Can anyone thread a Thompson 45 acp barrel?? Please!!!???

[BOLTED]

Hello to all,

I really want my Thompson threaded for a suppressor. Auto Ordinance will not install threaded barrels, and I can't seem to find anyone who can work on it for me.

I am not sure if any modification need to be done to the rifle to help it run suppressed reliably, but I have seen some videos of them running with silencers. Maybe they do just fine without much modification, or tinkering.

I thought about just buying a replacement barrel that is threaded for an original type compensator and buying an adapter, but without someone to install it, I am still out out of luck.

It seems like with as many of them that are out there, and the history our country has with this weapon that someone surely has some kind of experience with it.

Can anyone help me with this please? I have called many places, like Tornado that have a lot of experience with different rifles but I have had no luck. Maybe I just have not looked in the right places?

Does anyone know someone that maybe knows someone? I am not having much luck finding rebarreling instructions even if I wanted to try taking it on myself. Is there anyone out there that has had experience with one suppressed?

I appreciate any help or information anyone can give!

Thanks

 

[Sigfla]

Try subguns.com, plenty of NFA guys there. I am sure someone has done it. Threading it for a suppressor will likely not be so effective though. Its an open bolt and its gonna be loud no matter what.

 

[BOLTED]

Thanks, I will put some feelers out over there. I may try Machingun Boards too, they have touched on the subject.

Even though it fires FROM an open bolt, the bolt is still closed when it fires. From what I have been reading, it will be pretty quiet still.

Google search "suppressing a Tommy gun" and watch the Lane Socom 458 Suppressor vid.

 

[223Randy]

pm sent
Randy

 

[Sigfla]

You may wanna try one of the integral guys like SRT or Johns Guns. I love the NFA crowd bc they will try anything. I still doubt the Thompson is a worthwhile candidate for suppression primarily bc of the open bolt but also bc not many guys even bother to do it. I dunno how that design comes apart but unless I had a spare upper like an AR I wouldn't mess with it too much. If it's all one piece like an HK and isn't as easy to thread or install a 3 lug on I wouldn't mess with it either. You may be able to get a 3 lug installed easier than a thread job but I admit my NFA days are long since gone. MG's were fun for a brief while but the thrill fades.

 

[BOLTED]

In all my research, I have only heard that the tommygun makes a good suppressor host. In fact, back in the day, a manufacturer set up a jig to hold the barreled receiver to be able to thread barrels, so a suppressor could be added. Hearing safe, and the bullet smacking the target is louder than the gun itself, is what I am reading. This was all done to guns that fired from an open bolt. There is a lot of interesting history and old posts and write ups about the subject. The suppressors of the day were heavy, and hanging one on the end of a nearly 11lb Thompson made for a very heavy gun. Add a 50 or 100 round drum, and you would probably need a wheelbarrow to haul it around.

As for my particular gun, it is a modern Auto-Ordinance post 82 semi-auto that fires from a closed bolt. I should have mentioned that in the first place, so sorry for the confusion. I have found a website that has parts, reference materials and gunsmithing services. They can even install a quick change barrel system! I will probably go that route, just so I can switch from suppressed to the classic M1 style and original looks. The name of the site is TOMMYGUNNER.COM.

As for the guns themselves, they are extremely fun to shoot, and the accuracy amazes me every time I go out. I have a 16'' barrel and it is set up to take the 30 round stick mags. Flawless feeding and extraction, and I have not had a single problem in over 850+ rounds so far. It is heavy, but that helps negate the recoil. This isn't a place for a review, but if you ever get a chance to add one to your collection, you won't ever regret it.

I will leave this up for a few days, so the folks that chimed in know that I appreciate it, and to add the Tommygunner.com info to a few more brains as a place to have some smith work done to a Thompson if the subject ever comes up again.

Thanks to all,

Dave

 

[Sigfla]

Ahh, closed bolt is a different animal esp in .45 ACP. I have had suppressed Uzi and M11 MG's in the recent past. They were quieter than non suppressed but the action sound and open bolt design just didn't really perform. Now a Suppressed HK or M16 with subsonic will be very quiet. .45 is a good big slow bullet and does well with a can. Personally I love suppressed .22lr the most. I used to let guys shoot all my MG's and they would drop them as soon as they got a hand on my 77/22 integral bolt gun. Another fun toy is an integral SBR 10/22.

 

[338 Mollett]

Is that an original Thompson?

 

[BOLTED]

Not original.

Yes, I have the most fun so far with the suppressed .22. I built a Volquartsen / Mcmillan 10/22 that is probably my favorite right now. I also put together a Volquartsen MKIII frame, with a 6"LLV to top it. Makes a super accurate host, that is ultra quiet!

Even a 45 handgun is noisy with a can. It's just a loud bang to quiet, but a nice slow one to suppress. I think the big heavy tommy will be fun. I'm spoiled, I don't like having to wear hearing protection now.

 

[Auto-X Fil]

I agree there is a need for people to do this sort of work! My FFL07/SOT02 is in-process for this very reason, but I'm sorry to say I can't do it yet.

 

[BOLTED]

Glad to know you will be out there at some point. I hope the process goes smooth for you, and make sure you let everyone know when you are ready to do business.

-D