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Guns blaze at annual machine gun shoot
Hernando Today (Florida) ^ | 9/4/06 | KYLE MARTIN

Posted on 09/05/2006 10:26:49 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim

WEEKI WACHEE - Automatic weapons attract all types. At the Hernando Sportsman's Club, you'd expect the camouflaged commandos toting long, mean-looking weapons.

But there's also the weekend warrior wearing a polo shirt, khaki shorts and house shoes, firing 100 rounds a minute.

Two spots down on the range is the elderly gentleman who adjusts his glasses before popping off shots from a gun that spits fire from the muzzle.

Then there's Patty Mitchell. With her ponytail pulled back by pink elastic, the slim 22-year-old shouldered her machine gun and let loose with the best of them.

It was her first time with automatic weapons.

"It was overwhelming, but extremely fun," Mitchell said with a huge grin splitting her freckled face. "I was excited, really excited."

For 10 years, the club located off U.S. 19 has hosted the Labor Day machine gun shoot to raise money for its facilities. The club has a variety of ranges ranging from 200 to 10 yards for firearms, an archery range and a barn for cowboy shows.

"The whole concept is safety," explained Joe Merriweather, executive officer.

It was the 200-yard range that the machine gunners were using on Monday. Around 50 shooters crowded in the long range, bringing everything from Mafia-style tommy guns to massive belt-fed machine guns fired from the ground. The roar of automatic fire rivaled the loudest rock concert. Spent brass shells flew everywhere and carpeted the concrete floor. Shooters changed guns and ammo on a regular basis, like kids dipping into their Fourth of July firework stash.

Their targets were spread out over the field and included two small cars, two copier machines, empty propane tanks, bowling pins and bags of flour.

Everyone took a break around mid-morning to inspect their handiwork. Small children romped in the sand, grabbing fistfuls of spent shells.

Regina Ballard was especially impressed with the mangled copiers. "Everyone can relate to the frustration of a copy machine," she said.

Ballard, of Inverness, brought her 10-year-old son to watch. It's an object lesson on how fun guns can be with the proper safety measures in place, Ballard explained.

A white, four-door Oldsmobile was riddled with holes. It looked familiar to Collin Nightingale. "I use to live 10 minutes from downtown Detroit," he said. "This is bringing flashbacks of home - except the car isn't on fire."

Nightingale got his wish after the break when an old, brown pickup truck was hauled out on the field. Within minutes of a steady barrage of gunfire, orange flames licked the underside of the truck.

One crack shot launched a green container at least 30 feet in the air.

Leon Dana priced the weapons on the range from $4,000 to upwards of $100,000. The limo driver drove from Jacksonville to test out an impressive array of weapons.

It's an investment. His 10,000 rounds of ammunition set him back around $600. "You have to really love to do this," he said.

His friend, James Sharp, said he came down from Jacksonville to "blow things up and have fun." Sharp got into guns after a bad back forced him to give up his motorcycle.

It's the responsibility behind firing machine guns that attracts Sharp to the range. Anybody can buy a house or a car, he said, but it takes special qualifications to buy a gun.

Dana let a reporter test fire an M-15, an Uzi and a massive, sit-down Gatling gun. Sharp was right. It's awesome to shoot the length of two football fields and still kick up dirt. "It's just the feeling of power," Sharp said.

[M1921 with 100 rounds drum magazine]

[MP40]

[MG42]



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: banglist; gunporn
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1 posted on 09/05/2006 10:26:51 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim
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To: kiriath_jearim

"A white, four-door Oldsmobile was riddled with holes. It looked familiar to Collin Nightingale. 'I use to live 10 minutes from downtown Detroit,' he said. 'This is bringing flashbacks of home - except the car isn't on fire.'"


BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!


2 posted on 09/05/2006 10:31:17 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: kiriath_jearim

I love this stuff. Where's the video?


3 posted on 09/05/2006 10:31:52 AM PDT by Filo (Darwin was right!)
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To: kiriath_jearim

Looks like my gun porn pics disappeared.


4 posted on 09/05/2006 10:33:25 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim
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To: kiriath_jearim

The MG42 was one of the most feared weapons in WWII. It had a horiffic rate of fire, around 1200 rpm. I believe some versions were as high as 1800 rpm


5 posted on 09/05/2006 10:33:58 AM PDT by stm (RIP Steve Irwin, you will be missed.)
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To: kiriath_jearim
Mafia-style Tommy guns?

Sheesh...

6 posted on 09/05/2006 10:36:17 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (Quam terribilis est haec hora)
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To: Filo

I would like to see their cannon shoot as well.


7 posted on 09/05/2006 10:36:54 AM PDT by School of Rational Thought (Republican - The thinking people's party)
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To: kiriath_jearim

We have a similar event in Radcliffe, KY once a year.


8 posted on 09/05/2006 10:37:23 AM PDT by JamesP81 ("Never let your schooling interfere with your education" --Mark Twain)
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To: Filo
Where's the video?

This isn't video from that event, but I'll sure you'll like it.

Family Reunion

9 posted on 09/05/2006 10:39:25 AM PDT by ASA Vet (3.03)
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To: stm
The MG42 was one of the most feared weapons in WWII.

Yep. On one of the History Channel's documentaries, they had a short
clip of a training film the US Army made in order to educate the
soldier about it; partly it was to help soldiers get over instinctive
fear of such a device.

I got to hand it the Germans. While the rate of fire made feeding the
beast a problem...that quick-change barrel mechanism is a beaut.
10 posted on 09/05/2006 10:42:56 AM PDT by VOA
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To: Filo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpGMqgI9E9c


11 posted on 09/05/2006 10:43:04 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Filo
Here's a short couple of clips from a Rag sniper school I think you'll enjoy.

Clip 1
Clip 2

12 posted on 09/05/2006 10:48:27 AM PDT by ASA Vet (3.03)
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To: VOA

The Pig (M-60) was designed loosely around the MG42, although it's rate of fire was condiserable less, around 600 rpm. It exchangeable barrel was taken from the MG42. All subsequent machine guns, the M-249 and M-240 all feature quick change barrels.


13 posted on 09/05/2006 10:49:50 AM PDT by stm (RIP Steve Irwin, you will be missed.)
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To: Nailbiter

Oh yeah....


14 posted on 09/05/2006 10:51:40 AM PDT by BartMan1 (...)
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To: stm

Thanks for the extra-info.
I'm a never-served civilian...my naive brain was just impressed with
the simplicity and speed of that mechanical operation.
It went faster than a NASCAR tire change.


15 posted on 09/05/2006 10:53:41 AM PDT by VOA
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To: harpseal; TexasCowboy; AAABEST; Travis McGee; Squantos; Shooter 2.5; wku man; SLB; ...
Sounds like a good time was had by all.

Click the Gadsden flag for pro-gun resources!

16 posted on 09/05/2006 10:55:16 AM PDT by Joe Brower (The Constitution defines Conservatism. *NRA*)
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To: Joe Brower

Cool. Sorry I missed it.


17 posted on 09/05/2006 10:57:39 AM PDT by OKSooner
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To: kiriath_jearim

Weeki Wachee -
Mermaids with machine guns.
Those Seals were right, it wasn't narcosis.


18 posted on 09/05/2006 11:03:38 AM PDT by Waverunner
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To: stm
The MG42 was one of the most feared weapons in WWII

Nicknamed "Hitler's zipper"

19 posted on 09/05/2006 11:14:10 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government)
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To: ASA Vet

Those were funny!


20 posted on 09/05/2006 11:15:03 AM PDT by Rennes Templar ("The future ain't what it used to be".........Yogi Berra)
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