Rental range ???s

WestKentucky · Aug 16, 2020

I have one of those dads that is impossible to buy for, and his birthday is not too far away. One thing I have heard him say several times is how bad he wants to get his hands on one of the coolest guns ever made, the m1927 Thompson submachine gun. I have found a range that’s about an hour from both of us (really close to the halfway point) in the Nashville area that has a 1921 and a 1928 Thompson available for rental. I’m leaning really hard towards getting dad on the range there and letting him check off that bucket list item. The thing I don’t really know though is how many rounds does it take to get used to a Thompson so that he can have his fun with it and not feel like the money ran out before the fun was had. It’s $20 per 20rd magazine so I know that even if he does bursts then he has only got a few seconds of fun per mag. Mom is on board with it and is willing to throw some money at it too. So which way makes sense?

Rent by mag- buy him a few mags and Be done in a few minutes? That’s $100 that would last 5 minutes...

Or

Rent by the hour- $65 and you buy ammo from them to use in their gun. Their ammo is not cheap so expect it to be $35 bucks a box of ammo.

Which way do you think makes sense? I’m kinda leaning toward mags just because that’s easier, but I want him to not feel rushed. And of course I will get a mag in as well. What kind of son would I be if I didn’t join in the fun... but I’m thinking maybe Skorpion or m60 for me.

Also if you have recommendations for ranges in the Nashville area that rent out Thompson’s I would consider other places. The one I found is not too far out of the way for either of us and is easy to get to.

ColtPythonElite · Aug 16, 2020

By the mag

entropy · Aug 17, 2020

WestKentucky said:
The thing I don’t really know though is how many rounds does it take to get used to a Thompson so that he can have his fun with it and not feel like the money ran out before the fun was had. It’s $20 per 20rd magazine so I know that even if he does bursts then he has only got a few seconds of fun per mag. Mom is on board with it and is willing to throw some money at it too. So which way makes sense?

The one time I fired a Thompson, an M1A1, I was 11 years old, and we were trying to shoot up surplus ammo Dad's PD had for them so they didn't have to turn it in. He and the Armorer had me shoot a few shots on semi first to get the feel of the gun then told me how long to hold the trigger down for a 3-rd burst. (not very long!) I got to fire two Type XX magazines (20 rd.) and had a wide grin

for about a month. I recommend renting the gun and buying the ammo if you can afford it, you both will leave grinning like jack o' lanterns for days!

By the mag would be a less expensive option, but as you already know, shorter.

I'd say it took me the first mag to get used to it, the second was 100% pure fun!

WrongHanded · Aug 17, 2020

According to my (slightly sunken) math, if you shoot 200 rounds or less, paying by the mag is better than $65 per hour and $35 per 50 rounds. Past 240 rounds, you'd be better off renting per hour.

You should double check my math.

AlexanderA · Aug 17, 2020

Do it, just to say you've done it. The novelty of shooting a full auto wears off quickly.

Shooting a full auto is in no way comparable to owning one.

BTW, the Thompson Model of 1927 is a "semiautomatic" that was ruled to be a full automatic by the ATF.

WestKentucky · Aug 17, 2020

AlexanderA said:
Do it, just to say you've done it. The novelty of shooting a full auto wears off quickly.

Shooting a full auto is in no way comparable to owning one.

BTW, the Thompson Model of 1927 is a "semiautomatic" that was ruled to be a full automatic by the ATF.

I personally have shot FA a few times and you are quite right that the novelty wears off. Dad has never fired FA though and I want to give him that experience. Seems a gift a step or two above socks and underwear.

entropy · Aug 17, 2020

I would amend that to the novelty wears off of each type you shoot. I've shot many, many, rounds FA thanks to Uncle Sugar, when he was footing the ammo bill for it. They were almost all in two certain types of weapon. I still like to try new types when the opportunity arises, last one was an Uzi. 50 rounds satisfied my curiosity with it. When you are paying for the ammo, it gets old (or more correctly, hard on the wallet) fast.

AlexanderA · Aug 17, 2020

entropy said:
When you are paying for the ammo, it gets old (or more correctly, hard on the wallet) fast.

I have a decent collection of FA. Haven't shot them in years. What I like most is watching the values go up and up. That's financially beneficent. Burning ammo is not financially beneficent. At my age, everything seems to boil down to dollars and cents.

CapnMac · Aug 17, 2020

As noted above, the novelty will wear off quickly. And the Thompson is a heavy beast to hold up for an hour.
So, I'd recommend by the magazine, rather than by the hour.
As there will be other "shiny" to rent, which will leave an equally big smile.
Sterling
Uzi
MP-5

Jim Watson · Aug 17, 2020

Agree with Mac. Hard to pass up a STEN if you shoot a Thompson.

oprod1 · Aug 17, 2020

I’d figure on 100 rounds as a minimum on the Thompson. If they have a drum, it holds 50 rounds. Tommy’s are heavy but very controllable. macs = not controllable.
It’s also nice to put down the Tommy and shoot 1911 at same time.

CapnMac · Aug 18, 2020

Jim Watson said:
Hard to pass up a STEN

STEN is ok, but Sterling is sooo much better.
MP-40 is worth a magazine through.
The Beretta 49 is nice, too--just not typical rental fodder.
Ditto MP-44/Stg-44.

Jim Watson · Aug 19, 2020

I agree the Sterling is a superior SMG, but the STEN fought WWII.

And you can string the list out very long. Things are so dull now, most armies use either AR or AK, but back then everybody had his own idea.

Sebastian the Ibis · Aug 31, 2020

Mags. How much are you really going to shoot in a rental range at a paper target?

If you were meeting a buddy with a Tommy gun In a gravel pit somewhere allowed to shoot at reactive targets (bottles, old TV etc) you’d probably be more inclined too blow thru a ton of ammo - at least I would!

lilguy · Sep 1, 2020

I say bring a bag of money let him shoot to his hearts content. First time for me was in Vegas. The range master put a upside down BinLaden target up and I soon realized why. Second time was at Knob Creek, great fun, spent a ton on 45 acp and 50 BMG in a cropped MaDuce. Let him run wild, once in a lifetime.

Rental range ???s

WestKentucky

Member

ColtPythonElite

Member

entropy

Member

WrongHanded

Member

AlexanderA

Member

WestKentucky

Member

entropy

Member

AlexanderA

Member

CapnMac

Member

Jim Watson

Member

oprod1

Member

CapnMac

Member

Jim Watson

Member

Sebastian the Ibis

Member

lilguy

Member

Similar threads