A Real Life Spec Op Story

There are a lot of books written and movies produced about real special operative soldiers. But what is true and what is fake? These brave men and women sacrifice so much, so who are these spec ops soldiers and what are their stories? Today, we’ll look at one real life spec ops story.

spec ops story

Authentic Spec Ops Story: the Hunt for Hussein

Back in 2003, the world was a scary and confusing place. America was in the midst of two separate wars, and most civilians couldn’t keep track of who did what in which war. But for a group of spec ops, America’s biggest enemy since Desert Storm was about to be taken down once and for all.

That was the plan.

 

Task Force 20 was a group organized to take down President of Iraq and war-monger Saddam Hussein. They were a group of Rangers and Delta operators, two groups of Special Forces.

They followed a convoy from Mosul, Iraq by helicopters. The convoy was thought to have had Hussein himself on board, so by following it, they thought they could end it once and for all.

However, once the convoy crossed borders into Syria, they had to stop the helicopter pursuit. That was until the commander gave them special permission to follow the convoy on foot. The rest of the team had no idea that they were headed into Syria until the ground commander announced over the radio that they were.

The spec ops finally caught up with the convoy, and an attack ensued. The conflict didn’t last long at all, but at the end of it all, they realized the truth about this situation.

 

Hussein wasn’t even there.

Instead, several of Hussein’s cousins were there. The whole conflict, despite being a lesser-known event, was a little controversial.

Spec Ops Experience

At Machine Gun Experience, you get to fire the real deal when it comes to the real life guns that were used in this spec ops story. From Special Forces to Special Operatives, you get the sense that you’re training for combat. Sign up for the experience today.

Guns in TV: Breaking Bad

Once again, we will look at some of our favorite television characters and their weapons of choice. This time, we’re going to look at some of the guns in Breaking Bad, the critical hit AMC show about a high school chemistry teacher who gets cancer and a death wish. And once again, no spoilers ahead, so feel free to read on if you haven’t seen the show.

breaking bad gun

Guns in Breaking Bad

Smith and Wesson 4506

The very first moments of Breaking Bad, you see Walter White pointing a gun towards the camera in a bit of a panicked hysterical state. We get a very close up view of the gun in this very iconic moment, and the gun, as it turns out, is the favorite of cops and criminals alike, the S&W 4506. This gun is the first stepping stone in Walter White and Jessie Pinkman’s descent into madness.         

Ruger LCR

What gun does Walter White use in the episode “Thirty Eight Snub?” Well, a .38 snub nose Ruger LCR. This gun is Walt’s very own gun, the first one he ever buys for himself. The Ruger LCR proves to be an excellent concealed carry weapon as Walter White, scared for his life, tries to go about his life with some added protection because a concealed weapon is a must for any criminal mastermind.

Beretta 84F

Now onto Jesse Pinkman: What is his weapon of choice? There is another iconic moment in the show where Jesse, similarly (but not coincidentally), points his gun up close and personal directly into the camera. It’s the last thing we see in one episode and the first thing we see in the next. A huge cliff hanger moment. That gun is a Beretta 84F, a semi-automatic .380 ACP caliber weapon.

M60

Throughout different episodes, we are teased with a rather big gun. Without spoiling the show, if you’ve seen Breaking Bad, you know which part we’re talking about when we say seeing this weapon being used was worth the wait. The M60 is a monster of a gun that can shred metal and poke holes in brick buildings. That’s not really a spoiler; we don’t think.

Try out the Guns in Breaking Bad

Whether they’re guns used in popular TV shows or not, Machine Gun Experience will have the weapons you’d love. We have many different weapon packages to choose from. Sign up for the experience to get your hands on all sorts of awesome weapons!

The Most Popular Guns to Use at the Range

Going to a shooting range and can’t decide which gun you want to try out? Luckily, most ranges have a lot of different weapons to choose—from handguns to miniguns. Knowing what everyone’s favorite shooting range weapons are might help you decide what to use. These are the most popular shooting range weapons.

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Best Shooting Range Guns

When deciding what guns to use at a shooting range, it’s good to get a taste of variety. Perhaps you could choose one handgun, one assault weapon, one shotgun, one heavy machine gun, etc. First, let’s look at the most popular handguns used at a shooting range.

Handguns

Ruger .22

The .22 pistol is a safe bet, sure. But it’s an excellent weapon for a shooting range because of its incredible accuracy. If you want to go to the shooting range and practice your marksmanship, this is the gun for you.

Colt 1911

If you want something with more of a kick but very easy to use, try the Colt 1911. The 1911 series is perhaps the most famous of handguns and Colt knows handguns. This one is commonly used at shooting ranges because it’s easy to use and comfortable to hold.

