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Every shooter, no matter how casual, should shoot full-auto at least once. Here’s why.
A couple of years ago, I wrote a piece about why we pro-gun people shouldn’t use the term “assault weapon” when we talk about the civilian-legal, semi-automatic “black guns” built on the AR-15 platform. Today, I’m going to completely reverse myself and say it over and over like a third-grader who just learned what that word Mommy says to bad drivers really means (and I’m going to enjoy it every bit as much). That’s because every one of us should have the experience of shooting a fully automatic rifle or pistol at least once in our lives, and that will be the time–the only time, for many of us–that we ever get behind the trigger of a real assault weapon. Here’s why that experience needs to be on your bucket list, even and especially if you’re really not very “into” guns.
1. It will erase any doubt about what an assault weapon is.
There are a surprising number of people out there who consider themselves to be generally pro-Second Amendment who find modern sporting rifles–AR-15 and semi-auto AK-47 platforms–distasteful. In the world of gun journalism, they frequently get called “Fudds,” as in Elmer Fudd. That’s not entirely fair; after all, there’s nothing wrong with having your own opinions about what guns you personally would and would not want to own. However, it does tend to get messy when someone who really ought to know better shoots his or her mouth off about whether or not we “need” AR-15s. That scandal I referenced in the last link was 13 years ago, and Jim Zumbo is back in the good graces of pro-2A people everywhere, but I’m going to guess that he never would have made that mistake in the first place if he’d hit Knob Creek for a nice machine gun shoot.
Shooting a real assault weapon–a gun that can fire multiple projectiles with a single trigger pull–demonstrates in a visceral way what is and is not a machine gun that needs to be regulated under the NFA. There’s nothing quite like touching a trigger, hearing a FP, and realizing that 30 rounds had gone downrange by the time you registered that the gun had fired. This is the type of gun that costs at least $8K to purchase, takes six months to be licensed to own, and costs $200 to register with the government.
2. It’s the most fun you can have with your pants on (and in my case, it lasts longer).
One of the dumbest tropes that anti-gunners like to spout is that the mere presence of military-looking but semi-automatic firearms is enough to turn law-abiding citizens into drooling, destructive morons. That is not true. However, if you’d like the experience of being Beavis (of Beavis and Butt-Head fame) for about 30 seconds, you need to go put 30 rounds of 9mm through a full-auto Uzi. Here’s what’s going to happen: The gun will go FP. You will gaze in idiot wonder for a moment, and then you will start doing this:
You may have noticed my use of the onomatopoiea to describe what happens when you pull the trigger of a real assault weapon (FP). If you’ve shot full auto, you know why. If you haven’t, then know that it happens so quickly that nobody is capable of imitating the sound accurately. It’s too fast. The recoil will drive the gun’s muzzle up or to the side if you don’t have your support hand firmly on the barrel shroud, but you won’t really know it’s happened until it’s over. At that point, you will realize that you just turned $15 into noise. I challenge anyone to do that, and not break into a demented giggle for at least a few seconds. When you throw in the opportunity to do a real range-based machine gun shoot with targets like cars and washing machines, it’s an experience that will line itself in the golden light of sheer joyous abandon in your memory for the rest of your life.
3. Because you still can, but that may not last forever.
As a GGD reader, you already know that true assault weapons are already heavily regulated to the point that most Americans can’t afford to own one, let alone jump through the multiple legal hoops. However, as of now, it’s still possible to go to a range and rent one for a little while…and, in fact, such things are very popular tourist activities in places like Hawaii. (Which is quite interesting in light of the fact that Hawaii has terrible gun laws, and they keep getting worse.)
That may not last. The anti-gunners’ strategy has always been to marginalize the legal ownership of a specific gun type, then attempt to outlaw that marginalized type of gun because it no longer falls under the “commonly used” or “typically possessed” firearm that the Second Amendment is considered to protect since the landmark 2008 District of Columbia vs Heller Supreme Court decision. Because the courts have adjudicated that the Second Amendment doesn’t necessarily protect the right to keep and bear a real assault weapon (a decision I disagree with strongly, but that’s a column for another day), the ability to go shoot one for funzies could disappear quickly and there’s not much we pro-gunners could do about it. So make hay while the sun is shining…or, more specifically, make old cars into Swiss cheese while the law still lets you.
Also, you should do it because every time someone empties a 100-round magazine into a broken refrigerator, Nancy Pelosi gets heartburn and doesn’t know why.
