After the tigers got my adrenaline pumping, I took the tuktuk driver up on a suggested stop at the local shooting range. He mentioned they have machine guns, and I couldn't resist. I know Cambodia is (or use to be) the popular place to fire a few rounds from an AK-47, but I wasn't in the mood to fire automatic weapons during my time there.
Thailand, on the other hand, is all about having fun.
I walked into the small office and checked out the weaponry on hand. Pistols, a rifle, and a few shotguns. I held the pump-action shotgun, but I didn't think I was ready for it yet. I walked out since they didn't seem to have what I wanted.
A minute or two later, a plump 12-year old Thai kid (whose role at the range was anyone's guess) came to the door with a modified M-16 and asked if it interested me. Now we're talking, I thought. He also showed me a modified 9mm with a longer barrel and laser scope. Holding the pistol and pointing the little red laser, I was reminded of how cool Arnold was in the original Terminator.
Ultimately, it was the machine gun I wanted to experience, so I bought 25 rounds and fired them off in two separate spurts. The instructor told me the ammo was just a tad smaller in caliber than an M-16 round (.22 vs .223 caliber), and with a smaller shell casing. I did not ask why the rifle had been modified, though I suspected it had to do with the cost of ammunition (any gun aficionados out there care to chime in?).
Pow, pow, pow. The gun felt easier to fire than the 9mm I tried back on Phuket, and with less kickback. Unfortunately, I ran out of rounds before I got to try the automatic setting.
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Shawn Needham says
October 12, 2008 at 7:24 amHey Dave, one time when I took a holiday to Honolulu I went to a gun shooting place. I shot a 44 magnum, 38 caliber, and a M-16, including some other rifles. A big time experience. The 44 was a rush.
I can say one thing, guns are wicked.
Although, it is worth experiencing the power of a gun.
The world would be better off going back to hand to hand combat, not that I support war, just a comment.
Shawn Needham says
October 12, 2008 at 2:24 amHey Dave, one time when I took a holiday to Honolulu I went to a gun shooting place. I shot a 44 magnum, 38 caliber, and a M-16, including some other rifles. A big time experience. The 44 was a rush.
I can say one thing, guns are wicked.
Although, it is worth experiencing the power of a gun.
The world would be better off going back to hand to hand combat, not that I support war, just a comment.
Ryan says
October 22, 2009 at 7:10 amHi, great blog! Tons of very useful information. I'm interested in finding out how much you spent at the gun range. Were the prices pretty reasonable?
Thanks!
Dave says
October 22, 2009 at 5:27 pmThanks Ryan. I don't remember the exact cost of the gun ranges in Thailand, and can't say if they'd be cheaper than in the USA because I've never been in the US. But, since everything else is cheaper in SE Asia, I bet you'd find the prices to your liking.
Of course if you're trying to fire automatic weapons, the cost of ammo could go up quick. Definitely backpacker-friendly rates.
David says
May 10, 2010 at 7:19 amhi dave my name is dave ,did you shoot in vanuatu if so where in vanuatu
Dave says
May 12, 2010 at 1:14 pmHey David, I’ve never been to Vanuatu.
David says
May 10, 2010 at 12:19 pmhi dave my name is dave ,did you shoot in vanuatu if so where in vanuatu
makine says
October 29, 2010 at 4:00 amThats a great article I will use it in our site