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Lake Martin Machine Gun, established in 2016 by David and Jodie McGirt, operates as a membership shooting range specializing in letting visitors fire actual machine guns—firearms most people only see in movies or behind museum glass. The draw here is simple: they have legally registered, highly regu...
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Lake Martin Machine Gun, established in 2016 by David and Jodie McGirt, operates as a membership shooting range specializing in letting visitors fire actual machine guns—firearms most people only see in movies or behind museum glass.
The draw here is simple: they have legally registered, highly regulated machine guns available to the public, and they've built an operation around making it safe, educational, and genuinely fun.
The collection includes:
"Machine guns are highly regulated in the United States, with only a limited amount available to the public. Many of these firearms normally would only be available to be viewed from behind a glass case or on a movie screen." — David McGirt
The Lake Martin Machine Gun range is set up for serious shooting:
The long-range facility requires sign-in/sign-out and shooter verification with staff before access.
David McGirt handles firearms education, walking visitors through the evolution and historical use of each gun before they shoot. He covers:
This isn't just "here's a gun, shoot it." Visitors understand what they're holding and why it matters.
Staff handles all ammunition loading, firearm setup, and positioning. Here's the process:
1. Briefing on what to expect 2. History lesson on the firearms you'll shoot 3. One warm-up round (single shot to get the feel) 4. Full auto fire once you're comfortable 5. Staff beside you the entire time for coaching and safety
Beginners and experienced shooters both get personal instruction on stance, hand placement, scope use, and trigger control.
Perfect for: First-timers, couples' dates, bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate team building, birthday celebrations, family outings. The range welcomes all experience levels.
Lake Martin Machine Gun operates on a membership model with two core rules:
"Be Safe and Be Nice. If you can do those two things, you're always going to be welcome here." — David McGirt
The facility also rents for:
Located in Eclectic, Alabama, near Lake Martin. The facility is marked by a large sign visible from the road and sits back on a gravel driveway through wooded property.
Nearby references: Between Harbor Docks restaurant and Stillwater area.
Visitors describe the experience as exhilarating, unforgettable, and worth the trip. The combination of firing actual military-grade weapons with trained staff, learning the history behind them, and doing it in a professionally maintained, climate-controlled facility is rare. You walk out with:
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