Range Report - Ares Firearms Training

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I was invited to attend an NFA shoot at Ares Firearms training in Leesburg, FL. The shoot was sponsored by the GunStock & Barrel store in Inverness. I was able to meet and greet a number of my fellow "Florida Shooters network" forum mates. A rather nice bunch of folks!

For a $30.00 admission, you can shoot your own weapons, semi's, shoties, etc., or you are welcome to shoot the weapons on display there by the sponsors, as long as you feed 'em your own ammo. This includes, primarily, their NFA collection (a few M16s, an AK-47 full auto, a MAC10 equivalent (9mm) and a MAC11 converted to .22 The range is a 65 yard with a slot extending to 300 yards. There are several steel and other targets set up, or you can bring your own target. They call the range cold several times so that you can change targets, etc. They had a BBQ pit there for lunch. Your admission ticket also included a raffle entry.

I did a little more work with my LE6920 and, without any mods (still haven't reseated the scope), I was hitting the steel targets regularly at 65 yards. I also got to break in my Mossberg 930 "JM Pro" shottie. The "shooting" highlight of the day was shooting my first NFA item - a MAC-10 9mm full auto. I fed it 100 rounds. It went by quickly, but I learned I need to adopt a new stance when shooting it. Although the kick was minimal for single shots or short bursts, a full "empty the mag" burst will push you back a little. Need to lean more into it. But very much fun! I just need a speed loader for those 50 rnd mags.

After lunch and the afternoon "hot" session, I was done shooting for the day. I was packing up to go home, and the main sponsor asked if I could wait a little longer, as they'd do the raffle drawing in an hour. OK, I'll wait, but I usually don't win anything.

There were a few grab bag prizes, where you picked a bag out of their collection and won what was in it (maybe a T-shrirt or something like that). There were 4 big prizes including a stripped lower, and the grand prize was a GSG 1911 .22 pistol. That would be drawn last. So I'm listening to all these little grab bag prizes being given away first. Ah, I never win anything. And then the red dot laser was given away. Nothing,... Aggghhh. Then the lower.... Well, at least my port neighbor got to win that... He's a really nice guy. I may invite him to join us, but we'll see.

So, now the grand prize - A GSG 1911 .22 pistol. Yeah, fat chance I'll win that... so I'l get into my car and...... Wait WHAT? Did you say #2003???

Wouldn't you know.... I happened to win the grand prize! WOW!



This, without the Can.... but mine has the barrel connector for a can.


All in all, a really nice afternoon! If anyone in FL wants to go to the next one, I'll pass on the info.