Tommy Gun SBR

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Has anyone made a Tommy Gun SBR using the Auto Ordnance Thompson pistol and attaching a stock? Do the Auto Ordnance pistols have the ability to have a stock affixed without gunsmithing (drilling holes, modifying the pistol, etc)?
 
Has anyone made a Tommy Gun SBR using the Auto Ordnance Thompson pistol and attaching a stock? Do the Auto Ordnance pistols have the ability to have a stock affixed without gunsmithing (drilling holes, modifying the pistol, etc)?

The 1928 stock slid on and has a spring loaded catch behind the receiver, while the military M1 and M1A1 versions had stocks that were attached by screws.
It's my understanding the AO version doesn't have facility for either type of stock.
Attaching one to create a SBR without satisfying NFA requirements is a bad thing. Do not attempt.
 
Best way would be to cut the barrel on the rifle version. However, I've owned one of the Auto Ordnance semi-auto Thompsons (Kahr made) and I disliked it very much. It was close to 50lbs force to cock it, we literally had to place the butt stock on our hips and use both hands to cock. I've seen one other that wasn't as bad but still far worse than you would expect from a thousand dollar gun. I would try to finger bang someone else's before committing to buying one but that's just my take. I bought the TM1 and was going to SBR it and decided to get rid of it shortly after purchasing.
 
Has anyone made a Tommy Gun SBR using the Auto Ordnance Thompson pistol and attaching a stock? Do the Auto Ordnance pistols have the ability to have a stock affixed without gunsmithing (drilling holes, modifying the pistol, etc)?

The lower on the pistol and the rifle are different.
The rifle lower has a threaded stud that sticks down below the lower and another threaded hole for attaching the butt stock that are absent on the pistol lower.
If memory serves me right (sometimes it don't) The uppers from the pistols would fit on the lower for the rifle.
Numrich has lowers, check with them to make sure it will work on your upper. File a form 1 and get your stamp.
Buy a rifle lower and stock and add it to your pistol.
 
I think spending $50 to have a barrel cut and recrowned is worth it over spending an extra $1000 for the factory SBR.
 
dogtown tom

Actually Vic Morrow hated lugging the Thompson around. So much so that eventually they made an all wood mock-up of a Thompson so it was a bit lighter for him to carry.

And if you think that's bad consider poor Paul Hogan (Kirby), who had to deal with a 24 lb. BAR throughout the series! That's some serious weight in a prop gun to be toting around!
 
dogtown tom

Actually Vic Morrow hated lugging the Thompson around. So much so that eventually they made an all wood mock-up of a Thompson so it was a bit lighter for him to carry.

And if you think that's bad consider poor Paul Hogan (Kirby), who had to deal with a 24 lb. BAR throughout the series! That's some serious weight in a prop gun to be toting around!


He he. Actually the B.A.R. was rented and it's actual owner didn't like the idea of it getting all dirty, so the prop department also made a wood BAR for Kirby to carry around!
I loved that series as a kid. Still do ~~~have the boxed set of DVDS so I can still enjoy it!
 
Tommygunn

Did not know that about Kirby's BAR! Thanks for the info! Makes sense since they could have given him an M1 like everybody else if the weight was that much of a problem to deal with!
Loved that show too, along with Rat Patrol, The Gallant Men, and Twelve O'Clock High.
 
I looked into what it took to sbr one. It is simpler to do a rifle, for a couple reasons. One, the pistols are alloy receivers, a nimber of people report that the alloy receivers dont hold up well to much use. I suppose someone will come along and inform us that they have one and have shot truckloads of ammo through theirs with zero problems and flawless performance, but, with as many people as say theyve had serious wear on the feed ramp without all that much use, Id suggest avoiding the alloy receivers.

The trigger frames can be changed, even the old military full auto trigger frames can work with some work on them, and no, theres not a problem using them, because one of the functional parts work in the semi auto guns, its done for looks.

Some cut down the factory barrel, some just install a factory or good quality aftermarket barrel of correct length (10.5"?). There are people that specialize in working on them, and the prices done seem too bad for whats involved. Another forum more orietned to full auto stuff has a semi-active section about the auto ordnance semi auto guns, its had quite a bit of unseful info. If its OK to link it I will.

There seems to be a fair number of people having problems with the auto ordnance and current guns, partly soft bolts that get dented on the lower face front probaly the feed ramp and wont then fit over the base of the shell, and other quirks. Be prepared for one to be a potential project to get running well. Again, I', sure well get reports of flawless performance, but,...with the number of people reporting problems, I'm just giving a heads up.

BTW, one of the things many do is use a softer recoil spring. Theres soruces of info and parts on the place I mentioned.
 
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I think spending $50 to have a barrel cut and recrowned is worth it over spending an extra $1000 for the factory SBR.
o_O Math much?
The MSRP (not street price) difference is $674...…….NOT an extra $1000.
MS1B SBR is $2,088msrp
TM1414 (not SBR) is $1414msrp

And getting a barrel cut and recrowned for $50? That's not the only expense of doing a Form 1...…..add in the cost of engraving the makers name and location as well.


The resale value of a factory SBR will always be worth more than a Form 1 SBR. Very few buyers want someone else's name on their purchase.
 
o_O Math much?
The MSRP (not street price) difference is $674...…….NOT an extra $1000.
MS1B SBR is $2,088msrp
TM1414 (not SBR) is $1414msrp

And getting a barrel cut and recrowned for $50? That's not the only expense of doing a Form 1...…..add in the cost of engraving the makers name and location as well.


