photonance

I've just recently started reloading, to try to cut ammo cost, and 4.0g of Bullsey with Rainier 230RN plated bullets seem to perform excellently. Not sure if it is still going on but Midway just had the Rainier bullets for $74.99 per 1000. Rob

Bigdaddy, I am should be able to take some pics and enlarge them with photoshop. I will try to take some tomorrow and see how they turn out. Rob

I am pretty much a Thompson newbie when it comes to shooting one. My dad had 3 registered dewats that he kept in his closet, and ever since I was young, I would drag them out and admire them. I asked dad why he bought them that way, and he said because of the transfer tax (In the early 60's, he didn't have the money for both). I always wondered what it would be like to shoot one. He passed away early last year, and I managed to talk mom into letting me keep the Savage 28A1. I learned that you could reactivate one, so I went through the process, and I was just drooling when it was finished. THe only class 3 gun that I had ever shot was an MP5, so I was shaking and nervous when I took the Thompson out, and the 50 round drum loaded. I pulled the trigger, developed an almost permanent smile, and now I can't get enough. It is addictive, and I can't stay off the trigger. I guess I have the uncureable disease known as Thompsonitice! Regards, Rob

There may be a little bit of confusion on terms also, demilling (destroying the weapon) requirements , is not the same as "dewat" (deactivating the weapon) requirements. Demilling is what goes on with the kits being imported and as some have of indicated it gets more and more strict as the years go on. I have had some "legally" imported parts kits that were a little blob of JB Weld or maybe the duct tape route away from live. Those good ole days are gone as now you get a lump of torch cut scrap metal. Last gun show I attended, I talked with someone directly who was required to send kits he bought from an importer to the ATF without compensation as they no longer fit the demilling requirements. If you look on the ATF form for a dewat. you had to declare how it was deactivated, then the powers that be would say yeppers or nope. The goal. I think, of the whole dewat program was to let keep your war trophy looking like a real gun without it being able to fire like a real gun, and foregoing the enormous tax liability. Heck, back in the day they let some guns that had the barrel filled with molten lead pass for a dewated gun. In the case of my gun I just did a rewat on, it was demilled by a small torch cut through the port. Then in 1968 it was dewated during the amnesty period with the torch cut being re-welded and then the barrel had a blob of weld inside and it was lightly tacked to the receiver. Was your receiver cut completely thru into two pieces? Sorry for the thread Hi-Jacking BTW.... BigDaddy, I have examined my gun many times and I would love to have a professional look at it, it looks to me like it was only cut once, just below the ejection port. I cannot see the cut or weld at all on the top of the receiver, or on the ejector side. The weld below the ejection port, just looks like a couple of light scratches spaced about a millimeter or two apart. Has anyone else experienced this kind of cut or weld? By the way, when I reactivated my gun, the chamber at the breech end was welded, but not to the receiver, or feed ramp. I guess it was pretty lax in the 50's and 60's, all I had to do was unscrew the barrel, and rebarrel. I am one of the lucky few with not a whole lot of money, and I inherited 3 registered Thompsons from my dad. Now I am trying to educate as many friends, and folks at the range as possible on the legallities of owning and shooting one. I am trying to do my part! I think it is a shame that prices have gotten so high for class 3 MG's, most people think they are completely illegal, or you have to have a dealer's license to have them. Thanks! Rob

I'm not sure how you guys feel about buying from Wal Mart, but I have found the best deal on ammo with them. I have been buying the Blazer Brass 230 gr. FMJ (CCI) for $9.47 per box of 50 before tax. It may not be this cheap around the country but in Alabama, this is the price it is going for. I'll do the math for you, it is $189.40 per 1000, before tax, and this stuff shoots excellent. I have had no jams, or failures from this ammo, except for user error, or drum/ mag problem, and I have used several thousand rounds through my Savage 28A1. If they don't have it where you are, they should be able to order it. Hope this helps, Rob

PhilOhio, I'm sorry, I jumped topics on my post. The barrel chamber weld was very visible on my gun, but not tacked to the receiver, or feed ramp, which made it very easy to reactivate. My other topic was about rewelding the receiver back together, which mine was done also by the person my dad bought it from. The weld is barely visible, unless you know it is a weld, it just looks like a very light scratch. A very impressive weld job! Why were the receivers cut, was it for importation if they were in another country? Thanks, Rob

