How many of you guys have machine guns?

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I have a couple but I don't shoot them much any more because I'm starting to find full auto to be boring. Heresy, I know.
 
I'll have to admit they are like excersize equipme, they get used a lot more when they are new.
 
I've one. Was in the process of buying another when Bush the elder pulled the rug out from under us more than doubling prices overnight! If Id' know then what I know now I'd have taken out a loan and proceeded.
 
Just curious for those of you who own MGs. Did you buy them back when prices were much much lower or did you buy them recently with the 400% markup from the 60's and 70's?
 
wally said:
Was in the process of buying another when Bush the elder pulled the rug out from under us more than doubling prices overnight! If Id' know then what I know now I'd have taken out a loan and proceeded.
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What did he do?? Something in the '89 import ban?

For those that don't know Bush was VP in '86 when sale of new MGs to "civilians" was banned with the closing of the NFA registry (transferable MGs).
 
Just curious for those of you who own MGs. Did you buy them back when prices were much much lower or did you buy them recently with the 400% markup from the 60's and 70's?
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I was looking at buying one in 2000, but decided to wait. Now, I will be buying my first one this Saturday for more than 2G over what the same gun was gonna cost me back then. I'm not too worried about it, though, as I am pretty sure the price is going to keep climbing. I mean, back when M16's hit 5G, I'm sure a lot of people thought there was no way they could get anymore expensive lol
 
Almost all my guns run like machines:) I would love to own one but couldn't afford to feed it:( Although I know someone living nearby has some. I've been here 2 years and about a year ago my son ran in the house telling me a war was going on outside. I went out and heard someone having more fun than should be allowed:) Controled bursts in the distance. It didn't go on for long but it was pretty cool to hear!
 
in '86 when sale of new MGs to "civilians" was banned with the closing of the NFA registry (transferable MGs).
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Did no such thing. The Hughes Amendment just banned the construction of new MG to everyone other than agencies. There is this myth that "non-civilians" can own MGs. If a "non-civilian" wishes to own an MG, they go thorough all the Forms and steps the rest of us do.

Does not mean MGs may not be issued to anyone, civilian or not. Just means that only agencies, typically governmental ones, are the only ones allowed to purchase new MGs.

It remains bad law, badly implemented, which has done mo demonstrable good.
 
Just curious for those of you who own MGs. Did you buy them back when prices were much much lower or did you buy them recently with the 400% markup from the 60's and 70's?
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Bought them in the 70's and 80's when prices were measured in hundreds, not thousands, of dollars. In fact some were bought at wholesale prices when I was a Class III dealer. Frankly, I don't think I would buy any at today's grossly inflated prices. But, depending on events, prices may come down.

My only regret is that I sold a Thompson and a BAR when the values doubled. If I had them now, the values would be at least 10x that.
 
I "acquired" most of mine pre-68 and registered them during the amnnesty. I gained a few more in 1984-85 and I still have all of them. Several I shoot on a fairly regular basis but not all of them.
 
I was 3 years old when the registry closed, so I wasn't doing much buying. But the economic slump we're in has significantly brought down prices. I bought my first MG - a gorgeous Vickers gun - this summer for 60% of what it sold for five years ago. If you want to get into the machine gun world, I think this is a great time if you have the cash.
 
After going to an MG shoot and renting several types, plus looking at the piles of brass and links around everybody's ankles, I decided I didn't really want one that bad. Those things like to eat, and eat LOTS.
 
A good semiautomatic, such as an AR-15, is just as effective as a weapon as a FA, in practically all situations you're likely to encounter. The rationale for owning an MG, then, is as a "fun toy" and as a historical investment. When you consider the cost, it ceases to be much fun unless you're made of money. That leaves the speculative "investment" value as a reason for ownership, and that in turn relies on the "greater fool theory," that is, that someone else will always come along to pay even more. That's a recipe for a classic bubble (think the Dutch Tulip Mania), and in a downturn economy, some "investors" are going to get seriously burned financially. And that's not even considering that a repeal of the Hughes Amendment would knock the (artificial) props entirely out from under this market.

My advice would be, if you want an MG, wait for a while. You'll probably get better deals.
 
My advice would be, if you want an MG, wait for a while. You'll probably get better deals.
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Even as a current owner, I would be happy to loose money in turn for the ability to get more toys for less.

As for "wait for a better deal". I remember my dad saying that when he passed up a '67 427 corvett back in the late '70's. He knew for sure with gas prices the way they were, those gas hog cars were going to drop below the $6500 asking price. We don't talk about that decision much now that you couldn't by the same thing today for 10X the price.
 
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