I Gotta Fever , And The Only Cure Is ....

[Fourtyfive]

No , not more cow bell ..... help me find the best price on a Thompson 1927 Deluxe with a 50 round drum ......

 

[bigun]

I've been wanting one for a long time, maybe some day. :up:

[Fourtyfive]

I believe that's a 100 round drum in the pic which adds about $450 to the price , the way most are sold is with a 50 drum and 30 stick. I'm ready to get one but I'm not sure where I'm getting it from yet. I believe the best price I saw the other day was around $1,100.

[Johnny Rotten]

Here you go

http://www.subguns.com/classifieds/index.cgi?db=nfafirearms&website=&language=&session_key=&search_and_display_db_button=on&results_format=long&db_id=25399&query=retrieval

[Fourtyfive]

Here you go
http://www.subguns.com/classifieds/index.cgi?db=nfafirearms&website=&language=&session_key=&search_and_display_db_button=on&results_format=long&db_id=25399&query=retrieval

Why you gotta do a man like that ? I've found FA's for around $20,000 , just not my target. Edited March 5, 2015 by Fourtyfive

[wileecoyote]

I've got a nice one, deluxe kit with original factory custom fit case, drum mag, several stick mags in both sizes, several vintage WWII mags and original WWII mag pouches, military cleaning kit, and optional factory violin case too. I was thrilled to get it, shot it only a few times, cleaned it with a microscope, and has been in the safe ever since.

I have to admit it's cool to have, but it is also not as nice or as much fun as I had envisioned. It's extremely heavy unloaded, and an absolute anvil when loaded especially with a full drum. Cleaning is a pain if you do it right, especially the mags. And the bullets travel so slow out the long barrel that you can actually see them on the way to the target. Accuracy is marginal, and decent ammo is not so cheap anymore. Loading the drum mags is tedious, and if you don't do it right they won't run properly.

Not trying to discourage you, just suggesting that it's not worth paying a small fortune for 1 unless you really want a good looking safe queen.

[bigun]

Here you go

http://www.subguns.com/classifieds/index.cgi?db=nfafirearms&website=&language=&session_key=&search_and_display_db_button=on&results_format=long&db_id=25399&query=retrieval

Now I've got drool all over my key board.

[hipower]

I've got a nice one, deluxe kit with original factory custom fit case, drum mag, several stick mags in both sizes, several vintage WWII mags and original WWII mag pouches, military cleaning kit, and optional factory violin case too. I was thrilled to get it, shot it only a few times, cleaned it with a microscope, and has been in the safe ever since.

I have to admit it's cool to have, but it is also not as nice or as much fun as I had envisioned. It's extremely heavy unloaded, and an absolute anvil when loaded especially with a full drum. Cleaning is a pain if you do it right, especially the mags. And the bullets travel so slow out the long barrel that you can actually see them on the way to the target. Accuracy is marginal, and decent ammo is not so cheap anymore. Loading the drum mags is tedious, and if you don't do it right they won't run properly.

Not trying to discourage you, just suggesting that it's not worth paying a small fortune for 1 unless you really want a good looking safe queen.

Ok...now that you've ruined it for us all. Why do you still have it? LOL

Just kidding. My father-in-law has one. I think it's been out of the safe twice since getting it.

Lots of fun. Costly to shoot these days. And as you say, heavy on the cleaning and loading time.

[Fourtyfive]

Now I'm depressed and headed for bed ....

Well since you don't like yours anymore how bout I give you $500 for it ? :) Edited March 5, 2015 by Fourtyfive

[Guest mechanically]

I was REALLY surprised at how difficult these are to control in full-auto. They just walk all over the place. You'd think as heavy as they are, they'd just sit in place while they pop away, but it takes a lot of work to keep them from running away from you. 

[Glock30]

I was REALLY surprised at how difficult these are to control in full-auto. They just walk all over the place. You'd think as heavy as they are, they'd just sit in place while they pop away, but it takes a lot of work to keep them from running away from you.

But the recoil is a pleasure :)

[Keyless]

 At that price I am guessing you are looking at the ones by Auto Ordnance now being made by Khar. If so My brother in law bought one last year. I had always wanted one also but that idea is long gone now. 

 

 Other than the normal complaint , VERY HEAVY , it is also VERY hard to cock and put a round in the chamber . The spring pressure is unreal . His has been pretty bad to jam as well . First I found a bur on the extractor that helped but he still has problems with one of the magazines. To me the barrel is too long because of the NFA  and it just doesn't have the look in person of the real thing. It still looks good but I kept saying , something just doesn't look right.

