Explore Lake Martin

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:

• •MP5SD (Navy SEAL and Special Forces standard)
• •Tommy Gun (the famous Bonnie and Clyde weapon)
• •M60 (Vietnam-era troop carrier gun)
• •Ma Deuce (Browning .50 caliber M2HB—the grand finale)
• •British Bren
• •Israeli Uzi
• •MP44 (rare WWII German rifle)
• •PDW (breakaway design used by Secret Service)

"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:

• •Main shooting bays with roofed covering (weather protection)
• •Climate controlled (heated and air-conditioned—not standard at most ranges)
• •Dedicated pistol and rifle bay
• •Separate long-range building with specialized targets for sighting in rifles (especially useful for hunters)
• •Heavy-duty platforms to stabilize large firearms so shooters don't have to hold the weight

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:

• •Technical specifications
• •Historical context (military use, famous users, cultural impact)
• •Why certain gun laws exist today (Tommy Gun connection to Prohibition-era crime)
• •The transition and innovation between firearm generations

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.

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:

• •Corporate outings and team events
• •Bachelor and bachelorette parties
• •Birthday celebrations
• •Private group events

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:

• •Hands-on experience with firearms most civilians never get to touch
• •Understanding of why these weapons matter historically
• •Confidence from professional instruction
• •Memories that stick.