Thompson Machine Gun
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News Shooter
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I got to shoot one for the first time last week. It was fun, jammed a few times but it was really heavy and I'm a big guy. I'd get a carbine version.
rbernie
Contributing Member
madcratebuilder
Member
It's heavy, 13 lbs unloaded, add a 50rd drum and it's really heavy. The new ones may need a bit of fine tuning to operate perfect, the sights are crap (it's NOT a target gun) It eats ammo faster than an AR. So if you want a large, unwieldy, not to practical, inaccurate ammo eater that is an absolute blast to shoot, get one. It's your money. I love mine.
Zach S
Member
I have two West Hurley 1927s. Fun guns. Despite the long, goofy looking bbls and the lack of da switch, they always attract a crowd at the range.
You can get used to the weight. I weigh 155 and dont have a problem with it. But for defense I'd rather have my AR which weighs about half of the thompson.
nwilliams
Member
There are a lot of mixed feeling about the gun, most don't like them because of the long barrel and the fact they are so heavy.
Personally I love mine, I picked up this one a couple months ago for $1180 brand new with the 50rd drum and violin case. Its the 1927A-1 Deluxe so it has a steel receiver. They do make an aluminum receiver version that only weighs 9 pounds but I really wanted a steel receiver on mine.
I've put a little over 500rds through it since I got it and the only jams I had were within the first 50rds I put through and only with the drum mag. Since then its gone bang every time, I think I might have over-cranked the drum mag the first time I loaded and that's why it jammed a couple times. I prefer to use the stick mags anyway they're easier to change, load, lighter and less cumbersome.
As far as the weight goes, I don't find it all that bad and I'm not a big guy, I wouldn't want to carry it around for long periods of time but when I take it out to the range I have no issues with the weight. There is almost no recoil and its reasonably accurate up to 100 yards which is the max range I've shot it at. Its not a target gun its a fun gun, its a great gun to shoot if you are feeling stressed out and just need to blow off some steam. Ammo is expensive these days so I can't shoot it as much as I'd like but I hardly have time to do much shooting these days anyway.
Here's mine.....
Personally I love mine, I picked up this one a couple months ago for $1180 brand new with the 50rd drum and violin case. Its the 1927A-1 Deluxe so it has a steel receiver. They do make an aluminum receiver version that only weighs 9 pounds but I really wanted a steel receiver on mine.
I've put a little over 500rds through it since I got it and the only jams I had were within the first 50rds I put through and only with the drum mag. Since then its gone bang every time, I think I might have over-cranked the drum mag the first time I loaded and that's why it jammed a couple times. I prefer to use the stick mags anyway they're easier to change, load, lighter and less cumbersome.
As far as the weight goes, I don't find it all that bad and I'm not a big guy, I wouldn't want to carry it around for long periods of time but when I take it out to the range I have no issues with the weight. There is almost no recoil and its reasonably accurate up to 100 yards which is the max range I've shot it at. Its not a target gun its a fun gun, its a great gun to shoot if you are feeling stressed out and just need to blow off some steam. Ammo is expensive these days so I can't shoot it as much as I'd like but I hardly have time to do much shooting these days anyway.
Here's mine.....
I am thinking about saving the coin for one of the new AO SBR thompsons w/ detachable buttstock. I already own an M1, and while I like it, I think it is more of a range gun. It's not really practical, and I don't know if I can justify spending that kind of money on something that would be just a toy.
dfariswheel
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
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The semi-auto Thompson more or less occupies the same place as the replicas of the Colt single action and the various Winchester lever actions: A shooting replica of an historical firearm.
Since originals are illegal to own without lots of paper work, and are simply banned in some areas, the semi-auto replica is as close as possible to the original and still be legal to own most places.
Like the original Thompson Submachine Gun, the semi is HEAVY, BULKY, and somewhat clumsy.
It's made of solid milled steel and American walnut, like the original, so it is heavy.
It's not a target rifle, a hunting rifle, a home defense rifle, or the latest in assault weapons. It was intended to be a "fun gun" and it more than meets that criteria.
Since originals are illegal to own without lots of paper work, and are simply banned in some areas, the semi-auto replica is as close as possible to the original and still be legal to own most places.
Like the original Thompson Submachine Gun, the semi is HEAVY, BULKY, and somewhat clumsy.
It's made of solid milled steel and American walnut, like the original, so it is heavy.
It's not a target rifle, a hunting rifle, a home defense rifle, or the latest in assault weapons. It was intended to be a "fun gun" and it more than meets that criteria.
mukluk
Member
Can't help but smile every time I take mine out for a spin 
Roswell 1847
member
A friend had a much cheaper alternative in a subgun replica. It was a .22 semi auto drum fed copy of the Soviet PPD style first generation subgun.
Wooden stock , with tubular receiver and perforated barrel jacket.
You couldn't hit the ground with it if you dropped it but it was fun to blase away a box of shells per drum. I think it was a Squire Bingham product.
http://207.234.249.73/gunfax/rimfires/ppscopy.htm
Theres an aluminun framed .22 Thompson also. It used a curved box magazine.
The American 180 comes in .22 and .22 Magnum with a Lewisgun style flat drum on top. I think they started making it again.
PS
Only Thompson I've owned is an Airsoft replica I picked up for 20 bucks used. Fun to play around with though its only a singleshot.
One of the first real guns I ever fired was an Uncles cased Salesman's sample Thompson 1928 model. I was too small to do more than pull the trigger while Dad held me and it.
I can still remember the flash coming upward out of the Cutts Compensator.
Wooden stock , with tubular receiver and perforated barrel jacket.
You couldn't hit the ground with it if you dropped it but it was fun to blase away a box of shells per drum. I think it was a Squire Bingham product.
http://207.234.249.73/gunfax/rimfires/ppscopy.htm
Theres an aluminun framed .22 Thompson also. It used a curved box magazine.
The American 180 comes in .22 and .22 Magnum with a Lewisgun style flat drum on top. I think they started making it again.
PS
Only Thompson I've owned is an Airsoft replica I picked up for 20 bucks used. Fun to play around with though its only a singleshot.
One of the first real guns I ever fired was an Uncles cased Salesman's sample Thompson 1928 model. I was too small to do more than pull the trigger while Dad held me and it.
I can still remember the flash coming upward out of the Cutts Compensator.
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