Okay -
since 1987 when Michael Ryan went crazy in Hungerford, the gun laws in the
UK have been restricted such that you cannot own automatic weapons. The incident
at Dunblaine further restricted the gun laws such that you cannot now own
a pistol.
Now I obviously was as shocked at thse events as anyone, and I certainly wouldn't
want the US gun problem here in the UK, but it was a terrible price for the
approximately 120 thousand sensible gun owning individuals in the UK to pay.
So - whilst I the US I looked for a gun range where I could go and have a
shoot. There are several in the Las Vegas area - we went to the Gun Store
at 2900 Tropicana Street - about five imns drive from the strip.
The picture to the left is was taken in the store - and I had always wanted
to shoot an M16 - the gun used in the American Vietnam War.
They also had about 50 different handguns to hire. We chose a Beretta 92F
and the famous "Dirty Harry" gun - the 44 Magnum Revolver. Actually
it was a Ruger - rather than the Smith and Wesson Model 29... but it made
little difference.
The M16 was a modified version - not 5.56mm - but 9mm. It is the third from
the bottom on the left.
Costs:
$30 for M16 with 50 rounds. An extra 50 round was a further $15 :: $15 for
any pistol with 50 rounds. $10 for additional 50 rounds.
Take your passport for identification
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The kick on the machine gun was
not heavy, but firing in short 3-5 round bursts kept the gun more or less
on target. It has a tendency to climb to the top right if you're right-handed,
and top left if you're left-handed.
The Beretta kicked but was easy to hold nonetheless. You have to take care
the slide doesn't hit your hand as it cycles between rounds.
The 44 Magnum kicked like hell though - although I managed to shoot six one-handed
(not very accurately)
The range has booths allowing about
8 shooters to fire on the range. Targets are clipped to a moving line that
is moved using a simple switch.
The back of the range is some sort of heaped black cinders to absorb the bullets.
Spent cartridge cases litter the floor.
The Beretta is an automatic - using a magazine holding about 10 rounds.
The 44 Magnum is a revolver holding six rounds.
