Guns 2011-04.pdf - Jeffersonian

More documents

Recommendations

Info

to undertake production in 1939, laterto be supplemented by a new Auto-Ordnance plant in Bridgeport, Conn.While the classy looking Model1928A1 was adopted by Britainand the United States in the earlyyears of the war, it proved toocomplex and expensive to make inthe numbers needed on the frontlines. Consequently, a wartimeproduction model was designedby 1942 that eliminated the finnedbarrel, Blish lock, Lyman adjustablesight, Cutts compensator, fine walnutstocks, vertical handgrip and drummagazines.Shot from the hip at 25 yards (above) theThompson proved it’s more than just a sprayand-prayrig. The Thompson M1 is superblyaccurate at 50 yards (below) with the rightsight picture.In their place were a smoothlyprofiled barrel, a simple blowbackaction with the cocking handle movedto the right-hand side of the receiver,a fixed “L” shaped rear peep sight, ahorizontal forearm, sling swivels and20- and 30-round stick magazines. Itwas branded the Model M1. A fewmonths later, its floating firing pinand hammer system was eliminatedand replaced by a fixed firing pinmachined into the face of the openfiringbolt. It was christened theModel M1A1. Military productionceased in 1944 with approximately1,500,000 Thompsons having beenmanufactured.Following the war, NumrichArms Co. acquired all the Auto-Ordnance patents, trademarks andtooling for the Thompson lines. Inthe 1990s, Kahr Arms, owned byKook Jin Moon, acquired all rightsto the Auto-Ordnance line fromNumrich, and today Kahr’s Auto-Ordnance company manufacturesstandard, lightweight, short-barreledrifle, short-barreled pistol anddisplay models of the 1927 A-1 semiautomaticThompson, plus standardand short-barreled versions of asemi-automatic M1.WWII ClassicThe new Auto-Ordnance M1pictured here is an incredibly finerendition of the WWII Thompsonclassic. It looks, feels, functions andshoots like the real deal. The receiveris CNC machined from a solid billetof steel. The barrel is hammer forged.All the wood is an upgraded quality ofwalnut. The markings are in the rightplaces, and there’s even the famous“Thompson bullet” trademark on topof the receiver. It just shouts “quality.”Weighing 11 pounds, 4 ounces withan empty 30-round stick magazine,the M1 is just about 7 ounces heavierthan the WWII M1A1; the extraounces being in the M1’s barrel whichis 6" longer than the WWII version.The weight of the Thompsons ingeneral is a primary reason theTommy Gun was so easy to shootin full-auto mode, particularly fromthe hip with the butt snuggled upunder your armpit. Auto-Ordnancealso makes an aluminum receiver forsome of its models, which reduces thecorresponding weights considerably.The “L” shaped, fixed rear sightof the M1 is wartime correct. Ithas an aperture for 100 yards and asmall notch at the top for a 200-yardzero. Given the sizable drop of theThompson buttstock that eliminatesthe possibility of obtaining a firm spotweld, and the overly generous size ofthe aperture; I found that using the38WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • APRIL <strong>2011</strong>