Shotguns

Mossberg 500

This shotgun is an excellent and surprisingly cheap weapon you’ll find at most shooting ranges. It’s tactical and great for hunting as well.

Winchester Super X Pump

A fast and cheap model of shotgun, very versatile and fun to shoot. Plus, you can’t go wrong with Winchester!

Assault Rifles

Armalite AR-15

A classic. The Armalite AR-15 is the standard that was set for all assault rifles to come. First created back in the 1950’s, it was way ahead of its time as it is still used today, as it was, at any given shooting range.

AK47

First developed by the Russians and then adopted and beloved by Americans, this terrifying monster of a gun can be found only at the best shooting ranges. This is one powerful gun.

Where to Fire the Best Shooting Range Guns

Machine Gun Experience is the number one Las Vegas shooting range. This is where you’ll find all the aforementioned weapons and then some! We offer the most packages with the most bang for your buck. Book your experience today!

Special Ops Training: Firearm Training

We’ve gone over just how tough spec ops are. From Special Operative training to their combat applications, Special Operations are believed to have the hardest jobs. For exceptionally tough individuals, you’ve got to have extraordinarily tough training. Here’s the spec ops training that focuses on firearms.

spec ops training

Spec Ops Training for Firearms

Proper weapon handling

The best training for spec ops and firearm use is not an easy one. It seems as though firearm training would be pretty standard, right? Well, no one shoots like a spec op. It boils down to every detail, starting with how you handle your rifle.

  • Finger outside the trigger guard (never lay your finger along the trigger)
  • Keep your elbows in, close to your body
  • Slightly bend the knees

 

  • Always use the sights!

That last one is a basic shooting fundamental that every spec op knows. It’s something that is often overlooked in movies and TV shows and, therefore, we learn to use assault rifles the wrong way.

Learning short range combat

After you go over the basics in spec ops training (you should already be familiar with those basics before being selected for spec ops), it’s time to apply weapons handling in an environment where you learn basic short range combat. What is short range combat? Short range combat encompasses combat styles like hand-to-hand and close quarters combat.

SRC is a unique firearm training for spec ops because, not only does it test a soldier’s firearm skills, but their physical strength and survival instinct. In any worst case scenario, the spec op training involves a plan B. Very useful in any situation. SRC training involves:

  • Firing stance: Feet are shoulder-width apart, toes pointed straight ahead.
  • High ready position: the end of the weapon is held under the armpit, barrel held slightly up just in peripheral vision of the spec op.
  • Low ready position: The barrel is held down at a 45-degree angle.
  • Movement: Spec ops are trained to run around, holding their weapons in the appropriate manner while staying focused in on their target. No soldier should have to look where they are going and must not trip over anything in the process.
  • Kneeling: spec ops are trained to combat enemies from a kneeling position.
  • Aiming: When practicing their aiming, four different aiming techniques are practiced; slow aimed fire, rapid aimed fire, aimed quick kill and instinctive fire.

Tactical reloading

In the line of duty, thinking and acting quickly is the name of the game. One of the more time-consuming aspects of firearm use is reloading your weapon. In a firefight, spec op training goes over ways to reduce this time greatly with tactical reloading. Whilst reloading, spec ops learn to:

  • Keep barrel on target at all times
  • Forcefully pulling empty magazine out and dropping it
  • Just as quickly as it was dropped, insert new magazine without moving rifle
  • Quickly chamber the round

The trick is to do all that with one hand while steadying the rifle with the other.

Practice makes perfect

Spec ops training takes time, and these tasks that you learn aren’t something you can learn in a weekend. That’s why spec ops training takes months at a time to complete one task. It’s no walk in the park, and no one expects anyone to pull it off, but if you have what it takes to be a spec op, this is what the basic firearm training entails.

Get a Taste of Spec Ops Training

While obviously not the real thing (we wouldn’t do that to you), Machine Gun Experience offers a package that allows you to fire all of the weapons a spec op in training would be using. Book your experience today.

Legendary Cowboys: Wyatt Earp

The most famous lawman in history immortalized his name as a legendary cowboy. But how much of this famous cowboy’s story do you know? Here’s some information and stories about Wyatt Earp you may not know.

legendary-cowboy

Legendary Cowboy Wyatt Earp

The Legend

Who is Wyatt Earp? He was born in 1848 in Monmouth, Illinois. He spent some time growing up there and in Iowa with his two parents Nicholas and Virginia Ann Earp. He had two older brothers and one half brother, all of which were involved in the Civil War. Wyatt made more than one attempt to escape and join his brothers in war but was always caught and sent back home.

