Many many times. I was a gunner in the Navy, I trained personnel in the use of small arms primarily the M1911A1 45 caliber Springfield Handgun by Browning. I also taught them to shoot a BAR 30caliber Browning automatic rifle.I also carried and shot Colt Python 357 magnum as a Police officer, and later a S&W; 915 9mm Pistol. I have fired a 45 caliber Thompson sub machine gun with a drum, and various other weapons as well as gun mounts
It was New jersey. I was senior operations specialist on the staff and managed the target list for the bekka ops. We were in the Ticonderoga (CG 47) and kept the NJ in close company as policy forbad the Admiral from flying his flag in the BB. We could go aboard for conferences and to observe operations and a fellow chief set it up so I could "test and inspect the system" and report to the Admiral that in was in good order:)
Well that is fabulous, and what a memory. Thanks for sharing your story. Would love to have seen that baby in recoil. I was a SA in early 64 and got assigned to a gun crew on a Destroyer Cowell DD547 and when we did some target shots I fell in love with the whole process as the ship did a studder stop when the mount fired, that was went into gunnery and started hitting the books.
(Obviously ... I've got a familiarity with weapons)
Without guns, how will we shoot the "Liberals"?
Thompson sub machine gun with a drum, and various other weapons as well as gun mounts
put your finger on her trigger and the earth moves:))