Auto Kahr Thompson - The Firearms Forum

dirtyjap · 05-20-2003, 11:33 PM

I'm thinking about buying aone of the new Auto-kahr Thompsons any thoughts or opinions.I heard both good and bad.

05-21-2003, 08:43 AM

I think we got a guy who knows quite a bit about these. I will go roust him out.

NuclearMeltdown · 05-21-2003, 03:19 PM

I hear they're pretty heavy. Would be awesome to shoot though

If ya get one keep us posted. It would be interesting to hear what ya think.

dirtyjap · 05-21-2003, 07:19 PM

I've wanted one for awhile But though the new ones could only accept 10 round sticks.I've seen them in Shotgun News for about $800 so I should be able to get it for about $1000 (Dont have FFL) I want the Private Ryan combat model not the Perdition pimp gun. Am I correct in thinking that they accept 30round mags if not I dont see the point.

Admin · 05-22-2003, 03:43 AM

First, let's understand that the semi-auto version looks
similar to the original full auto Thompson however,
there are several differences, below are some of
them.

AO was not the original mfg of the Thompson, Colt,
Savage to name two, were original mfg's. AO mfg'd
approximately only 609 of the sub-guns, and these
AO produced sub-guns were not mfg'd during war
times, they were mfg'd prior to the 1986 transferable
NFA ban and granted C&R status, plus the usual
paperwork needed to transfer these guns.

The AO semi-auto Tommy's had mostly all hand
fitted parts, so it would be rare for two identical
semi's to be able to interchange parts without
a little tapping/grinding/fitting etc.

The SMG's inner receiver parts, are for the most part
totally different than the semi auto carbine's version.

The receivers on the semi's are newly mfg'd and
just about totally different on the inside than the
sub-guns are, i.e. made not to be able to convert
to select fire.

The bolt/carrier combo is again, drastically different
than the SMG is..... The bolt system in the SMG was
of high quality precision made steel that held a
traditional (rounded) firing pin whereas, the bolt on
the semi (in most cases) had to be aligned and tested
for freedom of movement into battery, usually by placing
the square block end of it into a vice, tapping (heavily)
on the round extended top portion of it (where the flat-
& hand ground free floating firing "type" pin would be)
and placing it back into the receiver, then shaking the
receiver briskly for clear signs of freedom of movement
into battery. In most cases this had to be done more
than a few times to each bolt/carrier-combo in order to
achieve success.

The firing pin on the semi's were of a flat stick type
piece of steel with a slightly narrow end that was
usually placed on a grinding machine, and ground
just right in order to function properly enough to
pass through the bolt carrier and hopefully strike
the primer on the round, to where the carbine would
fire. The pins in the semi's were also "free floating"
firing pins, I myself am not a big fan of the free -
floating firing pin system in any of my personal choices
of firearms, as there is little to no shock absorbsion
when a round is fired, thus escalating the odds of
breakage to the firing pin, especially with repeated
use and or rapid fire, especially in cases of which
one may need to rely on a firearm under defensive
circumstances when ones life may depend upon the
reliability of any particular firearm. If given the choice,
of firing pin systems, my personal preference would
always be a spring loaded firing pin system, or
possibly a titanium firing pin if possible. I hope that
Khar has improved upon this system, my guess is
that they probably have made several improvements
to the entire product line. I highly doubt that the old
antiquated process of years gone by, is as it used to
be.

The SMG's have a 10-inch barrel whereas, the semi-
carbine versions have a 16-inch barrel, as to comply
with federal standards of OAL (overall length). The
semi-barrels (at the time) were installed by method
of a 2-step process (if memory serves me right) that
consisted first of a 2-part bonding solution, one being
the spray/hardener and the other being the bonding
glue type solution that was placed upon the threads
of the chamber end to be screwed into the receiver.

The second step was to screw the barrel into the
receiver, then use a hand torque tool (11 or 12 lbs-
I think) to complete barrel installation....... The "Cuts"
compensator or front site (depending on model) was
also installed using the bonding solution too, but I
don't recall if torque was palso part of the proccess.

The sights although at the time were drilled & tapped
for screw down attachment, were riveted to the
receivers, I would guess to speed up production as to
improve cost effective wise, although in some cases
and after periods of use, the vibration may cause the
rivets to loosen, thus causing the site base/housing
to rattle resulting in difficulty in getting steady shot
group placement.

AO had plenty of stock piled/original SMG wooden
buttstocks, forearms/grips & 30rd stick mags that
used to come with these carbines also. New drum
mags were plentyful at the time too however, one
of the various differences between the military type
copy, was that the M-1 Military version would only
accept stick mags, the receivers were not cut to
take both the drum & stick mags whereas, the
other models will accept either one. Whether
that has changed now, I don't know.

