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Also spelled "machine pistol," the machine-pistol is a relatively small, concealable handgun with a high rate of fire. Machine pistols are self-loading automatic handguns that can fire in intermittent or sustained bursts. Fed by a replaceable magazine that can hold up to 20 cartridges, machine pistols have been criticized for their inaccuracy (too much power and too little control against the weapon's kickback) and have come to be replaced by personal defense weapons, a compact version of a submachine gun.
"Machine pistol, 9mm, Model M.P. 40 "Schmeisser." Exhibited at Battery Randolph U.S. Army Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii" by J JMesserly is licensed under CC BY-SA.
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