It was at age 17 when he finally moved out and got a job working for the Union Pacific Railroad. Just one year later in 1869, he became a constable at a very young age. Wyatt was married in early 1870 to Urilla Sutherland, who died less than a year later to Typhoid. Completely shattered by the loss of his wife, he fled to a different town to start a new life—Dodge City, where he became marshall. This is also where he met Doc Holliday and gang. The rest is somewhat history as this is when his legacy as a legendary cowboy started.

His many jobs

Wyatt Earp is somewhat of a jack of all trades in his own right. Not only was Wyatt Earp a lawman but he also owned several saloons across the southwest. On top of that, he had a fascination with boxing, so he became a boxing referee on the side for fun. Not all his ventures were noble, however, as he did run several brothels. You could say that all these extracurricular activities were funded by Wyatt Earp’s troubling gambling addiction. It was here where Wyatt Earp found most of his personal and financial troubles.

The Gunslinger Wyatt Earp

After moving to Tombstone, Arizona, Wyatt and his brothers found themselves in some trouble with a local rancher and some outlaws. Gunfire was exchanged and several people were killed at the O.K. Corral. The rancher, Ike Clanton, who was involved in the incident at the O.K. Corral filed criminal charges towards the Earp brothers. The judge threw the charges out, favouring Wyatt for being a man of the law.

His life as a famous cowboy

After leaving Arizona, Wyatt settled in California with his wife Josephine Marcus. There, he worked as a saloon keeper, a miner, as well as working in real-estate. Later in his life, he worked close by John H. Flood who wrote his memoirs. It’s very likely the stories of Wyatt Earp are exaggerated to say the least. It’s believed by historians that Wyatt Earp spun every story he could to make himself sound more like a hero then he really was. Wyatt Earp died in 1929 in Los Angeles at the age of 80.

 

His life story is widely believed to be fictional.

The Legendary Cowboy in You

We may never know the true stories about Wyatt Earp, but we do know that you can shoot like a real legendary cowboy at the Machine Gun Experience shooting range. With the Gunslinger package, you can channel your inner legend. Contact us today to sign up for the experience.

Guns in TV: The Walking Dead

It’s fun to see TV guns used in popular shows when they’re in the hands of our favorite characters.Take, for example, the guns in The Walking Dead. It’s one of the biggest shows on television right now, and it heavily revolves around the use of guns. Let’s take a look at some of the guns in The Walking Dead. (Don’t worry. No spoilers ahead.)

the-walking-dead-gun

Guns in The Walking Dead

Colt Python

The Colt Python is main protagonist Rick Grimes’ partner in crime, so to speak. The very first time we see Sheriff’s deputy Grimes in episode one, he’s equipped with the one of the most iconic guns, the revolver. The Python is a silver .357 magnum revolver with a six-inch long barrel. It’s realistically depicted as a very powerful and heavy. One scene in the first episode shows Rick shooting a zombie inside a small enclosed space and the noise from the gun nearly deafens him and disorients him terribly. This gun appears throughout the entire series as Rick’s go-to zombie killing weapon.

Glock 17

Rick’s friend Shane, also a former police officer, carries with him a generation 3 Glock 17. He can be seen using it in season one, but this gun receives special attention in the beginning of season two while Shane is cleaning it—then later shows Andrea try to reassemble it when a small group of “Walkers” attack. This gun is later carried throughout the series by Glenn.

Mossberg 590

Even more so than the Glock 17, the Mossberg 590 is Shane’s gun of choice. The Mossberg 590 is a powerful tactical 12 Gauge shotgun. He is seen in all the promotional images for the show holding one. His Mossberg has an extended magazine, a pistol grip, and a heat shield. Throughout season two, Shane, as well as others, fire this weapon.

Beretta 92SB

Whether you’re a fan of The Walking Dead or not, you probably know about the Governor. Being the most iconic villain in the series means we should probably talk about this character’s gun of choice as well. His Beretta 92SB has a wood grip and a shiny nickel finish. This gun is used in a number of dirty deeds committed by the Governor.

Colt M4A1

This powerful M4 carbine is used by virtually every character at some point in the show. It’s fast, heavy, and reliable and just right for a zombie apocalypse. How fun would it be to shoot one of these?

Stryker Strykezone 380

Daryl’s crossbow just might be the most iconic of weapons in The Walking Dead. Now the Stryker obviously isn’t technically a gun, it’s usefulness and versatility proves beneficial to The Walking Dead team—this article just wouldn’t be complete without it.

Want to Use Guns in The Walking Dead?