THOMPSON MODEL M1MAKER: Auto-Ordnance130 Goddard Memorial Dr.Worcester, MA 01603(508) 795-3919www.tommygunshop.com orwww.gunsmagazine.com/auto-ordnanceACTION TYPE:Straight blowbackCALIBER:.45 ACPCAPACITY:30BARREL LENGTH:16-1/2"OVERALL LENGTH:38-3/4"WEIGHT:11 pounds, 4 ouncesFINISH:Black oxideSIGHTS:Fixed “L” type rear, blade frontSTOCK:WalnutPRICE:$1,334rear notch, rather than the aperture,produced tighter groups at 50 yards—much tighter, in fact, from 2-1/2" to 1"and about 6" above the point of aim.For the rattle guns, I buy thebiggest, cheapest boxes of .45 ACP230-grain FMJ available, and locallythat means Remington’s 250-round“Mega Packs” under the UMC brand.It’s excellent ammo, feeds perfectlyand averaged 915 fps over my PACTProfessional chronograph.After doing some group shootingat 50 yards, I thought I’d try some hipshooting. In the truck was an M16A1feedback target sporting a rather nicebody profile. Set up at 25 yards, itabsorbed the best part of 20 roundsfired with the butt tucked into myarmpit. Given the odd reverse slopeof the Thompson butt plates, I havea hunch more Thompsons were firedfrom the hip than the shoulder.Tommy <strong>Guns</strong> are simply thecoolest looking milsurps around.Auto-Ordnance’s current models arehistorically correct, superbly built anda hoot to own and shoot. And if youhaven’t been to the movies lately, besure to check out Public Enemies atyour local video store. It’s Hollywood’slatest Tommy Gun extravaganza!BUILD YOURS NOW AT www.rockriverarms.comLE HomeHunt TargetFURTHER READINGThe Gun That Made the Twenties Roar byWilliam J. Helmer, Hardcover, 286 pages,©1969. Out-of-Print. Try ABE Books forused copies (www.gunsmagazine.com/abebooks).The Thompson Submachine Gun by MartinPegler. Softcover, 80 pages, ©2010, $17.95.Osprey Publishing. www.gunsmagazine.com/ospreypublishWWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 39
Page 2: A TRUE PAIRThe most advanced traini
Page 5 and 6: 44On The COVERTHE RANGEIS HOT42FEAT
Page 7 and 8: FREE with EVERYNighthawk TacticalSh
Page 9 and 10: IntroducingLEDWL1TMWeaponMountedTac
Page 11: RANGING SHOTSThe left thumb could,
Page 14 and 15: HANDGUNSapproved for Chicago PD, Lo
Page 16 and 17: • H A M I L T O N S . B O W E N
Page 18 and 19: • J O H N B A R S N E S S •Rifl
Page 20 and 21: A scoped .30-30 handgunoften shoots
Page 22 and 23: • MIKE “DUKE” VENTURINO • P
Page 24 and 25: • J A C O B G O T T F R E D S O N
Page 26: OPTICSJacob mounted Chris’ camera
Page 29 and 30: RIFLEMANKWIK-SITEhas taken Weaver®
Page 31 and 32: I AMREADY.When you need me most, I
Page 33 and 34: SHOTGUNNER.410 PDX1At 15', (left) t
Page 35 and 36: The Savage Model 93 bolt-action .22
Page 37: CZ P-07DUTYJust like thewartime mod
Page 41 and 42: Meprolight Night Sightsand Optical
Page 43 and 44: Light, handy, versatileand safe, th
Page 45 and 46: The new RangeOfficer uses aconventi
Page 47 and 48: WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 47
Page 49 and 50: The Federal 185-grain Match “soft
Page 51 and 52: The shoot-and-cleanmethod of barrel
Page 53 and 54: A deer hunter doesn’t need to spe
Page 55 and 56: and were gas operated and woodensto
Page 57 and 58: many partially loaded M1 en-blocloa
Page 59 and 60: The Smallest Targets Better Run For
Page 61 and 62: ThaT’s savage accuracy.When James
Page 63 and 64: WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM 63
Page 66: was complete.The Afghan soldiers ar
Page 70: “Our destruction of the whalerclo
Page 74 and 75: A.G. RUSSELL KNIVESSInce 1964, A.G.
Page 76 and 77: p AGE 266p AGE 120p AGE 96I N T E R
Page 78 and 79: “Gun Fit”It’s NOTsomethingshe
Page 80: APRIL 2011Classified ads $2.00 per-
Page 83 and 84: KICKLITEPHOENIX TECHNOLOGYhoenix Te
Page 85 and 86: O WIN!Alamo BowieMaker: KATz Knives
Page 87 and 88: ODD ANGRY SHOTpoor Mongol clan beca
Page 89 and 90:
CAMPFIRE TALEScontinued from page 9
Page 92:
The Kimber Super Carry.Well-rounded
show all

Guns 2011-04.pdf - Jeffersonian

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?