(Notebook, this is written in the context of a Marvel Superheroes world using D20modern, but the idea works in Weird War 2 and Pulp settings. The SMG-specific concept can be adapted to Thompson's in a interwar setting.)
In the context of comicbook and pulp stories, firearms using Heroes have a conundrum. A gun is terribly useful in defeating the robots/aliens/zombies of the Arch Mastermind. At the same time you want to avoid killing henchmen as much as possible. Regular or Armor Piercing ammo works well against the inhuman threat but tends to kill regular folk. Stun, Rubber, Mercy or Tranq rounds neutralize human foes easily but are useless against the villain's inhuman forces.
For pistols, the answer is easy. Carry two of them. One loaded with stun ammo and the other with regular rounds. But SMGs and Shotguns are a better choice to win the fight generally and two of them tend to be cumbersome.
Double barrel shotguns often have separate hammers or triggers so that one can choose the round they are firing. The Keltec KSG is another real world answer with seven rounds of either ammo available at the push of a switch. (free action).
(In reality there was a German SMG that had a dual feed system. Due to it's construction, it had problems bending at the magwell that would not be an issue for tommyguns or purpose built weapons. It was found that the problems of fragility and extra weight invalidated the benefits of extra capacity. However, the existence of this gun proves the concept's viablity)
The Fury SMG was developed during WWII to increase the firepower of Special Forces and enable fighters to quickly switch between ammo types. Thompsons and Sten Guns (in .45 ACP and 9mm respectively) were the first to be modified by Fury.
The modification clipped together two or three magazines and loaded from the side. One one magazine was empty, the follower automatically pushed the magazine group to the left (or to the bottom in the case of Sten Guns) and resumed firing with the next mag. A selector switch let soldiers choose which mag to fire from manually as well (free action).
All Fury SMGs have a semiauto option. Fury SMGs cannot interchange their magazines with regular models of the same weapon due to the differences in design. Each additional mag adds to the weight and encumbarance of the SMG.
The Fury design requires an open bolt weapon, making it illegal for civilians to own. Also any Fury SMG cannot be inherently accurate (no masterwork bonus to hit). MP5's and most rifles cannot be converted with the Fury modification because of this.
Modern Alloys and polymers have been used to design the lighter Stark/Fury Mk IV SMG. This cutting edge weapon is in use with many governments and heroic organizations.
The Tec 9 Fury was an experiment in creating a dualfeed pistol it can only connect 2 mags. While considered a failure due to its bulk and weight, it is quite popular with criminals and terrorists because of its extended capacity. Embarrassingly, the design is manufactured by several illegal knock-off weapons manufacturers.
Revolving grenade launchers use a 2 stage trigger, one click to move a round into firing position, second click fires. Experienced users can thus click and reset to choose different rounds. Revolving Grenade Launchers come in 6 round and 12 round variants.
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