Thompson with 22 conversion

[ppgcowboy]

It ran mostly great.

 

I also have questions for Dan Block. Can you make a list of malfunctions and scenarios of it non functioning and what the possible causes can be for the 22 conversion kit. Plus remedies. I had to hold the magazine this time. Other times not. Just asking for things to look for to keep it in tune.

[deerslayer]

That might be an exhaustive list. Samsung Galaxy super slow motion is good at diagnosing problems. Jams can be caused by magazines. What kind of magazines you have. And if they need to be adjusted high or low.  Failure to fire can be headspace problems.

[mnshooter]

As already discussed many times, the ammunition choice is important.

Start by not using Remington Golden Bullet, then test as many brands as you care to purchase.

The recoil spring is a another good place to check.

Merle used cut down GI springs, and usually included a couple different lengths in his kit.

Merle liked the Federal bulk pack, solid or HP.  My Merle kits like those too.

 

[ppgcowboy]

Thanks, I have been using Remington, errrrrrr. So i will start there. In the video I think the magazine was not Remington. Today it seemed like light primmer strike. The bolt seemed to go far enough but nothing. I thought a weak spring. So I added another buffer thinking it may work. It worked in the past not now. Again all Remington. Tomorrow I will try different bullets. Thanks again.

Also I had to hold the magazine due to failure to feed. The gun is a 28 Navy. 

Edited June 2 by ppgcowboy

[TD.]

Quick question: Is this a Merle kit or a Ciener kit? 

If a Merle kit, Federal Bulk Pack 36 grain hollow point ammunition was Merle's preferred brand. I would start there. I have tried other brands and bullet weights with little sucess. I use a brand new USGI recoil spring that has been cut down to 10 inches. I never tried the two springs included in the kit. The front piece that screws into the barrel liner should only be SNUG on the liner. Do not over tighten. I usually have to snug it down after shooting two magazines or a drum dump as it will loosen (but works well with a snug fit). The extractor should just glide along the rib on the bolt. It should not drag on the bolt. This is a key lubrication point. 

If using a drum, the adaptor has to also be a snug fit. Do not overtighten.  

I usually just dump a magazine or drum. Short bursts will work but can lead to misfires. Rimfire ammunition is not perfect for 100% reliability. My kit, magazines and drums work well enough to suit me. I would guess 90 to 95% of the time. It is a lot of fun!   

[ppgcowboy]

So playing with it today, I took an original gi spring, clipped a few coils, then a few more, and Federal bullets, and for the most part cycled well today with the 30rnd magazins  it even ran good with a drum. There were a few failure to feed and a few stove pipes. I will buy a as many brands as I can and see how they work. For the most part, I think my main aggravation was what I should have checked first, the recoil spring. Now I will focus on each magazine to see which is the best. Question. There was a magazine with a shaved follower maked Merle. Should I do that to some of the others or leave the followers untouched. I had failures with both. What has been your experience. Today was a fun day. 

[First Sergeant]

On Merle's kit I have used 3 different lengths of springs and came away with 3 different cyclic rates.  

The shortest spring I believe produced a very nice/slow rate of fire that was pleasant to shoot.   Most .22 conversions are fast,  very fast or too fast.  

Not near my kit right now so unable to measure the lengths.  Federal Bulk Pack was the most reliable ammo for me.  

 

[ppgcowboy]

When you get a chance please post the lengths. I did notice a very noticeable increase in cycle rate when I put in the gi spring. I have an app that measures it didn't think of it at the time.

Edited June 3 by ppgcowboy

[Merry Ploughboy]

I don't have a .22LR conversion kit for my Thompson, but my experiences with .22LR for (full size) Uzi, M16, and a Fleming .22 MAC upper - all like to operate in the 1000 or so RPM range for reliable feeding, extraction, and ejection.

MHO, YMMV, etc.

[ppgcowboy]

Merry Ploughboy, it seems when I first got this it was close to that, but today it is around 760rpm with the GI spring, and it ran awesome.

I have a app called MyRPM Pro. It is no longer available. Seems the company went out of business 7 or so years ago.  If there is anyone on this thread that has it great, or do you know of another app that measures the rpm of a machinegun what is it? I would like to check it with the app I have. If not or there are none and you have an older Samsung like an s7 sitting around and it is wiped clean i can put it on it using samsung switch. I have it on a samsung tab a tablet and a samsung s9 and it works with them too. Not a techy, so do not know how to put on a thumb drive. Just willing to share.

It this offer is not legal somehow I can edit this post and remove it. Just think the app is useful.

[Merry Ploughboy]

1 hour ago, ppgcowboy said:

Merry Ploughboy, it seems when I first got this it was close to that, but today it is around 760rpm with the GI spring, and it ran awesome.

I have a app called MyRPM Pro. It is no longer available. Seems the company went out of business 7 or so years ago.  If there is anyone on this thread that has it great, or do you know of another app that measures the rpm of a machinegun what is it? I would like to check it with the app I have. If not or there are none and you have an older Samsung like an s7 sitting around and it is wiped clean i can put it on it using samsung switch. I have it on a samsung tab a tablet and a samsung s9 and it works with them too. Not a techy, so do not know how to put on a thumb drive. Just willing to share.

It this offer is not legal somehow I can edit this post and remove it. Just think the app is useful.

I've had a PACT Mk IV Timer for ages.  When I started checking machine gun ROFs, the smart phone wasn't yet even a gleam in the late Steve Jobs' eye.

I've mostly encountered incomplete ejection "dribbles" with lower ROFs.  Could be lame ammo?  Dirty chambers?  Weak extractor springs?

[First Sergeant]

Finally made it to my .22 kit. Sorry for the lag time. 

In measuring my smallest spring ( cut down from stock recoil spring) it measures right at 9".  My other 2  cut down springs are one or 2 coils longer.  The 9" spring really slows things down on the 28.  Not Grease Gun slow but I'm guessing 600 or so.   Ideal if u ask me. The other springs definitely increase the cyclic rate.  Doesn't take much .

Ammo will also be a variable. Federal Bulk is/ was my choice.  Suppressed with any Standard Velocity ammo it is nearly Hollywood quiet and retains the slower cyclic rate.    Of the many FA .22 conversions, over many platforms, this is by far the slowest combination.  The new S&W 76 .22 kit is still a tad faster in the limited time I've been able to shoot it. 

I have a 4th spring that I believe Merle sent me. It is 11"  and appears to be a lighter wire.   All 4 springs are very reliable in my kit.  I don't believe I cut a spring down any more than the 9" as I was satisfied with that.

Good luck on your kit and experiment as YMMV.