Good time at the Range today (got to shoot a Full Auto)

[smullen]

*** Warning Long Read****

Today, Four of us, two of my friends and one's 11 Year old son (that has never fired or held a real firearm) and I went out to Logan State Park and Gun range today for a bit of target shooting...

On the way we stopped and picked up my new 700 SPS Varmint from Mikes Guns in St. Charles...(didn't get to shoot it as I could not afford a scope this month), Super nice folks @ Mikes BTW, I'll gladly do business with him again...

Then went a few more places picking up ammo, targets and Range snacks, water, etc.....

Got to the range about 2:00, range was packed... Within about 20 minutes, the furtherest bench opened up (about 75+Yards shots from this bench) and we moved to it and set up...

My buddy that bought his 700 SPS V and scope last week shoots 1st... Only his second time firing this rifle, but seems to be making progress getting it dialed in...

All the other range goers seem friendly and talkative... Always a plus!!! You can meet some really great folks at the ranges if you just say Hi and talk to'em...

I notice the guy at the bench next to us is shooting a big old old timer rifle, looks sorta like what I think the rifle on Quigly Down Under...

My buddy asks me, what the heck is that??? I said, I dunno, looks like a Sharps 1874 of some sort maybe a 45-something... I dunno...

So a few shots later I decide to ask, guy proudly says "Its a Sharps", me Nice!!!! What caliber is it? Him, 45-70 and he shows me a few of the cartridges... Pretty big round I'll say!!! Man, I'd love to buy one of those for my dad... Bit outta budget though...

After my two friends and I have taken a turn, I turn to my friend with his son, and said hey, I brought my Ruger 10/22, let get him started...

So we go over range safety rules, shooting glasses, ear plugs, muzzle control, etc... I make sure to mention to him, do not put your finger in the trigger loop/guard unless you are aiming at your target and fully intend to fire... A Cease fire was called and when it was clear for setting up new targets I put up my 4 Target Rim fire target deal out about 50 Yards or so...

The boy, 1st time out a bit nervous misses his 1st few shots, but then picks it up and starts doing pretty good... Boy, he was proud...

While we are taking turns shooting I notice two guys on the other end of the range are shooting two H&K MP5s, full auto (got a bit of a woody), .40 cal Pistols (looks like S&W M&Ps) and an extremely short 12 Ga... Shortest one I have seen, not in a movie or web site with NFA guns...

So all in we all placed some pretty good shots and had a great time... At about 5 the sun is starting to dip, the young'in is getting cold (my feet too) we decide to pack it up and got get something to eat...

On the way out my we are chatting with some of the range folks and buddy ahead of me stops at the bench with the guys that have the MP5s and such... They are now shooting their pistols.. He points to the MP5 laying on the bench and asks them what it was as he wasn't sure...

They start talking a bit about the MP5 and the Shot gun and after a few, the guy ask my friend if he wants to shoot the 12ga; and he says nah...

We keep talking turns out we both now a few of the same people... A few minutes later he asks if I want to shoot the 12 ga... I said Na... He said, aww it won't hurt you, doesn't kick at all (guess he thought I was scared of it) ...

I looked the MP5 and said, Could I try that... I've shot several Shorty Shot guns, but never and MP5 or a Full auto...

He says ok, here is a almost full mag, he loads it and hands it to me on Safety with a pretty full mag....

I bet my Smile got so big it was taking up 3 shooting benches...

I looked the gun over, looked down range at my choices of targets, pointed and squeezed the trigger (not really knowing what to expect, besides the obvious), pop, pop, poppoppop, wow, no kick, very little climb, pop, pop, poppoppop, Awesome!!! pop,pop, poppoppoppoppoppop, poppop!!!!

All rounds right into the targets!!! That thing was smooth and a blast to shoot (no pun intended)... Man, I'd love one of those...

I had it back smiling like a baboon I guess, I thank him... He then offers it to my other buddy and he pretty much does the same.... Now were both smiling like hyenas.... Talking to them a bit more we find out their shooting their .40s and are about about out, so we give them whole box of .40s that we had left... Talked a bit more, shook hands and we left.. Still smiling about shooting the H&Ks...

We then went to a local steakhouse/Buffet joint and pig out....

Ahh, it was a great day... Can't wait to do it again... Next time, hopefully, I'll have a decent scope on my 700....

 

[RLsnow]

damn you lucky......

 

[graybeard321]

to RLSnow, thanks for the Videos. They really point out how Stupid gun control is.

Mr smullen, I and any of the members of this board could write books on the number of nice people we have meet and shot with at ranges. I have shot thousands of different guns. That is one of the great things about our sport - shareing.

 

[RLsnow]

im going to come to the US some day...and when i do, i`l steal all your ammo....and pump it into some far out hillside...all by myself *loud evil laugh*

 

[erictank]

One of the indoor ranges on the Fredericksburg VA area (it was actually called "The Range" when I lived in the area, but that was several years ago - no idea if it's still even open) offered several select-fire guns for rental use on their range, 4 SMGs and 1 M-16 (for use only with their frangible ammo, if any was available, as there was the potential for regular .223 ammo to bounce off the backstop and harm the shooter). Over the course of a month or so, I had the chance to shoot their Uzi, M-16, and MP-5. All of them were pretty cool - the Uzi was my first time shooting any select-fire gun, followed by the MP-5 and then the M-16 a couple of weeks later, as I recall - but my favorite was definitely the MP-5. Smooth operation and easy to control even on full auto - I just HAD to go through one magazine on full-auto! - and what you saw through the sights at 25 yards was what you hit, period. Between that and testing out a half-dozen different pistols before my first-ever purchase, I had some pretty good times there.

Just checked for info, and it looks like the place is still open; fees are up just a little (to be expected, it's been a few years since I've been there) and they no longer have a .223 M-16 (now a 9mm conversion), but they still rent both pistols and Class-3 stuff, and still have walk-in fees or prepaid cards for lane use - no club membership fees. Might have to take a trip back down there one of these days...

 

[graybeard321]

RLSNOW - let us know in advance and I will purchase extra ammo.
- the best part of the shooting sports is shareing it with friends
or making new friends.

 

[Javelin]

I think I too got bit by the MP5 bug... but not being able to afford $18,000+ for one I am looking to settle on a professional arms MK5.

Thanks for the great story!

 

[LKB3rd]

I had a similar experience at my local range a few months back. A guy and his nephew were firing a full auto uzi a few lanes down at a silhouette target, and after one burst i poked my head out of my booth and said "i think it's dead." They thought that was funny, and he says "you wanna rip off a few through it?" I said "Hell yea!" haha.
It sounds like the MP5 might be a little bit easier to shoot. The uzi had negligible recoil but it did climb pretty quick if you didn't lean into it. Lots of fun!

 

[ACP230]

That smile has been called: "The 30 round grin."