Automatic weapons, or machine guns, have been depicted as the weapon of choice for bad guys and heroes alike. Movies, television, and the media think full autos are all over the place on the streets. Most of this is complete fabrication. Even if you could find a fully automatic rifle you would need some experience to use it effectively. I taught military and law enforcement to shoot with these weapons for years. They are not easy to use. Sure, you could pick one up and start shooting, but without competent instruction, and some practice, you would only succeed at giving cover fire at the very best or shooting someone or something you don’t intend to at the worst. These guns are useful in combat, or for keeping heads down, but not much use at all. When I was in combat, I seldom had my weapon on “auto”. If I wanted to be effective the most, I would fire 3 round bursts. These guns tend to “ride” or have a muzzle rise that you must control. Also know that squeezing and going “Rambo” is not that great for the gun. No matter if it is a sub machine gun or a machine gun you’re bound to have this rise. And barrels get hot fast! With our M-60 we switched barrels quite often.
In 2014 in Arizona a 9-year-old girl was legally shooting a sub machine gun at a range when she lost control of the gun and ended up shooting her instructor. The instructor was rushed to the hospital but died from the gun shot.
What’s the difference between a machine gun and a submachine gun? A submachine gun shoots pistol caliber ammunition. Usually, these will have a lower recoil, have reduced ranges compared to rifle caliber machine guns, and require a better grip.
One of the most important aspects of shooting full auto is grip. Your support hand (for right-handed shooters, this will be your left hand) should grip the gun and pull it back into your body. This allows the gun to sit firmly just inside your shoulder and acts as both a steerer of the gun and controls it. This is the most important part of the grip, as your support hand is doing most of the work. Your strong hand will rest relaxed, but firm against the gun’s grip and that’s about it (in most cases).
The two major points to shooting auto are leaning into the gun, which will help to manage the amount of recoil you feel, and making sure you are balanced. Your foot position can vary a bit depending on the types and calibers of gun you are shooting, as well as your body type.
Just as the different types of full autos are slightly different than one another, the shooter has to make slight adjustments for the platform they are firing. The basics are the same, but a few minor changes will set you up for safe success. Submachine guns have more muzzle rise than most other auto platforms. This can be due to rate of fire, with some guns that have the back end being heavier than the front, or simply because the gun is lighter than most.
I recommend taking a small step forward with your support foot. You then want to bend that front knee and sink your weight onto that leg, which will lean your weight into the gun. Combine this with using your support hand to pull the rifle snugly into your shoulder, and you have set up a solid foundation for most rifle systems.
Do not try to learn from video games, TV shows, or movies. They lie and promote disinformation. They do it so naturally and off hand. I was just watching a series from the 90’s called The Mentalist yesterday. It’s basically a cop show. They were talking about someone having a registered gun. Most non-gun people (and some gun people!) think that guns are registered in this country. I know a lot of law enforcement would like that because it would make their work much easier. Like many things in law enforcement, if we didn’t have rights their job would be easier. But we do have rights. I see law enforcement often try to trick people into giving up their rights just to do their work. I think it’s disgusting. Many have fought and died for those rights that someone who has sworn to uphold, yet they try and get around it. Don’t get me wrong, I love the U.S. law enforcement. Most in law enforcement are honorable, good people. There are some who ruin things for all of them. It is unlawful to have a registry for guns. In landmark cases District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) and McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010) the Supreme Court has affirmed the individual right to keep and bear arms for self-defense in the home. A federal firearms register can be seen as an infringement on this right in several ways:
· Chilling Effect: Knowing their gun ownership is recorded and potentially accessible to the government can deter individuals from exercising their Second Amendment right. This self-censorship directly undermines the purpose of the amendment.
· Potential for Abuse: Registration lists have historically been used for confiscation efforts. The mere existence of such a list presents the temptation for future abuse, whether through misguided policy or outright tyranny.
· Facilitating Confiscation: A comprehensive register makes it significantly easier for the government to identify and potentially confiscate firearms, especially during emergencies or in response to perceived threats.
Understanding the historical context surrounding the Second Amendment is crucial. The Founding Fathers, deeply distrustful of centralized power and standing armies, enshrined the right to bear arms to ensure the people could resist potential government overreach. A federal firearms register, essentially providing the government with a detailed list of armed citizens, directly contradicts this foundational principle.
The fear of a standing army and the importance of an armed citizenry to prevent tyranny were paramount concerns for the framers. A registration scheme empowers the federal government with detailed knowledge of who possesses what arms, thereby diminishing the people’s ability to act as a check on potential governmental abuses of power.
So, there is no registry and it has the force of law behind it. The closest thing is a semi-registry of guns used in crimes.
Machine guns and sub-machine guns have been regulated since 1938. The crime organizations of the 20’s and 30’s are what brought this law to be. The St. Valentines Day massacre comes to mind.
Would you like to own a machine gun legally? This is a portion of an article from The Gun Zone
https://thegunzone.com/how-to-buy-a-machine-gun-legally/
How to buy a machine gun legally
September 30, 2024, by William Taylor
Steps to Legal Acquisition
1. Determine Eligibility: Federal law dictates who can own NFA firearms. You must:
· Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
· Be at least 21 years of age.
· Reside in a state where machine gun ownership is legal. (Not all states permit private ownership of machine guns.)
· Be legally eligible to possess a firearm, meaning you cannot have any felony convictions or other disqualifying conditions as outlined in federal and state law.
· Not be prohibited under the provisions of the NFA.
2. Research State and Local Laws: Even if federal law allows machine gun ownership in your state, your state and local laws may impose further restrictions or outright bans. Thoroughly research your local ordinances before proceeding.
3. Find a Transferable Machine Gun: Because of the Hughes Amendment, you can only purchase machine guns that were registered with the ATF before May 19, 1986. These firearms are significantly more expensive due to their limited availability. Reputable Class 3 dealers (dealers licensed to sell NFA firearms) are your primary source for finding such firearms.
4. Arrange the Transfer: Once you’ve found a suitable machine gun, the transfer process begins. This typically involves working with a Class 3 dealer who will initiate the necessary paperwork with the ATF.
5. Complete ATF Form 4 (Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration of Firearm): This form is the cornerstone of the legal transfer process. You must provide detailed information about yourself, the firearm, and the seller. This form also requires your local Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) to be notified. The CLEO must sign the form; however, their signature only serves as a notification that you are seeking to acquire a regulated NFA item.
6. Submit Fingerprint Cards and Photographs: The ATF requires fingerprint cards and passport-style photographs as part of the Form 4 application.
7. Pay the Transfer Tax: A $200 transfer tax is levied on each transfer of a machine gun. This payment is submitted along with the Form 4 application.
8. Wait for ATF Approval: This is the most time-consuming part of the process. The ATF conducts a background check and verifies the information provided on the Form 4. The approval process can take several months, and sometimes even longer.
9. Receive Approved Form 4 and Take Possession: Once the ATF approves the Form 4, they will return it to the transferring dealer. The dealer can then legally transfer the machine gun to you. You must keep the approved Form 4 in your possession whenever you possess or transport the machine gun.
Thanks to The Gun Zone and William Taylor for giving us the steps of an NFA Firearms acquisition.
As you can see, acquiring, owning, and even shooting an automatic weapon is not common or simple. If you are so inclined, we wish you luck and remember:
“Happiness is a belt-fed weapon!”
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
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