Posted on 02/05/2017 2:32:53 PM PST by w1n1
The author sets the learning curve to full auto at his very first submachine gun competition.
It's the first stage of my first match and I’m nervous. The range officer asks, "Shooter ready?" and I nod, almost reluctantly. The buzzer sounds and I raise my Uzi submachine gun, sight in on a plate rack downrange, and trigger a burst. The staccato bark of my gun marks the start of my first-ever subgun competition.
I was at the Michigan subgun match because I wanted to do something with my registered fullauto Uzi more interesting than "busting dirt" at the local gravel pit. A submachine gun competition sounded like the challenge I needed.
ALTHOUGH I WAS NEW to the sport, the sport itself is not new. Organized submachine gun competitions have been around since at least the 1980s. The events, while never as well known as other "run and gun" sports such as IPSC, have maintained a mix of die-hard supporters and new blood. The basic requirement is for a fullauto-capable gun that fires a pistol-caliber cartridge. Read the rest of the story here.
So, who is paying for the ammo?
The courses are constructed to encourage full auto fire.
An interesting game, but it does not tell us much about the efficacy of sub guns.
I have never fired a sub machinegun and can’t personally think of much use for one.
On the other hand I have read that Simo Hayha’s favorite gun was actually a sub gun.
I came close to buying a semi-auto MP5 at Big Bucks in Hattiesburg. I did not realize it at the time but it would have been a great investment. The price was around $500 which seemed pretty high but only a few years later they were hard to find and were going for around $2000. At least that is what I remember.
"Full-auto guns are fun -- all week long:
* Monday thru Friday -- reload ammo
* Saturday -- load magazines
* Sunday -- five minutes of hellacious fun!"
Man, that must have been a lota lota lota,years ago. When I bought my semi MP5 aka SP89, back in the early ‘90’s, I think I paid close to 1600.00. When I looked a few years ago, they were selling for @ 4200.00. Haven’t looked recently, but I think the price might have fallen a bit.
I have never fired a sub machinegun and can’t personally think of much use for one......I was issued a CAR-15 in the service because of my job. It was great once you learned how to trigger control, three shots at a time.
Aiming was no problem: The sun reflecting off of the clad slugs looked like a continuous copper stream; you just put rounds on target like squirting water from a hose... '-)
Submachine guns are a lot of fun to shoot,especially when suppressed.They are awesome close combat weapons,quite useful when equipped with night vision.We run thousands of rounds through my MP5 very year.Everybody loves to shoot it.
I bought my Model 1928 Thompson Sub Machine Gun, new in the box, in 1991 for $1,800. Sold it recently for $15,500. Very nice investment and incredibly fun to shoot. Used it a lot to hunt Jackrabbits in Nevada. Took me over 300 rounds before I finally hit one. With much practice I got very proficient with it. Killed 13 with less than 400 rounds the last time I used it. Not as much fun as sex and doesn’t last as long, but what he Hell? Each has its place.
Do you remember, did any of your Thompson magazines have “Cco” stamped on the bottom? While producing 20 rd straight mags,and 50 rd drum mags, we patented the 30 rd mag and immediately gifted to the Gov, so other stamping companies could produce them for the war. In latter years, the Thompson replicas had mags produced in China with our company stamp on them,fkers.
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