Where can we Shoot Brens and Hopefully a Vickers?

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but milsurps members have been helpful in the past. There are a group of us, all British Firearm Certificate holders who want to shoot machine guns. We did manage it once in Belgium but that range has now closed. We are not interested in Ingrams / AK47s / Uzis or the usual Latvian stag weekend type shoots.

We are thinking of going to the Knob Creek, Kentucky USA, machine gun shoot in October BUT the range of machine guns available for us to shoot is very limited and there are NO Brens.

Can anyone tell me where else we can try? Websites or e mail addresses would be welcome!
Thanks

How many in your group? I want Peter Laidler running the range though. RHIP.

At the moment 4, we should have things firmed up in next few weeks when we start asking people for money! The plan was 4, 6 or max 8. Spend a week to 10 days in the USA, none of us have been to Kentucky, and then back to the U.K. for the Trafalgar Meeting at Bisley. Sorry do not know RHIP?

Why would there not be Brens at Knob Creek? If you google the shoot, you will get an excellent overview of the weapons shot there. EVERYTHING...I highly recommend it.

There are never Brens or Vickers guns for rent at Knob Creek that I'm aware of. If you get an invite on the range with a firing position holder, that's a different story. Unfortunately, I'm always back in the big pole barn attempting to peddle my wares. I pretty much stay away from the firing line unless someone invites me out there which has only happened a couple of times in 15 years. I won't be at the April show this year.

RHIP = Rank Has It's Privileges

I would like to have a demo here but it would need to be well planned in advance. I was hoping to coincide it with the release of Peter's Bren book which is sadly VERY overdue.

Las Vegas has everything for a boys night out... even machine guns!

Machine Guns Vegas

They have a minigun, I imagine they have a bren or two.

There is also this place in MN, they have MG42's.... and tanks!

Drive A Tank - Tank Driving, Car Crushing, Machine Gun Shooting

This is a strange thread.............. Talk of firing Brens and Vickers, other MG's and tank driving..... Funny how when it's been a form of enjoyable work for several years, sometimes it's just good to sit at the back of the range, keep a beady eye on things and generally have a bit of a back seat while the others do all the work. My little boy (well, not so little now.......) used to come to work with me and have a go. The one he particularly remembers was the Thompson gun from the waist

Oh yes........ Robert........ little boy...... He never seemed to be the most academic kid but got to Oxford Uni and got a Hons degree in something last Summer for his efforts!

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Originally Posted by Brian Dick

Brens or Vickers guns for rent

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I missed that part...for rent.

Thanks for the replies so far. We are investigating alternatives, and have visited Las Vegas in the past, BUT we tend to keep drawing a blank on Brens and Vickers for rent.
Next step is to ask a couple of British Firearms dealers we know who have contacts in the USA to see if they can help.
I realise that discretion may be calle for so please PM if you have any possible contacts.
Robert
Edinburgh Classics

Battlefield Vegas is the place to go.

I met a fellow in Birmingham who is building Post 86's Vickers and Brens. I'll find his name.

I take it you mean Birmingham Alabama? If he's in Birmingham U.K. he's in big trouble!

No 11 Lee Enfield.
Thanks for this. Oddly enough I stayed in the Circus Circus a few years ago and never realised it was right behind the hotel.
Have e mailed them as we'd prefer to shoot outdoors. If something else, which would be our first choice, does not come off Las Vegas would make a good fall back.
We had hoped to get what we'd wanted at Knob Creek as it would have been great to watch everything going on AND to shoot a Bren and Vickers but we're not going to travel thousands of miles just to watch.

I think that you ought to PM Brian at BDL, get his number and have a chat with him. You never know.........................

Hello Peter. Thanks. Have done so.

Well, if'n you're willing to jump the pond again.....

Might I suggest the Casper, Wyoming (USA) 'Northern Rockies MG and Cannon Shoot'?? ;-)

Yes, I am biased, I live here and this is TRULY the BEST MG shoot curently on-going in the USA. For one, it is the best physical shoot location, and two it is both large enough and small enough to avoid the problems of, for example, the curent Arizona shoots.

