How To Fire Machine Guns

There is something about the sound itself that has captured the mind and ear of thousands of people and dozens of generations.  The ability of all little boys to push their tongues against their teeth and rattle the sound coming out of their mouth to mimic the famous rat-a-tat-tat of a machine gun being fired has become almost a given talent among boys and men.  

Why has Dr. Gatling's invention of a rapid fire gun to increase the effectiveness of the gun and save lives so infused itself into the human psyche? Is it because we are amazed by the sheer ability of the machine to kill? Whatever it is, the experience of firing a machine gun will not soon be forgotten.

The first time you hold a AK-47, civilian issue M-16, a Tech 9, or any fashion of machine gun, you immediately know that you are holding a machine that can cut open a human with a line of bullets just like a Samuri's katana sword.  The first rule with any gun is to understand that safety is always first.  The Number One rule with any gun is to treat it like it's loaded and never, ever point the barrel at anybody. The first thing you must do is look at the trigger housing, and make sure that the safety is on.  The safety will be a little push button next to the trigger.  If you see red, it means it's ready to shoot.  Before firing machine guns - or any guns for that matter - you should learn a little bit about the gun. The first thing to always learn is how to know whether the gun is loaded.

When you know that your machine gun is loaded and the safety is on, place the butt of the stock into your shoulder. The stock is at the opposite end of the barrel.  When you fire a machine gun, you want to make sure that the butt is so far into your shoulder that you are pulling it into it. Any space between you and the butt will cause you pain when you fire the gun and the recoil kicks it back toward you.  

When you are firing a machine gun for the first time, your immediate reaction will be to let go as soon as the gun comes alive in your hand.  Remember, you are handling a deadly weapon.  When you let go of the trigger, the bullets stop.  You have successfully fired a machine gun.  You will have time for target practice and refining your skill later - how well you did the first time around really doesn't matter unless you're going to make a career out of it.