Twice a year, in April and October, the Knob Creek Shooting Range has the nation's largest machine gun shoot. The next one will by Oct. 5-7. Knob Creek is way back in "them thar Kentucky hills," and you shoot into a side of a mountain for a backstop. Knob Creek is next to West Point, KY, which is a half hour south of Louisville, down several miles of twisting and turning roads.

My wife Cindy and I have driven the three and a half hours from Columbus for the last two machine gun shoots. The last one cost $15 for one day or $25 for the weekend. No press representatives are allowed. Videos and camera passes are available for personal use only for $15.

There was a display of old military vehicles and weapons: jeeps, trucks, U.S. "Mules"ATVs, ambulances, V 100 Commando 4x4 armored car, M5 Stuart tank, flame-throwers, 57mm and 75mm recoilless rifles, 37mm anti-tank gun, and an 81mm mortar. They had a Vietnam firebase outpost set up with tents, sandbags and camo netting, complete with M60s, M16s and an AK-47. There was also a display of World War II U.S. paratrooper's equipment, including folding M1 carbine with bayonet, 1911 Colt.45 pistol, uniform, helmet, knife, jump boots, backpack, canteen, belts and web gear. They also offer helicopter rides for $60 per person in a Hughes 500 "Loach" four-seater.

You could bring your own machine gun to shoot or rent a full automatic gun with a clip of ammo (20-30 rounds, depending on gun) for $25 or a belt-fed machine gun with 30 rounds for $45. The .50 caliber machine gun was more expensive -- $25 for 12 rounds or $50 for 24. The .50 caliber sniper rifle was $25 for four rounds. Also, you could even rent a flame-thrower for $65 or shoot a large muzzle loading cannon (5 pounds of black powder) for the same amount,

The targets on the range were old washing machines, dryers, water heaters, junk cars, giant wooden telephone cable spools, wooden fishing boat and even an old school bus. The cars gas tanks are full at the start of the shoot and you get to see them "brew up" when shoot. Sometimes, they put Dynamite into the vehicles for dramatic explosions.

Other than those listed above, there were a large range of guns you could rent: M3 "Grease Gun",.45 ACP, Thompson.45 ACP, B.A.R. .30-06, M 14A .308, Daewoo USP- 12_12 gauge shot gun, H&K 9mm , Uzi 9mm, AK47 7.62x39mm,.45 cal MAC-10 and British 9mm Sten gun. Belt fed machine guns included the M60, Model 1919.308, M2.50 cal belt fed and German MG42. The oldest gun for rent was a Model #3 U.S. repeating arms Gatling gun in.30-40 Krag from the Spanish-American War.

We also saw a large variety of privately owned full automatic weapons, including: World War I German Maxim machine gun; Lewis gun; Model 1919 Browning belt-fed 8mm, .308 and .30-06 machine guns in both air and water cooled versions; Full automatic Glock pistol and Scorpion machine pistol.

There was a "Jungle Walk" to shoot at a dozen different targets in the bush with an Uzi 9mm or your own submachine gun. The National Submachine target shooting competition is held here, as well as the Old Military Bolt Gun target shooting competition. Vendors in the area had lots of ammo for sale, T-shirts, hats, army clothes and web gear. They had Class 2 weapons (compact, short barreled shot guns and very small pistols, i.e. "pen guns') and Class 3 weapons (full automatic weapons, explosive weapons and surpressed weapons) for sale if you had an approved Federal license. There was even a M79 40mm "Blooker" grenade launcher on sale for $3,000. To get a license, you have to pass an FBI and ATF background check, then get your county sheriff or Federal marshal to sign off on the license. You pay a $200 fee per weapons in Ohio.

The machine gun shoot is a chance for you to hold, feel the weight and heft of and then pull the trigger and experience the thrill of "rock 'n rolling," full auto style. Otherwise, you will probably only see these weapons in a book, film or behind the glass of museum display cases. If you are interested in more information, check out this web site: www.machinegunshoot.com.