Auto Ordinance Thompson

[Peter M. Eick]

Ok, I know its not that practical but I have this on and off desire to pick up one of the semi auto versions. Since I am in a class 3 state, I figured it would get a 1927A-1 SBR version. This is one of the original polished type and not the WWII parkerized version.

To me this will be just a toy, play with at the range. I have no delusions that it will be any sort of target piece or home protection rifle. More just something to play with.

I have read most of the old posts via search, but there has not been much talking about it in the last few years. From this effort I learned it is exceptionally heavy (15 lbs give or take).

So does anyone have one or have any experience and comments?

 

[Lj1941]

A good friend has one. It is in my opinion OK to look at. It looks neat but is too clumsy ,heavy and not really practical as a semi automatic weapon.I have never fired my friends and have no desire to do so.I would far rather have a Kel Tec sub 2000 in 9mm or 40 s&w.:banghead:

 

[kimbershot]

had the m1 carbine version. i shot lead rn and fmj. the rifle worked good with the one factory mag and intermittent with ww2 mags (modified). you can also put in an original mag release that will allow you to use ww2 mags unmodified. using drums on a 1927 model-not to my liking--but it's your choice.

the sbr would be very cool looking. my carbine was accurate to 50yds (never went to 100). there is no recoil--absorbed by the weight. it would be great for knocking down steel targets. i would guess the 1927 to be as much fun.

the m1 was beautifully made and finished. the only issues--it was too heavy and very awkward to hold. i considered the sbr route but to spend the $$ on a stamp and the cost of a smith to rebarrel--i could not justify. i sold it for what i paid for it pre dec. 2012 crazy time. if you can--try one out before you buy.

fwiw--i did opt for a 45uzi and got a stamp for that--it's a small package that fits easily in a floor safe.

you may also want to considered an ar-45?

 

[Mango88]

I recently sold my Thompson, it was too heavy to be practical and to carry. It was uncomfortable to me due to a tendon injury. However they are neat to look at and their weight does soak up the recoil nicely. If you do get one be sure to order an extra extractor and a couple extra of the third hand tool. You'll need a rubber mallet for assembly/disassembly.

If you pick up some extra mags and they are GI you may have to enlarge the hole in them slightly with a file so that they will lock in, not hard to do and will save you a few bucks as the GI mags are usually cheaper.

Have fun, I hope that you have a good source of.45 acp or reload as it can get expensive to shoot at today's prices.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

The semi-auto Thompson 10.5 to 12 pounds. Going by my bathroom scale adjusted to weigh a 10lb bag of shot or a 10lb dumbell at 10lbs, my AutoOrdnance TM1 with ful 30 round magazine weighs 12 pounds. I have seen 15 pounds for the 1927 semi-auto with a full 50 round drum. The newer Kahr AutoOrdnance versions are offered in steel like my old West Hurley (same weight) but they do offer aluminum receiver/aluminum frame versions that come in at 8 lbs.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I've had one for years.


As has been said, it's big and heavy but fun to shoot.

I wouldn't sell it but I also would not buy it again. The novelty wears off pretty quick.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

M2Carbine, have you checked the trap in the butt to see if they included an oiler? That was like an unexpected bonus or easter egg on mine.

 

[Grunt Medic TXARNG]

Though I can understand the nostalgic appeal of the Thompson platform, its lack of practicality makes it a bit of a one trick pony from my own standpoint.

Another option is to get the MGI Hydra AR rifle - by switching out mag well, bolt and barrel you can go from .45 fed by M3 Grease Gun mags, to 9mm fed by Colt or modded Uzi mags, to 9mm, 10mm, .40 or .45 fed by Glock mags. Then by the same process you can configure the rifle to fire .22, 5.45R, 5.56, 6.5, 6.8, .300 BLK, 7.62R, or 7.62x51. This route has the advantage of one tax stamp to SBR the lower, which you can then run in multiple calibers.

I have a Hydra in 7.62R or 5.56, set up to take either AK or AR mags. I'll have to do an NFA trust first, but I plan to SBR it as soon as I can.

https://www.mgi-military.com/store/index.php?category=10

 

[dprice3844444]

my buddy had a brand new semi.fired 1 shot and the extractor popped out jamming up the bolt.none of the mag holes where the catch fit in were even close.

 

[BigG]

The original Thompsons had 10" bbls, IIRC. The 18" bbls on the SA jobs really spoil the looks to me. I shot the 1921 and the 1928 Auto Ordnance built by Colt. Cool to shoot and heavy, too.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I agree BigG which is why I would get the short barreled rifle version.

Thanks for the info. Just so folks know, I am not interested in a 45 carbine or something like that. I would only buy a Thompson as a carbine. It would just be a pure toy for the absolute heck of it.

So what is the "third hand tool"?

 

[dfariswheel]

The "third hand" tool is a device that you use to lock the bolt open while changing the drum magazines.
It's just a flat plate shaped to slide up the box magazine rails behind a drum so you can activate the bolt lock to lock the bolt open.
You can't install or remove a drum unless the bolt is locked back.

Auto Ordnance also sell an SBR model with the original type detachable 1921/28 buttstock. That's the way to go because it looks a lot more like an original Thompson SMG.

The Thompson IS heavy, bulky, and clumsy. So was the original SMG. In all those TV shows and movies where people are waving a Thompson around, the gun is rubber. When they're shown actually firing the gun it's the real thing and the gun looks heavy because it is.

Where the Semi-auto Thompson "fits" is the same place as a replica of a single action six gun or a Winchester lever rifle: As a firing replica of an original firearm.
The only difference is, the semi-auto gun is as close as most of us will ever get to a full-auto Thompson gun.

