zultar

And that being, are rock island armory conversions decent M2's for less than $6k?

Thanks, up until recently I didn't know private firms restamped the receivers with their names and I thought only govt arsenals overstamped the '1'. But it still is a step up from a civilian conversion i guess. As long as it shoots good and I can wipe out as many pigs as I can at once, Im fine.

Question on the arsenal conversions of M2, I have seach google and can not find my answer, and don't own the required books (ie War baby). Im looking at a Rock Island Armory M2 carbine. Its over stamped M2, so I am assuming they converted it. Now from what I understand Rock Island Armory was not incorporated untill 1977. So did Reese, et al, buy some M1 carbines, convert them with overstamping the M1 with 2 and stamp Rock Island on the receiver as well? So would this be considered an 'arsenal' conversion as far as value and quality, or not since Rock island Armory is a civilian company? or does it matter? All I want is a good shooter. And does anyone know who were the real arsenals that orginally converted M1 to M2?

Sorry PK, That's all I was meaning was ...IF what you think is the problem (and I hope it is) then it (the actual time to work on it) would be few hours of labor. As in it may be a quick fix. I was not impling I would jump the queue and I am sorry my statement was infered that way. Whether my gun is gone for weeks-months-year, that is to be seen. I am just happy that I got a guestimate of a common, easier fix then 'oh, your screwed', which would also imply a cheaper fix.

How long has PK had your gun?

Thanks guys for all the help, this may be the only helpful forum I have been on!!! I have spoke to PK, he is almost certain it is my chamber. A problem he said is very common with the NAC. He said if that is the only problem he could knock it out in a few hours. Stated it could be a barrel problem as well, but he doubts. I'm shipping it off Monday. I'll keep ya'll informed of to what he finds. As for the stain, maybe PK has an idea as well, but I will explore the FOIA option. I spoke with the prior owner. He said he never fired it and he was selling it for a friend who had felony problems and had to dump his collection. He said that guy never fired it and he also thought it has never been fired (at least since it was parkerized, whenever that was). While I have some of your attentions, I am looking for a good M2 carbine and a BM59 for sale. So if anyone hears of one for sale give me a buzz. j hays

how do i get hold of PK?

Who is a good source of barrels? tommy gun shop has new ones. tommygunner has some old ones and R guns has the whole parts kit. I take it I do NOT need a threaded barrel, but whats the trick to taking off the compensator and barrel. I thought i saw a post somewhere on that subject. And who is PK 'Paul'? Where is he located?

I tried to shoot today after replacing the entire bolt assembly and new spring/guide. It was much worse. I tried all 6 of my mags, 3-4 rounds each mag and only 3 fired, none cyclic. I am asking firemerc to post a few photos of the shells. There is a scrape mark on the underside of the cases (as seen in the pics to come) and a slight scrape on the up side just at the edge of the case on the bullet end. None had a firing pin mark, these are the ones that tried to feed after the initial bullet fired. There is also barely visible on the pics a small tic mark on the case rim- which i have not seen until now (new bolt??). The initial ones that did not fire seated but not enough to allow the bolt to close completely, one even would not extract. These had light firing pin marks. I cycled the bolt with the lower off and watched the pin guide, it was malaligned as seen on the previous pics (new spring/guide) but as it cycled it straighted up. the bolt cycles without snag or difficulty. I am convenced that there is a problem in my chamber, feels smooth, but i have big fingers and can only get some in the chamber, can't see in well but will go get a dental mirror from my dentist tomorrow and look in. I think i will need to get a new barrell and try it out. Any good sources for barrells? I did find out there is an old marine armorer in town that worked on tommys back in the day, call him but no returned call yet.

check out my pics on the 'jamming tommy' post of mine

after looking at my pilot pin again, it might be the oiler. I'm going to shoot it as is first and then change out the oiler and see sometime tomorrow afternoon.

