Oklahoma machine gun shoot draws thousands

Gun shots and explosions fill the firing range at the Oklahoma Full Auto Shoot and Trade Show in Wyandotte, Ok. on June 21. Jim Tuttle

By Alex Lancial and Jim Tuttle

One of the largest of its kind, the Oklahoma Full Auto Shoot and Trade Show last month drew several thousand people to an isolated property outside the tiny town of Wyandotte, Oklahoma to fire countless rounds of ammunition from machine guns.

“We’re here for a weekend of fun and excitement; renting and shooting and blowing things up on a hillside here in Oklahoma,” said Mike Friend, founder of the event.

More than 90 licensed vendors were there with weapons representing more than 100 years of military technology, including M134 mini-guns capable of firing three thousand rounds per minute. People who attended were allowed to shoot these exotic weapons for the cost of rental and ammunition.

Their targets included a range full of old appliances, televisions, boats and a school bus packed with explosives. One of the weekend’s highlights was called “kill the car,” in which a sniper’s bullet set a car rolling downhill and dozens of people opened fire until the vehicle was consumed by a huge fireball.

Licensed firearms dealer Kendall Beaver fires a fully automatic M60 rifle during the Oklahoma Full Auto Shoot and Trade Show in Wyandotte, Ok. on June 21. Jim Tuttle

“It’s a very American thing, and I think that’s why I was drawn to it,” said Jerry Lovik, owner of Jerry’s Machine Guns in Plymouth, Louisiana. “You can tell by the crowd here today that everyone’s having a good time.”

The cost varied depending on the type of weapon and ammunition and the number of rounds being fired. For example, it cost $75 to shoot 100 rounds on the mini-gun, while one 75mm artillery shell cost $250. More common guns like the M-16 or the AK-47 typically cost between $30 and $50 to shoot a magazine.

Friend said the rare thrill of shooting fully automatic attracts people to the event.

“They go back to their semi-auto and it’s just not really enough,” he said. “They really like the adrenaline rush of the machine gun.”

Alex Lancial is an Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation News21 Fellow.