Full auto suggestions

[ar1131]

Does anyone have any suggestions on a first fully auto purchase? Not sure what I want other than it is strictly an investment and not a shooter (or I will not be shooting it often). I found a never used lower receiver with "Thompson" furniture for $8500. I was hoping to be sub $5k but if the $8500 "Thompson" is a great investment I may see if I can figure out a way to make it happen. Thanks for the help, I know this is a wife open question.

 

[ericoak]

Thompsons are way more than $8500 man.

Especially an investment quality one.

Start here to get an idea of the price range:

http://www.machinegunpriceguide.com/

 

[mcbruzdzinski]

Talk to anyone of the guys at the MD Thompson Collector club at the AGC. I believe they have handout or at least a good lecture on all the ins/outs.

 

[johnnyb2]

A little MAC 10 or 11 are about the cheapest one's I have ever seen. About $4500-5K A nice Thompson, a REAL Thompson, goes for abut $MINIMUM $15K up to and over $25K.

I had a chance to buy a really nice one back in 1982 at Manassas Armory for $4800, but only had a little more than half .... :-( I still miss that thing....weep, weep, :-)

 

[ar1131]

I understand that thompsons are more than $8500. This is a brand new never fired receiver and Thompson knock off furniture. At least that is my understanding of what it is. Sounds like to get any decent investment gun I would need to be over my $5k price and more into the $10k-$15k, which is too rich for my blood right now.

 

[MaxVO2]

A little MAC 10 or 11 are about the cheapest one's I have ever seen. About $4500-5K A nice Thompson, a REAL Thompson, goes for abut $MINIMUM $15K up to and over $25K.

I had a chance to buy a really nice one back in 1982 at Manassas Armory for $4800, but only had a little more than half .... :-( I still miss that thing....weep, weep, :-)

****Funny how every thug in Hollywood movies seems to be able to get a Mac 10, or other full auto (even dual wielding Mac 10's) for less than 4-5k.. Rocket launchers too.. Be nice to know where they get their guns.

As the above mentions, it would be pretty tough to find a real Thompson in the price range originally quoted, unless there was something really wrong with it, a fake, or some other issue. There was a sale recently of one in the area that went for I think $17k NOT including other firearms included in trade for it. If the OP can really find something in the price range quoted, buy it and double your money overnight if it is in good shape etc...

 

[ar1131]

****Funny how every thug in Hollywood movies seems to be able to get a Mac 10, or other full auto (even dual wielding Mac 10's) for less than 4-5k.. Rocket launchers too.. Be nice to know where they get their guns.

As the above mentions, it would be pretty tough to find a real Thompson in the price range originally quoted, unless there was something really wrong with it, a fake, or some other issue. There was a sale recently of one in the area that went for I think $17k NOT including other firearms included in trade for it. If the OP can really find something in the price range quoted, buy it and double your money overnight if it is in good shape etc...

It is not a true Thompson. It is a full auto 45 lower with knock off Thompson furniture. I thought the real value/investment was a brand new never fired lower receiver in full auto as my understanding is that no full auto receivers can be manufactured. Again, I am completely new to class III so I was looking to see if it is worth trying to find an investment piece and put it in a trust. Thanks

 

[rseymorejr]

Talk to anyone of the guys at the MD Thompson Collector club at the AGC. I believe they have handout or at least a good lecture on all the ins/outs.

Send IMBLITZVT a PM, he belongs to the Club and might be able to point you in the right direction

 

[Gunlawyer]

Poke around here and see if there is something you like in your price range.

http://www.subguns.com/classifieds/...mat=headlines&website=&language=&session_key=

With the budget you stated, the best you are going to be able to do "Thompson wise" is to find a Sten tube Thompson. Apparently they work well and look a lot like the real thing.

The prices keep going up and up and up. To play you need to pay big bucks these days I am afraid.

Let us know what you end up going for!

 

[IMBLITZVT]

Does anyone have any suggestions on a first fully auto purchase? Not sure what I want other than it is strictly an investment and not a shooter (or I will not be shooting it often). I found a never used lower receiver with "Thompson" furniture for $8500. I was hoping to be sub $5k but if the $8500 "Thompson" is a great investment I may see if I can figure out a way to make it happen. Thanks for the help, I know this is a wife open question.

Strictly an investment...man, I just can't hardly understand that...

