I am with you Roy. I was in the Coast Guard from 1965 to 1969 and spent 2 years on a 82 ft patrol boat. I became the gunner by default (only one who could shoot). We would “practice “ three times a year just to keep ammo updated. We had M1 Garrands and a Thompson but the 50BMG was the best feeling ever. All the brass got swept overboard but kept the links for belting the loose ammo.
Fun, as long as someone else is buying the ammo. I have mentioned our local gun club's machine gun shoot, last held in 2017 and gone due to insurance 'problems.' I attended (and volunteered) at many and got to shoot a variety of different firearms, including a Ma Deuce (but only bought 5 rounds). The great thing was that just about every type of full auto firearm was there, available to shoot and even a few non-auto (my favorite noise maker was a Garret in .50 BMG). Fun times but now the closest shoot is the Big Sandy, I believe. Roy reminded me of the Rolling Thunder start we did a few times...everyone opens up at the same time. It was magnificent! Our main range is about 100 yards long and it was wall to wall people and firearms during those shoots.
One of the bad things of leaving the Military is that you now have to buy your awn ammo and you don't have access to several neat guns to shoot. My favorite gun is a single shot (105mm, M60 and M1 tank) second is the M85, 50 cal MG located in the tank commander's cupola on top of the M60 tank. Third is the M3 grease gun. The M16 is ok but just doesn't have the same feel as the grease gun.
I earned my wings in the Corps as a door gunner on the CH46E Helicopter. But, I also flew on the CH53E. The rigidly mounted 50s were awesome. A good gunner can get on target and stay on target. Some of our Hueys mounted the GAU multibarrel Electric Fired guns. Think Dillon Aero, same thing you showed in your opening, basically. 6,000 rounds per minute, but our gunners were taught to shoot those in Bursts, or they were VERY shortly out of ammo.
When the bump stocks first came out I got one for my AK. The wife and I took a case of cheap 7.63mmX39 and filled up a bunch (as the whole case) and went to the range. A short while later we were both grinning like idiots with a pile of empty magazines. We went home and later that evening I took the bump stock off and put the regular stock back on. First opportunity I sold the bump stock. I realize on the way home that if I had the thing I would rapidly become the most popular guy in town and the poorest as well. Popular because I had it and everyone wanted to try it and poorest because I would go broke trying to feed it.
U.S. ARMY, ❤1965/66 in Germany. 50 cal mounted on M113? Armored Personel Carrier. Was 19/20 years old at the time. Probably the most fun ever while still wearing clothes.
I am with you Roy. I was in the Coast Guard from 1965 to 1969 and spent 2 years on a 82 ft patrol boat. I became the gunner by default (only one who could shoot). We would “practice “ three times a year just to keep ammo updated. We had M1 Garrands and a Thompson but the 50BMG was the best feeling ever. All the brass got swept overboard but kept the links for belting the loose ammo.
Fun, as long as someone else is buying the ammo. I have mentioned our local gun club's machine gun shoot, last held in 2017 and gone due to insurance 'problems.' I attended (and volunteered) at many and got to shoot a variety of different firearms, including a Ma Deuce (but only bought 5 rounds). The great thing was that just about every type of full auto firearm was there, available to shoot and even a few non-auto (my favorite noise maker was a Garret in .50 BMG). Fun times but now the closest shoot is the Big Sandy, I believe. Roy reminded me of the Rolling Thunder start we did a few times...everyone opens up at the same time. It was magnificent! Our main range is about 100 yards long and it was wall to wall people and firearms during those shoots.
One of the bad things of leaving the Military is that you now have to buy your awn ammo and you don't have access to several neat guns to shoot. My favorite gun is a single shot (105mm, M60 and M1 tank) second is the M85, 50 cal MG located in the tank commander's cupola on top of the M60 tank. Third is the M3 grease gun. The M16 is ok but just doesn't have the same feel as the grease gun.
When they asked about favorites my immediate reaction was the M85. The other two were nice as well.
I earned my wings in the Corps as a door gunner on the CH46E Helicopter. But, I also flew on the CH53E. The rigidly mounted 50s were awesome. A good gunner can get on target and stay on target. Some of our Hueys mounted the GAU multibarrel Electric Fired guns. Think Dillon Aero, same thing you showed in your opening, basically. 6,000 rounds per minute, but our gunners were taught to shoot those in Bursts, or they were VERY shortly out of ammo.
I became desensitized while in the USAF 66-70
working on Vulcan 20mm gatling cannons and 7.62 mini-guns .
Came home and didn't look back .
When the bump stocks first came out I got one for my AK. The wife and I took a case of cheap 7.63mmX39 and filled up a bunch (as the whole case) and went to the range. A short while later we were both grinning like idiots with a pile of empty magazines. We went home and later that evening I took the bump stock off and put the regular stock back on. First opportunity I sold the bump stock. I realize on the way home that if I had the thing I would rapidly become the most popular guy in town and the poorest as well. Popular because I had it and everyone wanted to try it and poorest because I would go broke trying to feed it.
U.S. ARMY, ❤1965/66 in Germany. 50 cal mounted on M113? Armored Personel Carrier. Was 19/20 years old at the time. Probably the most fun ever while still wearing clothes.
I want one of those .22 Trejo's!!!!😊😊
Tippman Arms makes new Gatling guns.
Ruger AC-556