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Magazines For My M1


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I have just bought 4 magazines from Gun Broker for the M1 Tommy Gun my wife got me for Christmas. The magazines were a mixed lot, from different manufacturers, etc. The holes for the magazine catch did not quite match the catch. I noticed that the mag that came with the gun had been drilled out to match the catch so I worked on the magazines by making the holes match. The magazines now stay in the gun and seem to feek OK.

 

My question is, Is this something common? Did I do right to makes these mags fit my gun or should I have replace the catch? The magazines were still in grease although they seemed really old.

 

Carlos

NRA Life Member

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The reason for the modifications to the magazines (and thus the difference between semi- and full-auto magazines) is due the differences in receiver heights. In an effort to appease the BATF, WH (and now Kahr) not only redesigned the gun to fire from a closed bolt, but also made the semi-auto receiver approximately 1/10 of an inch shorter (top to bottom) than the TSMG receiver to prevent the drop-in installation of a full-auto bolt. As a result, the magazines were modified to sit a corresponding 1/10 inch lower than in the TSMG.

IMHO, I'd suggest buying a GI magazine catch and modifying it instead making modifications to each magazine. For one thing, you're making one modification, instead of many. Secondly, full-auto magazines are cheaper than mod'd semi-auto magazines. Swap out your cast magazine catch for a GI catch that's been shortened by approximately 1/10 of an inch (remove material from the top of the "button" that actually engages the hole on the spine of the magazines.)

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Tjanks, Bill.

 

I wasn't aware that there were semi and full auto magazines. If I replace the magzine catch, will the semi magazines still work? Or will they hang too low? I paid $13 for these magazines but I see the going price at auction about $35-40.

 

Carlos

NRA Life Member

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You paid about the going price for your Magazines. Those that you see above that rarely sell, if at all. If you change out the Magazine Catch even for a WW2 one, you will need to modify the Catch to accept Full-Auto Magazines. I think Bill suggested switching to a USGI Catch because they are of better quality, but you could still modify the Catch that you already have. Once the Modification is done, you can only use unmodified TSMG Magazines. Worth the effort to do. Instructions can be found in our FAQ..There was a link somewhere to a drawing, but can't seem to remember where I saw it. Hope this helps. FWIW, Damon over at http://www.tommygunner.com sells current production Mag Catches (Not USGI) that have already been modified to accept TSMG Mags.
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Yup, that's exactly what I meant. Dump the cast WH/Kahr magazine cathc and get good quality GI catch to replace it with. Sometimes I don't always type what I'm thinking, especially when I'm squeezing in a peek at the boards between my students, my classes, etc...
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Ah, good old Thompsonitis! It is an awesome disease of the mental state, it does tend to take over and soon one may find oneself searching for anything related to the gun.

 

Welcome to the club!

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Carlos,

Welcome,

I fear it is too late. Just by subscribing to this board, you have already been exposed

to Thompsonitis!

It is a slow incubating disease, gradually taking over your thought process to make rational decisions

based on money. It requires a 12 step therapy group to try and curb, but the group usually

re-infects itself by exposure to others in such a closed group enviorment.

In it's final stages, "Thompsonitis gotahaveit" will reduce the infected to involuntary check writing for the most obscure

items even remotly Thompson related, constant caressing and cleaning and viewing of your Thompson, speaking to anyone about Thompsons until they are driven screaming from the room, etc... The poor soul will find staring at a Tommy gun preferable to viewing naked women.

( more then once my wife has caught me late at night surfing Thompson material on the web and thought perhaps I had reverted back to "normal" and was looking at porn! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/smile.gif

Recent studies indicate that a person may be geneticly pre-disposed to contracting the disease.

One positive note: Subjects seem to be blissfully content with the illness http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

This stuff is great, again, welcome. I think you will find this to be one of the nicest groups of folks on the net.

Cheers, Zamm

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Thank you all for the warm welcome !

 

I thought I was vaccinated to all things gun related when my wife bought me for the 2003 Christmas a S&W 500 Magnun revolver. After that who needs anything, right? WRONG ! ! !

 

Then came the Thompson. Whoopie ! I have seen the light, I am saved ! I have fallen heads over heels for this gun. New magazines, new springs, new catch, maybe detachable stocks, WOW the list is endless...

 

There is no cure for Thompsonitis, I know. Only thing to do to alleviate the simptoms is to buy more Thompson stuff ! But hey, someone has to do it.

 

When I grow up I want a FA.

 

Thanks again for letting me in. It is good to know a bunch of guys who understand why my M1 is kept under my pillow.

 

 

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