QUOTE (LIONHART @ Nov 20 2005, 05:47 PM) Welcome to the group. This topic has been brought up many times before, and usually the same answers given. I'm not aware of any other "Approved" ATF Designs for a Semi-Auto Thompson other than the one that Numrich had gotten approval for back in '75, and in which the current Company, Karh still utilizes. There is another source for Semi-Finished Thompson Submachine Gun Receivers through Phil Ordnance, and they claim these can be manufactured into a Semi-Auto, though to my knowledge, plans don't exist to do so. The question is, can one take one of these Receivers, or a Doug Richardson TSMG Receiver, and build a Semi-Auto Rifle for themselves? We do know that Federal Law allows an Individual to construct their own Semi. But what are the current guidelines for a Home built Gun, other than it meet's certain criteria? IE-16" Barrel, Semi-Auto only. I think this is where a lot of confusion comes from. IF your intent is building a firearm for the purposes of manufacturing them for Sale, you will need to submit a Prototype to the ATF for examination. However, an Individual constructing a Firearm for their own us, from what I understand, doesn't need to submit any Prototypes to ATF, and so long as it meets the above Guidelines (There may be more..If there is, and if someone out there has them, by all means post it here) one should be OK. Does this mean someone can acquire an 80% TSMG Receiver, construct it to utilize all FA Parts, and simply installing a Trigger Housing modified for Semi-Auto use? NO. As the Receiver is actually the Machine Gun, not the Frame. If however, there were some sort of Modifications made to the Receiver, whereas, it wouldn't accept an Original Bolt, unless Modified, perhaps then, it would be OK for a Home built Gun, and not for Resale/Manufacturing Purposes. However, would one still be able to construct an Open Bolt Semi? I don't have an answer to that, as I haven't been able to find any answers on the ATF's Website. Again, perhaps someone out here can provide additional information. I do believe that another Design for a Semi-Auto Thompson could be worked out, versus what's currently available. As far as a Home built Gun, I would write the ATF with what the Plans called for, and see what they have to say about it.
LIONHART is more on the same page as my thinking but let me add some comments
1. I don't have a Full Auto I am not wanting to weld the old receiver back my thinking is on a 80% receiver and milling it to a semi-auto.
2. If the trigger group doesn't have the selector in it or can't be reinstalled wouldn't this make it a full time semi-auto sense it takes the selector switch to make full-auto
3. some say it is the open bolt but Powder Springs made semi-auto Mac 10's
4. some say it is because how easy it would be to put the full-auto parts back in the receiver well all the AK 47's being built all it would take is 5 minutes with a drill to covert it back to full-auto\
5. yes this would be for my personal use not for sale
I appreciate all the comments and would like to hear everbodys thoughts on this