National Firearms Museum

[telewinz]

Just got back from my vacation to DC. Saw all the sites including the Smithsonian but by far and away the best attraction in the area was the NRA National Firearms Museum. They have 2000 weapons on display that beats the Smithsonian hands down. The Smithsonian is down to just a small corner next to the Philadelphia gun boat. 30 years ago their display on guns and military history was many times larger and much more interesting . Even the settings at the NRA for the various displays impressed me, in some cases you felt you were standing in the middle of TR's plush recreation room or study. The Smithsonian was a bit of a disapointment (my 5th trip) with the ever increaseing PC displays. My son and I only went to 3 of the museums, their subject matter and point of view has changed a great deal in 30 years.

While we were at the NRA we checked-out there state of the art firing range, only $12 an hour to shoot indoors and you can fire rifles! There was tons of empty brass I would have loved to claim If you are within 150 miles or so its worth the drive to check it out. Renewed my NRA membership while I was there, the staff were extremely friendly and polite, the highlite of my trip.

 

[BallisticTip]

Sounds like a good trip, allways wanted to check out the NRA Museum.

 

[Legionnaire]

Great museum! When you're there, though, you need to check out their indoor range. It'll handle anything up to and including magnum rifle cartridges. First time there, take a short safety test, and receive your card for subsequent visits. I try to stop in whenever I'm in NOVA visiting kin.

 

[Chris Rhines]

One of the few bright sides to living in the DC area...



- Chris

 

[themic]

haha, i work about a mile away from there!

 

[Partisan Ranger]

Hey, so do I! I work right across 50 from the NRA headquarters, about 3/4 mile away.

I went over to the range last week. It was great. People are really nice and knowledgeable.

 

[fatboyclone]

i shoot there all the time, but have never been to the museum.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Last time in March when I tried to reach that museum, I got stuck in a traffic jam caused by snow & accidents. About 1 1/2 hours to go about 12 miles. A gyrocopter would have been faster.

 

[Mike Irwin]

"if you're within 150 miles..."

I'm within 3 miles.

Does that count?

 

[Thumper]

Lots of interesting stuff there, plus, you can hang out with the minigun from the Matrix...AND Luke's light saber:

 

[telewinz]

Hell Mike, its worth walking for you

 

[4v50 Gary]

Mike, next time I'm in the area, we gotta do lunch and hang around the museum.

 

[STW]

Ya'll need to visit the Winchester Museum that's part of the museum complex in Cody, Wyoming. I don't know the number of guns but eventually you'll go numb with the variations, some dating back to about 1400, as I recall. As an added incentive they also have to Boone & Crockett display. Each gun has a 4 or five digit number that you can punch into a computer for more detailed information.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Definitely, Gary. Sorry I had to crap out on you last time.

 

[moa]

Not too far from Washington D.C., and north of Baltimore is the US Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground museums.

Indoor military small arms museum and several outdoor ordinance, armor, artillery, AFV, etc. museums.

If in Washington, this is a neat place to go if you are into military hardware. Even have "Anzio Annie", the big WWII German railroad gun.

Also, on May 17 a new military vehicle museum opened up in Danville, Virginia. Danville is around central Virginia on the North Carolina border. A pretty good drive from Washington. I have not been to that museum yet. I think they have about 100 vehicles on display. It is a private museum.

And, supposedly at the end of the year, the Smithsonian's museum near Dulles airport is scheduled to open with all kinds of aeronautical displays. Suppose to have many displays too large and numerous to fit into the Washington site. Display will include the Concorde supersonic airliner just recently flown in from France.

In the Marine base at Quantico. VA. there is USMC military museum. And the US Navy has a museum in Washington D.C at the Naval Yard. Last time I was there, neither museum was very large. Not as extensive as Aberdeen.

 

[Mike Irwin]

MOA,

The Washington Navy Yard Museum does have some damned fascinating exhibits, though.

Such as the WW I-era 14" Railway Gun.

Or the piece of armored plate from the unfinished Shinano (Yamato-class BB) that they shot a 16" shell at.

One of the screws from the South Dakota, too.

And just tons of other neat stuff...