Legendary Cowboys: Billy the Kid

This outlaw has earned his place in history as one of the most notorious cowboys in the West… But how much of it is true?

legendary-cowboy

Legendary Billy The Kid

The Legend

You may have heard the story of Billy the Kid. He’s the unstoppable outlaw responsible for killing 21 men, train robberies, bank robberies, etc., right? The young gun with a short temper who killed his first man at age 12?

The story goes that Billy the Kid, born Henry McCarty, was born in New York City on November 23, 1859, to a single mother. Following the death of her husband, Henry’s mother Catherine took her son and moved to Indianapolis where she met William Antrim. They soon moved to the New Mexico territory to start their new lives. Henry was 15 when his mother died.

The crime started shortly after when McCarty famously stole laundry, a notably minor crime for such a notorious character. This landed McCarty in the spotlight as a first time wanted man.This led him down a path of stealing horses and small petty crime that would soon escalate even further.

Over the course of his outlaw career, Billy would solidify his reputation as a cold-blooded killer who would end your life for so much as looking at him funny. He only lived to be 21 however, but many believe that his death was a hoax and he would live to be much much older. So, how much of this is true?

The Truth

There are a lot of myths surrounding The Kid, a lot of which have been put into films and literature. These stories have been told again and again, so you might be surprised to find out the truth of Billy the Kid.

Not only is most of the story inaccurate, but also the truth is that most of it is a mystery. The problem is that most of it has no historical proof.

Here are some of the most commonly believed myths of Billy the Kid:

His kill count

Probably the most polarizing discussions of Billy the Kid involves the grizzly matter of just how many men he killed. A very popular myth is that he killed 21 men (one man per year he lived). It didn’t help that he was part of a vigilante group known as the Regulators whose collective kill count spilled a little into his.

The truth is that Billy was only solely responsible for four deaths—Frank Cahill, Joe Grant, James Bell and Bob Olinger. Two of which were self defense situations and the other two were from one event of escaping from prison. Hardly seems like an outlaw when he’s just defending himself.

His intelligence

Many people believe The Kid to be illiterate and uneducated. Possibly due to his age and the environment of the south western territories at that time was a bit baron and didn’t have a lot of resources.

The fact is Henry McCarty really enjoyed reading as a small child. Although he didn’t have a formal education, people around that time considered him to be bright young man. He was also fluent in Spanish.

His left-handedness

It’s a classic quirk the legend is known for. It’s another very interesting thing that makes him stand out against all the other outlaws of the time.

The truth is actually more interesting than that: he was ambidextrous, which is far more impressive than being a lefty. The misconception began when a picture of Billy was found where Billy had his holster and revolver on the left side of his body. However, after observing a Winchester rifle in the same photo, it was revealed that the picture was flipped, making the right-handed gun fighter look left handed.

His family

A lot of stories go around that he had a younger brother named Edward. There’s also a lot of non-clarity about his birth mother and step parents, how they died, where they’re from, etc.

Billy had a younger brother named Joseph… not Edward. It’s unknown where Edward comes from.

His Temperament

Probably one of the most widely believed things about Billy is that he would shoot a man for simply looking at him wrong. There are countless stories of people being afraid to even approach the Kid, as they were afraid of what he’d do.

According to testimonies of his closest allies, Billy was one of the easiest going people they came across in a time of the wild west. As stated earlier, he only killed four men, and it was out of self-defense. Billy was, apparently, a kind-hearted caring soul.

The Truth about Billy the Kid, Summarized

Billy the Kid is a legendary cowboy who went down in history as a ruthless brute, but the truth is a bit far off. He was, in fact, an intelligent, easy-going and sober-minded individual who gets a rep for evil-doings and maliciousness. Obviously, it goes without saying that he may not have been the shining example of how someone should be, but the truth is still far more interesting than legend.

Be Legendary

There are lots of legendary cowboys who are experienced shooters and adventurous souls, but those are all just legends, right? There’s a lot of truth in these stories of famous gunslingers, but only experiencing guns can set apart fact from fiction. So, test your gun firing skills in an authentic environment and experience what it’s like to fire real guns!