Look here for a start:

http://www.wyomingnfa.com/2014/2014%...OT%20FLYER.pdf

http://www.wyomingnfa.com/

I have had a shooting line spot there for many years and it is WAY better than the dump that is "Knob Creek" , where I also have a shooting spot. Casper has OPEN RANGE, to way beyond 1800yds, we always have lots of large cannons in attendance, and you can make hay with a belt-fed any way you want.

Here are a couple 'Tube videos of me shooting my stuff in Casper in years past to parse through-
Japanese Navy Type 1 Flexible Aircraft machine gun #2 MG-15 MG15 - YouTube
Shooting MG-42 from gunners perspective on lafette mount - YouTube
Shooting MG1A1 (MG-42) from multiple perspectives (MG42 MG-42 MG3 MG-34 MG34) - YouTube
MG-34 rip @ Casper MG Shoot 6/05/2010 - YouTube
Shooting the PKM LMG with quick-detach optics mount. - YouTube

....these will give you a good look at the lay of the land, etc. It's easy to get to, direct access from the Interstate HWY system @ Casper, easy three hour drive from the nearest Intl Airport in Denver, Colorado where you can get direct flights from London, at the least, on numerous airlines. Plenty of easy accommodations locally too. All in all, it's VERY do-able for the intl visitor.

As to BREN and Vickers shooting options....I know we have at least one Vickers, which sits on my spot, and I just bought a Mk II BREN, which if it gets in my hands by then I will certainly have with me. I can ask around, but I think finding one or more of each isn't going to be a problem AT ALL. If you REALLY GET SERIOUS, contact me and I'd be happy to assist in any way possible.

Here's the story on my "new" Bren MK II, which I hope I will have in time for Casper:
Bren Mk II mgfr '42, unfired until 2013??

Even if we cant "guarantee" a BREN/Vickers gun, you might SERIOUSLY consider coming to shoot EVRYTHING ELSE that will be there......there are LOTS of "rental" options.....as for my guns, hell, you can shoot them for free, I don't care......just don't try and convince me that Bangers and Mash is actually food. ;-)

-TomH

Hello Tom,
Many thanks for this I will have a good look later today and talk to those who are interested. The range certainly looks great.

get some
http://youtu.be/Nepss5LsOFA

Tom:
Did not recognize you without "THE" T shirt and the "Wolves" hat..... In the mail next week..
cheers,
Warren

There's something about laying alongside feeding the belt while someone who's never fired one before, let alone an automatic lets a belt go on auto. Just the look on their faces....... a sight to behold

If you're around Vegas there's a range near Uranus Gas between the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon as well. Not certain exactly what they've got, they were advertising M2 Brownings and Tommy guns when I passed through. We'd hopped a bus to the canyon, so I didn't get much of a chance to dawdle. They had MG34 and 42 as well as MP 38 and 44 in the lobby too IIRC. Might be worth getting in touch if you're in the neighbourhood. Right smack in the middle of the desert too, I'd hope they have a decent distance to the berm.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Warren

Tom:
Did not recognize you without "THE" T shirt and the "Wolves" hat..... In the mail next week..
cheers,
Warren

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Yea......Tis Me, in my own flesh! Or....maybe my evil twin...... ;-)

I do come back in out of the aether on occasion, posting here and there on the interwebs,,,,,must admit, I didn't know this place existed, till I had a BREn problem.....

Glad to have found all the welcome expertise here, though!!

You need to come down out of the Great White North and show up at KCR again soon!

-TomH

Hi Kennymo. I have checked out various ranges near or in Las Vegas. One has a Bren and a Vickers but they will NOT take the Vickers to the outdoor range and will only let you have a 20 round belt as it 'Is old and water cooled'.
We are not really interested in SMGs as we have either done them in the past or hope to do so nearer to home. Having said that I quite like Skorpions.