The things are just plain FUN to shoot and that's the best reason to own one.

 

[BigG]

Thompsons are definitely fun to shoot, heavy, and awkward, but loads of fun and everybody recognizes them.

I also shot an M1 Thompson from WWII era. It had the stick magazine while one of the old 28 Thompsons had a 50 round drum. What a kick!

 

[Magnuumpwr]

Left handed shooters beware, anyone of your trigger pulls could unexpectedly drop your stick mag. Also be mindful of the extractor. I have a newer 1927 that the extractor pulled loose then bent when the bolt closed on a live round. This could cause a kaboom.

 

[Phantom Captain]

Well, honestly, I love mine. Got my SBR tax stamp last year and it totally changed the whole game. One of my good friends is a machinist and we cut mine down to the way it's supposed to be. They just don't look right to me with the long "incorrect" barrel. I find mine shoots great. Yeah, it's heavy, it's bulky, it's awkward, but it points great, has no recoil, and puts the rounds right where you eye them. The power behind this thing spitting big ole .45 ACP the way it does, up close like, is eye opening. I wouldn't trade mine for anything. It's definitely a crowd pleaser at the range. It is funny though that when people hold it most are really shocked by the weight. There is just something iconic and magical about an SBR Thompson. They are completely FUN.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Why did you decide on the M1 version vs. a 1927 A1?

 

[Phantom Captain]

Who me?

I liked and wanted the military version better. I really enjoy surplus WWII rifles and wanted the M1 to fit in with the general collection.

 

[BigG]

The 1928A1 FA or 1927A1 was also military issue so it would fit a WWII collection if that's what you wanted.

 

[Phantom Captain]

Yes, but I always really loved the plain stripped down look of the M1.

After getting my tax stamp and making it an SBR it's gone back to the top of my favorites.

 

[Havok7416]

I recently bought a 1927 A1 and I had a slew of problems right out of the box. Both mags (drum and stick) were damaged and the drum had to go back for warranty. They fixed that issue quickly and the stick mag was fixed on-site.

As the OP stated, my Thompson is also just a range toy and nothing more, but for all that, the mags are hard to load and insert into the gun, it's heavy and awkward.

Accuracy is awesome and recoil is non-existent. I would shoot mine more but I'm waiting on a bullet shipment.

If you get the M1 version it doesn't take the drum mags which eliminates the need for the third hand tool.

I love my Thompson and wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

The "Tommy Gun" has a history and esthetic appearance that has always intrigued me. I would absolutley LOVE to own one, with both stick and drum magazines.

I'd even consider full-auto and the paperwork that goes along with it.

As for it's weight...that wouldn't bother me. It was never intended to be a light gun...it was intended to be a portable machine gun which used pistol ammunition instead of rifle ammunition, to be carried and fired from the hip by soldiers on the run. To that end, it was perfectly suited.

Didn't work out practically and economically speaking for a variety of reasons, but still a well built and reliable gun for it's purpose.

Kind of out of my budget right now, at hefty 5-figures on the price tag...but one can dream, right?

 

[arizona98tj]

They are indeed heavier than I had ever imagined. During one of my last handgun training courses, I took advantage of the offer to buy a magazine of .45ACP and run it through a Tommy gun. After a couple of quick blasts, I couldn't help but dump the remainder of the mag with but one squeeze of the trigger. Lots of fun, no doubt about it! Talk about a way to eat ammo fast!

 

[aka108]

I've seen a few but never like the barrel length on the SA only version that you can buy over the counter. I had many opportunitys in the Navy to fire the Thompsons. Lot fun tossing a piece of scrap 2x4 off the stern and shooting at it from the fantail. We had to use up our ammo allotment or face loosing part of it.

 

[Riven_Cole]

my experience

i had one of these once. made by thompson after the kahr buyout. way too much is mimmed (mold-injection metal formed a.k.a. investment casted) now
buy an older used one from before thompson was bought out. trust me it will save you money and headache. the one i had jammed on the THIRD round and the extractor shattered. magazine would not eject and the live round chambered would not come out due to debris from the extractor. went to gunsmith to have mag and round removed and cleaned prior to sending it to manufacturer
they "repaired it" by replacing the extractor and allegedly test firing 90 rounds from it (yeah... sure)
got it back with clean barrel, fired it and FIRST FRIGGEN shot same thing. only this time the mag release was also a casualty as well as the ejector. sent it back (again) after another trip to the gun smith, got it back (again) and the SAME THING HAPPENED!!!! i only used standard 45 acp factory rounds. no reloads or remanufactured rounds. gunsmith figures their mim process simply sucked. now i hate mim as well... wonder why?
anyway, asked dealer for refund was told i had to go to the manufacturer. so i contacted thompson/kahr and they said send it in and they will issue a refund. okay, no problem. i sent it in. kahr/thompson spent 6 months telling me to basically bugger off. when i threatened to sue them i got my refund 3 weeks later.
sorry to complain like this but this seems to me the state of modern gun manufacturing. marlin (a.k.a. remlin since they were bought out by remington then all but disbanded the lever action branch) is the same.

the point? if you really want a tommy get an older one. avoid the newer ones like the plague. again sorry for the wall-o-text complaint.

 

[Tommygunn]

The original Thompsons had 12" bbls, IIRC. The 18" bbls on the SA jobs really spoil the looks to me. I shot the 1921 and the 1928 Auto Ordnance built by Colt. Cool to shoot and heavy, too.

Not to be picky but original Thompsons had 10.5" barrels.