What are registered dewats selling for compared to original guns? I have a rewated 28A1 that my dad bought in the 60's as a dewat for $125.00. I wish he would have bought about 20 more! It is amazing the difference in welds on rewelded guns. The one I have is a reweld also, and the weld is so good that it only looks like a scratch. I would post pictures but it is almost impossible to spot. I noticed in a late 1950's gun catalog that my dad had, you could purchase dewat Thompsons for around $100 to $125, and have them shipped to your doorstep. Thanks, Rob

Michael, If I find a lead from Aero Marine or Eric Fox, what information on the gun or guns would you like me to find out? I am going to have a busy couple of days, but I will try to contact them by the weekend. Thanks about the 27A, I inherited it from my dad, and he always enjoyed it. It gets taken out very, very rarely. I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure that the milled areas you were looking at are not reblued. Thanks, Rob

Sig, I will try to do some research on the Aero Marine & Eric Fox. There is an Areo Marine located here in Birmingham, AL. I will post or e-mail if I find out something. While I am posting, I thought some of you might like to see my colt 1927A with all correct internals. The stamp on the side is the inventory number from the Camden, NJ police dept. From what Gordon said, it was one of 3 that the department had. http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x234/ph...py_edited-1.jpg Thanks, Rob

Dan, Thanks for the info, I haven't timed mine precisely, but I believe it is around 750rpm. Maybe sometime soon I will get you to work on a stock set for mine, I love the work I've seen you do. Rob

Dan, Is your 28 a WH or a GI gun? I have a Savage 28A1 and the cyclic rate seems more like the 21 than your 28. Just curious, and love the videos! I am posting a video so you could compare. Rob http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x234/ph...nt=a6544832.flv

NFAFAN, I had a similar problem on one that I purchased, although I was able to get them out. I called Kahr about it, and they told me that the new drums dont click the same as surplus drums. They said you have to hear a half click, then another for it to be one complete click, and it should end up as one quarter turn. This didn't make much sense, and if that was the case, why didn't they say so in the instructions. Anyway, I had to send the drum back, because it was warped. Merle the Drum doctor can tune and fix those as well, he is working on my new C drum now. If you would like his contact info, I can post it. Good luck, Rob

It looks like the original barrel to me because in addition to the timing marks matching, it has a small P with a dot below it that starts on the top of the barrel and continues onto the receiver. the compensator is very dinged up with indentions all over it. It looks as though it was abused, but the barrel is in good shape. It looks like the same type compensator that came on the military versions except for the fact that it is a press on type. It doesn't have any other markings on the barrel other than the S for Savage made. This gun came with a vertical grip with two holes in it which look like they could have been used for a strap like the British used, but I don't know any history of the gun except that my Dad purchased it from a Bill Easterly from Wisconsin in the early 60's. The barrel is with a gunsmith I know, or I would post pictures. Thanks, Rob P.S.- I believe that the compensator is a type II. It has Cutts inside a diamond on the top of the compensator, and no bullet logo on the side.

I have a Savage 1928A1 that had a finned barrel with a pressed on compensator. I rebarreled it due to the condition of the compensator. It looks like the original barrel for this gun, as the timing marks match and the proof stamp on top of the barrel and receiver match. My question is this, was this common on wartime guns, or is this rare? Most of these I have seen have the threaded barrel and compensators. My gun is in the 401xxx range if it makes any difference. Thanks guys! Rob http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Lancer, I have spoken to Gordon, and he said that mine was one of three that the PD had, and Gordon only had serial numbers for two until I gave him the information on mine. He said this completes their inventory. It does have all original internals in the lower receiver, and original wood, unfortunately the drum is military surplus. The only reason mine doesn't have the compensator, is that it was cheaper for the PD to order them that way, but it does make it much more rare. That's about all I know on this gun, my dad purchased it in 1962. Would you belive it cost him $275.00 back then? Rob

Hey guys, I thought you would like to check out my album and see an original Colt 1927A. It was originally registered to the Camden, NJ police dept. Rob http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x234/photonance/

Thanks Tom! Rob

I have had the same problem with my new Kahr C drum. It will turn a round sideways in the drum. It has been doing that only once per 100 rounds. I thought I would send it to Merle the drum doctor, but I don't know how to contact him. Does anyone have his contact info? Also, I have changed recoil springs, and that didn't help. Thanks, Rob P.S. The gun I am shooting with is a 1928A1 Savage.