Trace, a proud Special Farces who goes commando, is dedicated to pubic service. Although he’s a legend among YouTube commenters, he actually began life as a humble dingleberry farmer. Now, no subject is too moist or sensitive for his incisive odor and scintillating lymph nodes.
jimbo says
full auto carbine is a m 2 carbine hold at the hip slight angle fife right to left hold tight will turn you in a leftward direction…. m 2 has a selector switch s semi auto or full ..full auto fun fun !!! hope your daddy don’t take your t- bird away .
Rick says
“Assault weapon” is a made-up media term. There is no such military definition. It is used to denigrate AR-15 style platforms.
Did you perchance mean “assault rifle”?
Jim M. says
On one of my business trips to the Czech Republic a local friend who’s never shot asked me to take him shooting. He knew of an indoor range and we went there. We shot a variety of handguns and were finished. When we went to the counter the man asked my friend (in Czech) if we wanted to shoot anything else. We said no. Then in perfect English he said “How about a full auto Thompson?”. Well,… I guess were wern’t done yet. Several boxes of .45’s later, with little boy grins on our faces, we were done.
More recently I get to shoot my son-in-laws full auto colt M16. He’s a SRT Team Leader and instructor so we get to go several times. The best part is the free ammo!
NealS says
I shot ’em all. “Bumps stocks do not kill, people do”. If you give a little, they just take more. What’s next? My issue: they sent me to Vietnam, and then after they sent me home they put me down for it. You just can’t win, but don’t give up, do not surrender any more, period.
Bottom Trigger says
Shooting fullauto is a perpetual wet spot in a person’s BVD’s. So much so that I’m now a RO at KCR Subgun Nationals and a competitor. Ownership takes more like 18 months but the excitement never dwindles. Class III’s are hungry little buggers too. 20k rounds a year is nothing and you learn control and accuracy too….really! Try it you’ll like it!!
Tim Toroian says
Shot a UZI years ago that was operated by some Israeli security people. It was the first time but my two and three-shot bursts prompted the guy in charge to comment it was too bad I wasn’t Jewish because he could use me. Easy to operate. And that weight prevented any movement of the sights for me. They also had some 9mm ammo with VERY light projectiles they said wouldn’t ricochet in populated areas. Fired out of a Highpower(FN as they called them) they produced a bright light blue muzzle flash about 12-14 inches long.
Douglas Loy says
It is a lot of fun but not so much when they’re shooting back at you.
Daniel Braatz says
I hate to admit this; although obviously not enough to keep it to myself, I could not readily grasp what you meant by ‘hearing,’ & the ‘gun going’ “FP;” as I had not heard this reference before: I was pretty sure you didn’t mean ‘Full Power,’ I was almost certain you didn’t mean ‘Flat Point’ & the only other “FP” reference I could recall, related to firearms, was the “FP”-45 Liberator- & I knew you didn’t mean that. I was so curious, & I do like to add to my gun lexicon; that I stopped reading & actually googled it- phrased in a few different ways- The World Wide interWeb only confirmed that it wasn’t any of the things I didn’t think it was. If only I’d kept reading (You’d think the gif of Bevis would have compelled me to do that- nope)
There is a Sheriff’s department not too far from me that lets the public come shoot their HK MP-5 each year. There is also a gun shop, with a range, here that rents full auto pieces: The most attractive one, to me, is the M-60; and they only charge a buck a round (almost what Win. .308 costs around here) I may have to ‘bite the bullet’ (HA Ha ha) & put a few belts through ‘the pig’ one day- -maybe for a few hundred dollars I could even give Pelosi acute angina; Lord knows she doesn’t have a cute face- I know, I know; I’m hilarious; I’ll be here all week. Actually, I won’t & I should be working instead of googling, reading amusing articles &- worst of all- admitting things in comments on GGD…
Bruce Ruble says
Fired a WW-2 full auto M-1 carbine with a 15 rd magazine some years ago and in the blink off a eye the muzzle was pointed straight up in the air and I wasn’t sure what happened ! I giggled out it for days ! Anyone that’s into shooting needs to shoot one at least once in your lifetime , there are no words to describe it ! Wished I could afford one !
Marty says
I had the opportunity to fire a Thompson “Tommy Gun” with a 50 round drum magazine and, Oh Man, what a rush! It was over before I knew it and I had a heck of a time pulling the muzzle down. I didn’t hit very much with those 50 rounds but, damn, that was fun! I went thru 5 magazines that day and I had a giggle fit after each one. The only thing cooler than that Thompson was firing off a bunch of rounds in an M-60 machine gun or maybe firing off HE rounds thru an M-79 grenade launcher and watching stuff blow up.
Kalihigunguy says
The laws in Hawaii do suck… and the tourist attraction is only semi-auto. No full auto in Hawaii except for LE. Loved the article! Brightened up my morning!
Craig Northacker says
Now for an M-79.
