[SHOT 2026] Auto Ordnance Thompson .22 LR Lightweight Carbine
Auto Ordnance unveiled a .22 LR variant of their Thompson line at SHOT Show 2026, bringing the Tommy Gun profile to rimfire shooters. The company built this around an aluminum receiver with polymer furniture finished to simulate wood grain, keeping production costs down while maintaining the classic Thompson silhouette. The MSRP sits at $999.
Note: As of writing this Kahr Firearms Group/Auto Ordnance do not have a product page up. When it is it should be found here under the latest filter.
The new .22 LR Thompson uses simulated stick magazines based on the 10/22 pattern. Basically a rotary magazine with a faux body. Magazine compatibility requires clarification: the magazines feature a guide rail system that mates with the Thompson's magwell, and some early product listings have stated standard 10/22 magazine compatibility.
When pressed on whether regular 10/22 magazines would work, Auto Ordnance representatives indicated magazines need "a rail" to function properly, referring to the guide rail on their proprietary stick magazines. I suspect this is the case since it uses the same magazine release and insertion mechanism as classic Thompsons.
Here's what Auto Ordnance built into the .22 LR Thompson:
- .22 LR chambering
- Aluminum receiver
- Picatinny optic rail
- Polymer furniture with simulated wood grain finish
- Thompson-style stick magazines (10/22-pattern based)
- Classic Thompson profile with vertical foregrip
- MSRP $999
The rifle performed well at Industry Range Day, delivering the fun factor you'd expect from a .22 LR Tommy Gun. The classic Thompson ergonomics translated to the rimfire platform without issues, and the gun ran reliably through my limited range time.
The $999 price point puts this Thompson squarely in premium .22 LR territory. For comparison, most polymer-furnished semi-auto .22 rifles retail between $300-500, and even higher-end rimfire carbines rarely break $800. Auto Ordnance is banking on the Thompson name and profile to justify the premium over standard .22 LR options.
The execution shows cost-cutting measures throughout the build. The polymer furniture dominates the gun's construction, and the finish quality reflects the price-conscious manufacturing approach. Shooters expecting steel-and-walnut craftsmanship will need to adjust expectations for a gun built around aluminum and injection-molded components.
This Thompson fills a specific niche: shooters who want the Tommy Gun experience without .45 ACP ammunition costs or the weight of Auto Ordnance's traditional steel-framed models. The .22 LR chambering makes it accessible for high-volume recreational shooting, and the classic profile offers nostalgic appeal that standard rimfire carbines can't match. Whether that's worth double or triple the price of comparable .22 LR platforms depends entirely on how much value you place on the Thompson name and appearance.
Are you willing to pay $999 for a polymer Thompson in .22 LR, or would you rather put that money toward Auto Ordnance's traditional steel-framed models? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Managing Editor: AllOutdoor.com | Staff Writer: TheFirearmBlog | Certified Gunsmith | Published Author | Firearm History Enthusiast
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It would be fun to have at 500 or 600 dollars. Maybe once they come out the stores will be charging less than MSRP. The other piece I would like on the weapon is the forward handguard under the barrel rather than the pistol grip.
I have a light weight thompson in 45 cal with aluminum receiver which I paid around$900 for several years ago. Also have plastic pellet airsoft thompson that is full weight as a real thompson with a metal receiver, paid $199 for,and another airsoft thompson with plastic receiver for $99(cheap junk). Sounds like you are selling a plastic airsoft slightly modified to shoot 22cal rounds. Way over priced!