Well Jap guns come to mind as they are hard to get shooting considering ammo. One of the early Jap MGs. How about a Jap Type 11. Lots of history, cool looking and not really a "shooter" as it can't be converted to shoot anything else but can still be shot from time to time in original caliber. Price range is about right too...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_11_light_machine_gun

 

[IMBLITZVT]

It is not a true Thompson. It is a full auto 45 lower with knock off Thompson furniture. I thought the real value/investment was a brand new never fired lower receiver in full auto as my understanding is that no full auto receivers can be manufactured. Again, I am completely new to class III so I was looking to see if it is worth trying to find an investment piece and put it in a trust. Thanks

"New never fired"... do you think it was test fired? I don't know about you but I don't put a penny worth of value in this. I know I hear about it all the time but seriously, I just feel like someone is trying to sell me something.

Few collectors of MGs can afford to spend that kind of money and not shoot it. Most people will be happy to get a semi version to look at. I know it happens but not that much.

Sounds like the gun you found was a Spitfire or a BRP Tommy gun.

 

[ar1131]

Poke around here and see if there is something you like in your price range.

http://www.subguns.com/classifieds/...mat=headlines&website=&language=&session_key=

With the budget you stated, the best you are going to be able to do "Thompson wise" is to find a Sten tube Thompson. Apparently they work well and look a lot like the real thing.

The prices keep going up and up and up. To play you need to pay big bucks these days I am afraid.

Let us know what you end up going for!

Clearly, I am way out of my league. I thought my budget would get something decent as I was always taught get the best you can when you are buying a gun. My "investment" theory is simply because I was thinking about having some money in investments other than the stock market. I own other guns but nothing full auto. It looks like it was just a pipe dream until I save up some more. Thanks

 

[MaxVO2]

Clearly, I am way out of my league. I thought my budget would get something decent as I was always taught get the best you can when you are buying a gun. My "investment" theory is simply because I was thinking about having some money in investments other than the stock market. I own other guns but nothing full auto. It looks like it was just a pipe dream until I save up some more. Thanks

****Invest well, invest regularly, diversify, and don't be afraid to take some risks. You will do better than just saving up your money in a savings account, or waiting until you save up enough to buy your full auto gun and losing the opportunity cost of that money to grow with compound interest for a few years. Prices do fluctuate with guns, butter, mail order brides, etc.. but if you invest well you can have much more disposable income and just buy pretty much whatever you like.

Guns *can* be great investments but it is kind of like any other hobby with collector/investment potential: you need to know a *lot* about the product you are investing in and even people that have this knowledge make mistakes. Maybe take a bit of time to learn everything you can about whatever guns, etc.. you are interested in, or in other less expensive guns that may have collector value now or in the future. Several members of this site have extraordinary knowledge about firearms in general and what would seem like an obviously good deal to them may be lost on someone with a bit of $$$ to invest but not so much knowledge about what is "investment" grade material. It is easy to lose money like this, and it is very easy to lose money on this type of investment if the knowledge base is not there.

Full auto has a pretty high entry fee in our current political climate but there are *many* lower priced options out there if you really wish to have some money invested in firearms or related items that have investment value. There are several publications available regarding firearm values on the used market as well as people who are in this business that track trends, etc..

Bottom line is before you plunk down some big $$$ it might be worthwhile to consult some of the trade/investment publications that dealers and others use to establish values, or to look at trends, etc..

Anyway, sorry for the novella. Would hate to see someone lose a ton of hard earned money on something gun related that will not be used for anything other than an "investment" that is anything but that.

 

[ar1131]

****Invest well, invest regularly, diversify, and don't be afraid to take some risks. You will do better than just saving up your money in a savings account, or waiting until you save up enough to buy your full auto gun and losing the opportunity cost of that money to grow with compound interest for a few years. Prices do fluctuate with guns, butter, mail order brides, etc.. but if you invest well you can have much more disposable income and just buy pretty much whatever you like.

Guns *can* be great investments but it is kind of like any other hobby with collector/investment potential: you need to know a *lot* about the product you are investing in and even people that have this knowledge make mistakes. Maybe take a bit of time to learn everything you can about whatever guns, etc.. you are interested in, or in other less expensive guns that may have collector value now or in the future. Several members of this site have extraordinary knowledge about firearms in general and what would seem like an obviously good deal to them may be lost on someone with a bit of $$$ to invest but not so much knowledge about what is "investment" grade material. It is easy to lose money like this, and it is very easy to lose money on this type of investment if the knowledge base is not there.

Full auto has a pretty high entry fee in our current political climate but there are *many* lower priced options out there if you really wish to have some money invested in firearms or related items that have investment value. There are several publications available regarding firearm values on the used market as well as people who are in this business that track trends, etc..

Bottom line is before you plunk down some big $$$ it might be worthwhile to consult some of the trade/investment publications that dealers and others use to establish values, or to look at trends, etc..

