OT: Need firearms advice... UPDATED

[Chickenboy]

For those of you out there with more first person hands on experience with automatic weapons than I have, I seek your wisdom:

For Christmas, my wife got me a gift certificate for a local gun shop / range to rent an MG (or submachine gun) of my choosing for an hour. *Some* ammo is covered too, with an 'option' to buy more.

If I had my druthers, I'd certainly want to fire the MG42 or one of the Browning .30s from WWII (M4A6 comes to mind). Alas, these are not options. I'm seriously considering the following from their original list and need some help whittling it down.

1. M249 SAW (5.56)
2. Bren (.303)
3. H&K MP5 (9mm)
4. XM15 (5.56)
5. Thompson M1 with 50-rd. drum magazine (.45)

What would you recommend?

Ain't it great having a spouse that supports hobbies? [&o] I think I'll keep her.

Lastly, treat yourself to a chuckle from Military.com's "Shock and Awe" video:

http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos. ... iertech.nl

[Texas D]

The M249 is trash once its been used. They jam up 2 much either way you feed them (belt or clip). Personally I would take the MP5 accurate, little recoil, easy to conceal (if needed), only down side is the standard ball ammo requires mutiple shots to take your target down (minus head shot of course). Just my2cents.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Texas_D

The M249 is trash once its been used. They jam up 2 much either way you feed them (belt or clip). Personally I would take the MP5 accurate, little recoil, easy to conceal (if needed), only down side is the standard ball ammo requires mutiple shots to take your target down (minus head shot of course). Just my2cents.

Fun to shoot?

[Mike Scholl]

The Thompson.   Who could resist staging your own "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" of 2-liter targets with your very own "Chicago Typewriter"?  

[Chickenboy]

I forgot to mention that the shooting range has full-sized paper targets of zombies. You can bet I'll be trying for the headshots! (BRAINS)

[Texas D]

If you can get an M249 fresh out the crate or one that has been maintained very well you will enjoy it the first time, but it wont beat the thrill of a .50cal [:)]

[Reg]

The Bren is an awesome weapon - and accurate!!

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Shooting Scene

My uncles used the Bren (it was gone by the time I came through) but they all reckoned you had to give it a bit of a shake or all the bullets would go through the same hole!!!

(They used to shoot the sticks out from under other peoples targets (a major no-no) and shoot short to pepper their own target with gravel to account for their missing rounds....)

[jb123]

I've had a chance to beat the hell out of some saws. They are a rush when they work, but it takes a lot of TLC to make 'em work, so I'd go for the Bren.

[Halsey]

Go for the Thompson.


You'll never forget the experience firing a classic.[;)]

[Q-Ball]

I've fired a Thompson. Go for that. Wear a nice but slightly over the top suit, a hat, and saddle shoes to complete the effect.

[thegreatwent]

Bren or MP-5. When they took my M-60 away and gave me the SAW I was dubious. After firing it I just wanted my 60 back[:(]

[skrewball]

Yeah I would stay away from the SAW...their jamming reputation is notorious and I would hate to see you waste your opportunity. Every SAW I've ever fired has jammed on me at some point. I would go with the Thompson.

[Sardaukar]

MP5 is absolutely easiest to shoot there is...but it does not leave much of "special occasion" feeling. So I'd recommend Thompson or Bren.

[WITPPL]

I shoot a lot. Mostly dynamic 9mm (up to 500 rounds per training [8|])

1. Good Fun. Try.
2 Must
3. like a toy. a soft gun.
4. nice, good rifle but not that exiting.
5. must.

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

For those of you out there with more first person hands on experience with automatic weapons than I have, I seek your wisdom:

For Christmas, my wife got me a gift certificate for a local gun shop / range to rent an MG (or submachine gun) of my choosing for an hour. *Some* ammo is covered too, with an 'option' to buy more.

If I had my druthers, I'd certainly want to fire the MG42 or one of the Browning .30s from WWII (M4A6 comes to mind). Alas, these are not options. I'm seriously considering the following from their original list and need some help whittling it down.

1. M249 SAW (5.56)
2. Bren (.303)
3. H&K MP5 (9mm)
4. XM15 (5.56)
5. Thompson M1 with 50-rd. drum magazine (.45)

What would you recommend?

Ain't it great having a spouse that supports hobbies? [&o] I think I'll keep her.

Lastly, treat yourself to a chuckle from Military.com's "Shock and Awe" video:

http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos. ... iertech.nl

[WITPPL]

Jamming is fun... for a civilian entertaining!

[latosusi]

Bren or Thompson![:D]

[jmscho]

I'd go for the bren. I took one on the range with 500 rounds back in the 70s. Great fun.

This topic reminds me of a time I watched trainees getting rid on ammunition at the end of a training session by cutting down a tree (small) with a GPMG. The exercise showed them that trees do not always protect them from being shot.

[John Lansford]

For historical relevence I'd go for either the Bren or the Thompson.  I've never fired one but I've read repeatedly that the Thompson is very inaccurate if you squeeze off long bursts, so if you shoot that one make sure you don't waste your ammo; zombies are hard to kill!

[m10bob]

Thompson..Classic and if ya' hold the trigger, you will feel it climb to the right,IIRC..

[byron13]

I've only fired the Thompson. It was a hoot. Strong recoil but remarkably smooth. For whatever reason, it doesn't kick. It's like somebody just pushing the weapon into your shoulder with a strong, constant pressure. The challenge is to keep the barrel down.