How to Handle Accidental Discharge

accidental-misfire

“Oops.” That’s what you say when you “accidently” slip up or doing something wrong. However, accidental discharge could be a little different. It may just cost you or someone else their lives. It makes owning a gun a little scarier, to say the least, but there are ways you can keep it from happening and handle an accidental discharge after it’s already happened.

 

How to Avoid Accidental Discharge Altogether

 

Obviously, this is key. As a gun owner, it is your responsibility to ensure the safety of yourself and others. So let’s look at the things you can do to avoid an accidental misfire.

1. Safety first

You don’t have to be a gun lover to know what the most important part of the gun is: the safety. The safety should always be on unless you are firing. As in, you set your gun down after discharging your weapon, you immediately turn the safety on. No matter what.

2. The gun is loaded (even when it isn’t)

It is very beneficially to a gun owner to act like their gun is loaded at all times. There have been countless stories of gun owners unloading their guns, taking them apart and *BAM!* They didn’t realize there was one in the chamber. This can happen to the most experienced gun owner. All it takes is one slip up, so just pretend there’s one in the chamber until you’re sure there isn’t.

3. Keep your finger off the trigger

Pull the trigger, the gun goes off. You can never be too careful, even with the safety on. So, just keep your finger off the trigger unless you’re planning on shooting whatever it is you’re pointing your gun at.

4. Pay attention to your surroundings

Just like with anything that can potentially cause harm to others, it is important in gun safety to be fully aware of what’s going on around you and who may be close by. There have been far too many tragic stories of someone accidentally hurting or killing someone because they weren’t paying attention. It is, without a doubt, the easiest rule to follow because all you have to do is PAY ATTENTION.

 

Accidental Discharge: What Do You do?

 

In the event of accidental misfire, what should you do?

1. Assess the situation

And assess it fast! That means making sure that no one was hurt. If someone was hurt, call 911 immediately! It is vital that help gets to you as quick as possible, so before you do anything else,  you make the call.

 

If no one was hurt, move onto the gun. Take the necessary precautions in ensuring the gun won’t discharge again. Make sure the chamber is fully depleted, and once you’re done with that, put the gun away where it won’t hurt anybody.

2. Assess the damage

No matter what, make sure the gun is put away immediately before moving on to any sort of damage that may have been done to your surroundings. Depending on the firearm and where you’re at, the distance and damage will vary, but in any case, you need to make sure that nothing took a hit: belongings, homes, structures, etc.

3. Take responsibility

No matter the severity of the event, you must step forward and take action. Not every case of accidental discharge will require you to inform the police (use your best judgment), but it’s important to own the situation. This includes taking care of damages, injuries, etc.

4. Make sure it never happens again

We get it. Accidents happen. But that doesn’t mean it’s unavoidable. It’s easier to find articles online discussing how to avoid it in the first place than it is to find what you should do after it happens.

 

Safety at Machine Gun Experience

Safety is number one for gun owners. Here at Machine Gun Experience, we take the necessary precautions to ensure the safest environment and educate on proper gun use. Our team of professional gun users will provide a safe space for you to enjoy yourself.

 

See our packages for more information.

 

Historic American Firearms: Spencer Repeating Rifle

historic-american-firearms

Throughout history, some guns have made a name for themselves. Even fewer hold up as well as the Spencer Repeating Rifle. Since its production during the Civil War, the Spencer Repeating Rifle has become quite the collector’s item.

 

And with good reason. If you love historic american firearms, this one’s for you.

 

Spencer Repeating Rifle

Christopher Miner Spencer was a 19th century inventor, famous for being a sort of jack-of-all trades in terms of inventing. He could invent whatever it was he wanted from cars to rifles. Spencer has many patents under his name, most of which were gun related.

 

On March 6, 1860, Spencer knocked out another patent, this time on a lever-action repeater.