Anyway, sorry for the novella. Would hate to see someone lose a ton of hard earned money on something gun related that will not be used for anything other than an "investment" that is anything but that.

Very well said and thank you. That is great advice

 

[monkey]

If you're looking for an investment piece, how about a nice Luger? The transfer process would be a lot faster than an NFA item.

 

[IMBLITZVT]

If you're looking for an investment piece, how about a nice Luger? The transfer process would be a lot faster than an NFA item.

Ever notice Lugers are not really rare? Also do you know any young Luger collectors? I don't see that market continuing to climb like it has in the past.

Machine guns will climb as long as they remain illegal to make new ones.

Right now all the good deals on MGs are in the larger rifle calibers. With the lack of surplus rifle ammo on the market, any .223, 7.62x39, 9mm and 45ACP gun has jumped pretty well in value where any guns in 308, 30-06, 8mm and 50BMG are generally down in price. That does not mean they are cheap but when you see a M2HB go for $11k like I did a few years back, you know you are watching someone buy a gun at half price! M16s and Macs have gone up like crazy lately as they are what you can shoot now! If I was buying any MG for investment, it would be a 1919a4. It is the most versatile MG on the market and the price is down on them.

However yes at $5k there is a limited market of what you can buy. Jap type 11s are $6-$9 depending. The suggestions that this is not an easy market to predict was correct and its not cheap to get it. However so long as you don't catch a peak price, you will generally see the value go up and remain steady.

 

[monkey]

Luger's aren't super rare, but you do have to be very knowledgeable to find one in collector quality. That's what kept me from buying one.

Personally, my plan is to buy a Mac 11 and modernize it to look like an MP7 with a Lage upper.

 

[IMBLITZVT]

Luger's aren't super rare, but you do have to be very knowledgeable to find one in collector quality. That's what kept me from buying one.

Personally, my plan is to buy a Mac 11 and modernize it to look like an MP7 with a Lage upper.

Yes I have never run into a gun who's value can swing so much over so little! What that means to me is that its not a health market. I mean adding one matching magazine adds a huge bit of value. Adding a second matched magazine doubles the value. Are you telling me that two numbers stamp on the magazine really is worth what the entire gun is worth. Not in real world terms. What that tells me is that you have some people with serious money interested in those items. However this population will change in time and I don't know that having two matched mags will be worth so much to those that follow. Personally I don't see Lugers as a gun that will go up that much in value in years to come. I will also say that I don't get along well with Luger collectors and banned myself from one of their forums...

That said, I bought one not long ago. A 1916 DWM that is unit stamped MGK. Thats Machine gun company. So its really a MG accessory to me. Its very interesting to shoot. Mine is matching except for Trigger and Mag. I would say shooter condition but certainly not rough. You can read more here if interested. http://www.mg42.us/viewtopic.php?nomobile=1&f=46&t=10386

I have a M11 with the Lage upper and 22 kit. Very nice little gun to shoot!

 

[rico903]

Yes I have never run into a gun who's value can swing so much over so little! What that means to me is that its not a health market. I mean adding one matching magazine adds a huge bit of value. Adding a second matched magazine doubles the value. Are you telling me that two numbers stamp on the magazine really is worth what the entire gun is worth. Not in real world terms. What that tells me is that you have some people with serious money interested in those items. However this population will change in time and I don't know that having two matched mags will be worth so much to those that follow. Personally I don't see Lugers as a gun that will go up that much in value in years to come. I will also say that I don't get along well with Luger collectors and banned myself from one of their forums...

That said, I bought one not long ago. A 1916 DWM that is unit stamped MGK. Thats Machine gun company. So its really a MG accessory to me. Its very interesting to shoot. Mine is matching except for Trigger and Mag. I would say shooter condition but certainly not rough. You can read more here if interested. http://www.mg42.us/viewtopic.php?nomobile=1&f=46&t=10386

I have a M11 with the Lage upper and 22 kit. Very nice little gun to shoot!

I would love an M11/9 with Lage upper and .22 kit. Man, have they gone up in price the last 2 years.

 

[IMBLITZVT]

I would love an M11/9 with Lage upper and .22 kit. Man, have they gone up in price the last 2 years.

Yes I consider myself very lucky to have been on the front end of the Mac upgrades when the guns were still cheap.

Also alot of the price is being driven with the near complete lack of affordable rifle caliber ammo. All 9mm and 223 caliber guns have gone up a fair amount.

However I don't see them dropping down anytime soon, so stop waiting and get in one now!!!