The resale value of a factory SBR will always be worth more than a Form 1 SBR. Very few buyers want someone else's name on their purchase.

News flash you're paying the $200 tax either way which is why I didn't mention it. Engraving is another $20 if you can't do it yourself and yes $50 to cut the barrel. Just going off of what I pay. And most people don't have resale as their top priority when purchasing an NFA item. I said roughly $1,000 because I paid $950 for my TM1 brand new and saw the SBR for $2,088. Either way my point was it is cheaper to do it yourself and you get the bonus of being able to actually use the gun while you wait.
 
News flash you're paying the $200 tax either way which is why I didn't mention it.
News flash.....no kidding. o_O




Engraving is another $20 if you can't do it yourself and yes $50 to cut the barrel.
Only a fool would attempt to do their own engraving on a fine firearm.



Just going off of what I pay.
Not everyone has a competent gunsmith nearby. Shipping may be another expense.




And most people don't have resale as their top priority when purchasing an NFA item.
And if they are doing their own engraving I wonder why.:eek:


I said roughly $1,000 because I paid $950 for my TM1 brand new and saw the SBR for $2,088.
So you are comparing the street price you paid vs the MSRP from the manufacturers website? Wow. :rofl:
You don't really have any idea what the SBR model retails for do you?;)



Either way my point was it is cheaper to do it yourself and you get the bonus of being able to actually use the gun while you wait.
Cheaper is not always better.
 
Unless it’s a machine gun there doesn’t seem to be much of a second hand market for NFA stuff. I engraved my three SBRs and one SBS with a Dremel. I figure my heirs can worry about it.
 
Unless it’s a machine gun there doesn’t seem to be much of a second hand market for NFA stuff. I engraved my three SBRs and one SBS with a Dremel. I figure my heirs can worry about it.
All it takes to remove an SBR from the NFA is to reconfigure as a Title I firearm......yank the short barrel, sell the lower receiver separately.
 
All it takes to remove an SBR from the NFA is to reconfigure as a Title I firearm......yank the short barrel, sell the lower receiver separately.
I know that. It’s irrelevant to me.

I have no desire to give up something I paid an extra $200 to make. All my NFA stuff will transfer in full NFA form to my trustees.
 
Since a Kahr semi Thompson is not very practical for shooting (for reasons touched on in this thread), and you're buying it for looks and collectibility, why not consider a "dummy" Thompson instead?

There are "dummy" Thompson receivers available, that are as well made as the real thing, except that they are internally incomplete. A 2" section is left solid, so that a bolt cannot be inserted. Other than that, they accept all the original parts, including the trigger frame and the barrel. From the outside, they look indistinguishable from an original Thompson. If and when the Hughes Amendment is repealed, they could be manufactured into live guns. In the meantime there are no legal formalities needed to own one.

But hold onto your hats, though. A Richardson receiver plus an original parts kit is likely to set you back more than $3,000 (assuming you can do the assembly work yourself). They were cheaper at the height of the Russian importation glut.
 
I know that. It’s irrelevant to me.

I have no desire to give up something I paid an extra $200 to make. All my NFA stuff will transfer in full NFA form to my trustees.
But many do.
While there's little value right now in "disconfiguring" an AR15 SBR, during the Obama gun panics it was a way to easily sell your SBR for hundreds if not thousands of dollars more. I sold off one SBR lower receiver for considerably more than what I paid for the entire SBR.....and I kept the barreled upper. I sold that barreled upper two years ago for $600.
Original price in 2010 for that Colt 6920 factory SBR.....$800 (used)
Sold complete lower in 2011 for $1200, the barreled upper in 2016 for $600. Net profit $1,0000.

Then again I didn't Dremel my gun either.:D
 
But many do.
While there's little value right now in "disconfiguring" an AR15 SBR, during the Obama gun panics it was a way to easily sell your SBR for hundreds if not thousands of dollars more. I sold off one SBR lower receiver for considerably more than what I paid for the entire SBR.....and I kept the barreled upper. I sold that barreled upper two years ago for $600.
Original price in 2010 for that Colt 6920 factory SBR.....$800 (used)
Sold complete lower in 2011 for $1200, the barreled upper in 2016 for $600. Net profit $1,0000.

Then again I didn't Dremel my gun either.:D
I’m not many.

If there’s another opportunity for rape-level profits I have plenty of $49 Anderson lowers I can sell before I give up my two AR SBRs. Now that we’re living under 41F I can’t just simply efile another Form 1 to make a new one, so my NFA rifles will stay NFA.

I dremeled the barrels anyway.
 
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Best way would be to cut the barrel on the rifle version. However, I've owned one of the Auto Ordnance semi-auto Thompsons (Kahr made) and I disliked it very much. It was close to 50lbs force to cock it, we literally had to place the butt stock on our hips and use both hands to cock. I've seen one other that wasn't as bad but still far worse than you would expect from a thousand dollar gun. I would try to finger bang someone else's before committing to buying one but that's just my take. I bought the TM1 and was going to SBR it and decided to get rid of it shortly after purchasing.
My experience mirrors yours almost exactly ... I did have the pistol version once and thought about doing the SBR thing to make it actually shootable but decided I didn't enjoy it that much to begin with ...

OP, not wanting to burst your bubble ... your money, your gun!
 
In fairness, though, I've not often heard the word 'fine' applied to the new-manufacture Auto Ordnance Thompson replicas.

^ This. I was very tempted by their Thompson SBR. However, after owning their M1 Carbine, there is no way I'd own another one of their rifles. That M1 was absolute garbage.
 
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