The rifle

It was revolutionary. In a time of muzzleloaders, the Spencer Repeating Rifle surely stood out as ingenious design. Simple to use and reliable, it would soon out-shine everything else on the market. Working the gun was quick to learn and didn’t take much: insert cartridge nose first, put hammer on half cock, lower the lever, chamber the round, cock, aim, and fire.

 

Its most brilliant and revolutionary feature is the rotating block, something no other gun at the time had and what makes the repeater so special. The device allowed the gun to be fired quickly and more frequently than the standard rifle. It was also popular for its sleek design.

Usage in the war

During the Civil War, muzzleloaders were ordered by the hundreds, so switching rifles wouldn’t be cost effective. However, after demonstrating the rifle to officials, Spencer got an order from the Navy for 700 rifles, plus another 300 after he convinced them. Some soldiers, preferring Spencers rifle, purchased them on the side and Lincoln himself was so impressed, he ordered a total of around 230,000 by the time the war ended. By mid-1860’s, it had become the second most widely used carbine.

 

A rifle’s influence

The Spencer Repeating Rifle has its place in the hearts of historic american firearm collectors, but as far as repeaters go, they became obsolete. Repeaters were a costly and resource draining production, so by the time another war came around, America had moved on to more efficient ways of combat. Still though, nothing at its time was anything like the Spencer Repeater and for that alone is enough for it to go down as one of America’s great historic firearms.

 

Check out Machine Gun Experience today!

At Machine Gun Experience, we give you the opportunity to fire an arsenal of unique guns. Semi to fully automatic, we have the rifle you want. Come visit our range today and experience our one of a kind range.

 

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Special Ops Training: Green Berets

Many men and women who enter the military dream of taking part in special operations units. These units use unconventional methods to carry out unique missions. Depending on which branch of the military the unit is located, specials ops training programs will vary. To become a Green Beret, the special forces of the U.S. Army, it will take wit, brawn, and discipline.

special-ops-training-soldier

Green Beret Special Ops Training

Selection process

Prior to participating in the selection process most applications will have:

  • Earned a college degree and/or postgraduate degree
  • Mastered a second language
  • Been in the armed forces for at least three years

Special ops training workouts are designed to push potential soldiers to their physical and mental limits. Before they can take part in the training course, they must pass a physical exam selection course. Each potential Green Beret must pass with a minimum score of 260. It is recommended before you take the exam you can:

  • Finish a two mile run within 12-14 minutes
  • Do 100 sit-ups in two minutes or less
  • Complete 100 push-ups in two minutes or less

The rest of the initial exam will take place at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The three-week course is split into two parts: physical training and teamwork ability. The tests will include:

  • Running
  • Swimming
  • Push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups

“Q” Course

After excelling at phase one of SFQC, Special Forces Qualification Course, during the initial selection process at Fort Bragg, some soldiers will enter the remaining five phases. Each is more excruciating than the following, which is why it’s recommended to participate in some special ops training for civilians workouts before attempting the programs.

SFQC Phase II-13 weeks:

  • Strong focus on individual skills
  • Training in Small Unit Tactics
  • Survival skills
  • Language and cultural training

SFQC Phase III-15 weeks:

  • Military occupational specialty code training (MOS)
  • Further language training
  • Common tasks training
  • Advanced technique special ops training
  • Interagency operations training

SFQC Phase IV-14 weeks:

  • Combative skills training
  • Continual language training for specialty assignments

SFQC Phase V-four weeks:

  • Collective training
  • Realistic unconventional warfare

SFQC Phase VI:

  • Graduation
  • Initial assignment

 

Shoot like a Green Beret

On top of possessing elite athletic skill, Green Berets are experts at their weapons. Lucky for you, you don’t have to complete special ops training workouts to fire a military grade, special ops weapon. At The Vegas Machine Gun Experience, a gun range near the Strip, you can handle:

  • 12 Gauge Pump Shotgun
  • M4 Machine Gun
  • AK47 Machine Gun
  • Glock 17 9MM Pistol

Book Your Special Ops Training Experience

Book your Special Ops training package online today. The Machine Gun Experience is an indoor gun range located right off the Strip. We’ll even pick you up!

