Shattered

Not so certain about that. If you look inside where it was mounted, you should see the circle that is the stud. It’s pressed in, not welded. Mine is broken at the moment. I’m thinking about running a thin mill through the center from the inside for location. Then belting the hell out of it with a larger punch from the outside. Should come out.

The conversion is easy enough to do. If you read SAR magazine, you saw my second Frankengun entry which was my quick change barrel conversion for my M1A1 (WH). That gun converted in minutes from 45 to 9mm, 7.62x25, 40 and used Merles 22 kit as well. I had no 7.62 barrel so I machined a used 308 barrel from a 1919A4, complete with all the fins and threaded for a Cutts comp. You’ll also need to extend an ejector for the 9mm/7.62x25 setup as well as check the clearance for the bolt. Not all that difficult. I also used steel blanks machined to fit the Thompson slot and welded the adapter to the mags and drums. The 7.62x25 drum will need all the reinforcing plates removed to fit the mag well. The 9mm Suomi drum does not.

Oooooh…I’dev burst that bubble. And then stamped on it by using the support hand wide open, not gripping the gun at all. Easy to do if you know how to shoot MGs.

Any interest in a West Hurley Thompson in 22LR caliber? All original, not many left.

You’re right, they shoot fast. I added some weight to the bolt and slowed it down some. Really could use some steel on the bottom of that bolt like Merles’ kit has. Never blew out an extractor but has popped a rim with the bolt bounce.

I know this is an old topic but I was thinking of selling one of those. What do they go for these days?

I did this 10-15 years ago. Lots of fun although all I could find for x25 ammo was ONE box at Cabelas. Who even buys ammo by the box? I took the test run at a club in CT. Ran 5 rounds in semi then dumped the drum. Worked great. You'll have to extend the ejector, but if you did the 9mm conversion, you already know that. If you get Small Arms Review, you can see the gun as it was the latest Frankengun winner. It's currently set up in 45, 40, 9mm, 7.62x25, and .22 long rifle. I'd like to get ahold of Merle to borrow his 400 carbon chamber reamer. He offered it years ago and I should have jumped.

I also borrowed a fiddy round drum from the guy that also would not run. Never thought to try the drum with a round chambered.

I bought one of the 30 rounders at Eden for $120. No go from the get go. A pair of pliers later, spread the front of the feed lips a bit. Still won’t feed the first round, no matter how many rounds are left, but if you chamber a round manually, the entire 30 rounder will function like it’s supposed to. Just need a round in the chamber. Mag won’t put one there.

I did a Thompson drum (50 round) with a then cheaper Reising 20 round mag. Worked well. Sold it and the guy that bought sez it didn’t work well with his gun, but he was going to work on it. Haven’t heard anything from him in over 10 years, so ?? Did a 100 round drum as well, but the drum fell out numerous times…very heavy and that was a lot of weight to try to hold up. Reused the tower for the 50.

I just got my Bolo back from Redman’s... had it relined in 7.63. Took a bit longer than I liked, but it’s a beautiful job.

Corrosive doesn’t scare me. I always clean my guns ASAP anyhow. One time I didn’t. The Browning A4 turned red almost overnight. I was shooting that wonderful Egyptian 8 mm and let it sit for the night (and most of the next day (went to work). Needed a complete bead blast and reparking. Lesson learned. Still have hundreds of thousands of corrosive 8 mm and I’ll use them regardless the cost of the guns. Meh...that’s only a $1700 A4 anyhow, right?

Pact MK IV has an RPM mode for the happy switch guns. No calculating...just read it.

I have 0372. I found out kinda late about Merle and he really didn’t want to work on it since the Chinese drums had recently started importing. He felt my money would be better spent on that than redoing the WH drum...actually said save for when the next mag ban comes along and sell it.

Hmmm. Forgot about this. I may have to drag the 22 Thompson down there. Maybe the 9mm Thompson as well.