subgun45 Posted April 26, 2004 Report Share Posted April 26, 2004 (edited) hello,how much trouble is it to rebarrel a thompson?what special tools are needed?where can they be found?how do you remove the front handguard mount? anybody out there ever done this?any help is appreciated...thanks thanks to all that responded..i am a do-it yourself type..so i am hell bent to do this myself..how do you remove the piece that holds the handguard on? can anyone give me the address of the fellow with the barrel removal tools? thanks again...i love this site so far..thanks Edited April 27, 2004 by subgun45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawksnest Posted April 26, 2004 Report Share Posted April 26, 2004 subgun45: My .02, send it to a professional such as PK, hardrede or Ohio Ordnance works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SecondAmend Posted April 26, 2004 Report Share Posted April 26, 2004 Other possible gunsmiths to consider (no opinion as to competence or value of services rendered, merely reporting). Shipping may be less to one of these depending on where you live: Tim La France LaFrance Specialties PO Box 82049 San Diego, CA 92138 1-800-432-6248 Sam W. Alvarez T&S Manufacturing 1223 Mt. Vernon Rd. Southington, CT 06489 860-628-8174 Stan Andrewski 603-746-4387 Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimFromFL Posted April 27, 2004 Report Share Posted April 27, 2004 Is it the original barrel on an original Thompson (pre-West Hurley)? If not, you may be able to remove it yourself. If it is, you could still do it yourself, but it may be a bit harder. I have found that a 2x4 with an oval hole slipped over the compensator works pretty well. There are some tools available to make it easier. Richardson would be the person to talk too about that item. I would first try to remove it yourself because I find that I will remove the barrel every few 1000 rounds or so to allow it to soak a few days for a good cleaning and you wouldn't want to have to send it off everytime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurridale Posted April 27, 2004 Report Share Posted April 27, 2004 Changing a barrel is a breeze. I just did it. Here's the only tool you'll need (PK's address): > Diamond K > 1390 E 7th St. > Delta, CO 81416 Strip the receiver and send to PK (registered mail seems to be the cheapest option). He will charge you less than any barrel wrench I've seen advertised, plus will give you an honest appraisal of anything else that may need to be done. Please realize that this is no put-down of other Thompsonsmiths. I'm speaking only from personal experience. I've never dealt with the other fine folks; I HAVE dealt with PK. I have no problem endorsing him. He'll probably have it back to you faster than you can receive a wrench. I absolutely love do-it-yourself projects. Still, working on my house is one thing, working on my Thompson is quite another. Half of being good is knowing what you're bad at. I am not willing to risk my Thompson to personal experimentation. Regards, DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Crow Posted April 27, 2004 Report Share Posted April 27, 2004 Gotta agree with Hurridale, PK fixed a few messes I made, and has it running like a top. Installed a new bbl, rechambered it, adjusted for headspace, and shot it in for 0 @ 50 yards. Figure the cost of tools, then the frustration, then throw in the possibility of destroying something. Why go through it, when there are people that have the equipment and the know-how to get it right the first time. From this day on I won't tinker with it. Can't afford to replace it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deputy 89C6 Posted April 27, 2004 Report Share Posted April 27, 2004 I have to agree...PK is the way to go...he's currently fixing one of my "stupid moments". The barrel is not tough to remove with a proper clamp, but making sure it's back in place properly is a little tougher. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marks Posted April 27, 2004 Report Share Posted April 27, 2004 QUOTE (Deputy 89C6 @ Apr 27 2004, 08:40 AM) The barrel is not tough to remove with a proper clamp, but making sure it's back in place properly is a little tougher. The tinkerer in me would be curious how one is put on correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deputy 89C6 Posted April 27, 2004 Report Share Posted April 27, 2004 When I put a new barrel on my M1928 I just tightened it down as tight as I could get it. By some miracle the weapon functioned properly. The real problem was getting the compensator to allign properly. If I tightened it (compensator) all the way down my post went beyond the 1200 position. It required backing off slightly and then drilling the barrel to add a pin to hold the comp in place. All the while you must make sure the compensator does not move as then the pin hole will be out of allignment. This was done ny a friend, while I went out of the room...I couldn't watch...one goof with the drill would have ruined a $190.00 barrel. I then tried to remove a barrel from a M1927A1 to send to PK. Well, to make a long story short the leather pad over the end of the receiver slipped and now there is a very noticable wrench reminder on the receiver to let a compentent gun smith do it in the future. Now PK has the entire weapon in order to fix my screwed up work. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimFromFL Posted April 28, 2004 Report Share Posted April 28, 2004 Are you able to just send off the receiver for someone to do some work???? I thought a special Form needed to be completed first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZDoug Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 Just a comment: Ff you have a kurt 6" Angle-Lock vise mounted to the table of a 3500 pound knee mill, put a piece of paper in the vise (to protect the receiver finish), and clamp the receiver in the kurt vise, up front where the threads are. Then a Richardson barrel changing tools will loosen the barrel quickly. Unless, maybe it is a WWII gun, then send it to a TSMG smith that is comfortable applying heat to the receiver to loosen the barrel, if required. Or, just send it to a TSMG smith. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike45 Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 Hi Guys, A simple way to remove bad bl. is to remove cutts and weld nut to bl. and use impact wrench. Whole process maybe 15 min. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PK. Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 You guys are killing me !! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PK. Posted April 29, 2004 Report Share Posted April 29, 2004 Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Crow Posted April 30, 2004 Report Share Posted April 30, 2004 I simply drill a hole from the top of the barrel through and out of the bottom, then I place the receiver on the curb and back the car onto it. Using a steel rod placed through the hole like a "T" handle, you can unscrew the barrel from the frame. The weight of the car also helps to squeeze the receiver so that a much tighter frame to receiver fit is produced. (make certain that you do not have studded tires on the car) If you accidentally use studded tires you can simply apply plumb brown salts, and it gives the appearance of a slightly pitted and well aged gun. The other positive aspect of this method is that you have a compensator built into the barrel.. PS: make sure that the drilled holes are far enough forward to prevent the escaping gasses from burning your hand. Disclaimer: Please do not try this at home, it should only be attempted by an experienced driver on a closed track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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