Women Who Shoot Guns in Movies

Shooting is no longer a man’s game. Although men may have their fair share of action movie heroes, women who shoot are slowly taking over the big screen and the gun world. Here’s our list of top five leading ladies who have mastered their tactical shooting stance and their weapons, all while capturing our hearts.

Women Who Shoot in Cinema

women-who-shoot-film

Lara Croft, Tomb Raider

Weapon: Twin Heckler and Koch USP Match pistols

 

Angelina Jolie has played many kick-butt women in films, but her most iconic role is probably Lara Croft. Although Tomb Raider is an empire consisting of books, movies, and video games, Jolie’ bodysuit clad figure, adorned with hip holsters holding her signature pistols is the immediate image that comes to mind. Even if she carries pistols with her, don’t disregard her ability to show off a proper rifle shooting stance too.

Trinity, The Matrix

Weapon: Two Beretta 84FS Cheetahs

 

Carrie-Anne Moss plays Trinity in The Matrix. Her weaponry is often minimal, but she can hold her own in a room full of agents with what little she carries. Film creators opted for a Beretta 84FS as opposed to a full-sized Beretta because Moss has small hands. She is also seen yielding a Micro Uzi in the film. Like many other women who shoot, Trinity is skilled in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat.

Imperator Furiosa, Mad Max: Fury Road

Weapon: Taurus PT99AF

 

Charlize Theron is almost unrecognizable as Furiosa in Fury Road. Her mechanical arm does not stop her from taking her tactical shooting stance and fearlessly defending the wives of Immortan Joe. Eventually, Furiosa enlists the help of a tribe of women from “The Green Land,” where she grew up and kills Immortan Joe. Not only does she save his wives but the city he once ruled over too.

Selene, Underworld

Weapon: A pair of Beretta 92FS sidearms

 

Kate Beckinsale plays a vampire named Selene in Underworld. With the help of her signature Berettas, she defeats lycans in several films. The cruel death of her family sparked her plan of revenge. She exhibits tactical expertise in several films, escaping from situations that seemed nearly impossible.

Alice, Resident Evil

Weapon: Beretta 92FS Inox

 

Mila Jovovich is another actress who has played several female empowering characters during her career. Alice is one of her most memorable roles and the lead in the films, which depict her conflict with the Umbrella Corporation. Like a couple of other women who shoot on our list, Alice knows Berettas do it betta when you’re in a tactical shooting stance.

Join the Women Who Shoot at an Indoor Gun Range

Women who shoot may have been born with a kick-butt mindset and some inherent talent, but their expertise came with practice. Master your proper rifle shooting stance at an indoor gun range near the Strip. Book your Vegas Machine Gun Experience online today.

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Gun Lovers

gifts for gun lovers guns

Valentine’s Day is coming up faster than a speeding bullet. If you’re in love with someone who loves guns, you’re probably wondering what to get for the gun collector who has everything? We have some gift tips that will help you shoot your way into a gun lover’s heart.

Gifts for Gun Lovers

The best things in life are accessories

Some people collect stamps, some people collect coins, and some people collect guns. Gifts for gun collectors can get pretty pricey, depending on what you’re looking at. If you shop smart, you can save some serious dough. Discount Firearms and Ammo has gifts from all different price ranges.

Some great accessories are:

T-shirts, patches, backpacks

If you have too many ideas for just one gift, try putting together a gun lover gift basket. You can fill a basket with ammo, t-shirts, patches, or backpacks. Even if your gun-loving partner has a closet full of t-shirts, there’s always room for one more.

History lessons

Some creative gifts for men who like guns (and women) are books. If your gun collector already has all the accessories and t-shirts they can handle, hit the books. Try finding some history books that specifically focus on weapons throughout history. Or, if they have a favorite weapon, get a book featuring the history of their gun of choice.

