Shootin Auto Today!

[Keaner]

Hey all, I am going to American Firearms School in North Attleboro MA today to shoot a full auto M16! This will be my first time shooting a full auto. I really wanted to shoot the Thompson instead, but the guys who I am going with want the M16, so... I also get to go visit my M1 again!

Anyway, the real purpose of this story is who I am bringing with me! The first is my coworker from my summer coop, who when I met was a rabid anti. I convinced him to go shooting with me at AFS, got an AR-15 in his hands, and it was love! He now has a carry permit (in MA!), and is saving for a S&W carry piece.

The second is my suitemate here at school. He was another anti(as is popular in MA) who I convinced with reason (intelligent kid, eh?), and this will be his first time shooting.

The third still is a huge anti, but feels that he should go shooting anyway, just to see what it is like. I hope that after a few hours at the range today, he'll come to the fun-side of the gun argument!


So, not only is it an auto day, I am taking 2 converts, and a future convert!

 

[Lupinus]

Is it the newer version of the M16 or the older origional version?

I have never handled an M16 but to my understanding the modern M16 has no full auto, only semi auto and a three round burst to prevent waisted ammo through spray and pray type shooting from behind cover without aiming at all.

 

[Keaner]

I am not sure, but I have seen it shot full auto (30 rounds right out), so I assume thats not the case.

 

[Lupinus]

Perhap's just kept pulling the trigger or the model they have isn't the standard military issue?

It's my understanding, someone who has served might be able to say more definativly.

 

[Owen]

M16 = full auto
M16 A1 full auto
A2 3 round
A3 full auto/flat top
A4 3 round/flat top

 

[Keaner]

It was actually just a converted AR when it came down to it.

It was wicked lots o fun for everyone that went, and I am going to shoot an AK next weekend with another group of friends.

Oddly enough, with the guys I took, the M1 was more popular than the M16

 

[Curare]

Chances are you will never see an A3.

 

[Starter52]

Keaner - If you're interested in a Thompson, MP-5, Uzi and a lot more, take a trip up north to Manchester, NH and visit the range there. They have a good selection of class 3 guns to rent.

 

[Keaner]

Yeah, I was considering all that before this range get autos. The one that I want to shoot (they have a tompson) is a BAR, but I doubt that Manchester has one.

 

[vol_907]

Dude, that is great!

There's hope for those in MA. Full auto is very fun to shoot. My only experience involved someone who brought a M-11 to the range I went to in Hallandale. It caught everyone's attention.

I hung around, and asked him questions how he got it, and he explained to me the whole process (Machine gun tax, 6 month waiting period, etc.). He then invited me to empty a couple of clips.

Heh. Would I turn that down? Brrrrrrrrup! Very dramatic, but when I looked at the paper, I saw I was only hitting around my target with the first shot. The rest went high.

'Twas fun, but I'd trust my life to a pistol before a subgun. Just my perspective. I might think different if it were a MP-5 or a MP7A1, and rifles probably handle differently.

jth

 

[Oldtimer]

Hey, shooting a full-auto weapon can be a LOT of fun! It can also be a burden to your wallet, if you're paying for the ammo! In combat, it can also be a waste of ammo that might eventually become a BIG problem! Add to that, if you're in FRONT of someone spraying full-auto rounds at you, keep in mind that most full-auto weapons "spray" the rounds upward and to the left. By moving lower, and to YOUR left, you may be able to survive the "spray" due to the muzzle climb.

During one particular "hairy" firefight, back in 1967, most of my buddies had "sprayed" their ammo.
I had my M-16 clicked in the "semi" mode, and was using the sights for accuracy. Several of those guys went "dry", which wasn't good. I had to hand out most of my STILL-full mags to them while trying to tell them to use some "fire control" procedures instead of "spraying and praying".

By the way, one of my buddies was "zippered" by an AK-47. He took 3 rounds, but none of them had hit any vital organs....so he survived. The "zipper" effect of his wounds was angled, with the last round being more of a flesh wound. The first 2 rounds that hit him were through-and-through, but they took him out of action. After he shook off the initial "shock" of having been wounded, he was able to walk to the "dust-off" evac helicopter!
Certainly some VERY nasty-looking scars, though....
even to this day! For what it's worth, he spent a full 13-month tour of duty before that, without being wounded....and was on his 5th day after signing up for a second tour when he was wounded!
His reason for signing on for the second tour?
The combat pay was great! Yeah, RIGHT!