is there such a thing as a RDIAS for a Tommy gun?

[trakker45]

I was speaking to a local police officer/gun collector last night about fully-automatic weapons (his department has a Colt M4), and he said that he spoke to a guy at the ATF about "converting" his semi-auto Tommy gun to full auto. Now, I realize that a person who is not as SOT cannot "convert" semi-autos to full-auto, but it made me think about whether or not you can legally place an registered auto sear in such a gun, or is such sears even exist. I tried to get more info out of the cop, but he didn't get too detailed about it. He made it sound as if registered Tommy gun sears exist, but now he was going to SBR his Thompson because the ATF told him he couldn't "convert" it that way.

Can anyone shed any light on this? Was the ATF correct?

 

[tony k]

Yes there are at least a handful of registered transferable drop-in sears -- actually, they are more like "conversion kits" -- to legally convert semi Thompsons to full-auto. In fact, there was one for sale on the boards a week or two ago for about $10k. So on that aspect, the BATF guy was incorrect: It is completely legal to convert a semi Thompson to FA if you use a registered transferable kit.

The downsides:
--First, when installed on a semi host gun, the "kit" parts are visible and obvious.
--Second, most all the semi hosts on the market today are West Hurleys and are not built to withstand full-auto use. And you cannot just "swap in" full-auto internals: The kit requires you to use some semi parts, and there is no source for higher-quality semi parts. So you need to be prepared to do a lot more tuning and fixing to keep it running reliably.
--Finally, to me a Thompson looks "weird" with a 16" barrel that all the semis have. So you do need to have the semi barrel chopped, but it's not simple or easy to remove a Tommygun barrel.

HTH.

 

[Joe in Fl]

SBR Tommy's

Kahr Arms is now selling the Thompson semi with short barrel (SBR of course) in the M-1 and 1927. Retail around $1300 + $200 for Uncle Sammy.
HTH, Joe

 

[Billy F]

I have 3 on form 4's. No problems with mine.

 

[Billy F]

Sorry I have 3 of the kits that convert the semi Thompsons to FA. They convert the gun to an open bolt like an Uzi.