# Firearms Enthusiasts! Which Machine Gun Should I Play With? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 25, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948 "2003-12-25T02:42:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/1 "2003-12-25T02:42:35Z")
Some of the firearms threads got me nostalgic and gave me an urge to make smoke, fire, loud noise, and shoot stuff. So I was purusing the Interweb, looking for ranges in the Atlanta area and I found a place called The Firing Lane out in Athens ([webpage here](http://www.firinglane.com/)). In addition to the usual handgun rentals (including a Desert Eagle and 454 Casull! :eek:), they apparently rent Class III firearms for some quality time on the range. These range from M16s to MP5s to AUGs to frickin’ SAWs, Uzis, and Tommy guns. You can go to the website and click the Class III link to get the complete list. I’ve shot an AK-47 and the Ruger 10/22 (though not full auto), so those are out. Which of the rest would be the most fun? And if anyone’s been to the Firing Lane, tell me about it. We’re considering making a trip out there to make some noise. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/2 "2003-12-25T02:43:42Z")
Oh, and this should go without saying, but keep the “Guns=bad” preaching, evangelizing, etc. out of my thread please. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/3 "2003-12-25T03:08:27Z")
Well, if it’s all legal, I’d go with the Thompson. Just so you could say that you had. But remember to practice your Cagney impression as you’re firing it. “You’ll never take me alive, shee? NYAH!” ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/4 "2003-12-25T04:09:00Z")
I would go with the HK MP 5 or the Thompson, sounds like big fun, go when things are slow so you can take a break to let the smoke dissipate (if you are indoors). unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/5 "2003-12-25T06:07:39Z")
Go with the classic. A Tommygun has that unique clankity-clank that’s missing from other MGs. Do they have 100-round drums for it? \And we’re all off to Dublin in the green, in the green Where the helmets glisten in the sun Where the bay’nets flash and the rifles crash To the rattle of a Thompson gun.\ ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/6 "2003-12-25T08:04:47Z")
Interesting, 3 votes for the Tommy. I was leaning towards some of the more exotic ones myself. Though I may just play with the Desert Eagle and live out my _CounterStrike_ fantasies. Maybe I won’t yell “DEAGLED B1TCH!!!”, but I’ll definitely have to think about it… Or take the easy way out and go a bunch of times! **Gunslinger** -The picture they have up of the Tommy has the standard (30?) round magazine, not the drum…man, I wish. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/7 "2003-12-25T08:21:59Z")
I’ve shot select fire or full auto an ak-47, 74, m4, uzi, and sten. Of them all, the funnest would probably be the 74 - but that might be because I have a real feel for the weapon and shot exceptionally well with it. The SMGs were a bit weird to me - little recoil but lots of muzzle flip, threw me off. Of your list, I’d probably give the SAW a try first - I’d like to fire a real LMG. Thompson seems like it’d be fun, too. The 47s are surprisingly stable and easy to shoot if you have any experience with that type of rifle - unlike the M4 which was all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/8 "2003-12-25T13:01:04Z")
I can only say that of all the fun days in my life so far a day spent with a .50 cal. Browning MG was one of them. Remember when you cock it it’s palm up and thumb out and check the head space. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@Dave\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_D)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/9 "2003-12-25T15:24:51Z")
Maybe I’m just going for big since I have never fired a fire-arm but I’d go for a different classic, the BAR.(And try to do my best Clyde impression.) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/10 "2003-12-25T16:25:01Z")
I’ve driven by a place in Eugene, OR several times – The Barron’s Den, or something like that – that has a banner outside that says “Shoot a real tommy gun!” I’ve always wanted to try it. But personally I’d like to shoot an MP-5. I’d also like to fire an Uzi. Since I have three AR-15s, I’d liel to try an M-16. ANd of course, I’d like to try an AR-18 since it’s probably the ugliest firearm I’ve ever seen. But my first choice would be an MP-5. ---
**Author:** ![Wranglerette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@Wranglerette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wranglerette)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/11 "2003-12-25T16:49:53Z")
Well, don’t PLAY with any of them, but if I had the chance I would shoot them all :P. Just to say to all the guys that I had 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dryfreeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@Dryfreeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dryfreeze)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/12 "2003-12-25T17:04:20Z")
I’ve shot a M4, M16, SAW,and AK 47/74. My favorite out of these has to be the m249 saw, as the rate of fire and sound is just well awesome. I’d love to shoot the MP5, at any rate, any of these should be enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/13 "2003-12-25T19:22:56Z")
Do they have a full auto FAL? ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/14 "2003-12-25T19:28:34Z")
They list a FN-FAL on the Class III Rentals page, looks like they do! ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/15 "2003-12-25T22:18:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \* > \*\*They list a FN-FAL on the Class III Rentals page, looks like they do! \*\* Oh wow. That would be my first choice… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/16 "2003-12-25T22:50:00Z")
If you’re man enough, try firing that FN-MAG (M-240) from the hip, standing up. Then do it while running. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/17 "2003-12-25T23:07:14Z")
I’m with Dave\_D on this one, the BAR is what made Machine Gun Kelley, Machine Gun Kelley. I’ve shot an AK, an M-16, an MP5, an Uzi, a Tommy and a Steyr Aug, haven’t gotten a crack at the BAR, or the SAW though. ---
**Author:** ![3.885AM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/58956e/32.png) [@3.885AM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3.885AM)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/18 "2003-12-26T00:34:14Z")
The FAL isn’t that much fun in full auto, too hard to control except in short bursts or from a bi-pod, go for the Tommy gun. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/19 "2003-12-26T00:44:52Z")
There is a place like that in Las Vegas. I’ve tried an AK-47, an Uzi, an M-16, and an MP5. Next time, the Thompson. Make that another vote for the classics. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948/20 "2003-12-26T02:14:27Z")
More for the Tommy! Lotsa fans of the classics here. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firearms-enthusiasts-which-machine-gun-should-i-play-with/220948.md?page=2)