Machine Gun Experience has guns used in popular TV shows and a wide variety of weapon packages. They give you the opportunity to fire weapons like they do in the zombie apocalypse. Our guns are the same or like the guns in The Walking Dead, so sign up for your experience today at Machine Gun Experience.

Gun History: 800 Years of Firearms

We have machine guns and high caliber rifles a plenty. It’s just what we’re used to. But have you ever wondered how guns have evolved throughout the years? Or perhaps, what early versions of guns might have been? You may be surprised to find out that guns have been around for nearly 800 years! Here, we have a short timeline of historical moments in the history of guns.

gun-history-timeline

What Is SWAT?

Special Weapons and Tactics, or SWAT, is a law enforcement squad that handles dangerous situations normal police officers cannot. Just like the name states, SWAT teams handle more advanced and deadly weaponry and are tactically similar to the military. SWAT teams are generally used in situations like drug busts or rescue missions.

swat-training

History of SWAT

The 1960s were a time of heavy, violent criminal activity and political conflicts. The standard police force just wasn’t cutting it anymore. That’s when they started developing a more militarized team for when things got dicey.

The first implementation of SWAT was in the mid-1960s. The Los Angeles Police Department was having trouble with riots. Due to the harsh political climate, the riots were only getting worse. The incident that initiated the SWAT team’s first appearance was the Watts riot, or Watts Rebellion, an incident that ended the lives of 34 LA citizens and caused $40 million in damage.

Squads of heavily armored, specially trained police officers entered the flooded streets of people and began, aggressively, restoring order. Over time, SWAT teams became a national trend as most cities in the United States started developing their own SWAT forces.

Since the 1980s, the United States has been involved in “The War on Drugs,” a mass event of increased trafficking, violence, and drug usage all across the American continents.

SWAT Tactics

Since riots and violent drug busts aren’t daily occurrences, SWAT teams are integrated into regular police activity but remain on active duty in the event of something extreme. Basically, not every officer is SWAT, but every SWAT member is an officer.

SWAT teams undergo military combat and tactical training. They are also equipped with heavy armor and assault weapons normal officers and civilians don’t have access to. It’s this training and weapon certification that makes them a powerful force. You’ll often see during riots where SWAT teams toss smoke bombs and tear gas to break up crowds. They also have large bulletproof body shields called “riot shields.”

SWAT Training

There are two different classes for SWAT training: basic and advanced. During basic, SWAT candidates will undergo a four-day basic training. This training is similar to military training in that it focuses on different combat and other tactics such as building searches, assaults and hostage rescue.

The advanced training focuses mostly on weapon training, using rifles and sub machine guns. Candidates learn important marksmanship traits like moving and shooting. They also delve deeper into hostage rescue.
To get a taste of what it takes to be a member of SWAT, we have a basic weapons course, you and your friends can try out. Of course, you’re not going to be rescuing any hostages or breaking up riots, but you will get to try out an arsenal of SWAT weapons from the Glock 17 to a 12 Gauge Pump Shotgun! Check out some of our other packages we provide and sign up for your experience today!

Special Forces vs. Spec Ops

Ask anyone in either the special forces or spec ops what the most annoying thing is and they’d most likely tell you it’s how people get the two of them confused with one another. In the media especially, you’ll see them calling a spec op a “Special Forces” soldier. Let’s put an end to that right now.

spec-ops-and-special-forces

Special Operations

Spec ops or Special Operations Forces (SOF) are any operatives affiliated with the United States Special Operations Command, or SOCOM. SOCOM is a global network of US special soldiers. What makes them so “special” is that they do the job no other soldier could (nor is even allowed to).

Spec ops training

It’s popular to say that Spec Op training is 10% physical and 90% mental—a strong statement considering the level of fitness that precludes spec op bootcamp. What you have to realize is that the 90% mental is in a great deal physical as well. What we mean by that is that the training is so excruciating and intense, it tests your psyche as well as your body. Bodybuilders, pro athletes and fitness gurus have tried the spec op training… and failed.

Special Forces

Special Forces is a branch of the US Army, a specific group in the Army in fact. Also known as a “Green Beret,” a Special Forces soldier duty is to take on any unusual or intensely difficult task the regular Army couldn’t tackle. A lot of what they do involves going behind enemy lines in secret covert missions. Most of what they do is top secret info and is never disclosed to the public, but we do know that they were responsible for taking out the Taliban in a matter of weeks.

Special forces training

Soldiers joining up with the Special Forces have to endure nine weeks of ultra-intense physical and mental conditioning. This is just the initial training, though. Afterward, soldiers will attend the Advanced Individual Training for four weeks.

