While I was making my own!

Oldest son, the one who didn't listen to his Vietnam USAF fighter pilot father and joined the USAF in JULY OF 2001 fer cryin' out loud, and is STILL a Tac pilot after FOUR deployments to the Desert, surprised us with a visit home over the weekend.
Brought his girlfriend and guns.

Sooo, since the gun club I belong to has gone nutso against Class III, we took the Thompson to a local indoor range. Along with a Sig X5 226 .40S&W AllAround, Sig Equinox 229/357 Sig, M&P357Sig, M&P Pro 9mm, Springfield Champion Lightweight Operator, S&W SW40F Sigma, and Colt King Cobra.
The girlfriend, whom we shall refer to only as "shapely," had the Thompson high on her list of things to shoot. Our son gave her the intro and took her to the line. A RAPT audience of males gathered behind the glass to watch every time she fired. She emptied 10, 30-rd magazines. Yeah, Tommys are big eaters.
A group of young men was at the far end of the range and they rushed to our end, to watch the Thompson, I'm sure.

They asked about shooting it and I told them they could if they bought their own ammo. It seemed like mere seconds later they tossed 400 rounds of .45ACP on the counter. Heh.

Sooo, we lined up a couple of them, including one with a GoPro growing out of his head. He was ecstatic. Who wouldn't be?
Welll, here's the rest of the story! This was the first time he had EVER been to a range and shot a gun! AND, this was his bachelor party! Probably forgot all about the wedding, I'll bet.

It's fun to make someone's day!
The range operator said we fired about 2,000 rounds. I think he missed a few.
What it looks like when we get the band back together:
M1A M1A '21.jpgM1A selectors.jpgM1A stock.jpgM1A US property.jpg

OK, I know others will ask, so....

TPIWWP of the girlfriend

And yes, I'll take the penalty points now.

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50 Years of DSOTM

Just sent request for pic to our son, S42N8. If he sends one, I'll post. If not, it means he shot me.

You sound like a proud, happy poppa.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Well, I have the pix, which are attached. However, I can't find any way to post video.
If anyone knows, plz tell me.

Pic 1. Ms. L with the 21/28 Navy Overstamp.
NOTE TO "FINGER ON THE TRIGGER VIGILANTS!" (Not "vigilantes.")
a. First, she and our son are experienced shooters.
b. She asked to pose that way.
c. Three people, with her being number 4, checked the chamber.
d. Note the bolt is forward. The Thompson fires from an open bolt. Closed, it CANNOT FIRE!
e. I personally put a red plastic dummy round in the chamber, witnessed by three other people.
So, gimme a break.

Pic 2. Ms. L at the range with the WWII M1A1 just before attracting a large male audience.
L with 21-28 Navy Overstamp resized.jpgThompson M1A1 resized.jpg

Video when I learn how to post them.

HARK, great thread and pics. thanks for your service. while you were "up there" in your air conditioned cockpit, I was one of the AF guys on the ground anticipating your arrival and "special deliveries". LOL
thanks again. lee

Funny thing about that air conditioning.
Had to turn it up full blast on takeoff and keep it there until we needed heat at 25K or so. Noisy. I still remember exactly how the air burbled through the ducts as power was reduced. Had to get it right before hooking up with a tanker 'cause both hands were rather busy. Then, troll around for bullets for a bit, then home, remembering to turn the canopy heat FULL UP or it would fog over on short final just as we'd pull the throttles to idle for touchdown. Thrilling.
F-4C -3 resized.jpg
Allegedly me in a 4C on my first AC ride.

Wow!! What a looker!! Yeah, the Thompson too.

I was kidding about the pictures, but your son has good taste. Like the F-4 pix too. A wee bit before my time, but took many a veteran back to "their" (fill in the blank) aircraft at AMARC. Good stuff!

P.S. Is that a can of Red Bull in photo#2? The range I shoot at doesn't allow such, but I'd think shooting a Tommy would be stimulating enough. . Guess we'll need a "Red Bull" vigilant category too

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50 Years of DSOTM

I'm understanding a lot more about Clyde Barrow thanks to this thread.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

If she shoots that Thompson with that tank top on, she can expect to "catch" quite a few of the empties.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames