We saw this welcoming sign as soon as we entered the area
Ahlman’s store is out in the countryside and they are by far the largest gun store in the area. They have over 5000 new and used guns on the premises. The grounds surrounding the store has a gun club and numerous pistol, rifle and shotgun ranges. All the major manufacturers have booths on the grounds displaying their wares. There are trails that wind through the woods which lead to numerous booths. All these booths are backed by ranges and you can try out the guns if you want to. For example, you go up to the Ruger booth, pick a gun, give them your drivers license and you can shoot the gun right behind the booth. When you give the gun back, they will give you your drivers license back. The shotgun companies have traps setup and you can try out the shotguns on clay pigeons right behind each booth.
The Springfield Armory booth. Which one do you want to shoot?
The Mossberg booth
Shaun handles the Mossberg “Chainsaw”, a pistol gripped pump action shotgun.meant to be shot from the hip. This one has a door breaching muzzle brake.
Here is FPS Russia explaining how the Chainsaw should be used.
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Then we moved over to the reenactment area.
The venerable Ma Duece (.50 cal. Browning)
The M249 SAW (Squad automatic weapon)
Shaun making like Bruce Willis with a bazooka
Shaun with the incredible WW2 MG34 MG
A WW2 vintage M2 half Track
A Daimler Ferret Scout Car
A Vietnam era M60 MG
some Jeeps on display
Shaun doing his “Dr Strangelove” imitation.
We passed by the civil war reenactment area where they had a small tent camp setup inside “Fort Ahlman”, a replica of a frontier fort.
The civil War reenactment area had this 6 pounder cannon. It was absolutely pristine and they fired it about once every two hours.
A medallion honoring Saint Barbara, patron saint of Artillerymen, is embedded in the axle of the cannon. I think Nagarifle worships at her altar.
We continued on to some of the other arms manufacturers booths. Arrested by some really good looking AR type rifles we stopped at the JP Enterprises booth. I was in for a real treat as I tried out a JP Enterprises .308 rifle.
Shooting a JP Enterprises rifle in .308. An absolutely gorgeous gun, machined from billet and it has an adjustable gas system. Recoil was about on par with a normal .223 AR 15. As you can see, the cartridge casing has ejected but my shoulder is still forward and I still have a cheek weld. An incredibly soft shooting rifle but at $3500, there won’t be one in my gun safe anytime soon.
Mark shooting a JP Enterprises short barreled 9mm AR
Discussing the merits of various AR type rifles. I shot one that was all “Magpulled” out. A very nice rifle!
The MG Area
This was what I was waiting for all day. They had a show special. Four guns - 120 rounds for $50. How could anyone resist? These are full auto guns.
Here is the guy who was ahead of us, firing the M249
The guns I fired were The AK74,
The M4A1 (short barreled)
The AK74U (don't know why but it is called the "Krinkov" in the US)
and finally a regular M4A1.
Here is some video of me shooting my four rifles:
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We then went over the watch the Benelli professional trick shooter. An amazing demonstration! He demonstrated and shot many shotguns in the Benelli line; between his legs, upside down, over his head, etc and hit the target every time.
Tim Bradley destroying multiple clay pigeons with the shotgun held upside down.
Boom! The grand finale where Tim Bradley shot a flammable target.
After that we pigged out on hamburgers and a Dairy Queen Blizzard and drove home full and happy.