Give the Gift of an Experience

The best gifts for gun lovers are the ones they can talk about for years to come. Give your gun-loving beau the gift of a Las Vegas Machine Gun Experience. Purchase your package online.

Las Vegas Gun Range Firearm Spotlight: RPD Machine Gun

RPD machine gun inventor

Like many popular weapons, the Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyaryova, or RPD Machine Gun, gets its name from the person who invented it. Vasily Degtyaryov created the powerful handheld RPD machine gun in 1943. Though the machine has been revamped several times during its life, it is still in use today. You can test one of them out at the Las Vegas Machine Gun Experience, but before you choose this as your experience, here are some of the specs of the RPD machine gun.

RPD Machine Gun

History

In 1943, three Soviet Union engineers were challenged to submit ideas for a new handheld light machine gun. Degtyaryov’s design replaced his previously designed Degtyaryov machine gun. The original weapon was chambered for 7.6x54R rounds while the new one was chambered for M43 7.62x39mm round. The new invention wasn’t set for production until after World War II.

Specs

The handheld RPD machine gun is described as:

  • Simplistic: Two hidden belts feed rounds into the machine in a drum, attached to the bottom of the receiver. It can also be loaded by a loose belt.
  • Powerful: A gas operated long stroke piston system fuels the RPD.
  • Efficient: The chamber and bore are protected by a chrome lining, which is used to lessen the likelihood of jamming and corrosion.
  • Groundbreaking: Unlike previous Soviet machine gun models, the return spring is nestled inside the butt.

The largest disadvantage of the RPD machine gun is the accessibility of the drum magazine. It becomes unstable in dirty conditions and can get jammed with dirt, dust, or other elements relatively easy.

Try an RPD Machine Gun out Today

If you’re looking for a machine gun experience off the Strip where you can try out a historic RPD machine gun, visit us online.

 

Gun Etiquette for the Indoor Shooting Range

Is your trip to Viva Las Vegas going to be your first time visiting an indoor shooting range? You’re in luck because there’s no better place to experience the thrill of shooting legendary machine guns than the legendary Sin City. But before you suit up for your gun-venture, there are a few safety rules you should know. Follow them, and you’re sure to be an old pro in no time.

Six Etiquette Rules for the Indoor Shooting Range

Keep guns aimed at safety zones

An indoor shooting range provides targets for participants to perfect their aim, but keep in mind just because it’s there doesn’t mean it’s fair game. Your gun instructor will let you know where it’s safe to shoot. More important than not aiming at shooting range props like frames and supports, is to never point your weapon at another person.

Don’t interrupt another shooter

Never attempt to talk to another person shooting at firing range targets, especially by physically tapping them on the shoulder, bumping into them, or messing with their safety gear. The only time it’s acceptable to interrupt another person at the range is if they or another person are in danger. This rule also applies to coaching or correct another shooter. For the most part try to remember: If it’s not unsafe, it can wait.

Guns not in use should be unloaded

There have been some tragic stories involving gun usage that ended in the accidental shooter saying they didn’t know the gun was loaded. Any gun, whether it be your own personal gun at home or the gun you’re using at an indoor shooting range, should never be loaded until it’s being used. Even if you’re visiting the best shooting range in Vegas, as soon as you get your gun, you should check that it’s empty.

Hands off other shooters’ guns

You wouldn’t pick up another person’s baggage at an airport or food at a restaurant, would you? So why would you pick up another person’s gun? If you’re new to shooting you may not know the quirks of another person’s weapon. Keep your hands to yourself when visiting an indoor shooting range in Las Vegas or anywhere else.

Have good, clean fun

If you’re visiting an indoor shooting range near the strip while visiting Las Vegas, nothing is more important than having fun. Leave your inhibitions at the door when you visit the range. When you leave, make sure you clean up after yourself so the next person shooting at firing range targets can have the same clean fun you did.

Practice Etiquette and Shooting at the Machine Gun Experience

If you’re looking to shoot some fun into your vacation, visit the best shooting range in Las Vegas, The Vegas Machine Gun Experience. Purchase your shooting package online!