As to an actual opinion of these semi-auto carbines,
I can only say that back several years ago, there was
more than one builder, some would build the handguns,
and some would build the Tommy carbines. On the whole
(at that time) whether an A+ firearm was the end result,
basically depended upon several things, as for instance,
who did the build/work, and out of the more than one
receiver contractors over the years, the quality control of the
receivers, the receiver QC, the builder quality, and QC of the parts, usually plays a key role , in my opinion.

The firearms, both handguns & semi Tommy's that were
built well, were fine shooters, the semi Tommy's would
group fairly well out to 100yds. However, they didn't
function too well with lead cast bullets, they prefered a
strict diet of jacketed rounds, but that stands to reason,
as the Tommy's were never meant for lead, they were
made to fire jacketed bullets i.e. FMJ's (Full Metal Jacket)
specifically.

As far as the way Khar's quality control standards are as
to the way these firearms are made since the take over
of AO, I can't say because I don't know, but if it's anything
like the QC standards that their handgun reputation lives
up to, then I would dare say that reliability & quality will
have greatly improved, and if so, I would have no doubts
about purchasing one of these fine semi-auto replica
Tommy Guns. They're a lot of fun to shoot too!

Just my opinions, not meant to be taken any other way!

Boomatic · 05-22-2003, 08:19 AM

Showoff!

05-22-2003, 11:31 AM

Can you repeat that?

Thanks Steve, I thought you might have a word or two about these.

Admin · 05-22-2003, 07:36 PM

Wait, I'm not done, part two is comming up, may take a day or two, but there are a few points and a second part of the post
that I didn't have time to touch upon.

Back to ya!

Smokin Guns · 05-22-2003, 08:42 PM

Where Tac left off...My experience at least with the Thompson semi-auto...is I wish I would have picked up a "commando"...did not like the "pimp" version...some feller came along with an offer I "couldn't refuse"...but, will tell you with the 30 rd. mag. and the drum...it is a well made gun!...the "pimp" version just wasn't comfortable for me!...

05-20-2003, 11:33 PM	#1
dirtyjap Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 27	Auto Kahr Thompson I'm thinking about buying aone of the new Auto-kahr Thompsons any thoughts or opinions.I heard both good and bad. --> Last edited by dirtyjap; 05-20-2003 at 11:34 PM..

05-21-2003, 03:19 PM	#3
NuclearMeltdown V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: PA Posts: 117	I hear they're pretty heavy. Would be awesome to shoot though If ya get one keep us posted. It would be interesting to hear what ya think. __________________ 1995 American Standard Stratocaster

05-22-2003, 08:19 AM	#6
Boomatic Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,088	Showoff! __________________ Boom-a-tic Boomer Sooner!! Last edited by Boomatic; 05-22-2003 at 08:20 AM..

05-22-2003, 08:42 PM	#9
Smokin Guns Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: "Gun Culture Members Clubhouse"... Posts: 4,463	Gunna pic up... Where Tac left off...My experience at least with the Thompson semi-auto...is I wish I would have picked up a "commando"...did not like the "pimp" version...some feller came along with an offer I "couldn't refuse"...but, will tell you with the 30 rd. mag. and the drum...it is a well made gun!...the "pimp" version just wasn't comfortable for me!... Attached Images __________________

05-21-2003, 08:43 AM	#2
warpig Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	I think we got a guy who knows quite a bit about these. I will go roust him out.

05-21-2003, 07:19 PM	#4
dirtyjap Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 27	I've wanted one for awhile But though the new ones could only accept 10 round sticks.I've seen them in Shotgun News for about $800 so I should be able to get it for about $1000 (Dont have FFL) I want the Private Ryan combat model not the Perdition pimp gun. Am I correct in thinking that they accept 30round mags if not I dont see the point.

