Bedding a Thompson ForeGrip

[killbucket]

Yes, I have a Tommygun fetish, but this isn't about frictation.
I bought a Thompson repro foregrip at:
www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php/products_id/1184


What a deal!
I ripped open the package and grabbed a screwdriver. A few moments later I realized things didn't go together so well. The back of the grip lifts away from the body as the screw tightens. How wonky.

The bolt is a bit too long. Dremel'd off .250 inch.

The Grip has a long shallow groove, and the Marui has a step at the rear, and another at the screw hole. So most of the grip goes unsupported.

Remembering an old Shotgunnews article on bedding stocks, I did the following:
Remove the stock foregrip, place a single layer of thin masking tape over the grip mount rail and barrel. Mask off the rest of the nicest gun Marui will ever produce.
Similarly mask off the grip outer surfaces, leaving the mounting groove exposed.
Test-fit the parts, make SURE they slip into final place without too much pressure. Sand or trim if needed, I didn't need to.
Mix a small batch of Bondo and slop it into the groove on the grip, filling it completely. Scrape away any excess on the sides of the grip area.
Immediately press the grip into place and adjust position as required. Ignore any Bondo that squishes out, just let it dry in place, this will aid stability during drying.
Let this dry for three hours minimum, longer in cooler weather. Avoid the temptation to touch the assembly at all during this time!
Wiggle the parts free, and pull away all masking. Most excess plastic filler will fall away. I did not need to sand anything at all.
If a bit or chunk of the filler pops out, save it and glue it back in using elmer's or wood glue. You may need to drive a putty plug out of the screw hole.
Now when the grip is installed, the screw tightens up solid and the grip does not budge at all.



Note how much nicer the grip they sent me is! If only they had the rest of the furniture to match.

[click]

Nice find killbucket! Great for those guys that want to put the mob into mobsofting. Also great for early war marines. Now all you need to do is build a drum mag like TommyGunner:D.

Click

[killbucket]

He did that well enough, as has Schmitty. I'll be copying their efforts when time permits.

But how about a do-it-yourself ribbed barrel cover?

[TommyGunner]

Building a ribbed barrel is very easy and simply involves styrene strips and super glue, you would however have to cut off the front end of your barrel and add a real steel one from ima-usa.com. also in case you felt like it I would be interested to see of you could take a Springer M1921 and attach the upper reciver you your Marui lower reciver and make an M1928 that way. I say try it.

TommyGunner

[killbucket]

Great Idea.

Or I could go buy a few stacks of washers and some JBWeld, some cheap iron pipe...(so many project ideas, so many guns to build for waiting customers).



Now has anybody ever hollow'd out their own Thompson real-wood pistol grip? I now have a materials mismatch!
I was thinking of buying a second one of these to cut into one. They don't seem to carry the handgrip for some reason.

As for the stock. $35 gets this:

Anybody added one of these? Yes, I know the battery cavity will be a major pain.

They do have this unique accessory:
www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php/products_id/1538

[YankeeDiv26]

is that a p37 action cover? i've never seen one before but i've heard of them. also awesome job on the foregrip killbucket it came out looking very clean.

[Tough Ombre]

Those covers were mainly a British used item i though, also Alleramilitaria.com sells them. Looks good, and im sure you can modify the stock to work.
-Cary

[hank]

Is your fore grip the same shape as the the orginal grip? I bought my foregrip from tommygunner.com and its shape is really different from yours.

[killbucket]

Yes, they make a big deal about the shape being the right "bag shape" whatever that means. Note the groove in the upper grip area for the sling mounting plate, ""1930 Tactical" style.

[troyluginbill]

Kill bucket. I have now done 2 thompson pistol grips. The easiest way is to make your own not hollow out an original. If you want the technique then let me know. It is actually quite easy, especially if you have access to a router.

[Tough Ombre]

Hank, there were two different types of fore grips for the 1928, along with many others which guys would hand make. But the two that i speak of were and earlier version, which Kill bucket here has... then the mid version which looks like a combo between the late production ( m1a1 grip) and the earlier one.
-Cary