 

  He probably should have been sent back for repair but after a little research on google he just kept trying this and that and it does OK now but it is not great. Seems the problems are common and that sending it back for repair seldom got them repaired. He did buy a drum magazine but then had problems with the bolt staying back after almost every shot. I contacted Khar by email and the only reply was send it in for repair , so they might have fixed it but he did not want to send it back . He had to replace the spring for the bolt hold open . This was a new gun not used and he has finally gotten around 400 rounds through it. It does work better with the drum now than the stick magazine.

 

 Would he buy one again ? NO way . Would I buy one ? I had always wanted one and several years ago I had the money with me and found one. I picked it up , looked it over and held it for a while . Too heavy for me and I walked away with the money still in my pocket. After shooting his and seeing the problems his has had , No way . 

 

 Do yourself a favor and do some research of problems , customer service and find one you can put in your hands before you buy one . Keep in mind the semi auto versions are totally different inside in order to work from a closed bolt . One of the things they did when making them semi auto , was to move the height of the bolt so that a full auto bolt can't be installed . In trying to change the existing gun so that it meets the non NFA requirements you end up with something that wasn't designed to work that way . If it had been designed as a semi auto or closed bolt gun from the start , I think it might have worked better . 

Edited March 5, 2015 by Keyless

[daddyo]

[URL=http://s551.photobucket.com/user/gd2bntn/media/Miscellaneous/Christopher-Walken-fever.gif.html][/URL]

[Fourtyfive]

Ok , dream shattered , how bout a AR45 ? :( Edited March 5, 2015 by Fourtyfive

[wileecoyote]

I did forget about the insanely hard bolt spring, which is indeed a pain. And the drum mags are a little bit of work to install and remove.

BUT....

I have had absolutely no quality or functioning issues whatever, and I know at least 4 other people that own these (both Kahr and Thompson) and they have never had any issues either. So I wouldn't be discouraged by a single bad review, every gun has a few bad lemons out there somewhere.

And in fact I do still like mine, and doubt I'll ever sell it. It's just cool to look at, share with new shooters, and shoot (and then clean) very rarely.

Just wanted to share the ups and downs with you in case you had visions of shooting often, running it with one hand, or cleaning it up in short order like most other guns. As long as you are aware of the unique properties of this gun then it's still a great investment, just not worth an extreme amount IMHO. Now go get one!

[hipower]

Ok , dream shattered , how bout a AR45 ? :(

Don't get really down on these. Yes they can be a problem in some cases, but what specialty firearm isn't at one point or another.

To address mechanically's comments first. I've shot several Thompsons. I won't say they are hard to control, at least not to the extent I/you can't hit your intended target with one.

Yes, they rise, low left to high right, but if you control the trigger, and it really doesn't take much effort to do so; you can pretty accurately hit man-sized targets with 2 and 3 round bursts.

These are not 50 yard target guns. 50 yard spray yes. But I still think they are controllable to the point of 10-30 yard shots on a person. Maybe not a "placed" shot, but go with the characteristics of the weapon, and trigger/busrt control.

Spray and Pray is meant for the "oh ####" moments that we hope never to be in.

Heavy? Well for me that's subjective. Heavier than a 1911? Yes. Heavier than a normal AR/M16? Maybe, I don't know the weights on both right now.

But for range/out-in-the-woods shooting like we did, I only noticed it being a little heavier with the 100 round drum than the 20 round sticks.

Would I rush out to buy a Thompson/Auto Ordnance? Probably not. I would like to own one, and if I had the money and didn't have to worry about it, I probably would get one.

Just my thoughts on them.

Addendum. Do we now have an auto censor? Just noticed this above had been changed. Edited March 5, 2015 by hipower

[Fourtyfive]

Still want one .... Well Hickok45 is shooting a SBR , still seems accurate , but he is a much better shot than me ....

http://youtu.be/tAdJ3hy_TDc Edited March 5, 2015 by Fourtyfive

[A.J. Holst]

How about a .22 option

http://www.1022fungun.com/store/pc/home.asp

[Fourtyfive]

How about a .22 option
http://www.1022fungun.com/store/pc/home.asp

Nice , but I really want a .45 ...

[wileecoyote]

Heavy? Well for me that's subjective. Heavier than a 1911? Yes. Heavier than a normal AR/M16? Maybe, I don't know the weights on both right now.

