National Firearms Museum

[SpeedAKL]

Took a trip over to NRA HQ on Saturday to visit the National Firearms Museum. IMO it's definitely worth a look if you're in the area, particularly since it's free. All the guns could be searched on computers near the exhibit cases for detailed information; once I figured that it, I was worried that I wouldn't get done before it closed.

Favorite sections? The competition exhibits with the Camp Perry and Creedmor guns were really cool, some awesome rifles present. The Korea/'Nam/Desert Storm case was great as well, plenty of military guns you don't see every day. They had a special exhibit going, the Beretta Gallery, featuring old-world safari and upland double guns from Rigby, H&H, Purdey, Parker, etc. (and Beretta of course)....beautiful pieces, all of them. Some of the historic weapons in there included some of the first Colt and S&W revolvers, guns used by folks like Annie Oakley, Will Bill, etc etc, guns from the Revolutionary War, and whatnot....all frighteningly valuable I'm sure.

Suggestions for improvement? An exhibit on experimental / prototype weapons would be awesome, as would a section on the latest in 21st-century military guns. All in all, it was a fun late afternoon.

 

[rondog]

I used to live near there. I stopped by the NRA headquarters just because it was there and I wanted to see the building, but I didn't know there was a museum there. That was back in my non-membership and non-gun owning days.

 

[tjj]

I was there with the family on the 4th July week on vacation. My brother lives only a couple miles from there in Fairfax. We didn't get to see everything in the museum because it closed earlier than we expected. Maybe next year.

Very well done displays as expected.

BTW, is there a shooting range in an adjacent location to the HQ's. I thought I saw a notation on some map I was using. Didn't get a chance to check that out either.

 

[SpeedAKL]

Yep, that's their 50-yd indoor range. It costs money to use it, but for the area the price is fairly reasonable and it is one of the finest indoor facilities in the country no doubt. One nice thing about it is that they accept all rifles except .50BMG...many indoor ranges are either pistol-only or require spcial frangible bullets from rifles.

 

[tjj]

SpeedAKL

Thanks for the info. Now I know.
I'll stop by next year if we make the trip. I want to finish the museum visit anyway.

 

[KarenTOC]

tjj - allow extra time for your first visit to the NRA HQ range. You have to take a safety test. It's a written test for which for which they provide all the answers in the accompanying literature. Expect to spend at least 20 minutes reading and writing. There's a separate 1-time fee for the test. They issue a card which you present at subsequent visits to show you took the test. Make sure you check their hours of operation on their website before going:

http://www.nrahq.org/shootingrange/nrahqrange/

 

[Craig_AR]

When you are there, be sure to visit the gift shop / book store at the entrance. Great selection of items.
My recommendations: the compilations by Les Adams:
The Freedom Primer
The Bill of Rights Primer (with Akhil Amar)
The Second Amendment Primer.

All three books should be standard s issue to every high school student and required reading for every politician and every judge.
So far, I have given six as gifts.

 

[Gungle George]

Been there, great way to spend the day!

Cheers,

Gungle George

 

[AR-15Nutt]

Fairfax...?? i thought it was in their facility at Raton N.M.

 

[tjj]

KarenTOC

Thanks for the info.


AR-15Nutt

No, I've been to Raton before. Awesome, beautiful country there. My GPS said we were in Fairfax, Va. though. Just south of Hwy 66.

 

[loadedround]

I just returned from my Army Reunion in Gathersburg, Md(Washington DC) and scheduled a visit to the NRA buiding and the National Firearms Museum last Wednesday instead of the White House. Touring the Museum was the most enjoyable two hours I have spend for a long time. My only regret is the NRA Museum owns exactly 11,453 more firearms than I do. Guess I'll have to do some serious shopping in the next few years as soon as I hit the Power Ball Lottery. LOL!

 

[JimSupica]

Glad ya'll enjoyed the museum!

Some extra info - NRA National Firearms Museum is indeed at NRA HQ, 11250 Fairfax VA, near Wash. DC. Open every day 9:30 am to 5 pm (open late Sat. til 7 pm), closed only on major holidays.

The great NRA Range has been mentioned, and we are indeed proud of the NFM Gift Shop / Book Store. I can't think of many other places where you can browse so many good gun books. It's open the same hours as the Museum.

Visitors can also eat breakfast or lunch in the NRA Cafe if they desire.

Speed's suggestions were great. There are a few oddities & prototypes in the "Mother of invention" case... (I call it "the Weird and the Wonderful" or "answers to questions no one asked").

The computer kiosks in the museum do have the entire inventory available. They are getting a bit long in the tooth, and we are hoping to be able to upgrade in the near future. One of the exciting things going on at the museum is an upcoming complete website overhaul, with photos & info on ALL guns in the museum available online. Once we get that done, we hope to incorporate it into the Museum's kiosks. Be sure to check www.nationalfirearmsmuseum.org in a few months to see the new website.

We do have a neat upcoming special event -- tentatively on August 27 Col. Oliver North will be at the ribbon cutting for the new Museum store, and a book signing & as the featured speaker for the VGCA meeting. Open to the public.

The special temporary display "Guns West" in the Ruger Gallery will be closing at year's end, so if you have an interest in the actual guns of the old west, cowboy action shooting, or guns used in Hollywood westerns, you might want to try to get by this year if you've been considering visiting.

Thanks to all for the kind comments!

Jim Supica, Director, NRA National Firearms Museum.

 

[HammerBite]

It seems that Jim got a little bit excited and left out part of the address.

11250 Waples Mill Road

 

[rondog]

Hey, if you're in that area anyway, plan some time to run up to Aberdeen, Maryland, to the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum! You won't regret it!

 

[Mike OTDP]

I'm not sure you can get onto APG these days. And it's a LONG way from Washington...about 70 miles.

My advice for someone in the Washington area would be to hit the NFM. Then the National Air & Space Museum annex at Dulles Airport. And the Marine Corps Museum at Quantico. And the entire Smithsonian complex (that's 3-5 DAYS of material).

 

[MatthewVanitas]

My advice for someone in the Washington area would be to hit the NFM. Then the National Air & Space Museum annex at Dulles Airport. And the Marine Corps Museum at Quantico.

Just wanted to second the Marine Corps Museum. Unfortunately it's not Metro-accessible, but if you pick a less-traffic time of day it's only about 40min drive from downtown DC. Really impressive museum, just a few years old.

It has tons of full-size dioramas, and some great walk-through dioramas with "special effects". The Vietnam diorama is entered through the back-ramp of a helo, and has fans blowing hot air. The Korea diorama is refrigerated and has tracer-fire zipping overhead. Lots of firearms, both US and foreign, on display with good historical explanations.

http://www.usmcmuseum.com/index.asp

 

[raveneap]

We went to the NRA museum a year or so ago. Outstanding doesn't begin to describe it, not only for the various guns on display but also for a good look at the history of our great country. Another reason to be a proud member of the NRA.