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[punisheryayarea]

....

[fal_762x51]

Get a Thompson first! Classic, beautiful and a real head turner. I'm a sucker for WWII firearms, you should be too.

[Z ME FLY]

I have shot a USC before but never a tommy. I would mos def get the tommy gun first.

[Massappeal]

I say USC because tommy gun with 10rd is FTL

[CAL.BAR]

actually, you should approach this by which gun you may not be able to get "someday" whenever you're ready to buy it. There are far fewer USC's in the country than Tommy knock offs. So logic dictates that you should get the USC first. Plus, the USC really needs to be converted to the UMP style with the UMP stock etc. and those parts are readily available now, and may not be in the future.

RE: the guns, I have both a RAW Tommy and USC/UMP. I like the Tommy, but it weighs a ton and is unweildy. However, it has no recoil and is a show stopper at the range. The USC is just the opposite. Its so light, that there is significant recoil and vibration and generally isn't really ploeasant to shoot for a long period of time. However, after conversion to the UMP style and an Eotech on top it is a tack driver at shorter ranges and really tacticool.

[Cobrafreak]

I vote for the Tommy. Don't get the "Drum Only" model. Get the one that allows both stick and drum. The drums are cool looking but a pain in the @%& to load, especially in CA with a BB.

[b.faust]

I'd totally go with the Thompson.

[Josh3239]

I've shot a Thompson M1A1 auto and held my cousins semi-auto "Tommy gun" and I have shot an HK USC. I'd go with the USC. I found the USC lighterweight, more accurate, and far more comfortable. Additionally, the ability to mount optics and accessories makes it a much more useful rifle. High caps, caliber conversions, and UMP conversions are now offered for the USC if you ever get out of state.

I personally would love to own a USC and have no interest in owning a "Tommy gun". If I did get that bug I'd rather spend the money on the conversion kit for the 10/22, atleast with the 10/22 conversion kit you can still add some sort of an optic and have more available and different magazines and aftermarket parts to make the rifle more enjoyable such as trigger kits, barrels, etc. Of course .22LR is fun and cheap.

[bombadillo]

I'd go with the HK also. Mostly for the reasons stated above but its just more functional for Cali. They have a lot of potential.

[tiger222]

I'd vote for the USC, the Tommy probably weighs a metric ton.

[69Mach1]

USC, then convert into a UMP.

[xfilterx]

I'd go USC. The Tommy is a knock off, weighs a ton, and it'll only be fun for a short while. It's one of those guns that you'd love to shoot if your friend had one at the range but not to own. The USC is extremely light weight and despite one of the original comments, it has virtually no felt recoil, is very quite, and can be dressed up with accessories or even converted to a UMP .45 with little work/money or with some amount of work/money to a 9mm or .40 S&W.

[Josh3239]

... and despite one of the original comments, it has virtually no felt recoil

You know, I wasn't going to bring that up but I completely agree. I don't know why that guy said that but I found the USC very easy to control, almost no felt recoil and extremely comfortable to shoulder. When I shot the auto M1A1 that was some serious muzzle rise.

[Sicarius]

I had the same issue back in 99... Could only afford one and I bought the thompson. I never looked back. I would like a USC but there is something classic about the thompson that a plastic gun can't replace.
Kevin

[patriot_man]

thompson!

you could occasionally dress up...