But for range/out-in-the-woods shooting like we did, I only noticed it being a little heavier with the 100 round drum than the 20 round sticks.

 

Not much heavier than a normal AR? Only a little heavier? Holy smokes. You must have the strength of Atlas, or perhaps your brain is repressing the horrific memories of the severe weight and recoil. LOL  :eek:

 

Here are the actual stats:

 

Thompson 1927A-1 "Deluxe Semi-Auto" T1:

 

Gun w/30 rd. stick mag, steel rcvr 13.0 lbs

30 rds. 45 acp 1.4 lbs

TOTAL 14.4 lbs

 

Gun w/50 rd. drum mag, steel rcvr 15.6 lbs

50 rds. 45 acp 2.4 lbs

TOTAL 18.0 lbs

 

Gun w/100 rd. drum mag, steel rcvr 16.8 lbs

100 rds. 45 acp 4.8 lbs

TOTAL 21.6 lbs

 

 

Colt AR-15 16" Carbine LE6920:

 

Gun w/30 rd. factory mag 6.9 lbs

30 rds. 5.56 NATO 0.8 lbs

TOTAL 7.7 lbs

 

Gun w/60 rd. surefire mag 7.0 lbs

60 rds. 5.56 NATO 1.6 lbs

TOTAL 8.6 lbs

 

Gun w/100 rd. beta drum mag 9.9 lbs

100 rds. 5.56 NATO 2.6 lbs

TOTAL 12.5 lbs

 

So these Tommy guns actually weigh twice or more what an AR15 would weigh with a similar number of cartridges loaded up. Not to mention the additional weight of any extra mags, ammo, and loading tools you would have to lug around. Doesn't prevent them from being fun at the range, but I have never seen a shooter handle the gun and fail to comment about the extreme weight, and even the big guys don't hold it up on target for too long before resting their arms.

Edited March 5, 2015 by wileecoyote

[hipower]

Ok, you are right. I guess I really just didn't notice the weight. So maybe just faulty memory. It has been a couple of years back.

But weight aside, I stand by the other comments. Maybe if I carried one all day long?

[wileecoyote]

Ok, you are right. I guess I really just didn't notice the weight. So maybe just faulty memory. It has been a couple of years back.

But weight aside, I stand by the other comments. Maybe if I carried one all day long?

If you were lucky enough to shoot an SBR with a short thin barrel and no huge Cutts compensator, and maybe also an aluminum receiver, that would shave about 5-8 lbs. off for sure. But then I would expect the recoil and muzzle climb to be worse, and I would not expect the receiver to hold up well to the battering from the extremely strong action springs. Still lots of fun though, and once the lead starts flying and targets start falling, it's easy to forget about the weight. Edited March 5, 2015 by wileecoyote

[TNWNGR]

I was REALLY surprised at how difficult these are to control in full-auto. They just walk all over the place. You'd think as heavy as they are, they'd just sit in place while they pop away, but it takes a lot of work to keep them from running away from you. 

It's all about proper stance and burst control otherwise it's pray and spray. Furthermore its a sub sonic pistol cartridge fired from a carbine length barrel so yes its going to be slow. One of the primary things the original Thompson was conceived as being was a trench broom but it just came a bit late for that role.  

If you ever have the chance to do so shoot a Thompson alongside an M&P 5, Stengun and Sterling. Aside from it's crappy folding stock you'll come away the most impressed with the Sterling.

[10-Ring]

I have a friend that has one, his gets the safe queen award as well, really cool gun but it's just no something that gets used.

[btq96r]

I have to admit it's cool to have, but it is also not as nice or as much fun as I had envisioned. It's extremely heavy unloaded, and an absolute anvil when loaded especially with a full drum. Cleaning is a pain if you do it right, especially the mags. And the bullets travel so slow out the long barrel that you can actually see them on the way to the target. Accuracy is marginal, and decent ammo is not so cheap anymore. Loading the drum mags is tedious, and if you don't do it right they won't run properly.

 

My buddy had one (not in full auto), but it mostly sat in the safe for the reasons you mention.  When we did bring it out to the range, it was the envy of all around us.  It was fun to shoot for a few rounds, but yeah, it's more cool than practical, and the cool wears off faster than you might think. 

 

That being said, if it's something anybody really wants in their collection, and they have the disposable income....why not.  It does have a place in the history of American firearms.