We had some mechanical difficulties on the way, but one radiator cap, one radiator hose, and several gallons of coolant later, we were on the road again :).
When we got there they were just finishing up the lunch break, and we were just in time for the afternoon firing session. We all managed to forget our ear protection, but thankfully they were absolutely willing to provide that.
The team in charge of this event really did a great job in organizing. There were camping spots, food vendors, porta potties, and other necessities, and it was SAFE. They were absolutely vigilant about the firing line and safety, keeping people behind the firing line and making sure the area was clear before allowing anyone to even shoulder a weapon. There were fire fighters and a brush truck right there on site so that if anything caught fire (and it did once), it could be extinguished immediately.
There were several vendors there renting various types of guns with ammunition and there were lots of different targets, including barrels, tires, dynamite, and model airplanes that would occasionally go flying across the field until they were downed by an accurate (or lucky) shot.
There were some really neat guns there, including cannons, though those were a bit out of our price range ($125 for one shot).
Paul, Cliff, and I all shot the SAW, and Paul also shot the BAR.
I'm putting a little background about each of these guns and then I have photos and videos of us actually shooting them.
This SAW was set on a tripod at shoulder level, which is really not how it would normally be carried in the military. It is a heavy gun, and the gunner who has to carry it has a lot to pack.
Military.com The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, or SAW, is an individually portable, gas operated, magazine or disintegrating metallic link-belt fed, light machine gun with fixed headspace and quick change barrel feature. The M249 engages point targets out to 800 meters, firing the improved NATO standard 5.56mm cartridge. The SAW forms the basis of firepower for the fire team. The gunner has the option of using 30-round M16 magazines or linked ammunition from pre-loaded 200-round plastic magazines.
BAR: I watched three full grown men (two who were rather large) shoot this before Paul, and it knocked them back a step or two.
From the Encyclopedia Britannica site: Browning automatic rifle (BAR), automatic rifle produced in the United States starting in 1918 and widely used in other countries as a light machine gun. The BAR is a gas-operated rifle invented by John M. Browning (1855–1926), an American gun designer. It has been chambered for various ammunition, but most frequently for .30-06 Springfield. About 47 inches (120 cm) long, it has a 20-round magazine and weighs 19.4 pounds (8.8 kg). It can fire up to 650 rounds per minute but can also fire single shots or bursts of two or three to increase accuracy. It can be fired from the shoulder or mounted on a bipod.
If you have any interest in guns in general, in the history of shooting or firearms, in seeing things go boom, or wanting to shoot firearms you might never have another opportunity to handle, you should check out next year's event.
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