Question about S&W M76 receiver tube

MagnumForce73

MagnumForce73

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I've been doing some research on the Smith & Wesson M76 SMG, and according to one source I read, the receiver tube for the M76 is the same size as the one for the Sten gun. Is this true?
 
Model 76 and Swedish K

My Model 76 and my Swedish K never jam. I have one magazine for my 76 and I believe a good magazine is the key to its good functioning. I have a pile of K mags and all work fine.The K will also work with Soumi drums. I think the drums hold around 70 rounds. Unfortunately K and 76 mags do not interchange. It is difficult to find 76 mags whereas K mags are plentiful.
Here is my 76.
I am away from these guns now but when I return from my travel I will measure the tubes for you and post a photo of the K.
A friend has had a 76 since 1970.He said when these sub guns came out the list price was lower than for a Model 10. The $200 transfer tax was a much larger burden half a century ago then now.
 

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Greyman50 said:
Copy of Swedish K, but not as good. IMHO the K is the best sub gun in 9 mm.
Click to expand...

Yeah the 76 ended up being the answer to a question no one asked.

The Swedish K was in demand by SF types in SEA, but the Swedes didn't want to sell to a nation at war. My understanding is that the ones that USSF had were sanitized.

By the time S&W had made the 76, US involvement in the war was beginning to wind down, plus the advent of the XM177E1 gave the SF a weapon with the same mags and ammo as the M16A1, as well as a lot of parts commonality.

So the government contracts never materialized, neither did US police purchases.

Had the 76 came out in 1964, perhaps it would have had a different story.
 
I have shot a 76 and really enjoyed it. I wish that pre 86 I had lived in a country that the CLEO would have signed off on a regular citizen owning a Class III. I remember that MAC 10's were about $189 + the stamp and M76's were going for $250-300 + the stamp.
 
Yea, back in 70’s friend had all the MAC’s, local class 3 guy had a few 76’s, even the MAC in the brief case with suppressor, they would come out to the farm to shoot just about anything, good times.
 
MagnumForce73 said:
I've been doing some research on the Smith & Wesson M76 SMG, and according to one source I read, the receiver tube for the M76 is the same size as the one for the Sten gun. Is this true?
Click to expand...

Depends on which Sten model (Mk1-Mk3 or the Mk4 which was a folded design)- if you are talking an original or a domestically made tube gun. Non original tube guns had different wall diameters so they will vary a bit.

The biggest difference you will find between the two is the ID dimension. The S&W 76 is internally fluted where the Sten is not.

1.5 inch OD is a common DOM size so you will see it used a lot. If you can be more specific I can help with a better answer.
 
Had the opportunity to shoot some 76s at a S.W armorer school back in the early 90s. We had a MAC10 at work that we used to shoot way fun with the silencer. Would be fun to own either. Not me, I was taking the photo.
 

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My police dept had two 76s and two Thompson’s. They were traded for M16s for the SWAT team.
 
John Adams said:
My Model 76 and my Swedish K never jam. I have one magazine for my 76 and I believe a good magazine is the key to its good functioning. I have a pile of K mags and all work fine.The K will also work with Soumi drums. I think the drums hold around 70 rounds. Unfortunately K and 76 mags do not interchange. It is difficult to find 76 mags whereas K mags are plentiful.
Here is my 76.
I am away from these guns now but when I return from my travel I will measure the tubes for you and post a photo of the K.
A friend has had a 76 since 1970.He said when these sub guns came out the list price was lower than for a Model 10. The $200 transfer tax was a much larger burden half a century ago then now.
Click to expand...

The listed retail price for the M76, when it went out of production, was $115.00 :eek:
I paid the princely sum of $1,000.00 for mine when I bought it. Wish I still had it.l :mad: :(
 
The tube sizes are quite different. I do not have mine in front of me right now but, I remember they are different, the S&W bolt being a smaller diameter. here are a couple of pics of mine along with a friends K.
 
Last edited:
Pics of S&W 76 and a K.
 

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The NYPD bought the S&W M76 and replaced the Thompson on the Emergency Service Trucks with them somewhere around 1968?
I didn't like the M76 at all.Loved shooting the Thompson.
It was fun to watch the reaction of police brass when you came out of the truck with a submachine gun in hand.
 
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