C&R and Machine guns question

[Flyboy73]

I am thinking about getting a C&R since my cosmoline coated collection seems to getting bigger. In reading the ATF site it has a list of machine guns as C&R. I would really like to own a WWII Thompson.

How does getting one work with the C&R? Can you just buy one and own or is there more paperwork involved?

Also what would it cost to get a Thompson? And where can I find them?

Brion

 

[Chipperman]

You still have to do a Form 4. The only difference is that you don't need the NFA dealer, and it can be shipped to your house when the Form 4 is Approved.

 

[Father Knows Best]

A fully automatic Thompson is a regulated machine gun under the NFA. You need to pay the $200 transfer tax, and get the background check (the big one that takes a long time, not the NICS check you get for buying any gun).

Transferable (to private citizens) tommy guns don't come up for sale very often. When they do, they command very high prices. The last time I saw one for sale, the price was in the high teens, I think. Yes, that's $15,000+.

Machine guns are an expensive hobby. I hope you have a LOT of extra money. I get to play with them periodically, but that's only because my dad works for a Class III dealer. They have a lot of dealer sample full autos that we can take out and shoot. Private citizens can't buy those, however. The cheapest transferable full autos I've ever seen in there were Rugers (mini-14 platform full autos) that sold for around $6,000 each.

 

[Chipperman]

The least expensive MG's are Macs. They are going for about $2500 now.

Curiously, a lot of the C&R Thompons are not actually originals. Thompsons can go from about $10k to over $25k, depending on what it is. They come up for sale a lot if you know where to look.

The best sites to use for MG's are Sturmgewehr and Subguns.

 

[Buzztail]

There are plenty of transferable classIII guns for less than 6K. You just have to figute out what you want. Just remember it takes just as long to sell one as it does to buy one- so if your inclined to do a bunch of trading, they may not be your best bet.

 

[Father Knows Best]

Thompsons are among the highest priced subguns, especially for originals. Everybody in the U.S. knows them, so demand is high relative to supply. Original uncut guns go for $20,000 and up.

There are indeed cheaper full autos available, such as the Macs. The stuff most guys want, though, such as M2 carbines, M16s, etc., is expensive because demand far exceeds supply. Sear guns and other full auto conversions of things like MP5s tend to be less, as are REWATs (reactivated war trophies) and oddballs.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

C&R vs Machinegun

The only thing having a C&R license does it allow you to buy a C&R machinegun from out of state without having to go through a dealer in your home state. A side benefit is that a couple of states only allow C&R machineguns. The rest of the process is identical to a non-licensee buying a NFA registered machinegun.

 

[jefnvk]

A side benefit is that a couple of states only allow C&R machineguns.

Michigan, for example.

 

[armoredman]

PPsH41????

 

[Flyboy73]

Thanks for the Info. Reading the C&R info peaked my intrest. Last year i had to pass up a Invitation from the FBI to come shoot MP5's and thompsons. :banghead: Hoping the invitation comes again this year.

Brion

 

[Sunray]

"...Everybody in the U.S. knows them..." And elsewhere. Owning a Thompson SMG is the dream of any shooter who grew up watching Vic Morrow on 'Combat'. Any 'Chopper' would do, but our idiot government up here created 2nd class citizens in 1978. No more new FA permits up here. 'Grandfathered' existing owners. I know a guy who has an unfired, since the factory, 1928. Same guy has a BAR that was made for the civilian market in the 1920's. Friggin' thing has a beautiful burly walnut stock(what you'd see on the most expensive custom hunting rifle) and the old style, rich, S&W bluing on the steel. Even the mags. It's blue, not black. It's a work of art.
However, W.W. II Thompsons came in several flavours. You need to decide how much money you want to spend, think 5 figures, and live in a State that allows FA. You should re-read the C&R rules too. You have written records you must keep for any firearm you buy with it too. If I'm not confused again.
Flyboy73, doesn't it suck when the real world wrecks your recreation. Call the guy who invited you and ask. In the old days, you could have just gone to the Second Chance Shoot and shot them all. M2 BMG's, Choppers, MP5's, Reisings, M-16K's, Vickers MG's. Ah, the old days are gone forever. Sad. So it is.

 

[Father Knows Best]

When I was a kid, I got to shoot a M1928 Thompson and a German MP40 quite a bit. They belonged to a local university museum (which still has them), and my dad was allowed to check them out pretty much whenever he wanted. He even used to bring them to my school for display when we were studying WWII (boy those were the days). Because we had them around so much, I don't think I ever realized how lucky I was.

Now I'm fortunate that my dad works for a C3 dealer, and my brother is an LEO on SWAT. When I visit my brother, we go shoot his department-issue G36 and MP5, and the department even provides all the ammo! When I visit my father, we get to take any of the dealer sample MGs out to the range and burn some ammo. I've shot everything from a .308 conversion MG42 (1200 rounds per minute of belt-fed madness!) to a space age FN P90. I don't own any MGs, myself, but I hope that will change someday soon.

 

[Jim K]

Chipperman wrote, "You still have to do a Form 4. The only difference is that you don't need the NFA dealer..."

Actually, no NFA dealer is needed for any intrastate (within a state) NFA item transfer unless some state law requires a dealer be involved. As far as Federal law is concerned, once the Form 4 is approved for an intrastate transfer, the transferor can ship the gun or deliver it in person to the transferee.

Jim

 

[Chipperman]

I was referring to interstate, but you are correct about intrastate.

 

[guy sajer]

1942 Savage M1

There are cheaper Class 3 firearms , but the Thompson is King .

 

[Stickjockey]

>Wipes drool from the keyboard<

Now that's a thing of beauty!