Psssssssst, Robert. Speak to Brian at BDL.........

Peter,
I'm working on it and Robert is in the loop. Our plan would probably be a year out in the future give or take. There is a possibility of a much better range facility than my little backyard one here. My former boss from Force Protection/GDLS, (former USN EoD), is in the process of building it as he already has his own explosives test range there. He comes to me for all of his small arms wants and needs. We had a good chat last week and his facility would make for a very special gathering if we can pull it off. He mentioned we could add some explosives to the mix down range too! It's just up the road from here as the crow flies about 15 miles or so.
Brian

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Originally Posted by Brian Dick

Peter,
I'm working on it and Robert is in the loop. Our plan would probably be a year out in the future give or take. There is a possibility of a much better range facility than my little backyard one here. My former boss from Force Protection/GDLS, (former USN EoD), is in the process of building it as he already has his own explosives test range there. He comes to me for all of his small arms wants and needs. We had a good chat last week and his facility would make for a very special gathering if we can pull it off. He mentioned we could add some explosives to the mix down range too! It's just up the road from here as the crow flies about 15 miles or so.
Brian

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Hmmm - I have 80,000 BA Miles in my account - Brian, I may have to pay you a visit! :D

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Originally Posted by Robert303

Hi Kennymo. I have checked out various ranges near or in Las Vegas. One has a Bren and a Vickers but they will NOT take the Vickers to the outdoor range and will only let you have a 20 round belt as it 'Is old and water cooled'.
We are not really interested in SMGs as we have either done them in the past or hope to do so nearer to home. Having said that I quite like Skorpions.

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Good to know, I'm hoping to hit one of the ranges next time I'm there. The little girl is due in a couple more months so I'm not too sure when that might be....
And it was more the Ma Deuce that piqued my interest...kinda wondering about that MG42 as well. Cheers!

Well if you get thru Colorado, I have a Bren & Sten. I have a friend who I think still has a Vickers and a couple of other similar MGs.
I've also got a variety of other MGs & SMGs.
Sarge

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sarge 13

Well if you get thru Colorado, I have a Bren & Sten. I have a friend who I think still has a Vickers and a couple of other similar MGs.
I've also got a variety of other MGs & SMGs.
Sarge

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Sarge......am thinking we probably know each other locally, away from the computer. ;-)

If you're heading to the Casper MG Shoot, my friend Bill is the one who runs the dynamite circus, he and I share line spots in the center, and he'll most likely have his Vickers, at least one of his though one is a Colt Vickers. It looks promising that I will have my Bren transfered in by then too, so we may have a couple of each type, at least.
-TomH

Could be? Where are you? I live out the back gate of Ft Carson.
Never been to Montanna, to far to go to a shoot.
Sarge

Well there are now four of us heading out to the Big sandy Shoot in Arizona. Flights are booked, Some hotels are fixed, negotiations are on about the amount of ammo we will be buying so it should be all go. Am rather looking forward to it.

That's a good one. You should be able to shoot just about anything there. The smaller shoot I'd like to have is not off the table. It'll be next year if it comes to pass.

Hello Brian,
Hopefully we will still be in the running for another visit to the USA next year and may see you then.

I'll be at Knob Creek in October at my usual trade tables, (C-22 endcap in the big pole barn). Sending the funds today.

Am not long back from the Big Sandy Machine Gun Shoot where we had a great time. I can only thank Kenton Tucker and Ed Hope of mgshooters.com for all their help both in arranging the guns and ammo and on the day. It's been a long time since I fired a Bren and the lewis and Vickers were a first for me as was the Boys Anti tank Rifle! Unfortunately my 'friends' got too excited about their own shooting to take any decent pics of me shooting!

If any of you were there I was the one wandering around in the Scottish Historic Machine Gun Team T shirt.

Good on yer for making the effort and arrangements to do so. Pat on the back.......