05-22-2003, 03:43 AM	#5
Admin Site Network Webmaster Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Site Control Panel Posts: 11,654	First, let's understand that the semi-auto version looks similar to the original full auto Thompson however, there are several differences, below are some of them. AO was not the original mfg of the Thompson, Colt, Savage to name two, were original mfg's. AO mfg'd approximately only 609 of the sub-guns, and these AO produced sub-guns were not mfg'd during war times, they were mfg'd prior to the 1986 transferable NFA ban and granted C&R status, plus the usual paperwork needed to transfer these guns. The AO semi-auto Tommy's had mostly all hand fitted parts, so it would be rare for two identical semi's to be able to interchange parts without a little tapping/grinding/fitting etc. The SMG's inner receiver parts, are for the most part totally different than the semi auto carbine's version. The receivers on the semi's are newly mfg'd and just about totally different on the inside than the sub-guns are, i.e. made not to be able to convert to select fire. The bolt/carrier combo is again, drastically different than the SMG is..... The bolt system in the SMG was of high quality precision made steel that held a traditional (rounded) firing pin whereas, the bolt on the semi (in most cases) had to be aligned and tested for freedom of movement into battery, usually by placing the square block end of it into a vice, tapping (heavily) on the round extended top portion of it (where the flat- & hand ground free floating firing "type" pin would be) and placing it back into the receiver, then shaking the receiver briskly for clear signs of freedom of movement into battery. In most cases this had to be done more than a few times to each bolt/carrier-combo in order to achieve success. The firing pin on the semi's were of a flat stick type piece of steel with a slightly narrow end that was usually placed on a grinding machine, and ground just right in order to function properly enough to pass through the bolt carrier and hopefully strike the primer on the round, to where the carbine would fire. The pins in the semi's were also "free floating" firing pins, I myself am not a big fan of the free - floating firing pin system in any of my personal choices of firearms, as there is little to no shock absorbsion when a round is fired, thus escalating the odds of breakage to the firing pin, especially with repeated use and or rapid fire, especially in cases of which one may need to rely on a firearm under defensive circumstances when ones life may depend upon the reliability of any particular firearm. If given the choice, of firing pin systems, my personal preference would always be a spring loaded firing pin system, or possibly a titanium firing pin if possible. I hope that Khar has improved upon this system, my guess is that they probably have made several improvements to the entire product line. I highly doubt that the old antiquated process of years gone by, is as it used to be. The SMG's have a 10-inch barrel whereas, the semi- carbine versions have a 16-inch barrel, as to comply with federal standards of OAL (overall length). The semi-barrels (at the time) were installed by method of a 2-step process (if memory serves me right) that consisted first of a 2-part bonding solution, one being the spray/hardener and the other being the bonding glue type solution that was placed upon the threads of the chamber end to be screwed into the receiver. The second step was to screw the barrel into the receiver, then use a hand torque tool (11 or 12 lbs- I think) to complete barrel installation....... The "Cuts" compensator or front site (depending on model) was also installed using the bonding solution too, but I don't recall if torque was palso part of the proccess. The sights although at the time were drilled & tapped for screw down attachment, were riveted to the receivers, I would guess to speed up production as to improve cost effective wise, although in some cases and after periods of use, the vibration may cause the rivets to loosen, thus causing the site base/housing to rattle resulting in difficulty in getting steady shot group placement. AO had plenty of stock piled/original SMG wooden buttstocks, forearms/grips & 30rd stick mags that used to come with these carbines also. New drum mags were plentyful at the time too however, one of the various differences between the military type copy, was that the M-1 Military version would only accept stick mags, the receivers were not cut to take both the drum & stick mags whereas, the other models will accept either one. Whether that has changed now, I don't know. As to an actual opinion of these semi-auto carbines, I can only say that back several years ago, there was more than one builder, some would build the handguns, and some would build the Tommy carbines. On the whole (at that time) whether an A+ firearm was the end result, basically depended upon several things, as for instance, who did the build/work, and out of the more than one receiver contractors over the years, the quality control of the receivers, the receiver QC, the builder quality, and QC of the parts, usually plays a key role , in my opinion. The firearms, both handguns & semi Tommy's that were built well, were fine shooters, the semi Tommy's would group fairly well out to 100yds. However, they didn't function too well with lead cast bullets, they prefered a strict diet of jacketed rounds, but that stands to reason, as the Tommy's were never meant for lead, they were made to fire jacketed bullets i.e. FMJ's (Full Metal Jacket) specifically. As far as the way Khar's quality control standards are as to the way these firearms are made since the take over of AO, I can't say because I don't know, but if it's anything like the QC standards that their handgun reputation lives up to, then I would dare say that reliability & quality will have greatly improved, and if so, I would have no doubts about purchasing one of these fine semi-auto replica Tommy Guns. They're a lot of fun to shoot too! Just my opinions, not meant to be taken any other way!

05-22-2003, 11:31 AM	#7
warpig Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Can you repeat that? Thanks Steve, I thought you might have a word or two about these.

05-22-2003, 07:36 PM	#8
Admin Site Network Webmaster Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Site Control Panel Posts: 11,654	Wait, I'm not done, part two is comming up, may take a day or two, but there are a few points and a second part of the post that I didn't have time to touch upon. Back to ya!