I have only 6 mags, all jam. But the 20 round mags seem to worl slightly better. Will shoot it tomorrow with new bolt group/spring and keep ya'll informed. Thanks for the help so far. I think I really had two jamming problems, one on first round where it seem not to close well and just barely dent the primer, and the other during cyclic fire when the round would get malaligned in the feed ramp. I do like the chamber idea above- the gun jams much less when just cleaned, after 30 rounds or so it begins to jam 2 out of 3 tries. I have a few tommy friends nearby so far, i can check with about the barrell. hays

Thanks for posting my pics. Does anyone know what the caused the 'stain' around the serial numbers?

ok got a complete bolt assembly kit from r guns and have installed it today. I shot it last weekend aftering cleaning again, 2 3o round clips fired with only one jam, the third clip (and same one) jammed almost every bullet on the first trigger pull. bolt not closing all the way I guess, light pin mark on primer. now that i have replaced bolt group, the bolt slides well, except if i gently let it down it will not close all the way, about 1-2mm more after i push it, but with half force it will close. have not fired it yet. the bolt, actuator, and spring guide had no markings, except the actuator had a knurled knob. all 'new' parts in kit from r guns are marked 's'. pictures to follow of gun. well crap, how do you insert pics, it wants me to give an http address for pics????

thanks, my computer is down, but hopefully my replacement will be in by tomorrow and i can post some pics

if you mean by squared off corners, no its not they are rounded. My main computer is dead and waiting on replacement from dell (has been shipped) as soon as i am up i will place some photos. shot it last night went through a 30 round clip with only one jam, so doing better- i stretched the spring some.

checked it out. no marks on the barrel. but my brother is the most informed I know of older guns (ask him a dragoon or walker serial number and he can off his head tell you which unit received it originally.) He said that my barrel if definately a colt blueing, that it is distinct and hard to copy. There is a tick mark on the right side of the receiver near the barrel but no proof marks. And of most curious is a 'water stain' appearence to the area around both serial numbers of the upper and lower. And there is definate logitudinal mill marks on the chamber ramp.

thanks for the info so far. Mine is parkerized and with a colt blued barrel. no military markings, prob a replacement bolt- its dulite. but most interesting is a 'water stain' appearence around the serial numbers both on the upper and lower parts. What this means may be the clue.

Ive have used new winchester and aguila ammo so far, both performed equally. I am going out to look at it and shoot it in a few seconds after I deer hunt. If I recall there are multiple milling marks on the chamber ramp. it is parkerized and did have some small pitting on the ramp from manufacturing. But I'll check on the other marking when I get out to the deer lease. See my post on tommy nac about further description of the gun. There were no marks on the bolt or spring guide, all other parts had 'S' marked. as for new bolts, R Gun in shot gun news has complete bolt assemblies 'original GI' for $200, does anyone know if these are good? Thanks

looking for a nice m2 carbine, $5-7k. prefer one in Texas- I'm done with out of state transfers for awhile.

I just bought a 1928A1 tommy with serial # S-534XX NAC. As far as I can tell all parts are marked correctly except the spring guide doesnot have an S mark, all othe parts are correct according to American Thunder. The receiver is parkerized, barrell is finned and blued, and dull lite bolt. Complete with FBI case and solid brass cleaning rod. I have been told this is from a batch the Numerich unknowingly bought from a Kilgore or miller? who bought the parts and tooling from savage. Is this true and where can i find the story on that small batch? This would make it a WWII tommy i would guess. Would this be worth more than the average tommy? I paid $16k. It also looks as if it has never been fired. But the receiver is parkerized. I didn't think savage did that, or did Numerich do that, or was this refinished? There are no military marking on it though. It does jam alot (see jamming tommy post) Thank ya'll

I just received my 1928 a1 tommy, its a NAC and looks as if its never been fired. It started out jamming 2 out of three rounds on all clips. I've greased it, cleaned it, and got some steal wool after the chamber ramp. It better now, the 20rd mags may go through a whole clip but the 30rds are still bad It jams in two ways. 1) the first bullet will not fire- there is a light strike on the primer, and watching the bolt as someone fires it you can see the bolt slow down some at the mid travel location. the bolt appears to close, but obviously not all the way. 2) some bullets (those that jam while firing) are getting crooked in the chamber ramp and bolt closing on it- scatch marks on the brass near the distal end- apparently from the ramp. I have put about 700 rounds through it. At first when ever I good get a 10-15 round burst out of it it was variable in its rate, but no it fires a nice constant rate. Also the recoil spring has a slight (5-10 degree) kink in it. I have also noticed since I have fired it some the tip of the spring rod is wearing rapidly and unevenly from entering the bolt block off centered. My tommy gun friends have never had or heard of tommy guns jamming, but we think it is because the gun needs to be broken in. I think it may be also because of the spring and have ordered a few, but not received then yet. Anyone have any ideas or heard of this problem?