After their Advanced Individual Training, soldiers are required to take Basic Airborne School for three weeks, and from then on, spec ops prep, assessment and qualification courses are required.

The whole process takes over a year—if you can handle it.

In Summary

As it turns out, Special Forces is just another branch of the very broad group of Special Operations. In any case, training for a special anything in the military challenges you to your very limits: physically and mentally.
You can get a very basic Spec Op Weapons Training course here in Las Vegas. It will test your marksmanship as you use weapons similar to those used by special operatives. It’s the closest you can get to the real thing, so sign up today and have some fun with it!

Most Realistic Cop Shows

Finding realism on television is a lot like finding a hidden treasure: If you see it and recognize how real it is, it becomes even more amazing to watch. Finding realistic cop shows is a little challenging because, unfortunately, most cop shows and crime dramas are comically pretty bad.

Here, we have a list of the most realistic cop shows on television, whether it be moments of realism or overall accuracy.

realistic-police-show

Realistic Cop Shows

Cops

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first. Cops was arguably the first of its kind. Before The Bachelor and Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Cops was an actual reality show, depicting real police officers and their day-to-day tasks. It’s famous amongst daytime television viewers for its intense and often humorous events—and for its iconic theme song.

 

The show, if you haven’t seen it, follows one or two cops at a time as they respond to a call. More times than not, the call is a domestic dispute… Something that officers of the law have to deal with on the daily. And you can tell, judging by the generally monotonous and tired nature of the cops.

 

The show doesn’t try to excite the drama in any way. It just shows what is actually happening. For this reason, not everyone is a Cops fan. However, Cops teaches us that you don’t need a script: The world is crazy and unbelievable enough as is.

Law and Order

Everyone’s favorite police procedural makes the list, despite a few very inaccurate and dramatized details. Since its debut in the early 90s (making it the longest running crime drama in America), Law and Order has had a lot of time to research police tactics.

 

There are a few flaws in this show, though. For example, Law and Order shows investigations take place over the course of a few days whereas, in real life, it averagely takes months. The officers in the show seem to be able to trace a gun’s owner in a matter of hours. This isn’t the case, because tracking down who owns a gun is a lengthy and inconvenient task.

 

In terms of firearms, the cast of Law and Order all use their weapons appropriately: proper weapon handling and hardly any excessive use (there are always exceptions). The investigations themselves are all handled professionally and near up to par with police standard procedure.

True Detective

This bizarre psychological crime anthology shows a philosophical and darker side to crime drama, but it’s actually more accurate than you realize.

 

In the show, two detectives who really don’t like each other get paired up to solve a bit of a weird crime. The crime involves an unraveling cult murder and sacrifice scenario in a swampy Louisiana setting, which obviously isn’t something that happens often, but that’s the point: normal detective work used to solve a much different than normal crime.

 

But at the same time, it’s kind of a true story…

 

Detectives often take years and years to solve a crime, which the show takes one full season to solve on crime (most crime shows take one episode). Throughout True Detective, the officers use real detective skills such as evidence collecting, forensics, interviews, and the boring sifting through old files. They do what real detectives do which, in real life, isn’t an action packed adventure. The show keeps you watching with its psychological aspect and character building.

 

There are two major gun fights in True Detective: one in a drug-riddled ghetto and the other with (no spoilers ahead, don’t worry) the culprits. The latter gun battle lands the detectives in the hospital for major injuries, showing how human they are. The show’s creators also had the two actors, Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, train for their firearm usage and it really shows in those shootouts.  

The Wire

Everyone’s talking about The Wire. The show is based in Baltimore, a city that wasn’t explored much in television before, with the goal of showing the darker side of most American cities. The show is praised for its accurate and often intense portrayal of police work.

 

The Wire was co-created by a police officer and a reporter, both from Baltimore, so there might not be a more accurate procedural crime drama on television. It gives the audience a very authentic look into what happens when your city is ravaged by the war on drugs and drug-related crimes. The Wire isn’t shy to delve into the real issues of drug-use, and that it isn’t just the gangs, it’s the working class and the upper class citizens.

 

Since the show was developed by those who have experienced what it’s like to be in law enforcement, accuracy becomes second nature. The cast and crew were educated in what street crime really is and how officers really deal with it. The brutal message in The Wire is that crime is resilient.

The Police Experience

In order to understand how realistic cop shows can be, actors will undergo professional weapons training. Having access to police and SWAT team weaponry allows for greater understanding for those curious about what it is like to actually be a cop. You can learn how to handle and fire an arsenal of police guns, so schedule your experience today!

 

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