Re: Way OT: Fun with Machine Guns...

Yeah...the desert seems to do strange things to women...I gotta move...

this was everywhere.

We went to a religious retreat this past weekend and were treated to a surprise.

Near the entrance to the camp is a large shed being rebuilt. The nail gun was in constant use, so I paid little attention to the first few rounds. I realised that sound had changed, so I checked the workers. They were through for the day and were packing up. The sounds were now coming from the next ranch about a quarter mile away and were most certainly from an AK-47. Imentioned this to the people with me and they kind of shrugged it off. Until the guy opened up with at least three clips on full auto.

This led to a discussion about guns, ownership, use in the boonies and the like. Most people there were surprised that anyone could actually own an MG or SMG, much less pop off at targets with it. Actually quite common in rural areas such as ranches.

Tom

I've had considerable time behind Ma-duce and have, on two occasions, humped the big mother through the bush. I carried the 20+ lb M-60 with 5-600rds through the jungles for about 10 months of my 14.5 mo tour in Vietnam. I've fired it in anger several times and have taken lives with it. I've been shot by an Ak-47 and shot at by SKS', and RPDs. I can accept that others find them fun and I realize it's just me but I don't find them all that much fun anymore.

that is the real deal isn't it? i suspect banging away at junk washer won't be quite the same.

It's pretty common in areas were you can go out and find just about any public land, too...like here in the Mojave. I can't even count the times I've warned dirt bikers about riding through known shooting areas

- where either I or someone I know frequent.

I can respect that.

My next door neighbor has an AK 47 and every once in a while I hear him shooting it off on his property. He has 72 acres, which is mostly wooded, but I still get nervous.

I have two comments to make:

The first concerns the economics of the situation. Considering the fact that a (registered) WWII Browning M2HB currently sells for $30,000 to $50,000, depending on condition, why would anyone in their right mind want to depreciate one by actually shooting it? It would be as much fun -- and make as much sense -- to make a bonfire of dollar bills!

Secondly, when you shoot one of these things (at least from a ground mount), you're supposed to be prone (or close to it) *behind* the gun. If she was in a proper firing position, there's no way that case fragments could have ended up "in her lap."

The machine gun shooting hobby seems to have a lot of idiots in it. If you go to the twice-a-year shoots at Knob Creek, for example, you see a firing line with people sitting on little padded stools behind their guns, blasting away $10,000 of ammo in a day, burning up barrels, etc. One 12-year-old girl was even killed a few years ago when her father's gun malfunctioned. These people don't respect their guns, don't have an appreciation for their value, and have no inkling about how they were/are actually to be used. These are "Darwin Award" incidents just waiting to happen.

If money is an object, you wouldn't understand...

Not if it's in a tri or quad cradle...which it was, and she was in proper position for that rig. Not to mention that if anyone ever entreated me to fire an M2 prone, I would swiftly leave the area.

Bull. The guns were made to shoot, and wearing out barrels is part of shooting them. If someone has $10 to spend on ammo and cares to do so, as well as maintain their weapon, that's no problem by me.

You can shoot, you can fly, you can skydive, you can cross the street, and it's all still only fun and games until someone puts an eye out - which they eventually will in any case.

I happen to *own* one, so I do understand. I even fired it a few times, but this was back when it was only worth $2,000. With prices at insane levels, it's become insane to take it out of the safe.

Sure, the guns were made to shoot. So were Colt Walker pistols, Volcanic rifles, etc. These are all collectors' items now, and no one would dream of actually shooting them. The fact is, no more machine guns can be legally registered, and those that already are, are increasingly sought after and treasured. Ergo, the high prices. Given that situation, putting such a gun in jeopardy of damage, or even putting extra wear on it, is (a) an absurd economic loss for the owner, and (b) a physical loss of part of our heritage. What I'm saying is that the combination of legal restrictions and high monetary value has taken MG's out of the category of "shooters" and into the category of "collectibles" (not to say "treasures"). Or at least it should be that way in a rational world.

I'll bet you that if you had actually spent $30,000 or more on a MaDeuce, you wouldn't be so anxious to take it out on the range. That is, if you weren't so rich that you had money to burn. (Or if you weren't outright crazy.)

It's quite simple as any comptetive shooter will tell you, "Barrels are consumable items."

That's interesting. 'Collectable' and 'rational' trying to get along. As far as I'm concerned, they never did, and never will. The value of anything deemed collectable typically depends exclusively on the degree of wealth and idiocity of the next buyer. Guns are meant to be shot, until worn out to the point where they become unsafe, aircraft are meant to be flow until no longer airworthy, and model kits are meant to be built, not to sit on some shelf with the cellophane still on.

Rob

To say that light, if noisy, entertainment, isn't quite the same as deadly serious, life or death combat, is either the understatement of the year, or something that for the sake of politeness, I'd better not comment on.

Rob

Thank You !!!!!

I have fired numerous gun's made during the Civil War, and IMHO, a well taken firearm will last hundreds of years with proper use and maintenance.

I have a small collection of turn of the century firearms that I shoot on an infrequent basis. All are mechanically sound, well cleaned/oiled and good shooters. My 11 Bravo son will inherit and shoot them as well...

My Model 8 (made in July 1925, takedown model) in

Congtatulations.

People can do wht ever they want and spend whatever they choose, if as they choose. Just because you choose to "collect" vise use, that doesn't mean someone else has to. Next you'll be telling me not to fly airplanes...

Yup. In fact, guns can be consumable items. I have a friend that's consumed more than one on his way to becoming Cal State IPSC Champion.

If you use something, it will eventually break...that's just the way it goes.

Yup.

Rufus wrote in news:HqdMh.30234$PF.8719@attbi_s21:

For the most part I think that "collecting" without experienceing is hollow. The knob who buys a Vette and then leaves in the garage except for perfect Sundays is an example.

I don't beleive in wallhangers. If it was designed to shoot then not shooting it denies you a portion of the experience.

I have a S&W .32 S&W 5 shot break top revolver. It's a Safety Hammerless. Made in, best guess, about 1890. I have ammo for it and I shoot occasionally. Not as nice as my newer guns, but still a connection with the past.

Frank