 

Myths about Guns

gun myths

Gun myths are as old as guns themselves. Whether it be thanks to movies or anti-gun myths, a lot of this information is misleading. Unfortunately, the myths that have weaved their way into the mainstream are taken as fact. Here’s the truth behind these lies.

3 Common Gun Myths

A dropped gun will go off

Two men dressed in suits are fighting over a gun. They bounce it back and forth like a hot potato for a few gut-wrenching moments. Then dun dunnnnn, it drops! Cue the slow motion. “NOOOOOO!” They scream in unison. The gun clanks to the ground, goes off, and shoots the hero in the stomach.

Fact: Guns are required to pass a drop-safety test a mandated by the Gun Control Act of 1968. Weapons typically don’t fire when dropped. Myths like this put people in danger because they think they should fumble to catch their weapon. However, experts advise shooters to let the gun drop instead of taking the risk of hitting the trigger when catching the falling object.

Violent perpetrators prefer assault weapons

Next scene. A group of innocent civilians are standing in line at the bank. Out of nowhere a group of men dressed in all black burst in with assault rifles. “Everyone on the ground!” They demand with pointed weapons. They’re going to rob the bank!

Fact: Assault weapon is a term assigned by the media to describe military designed weapons. There should be no civilian association. Criminals don’t want to stand out in a crowd and prefer small, handheld guns. Do you really think someone wouldn’t notify the authorities of strange men running around with giant guns in their hands?

Bullets make fireworks

In this next scene, our hero is in a standoff with a criminal. He’s hiding behind a metal door peeking through the window every now and then to take a shot at our guy. The hero aims for the perp, BANG! The bullet hits the metal door and all of a sudden it’s the sky on the Fourth of July. Sorry to burst the movie fanatic’s bubble but once again the gun myths and facts are off base.

 

Fact: Bullets are made of copper or copper alloy. Grab some pennies and slam them together as hard as you can. Don’t be shy. If you didn’t try it, it’s okay. If you did, you’re probably thinking, “Where are the sparks?” Copper does not get hot enough to spark. The only bullets that do are in rifles, and even then it’s a rare occurrence.

Find out the Truth at The Vegas Machine Gun Experience

Visiting The Vegas Machine Gun Experience, an indoor shooting range near the strip, while you’re in town and find out the truth for yourself. Las Vegas isn’t too far enough away from gun myth headquarters in Hollywood, but we’re far enough away to know the facts. Book your package online.

 

The Importance of Hearing Protection for Shooting

black proears hearing protection

When it comes to the subject of protecting yourself at a shooting range, there’s nothing more important than protecting your ears. Hearing protection specifically designed for shooting should be of the utmost priority when you take a trip to any shooting range, lest you want to end up with a hearing impairment. Take a look at a couple of the different types of hearing protection for shooting that you’re likely to come across at a Las Vegas gun range.

Passive Hearing Protection

One of the most common types of hearing protection that you’re likely to find at a Las Vegas shooting range is what’s called passive hearing protection. Passive hearing protection refers to any form of hearing protection that doesn’t use any noise-cancelling electronics. The two most common forms are passive earplugs and passive ear muffs.

 

As passive hearing protection, shooting ear plugs and earmuffs cover the ears in an effort to dampen the sound of gunfire. With earplugs, the amount of noise reduction can be minimally noticeable, and with passive earmuffs, the all out noise reduction can make hearing anything else nearly impossible. If you’re looking for the best ear protection for the shooting range you can find, an electronic option may be your best one.

Electronic noise-cancelling protection

Utilizing the same design as passive earmuffs, electronic hearing protection reduces the noise down to a level that is safe for the shooter and won’t damage hearing. What truly makes electronic hearing protection the optimal route for hearing protection is the fact that you’ll still be able to hear anything important happening around you, which is safer for everyone.
If you’re looking for a place to experience firearms safely, book a gun range package at the Vegas Machine Gun Experience today and shoot off some of the finest machine guns in the world.

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