Daniel Braatz says
Yes! I’ve always wanted to try the 40mm buckshot rounds (in addition -of course- the HE)
Paul says
If you get a chance to do it, don’t pass it up….you won’t regret it!!!
PSA time-criminals have them so why should the law abiding not!
Duke says
So your ill-informed view of firearms and the 2A is that “…a machine gun that needs to be regulated under the NFA.”
Let me help you out. “Not be infringed” means just that.
Our Founders did not intend for NFA, GCA, Hughes Amendment, barrel length limits, magazine limits, how many you own limits, how many you buy a month limits, carry permits, gun-free zones, etc etc etc.
They intended Free Citizens to be able to use force, if necessary, against a police state and its armed troops, be they cops, military or what-have-you. And they certainly didn’t mean for the police to be better armed.
You’ll note that our Founders used privately owned cannons against His Majesty’s troops.
I found it sad and tragic that you rail against “mischaracterizing” semi autos as “assault weapons” (we assaulted Normandy and many other places with a semi-auto that only had an 8-round en bloc clip) yet so cavalierly accept that “machine guns should be regulated.”
Jim Zumbo learned a lesson you still haven’t. What exactly do you think is the intent behind the 2A?
Trace Munson says
I think we got our wires crossed somewhere, because I agree with you. Personally, I think you SHOULD BE able to buy full-auto Uzis in blister packs at the 7-11 if you have a clean record and the money to pay for it. Later in the article, you’ll notice this line: “Because the courts have adjudicated that the Second Amendment doesn’t necessarily protect the right to keep and bear a real assault weapon (a decision I disagree with strongly, but that’s a column for another day).” I’m writing about the way things ARE, not the way things SHOULD BE.
Daniel Braatz says
That part was pretty clear to me -& if he’d read any of your previous articles, it would probably have been more clear to him. OK OK, I r e a l l y need to do some work now: Besides the math in the CAPTCHAs is getting harder & harder
jock g says
im a 69 nam vet 70-72 i fired m-14 m-16 m-60 in full auto and yes if you haven’t fired one in full auto do so like the man said its a real trip and believe me when i fired that m-60 i felt like i had god behind me awesome fire power try one jock.
tracker1 says
……………and then there’s the BAR .50 , which takes it to a whole NEW level
Jesse Tiede says
Yeah, I never really liked the Ma Duece, because it was so hard to go “Free Gun” with it. I am a retired military firearms instructor, and absolutely LOVE Full Auto! It literally broke my heart when our beloved Donald Trump drank somebodies koolaid, and banned Bump Stocks! They were NOT “Full Auto”, but they sure made you think so! I miss the one I had…
Daniel Braatz says
There is a gun shop, with a range, near me that rents full auto pieces: The most attractive one, to me, is the M-60. I may have to put a few belts through ‘the pig’ one day!
Bill says
My wife’s Christmas present one year was a trip to the range, $200.00 worth of 9 mm and a rented Uzi. It was awesome and a gift we both will remember. She even let me shoot it.
Joseph P Gavron says
Trace, great article. It brought back memories of Las Vegas Desert Sportsman Range circa 2002 and the Soldier of Fortune machine gun shoot. Totally impractical but ultimate fun.
paul bertan says
Attachment
Nicely Written !
Some Guy says
As I was reading through the article, I was remembering the only time I got a chance to fire a full auto weapon at a rental place. I chuckled to myself when recalling my reaction to pulling the trigger on an M249 and running through a lot of rounds quicker than I could ever imagine. Then I came to this line:”I challenge anyone to do that, and not break into a demented giggle for at least a few seconds. ”
Damn, were you THERE?!? 🙂
Maggot4lyf says
“Shooting a real assault weapon–a gun that can fire multiple projectiles with a single trigger pull–demonstrates in a visceral way what is and is not a machine gun that NEEDS to be regulated under the NFA.”
Seriously? That’s fudd speak right there. The NFA is garbage and totally anti-2ndA.
SCOTUS’ “…in common use” verbiage is garbage.
Do you even freedom?
Trace Munson says
Personally, I think you SHOULD BE able to buy full-auto Uzis in blister packs at the 7-11 if you have a clean record and the money to pay for it. Later in the article, you’ll notice this line: “Because the courts have adjudicated that the Second Amendment doesn’t necessarily protect the right to keep and bear a real assault weapon (a decision I disagree with strongly, but that’s a column for another day).” I’m writing about the way things ARE, not the way things SHOULD BE.
Greg Edwards says
Trace;
Dude.. I’m a 72 year old vet, think I’ve seen most all things, but honestly nothing tickles me (in a good way now) like you do.. thanks! & God bless
Greg
Trace Munson says
Thank you so much, friend! Stay well.