club
member of 17 or over was allowed to shoot the sub-machine
gun. While the kids start in firing the Mauser at 14, for
safety reasons youngsters must just watch shooting the
automatic arms until they are 17.
To buy a sub-machine gun, the shooter needs a license,
but he doesn't get it by just asking for it. He must be a
good shot, preferably wearing the official golden badge for
automatic firearm marksmanship on his shooting coat, and
he must be considered a good, reputable citizen. The gun,
factory new, will cost him the equivalent of $25 U.S.
money. For a couple of dollars extra, he can get a carrying
case with extra magazines, cleaning kit, and shooting sling.
Because prices and wages are zlittle different from country
to country, a comparison of values might be useful. The
Swedish sub-machine gun costs with all its gadgets the
equivalent of two pairs of good shoes.
When the shooter gets the tommy gun, the next thing is,
what to do with it? There is the question of ammunition.
The standard 9mm Parabellum ammunition is made in
government ammo plants and by two private makers. At
current prices in Sweden the cartridges cost five shots for
one "crown." A Swedish shop worker, a man who operates
a lathe or milling machine, will have a wage of about four