Knob Creek Gun Range

Knob Creek Gun Range (also referred to as Knob Creek Range or simply Knob Creek) is an outdoor shooting range located in Bullitt County, Kentucky, United States, near the community of West Point, Kentucky. [The range is served by the West Point post office, which lies in Hardin County, but the range itself lies in Bullitt County.] The range is a former military-munitions test range. As well as being open all year around, the gun range also hosts a biannual gun show in April and October, which is billed as the "World's Largest Machine Gun Shoot and Military Gun Show".cite web |author=Knob Creek Gun Range |url=http://www.machinegunshoot.com/ |title=Home page] The range also hosts a number of shotgun, pistol, assault rifle, old military bolt-action and "subgun" competitions in April.cite web |author=Knob Creek Gun Range |url=http://www.machinegunshoot.com/regforms.htm |title=Registration Forms]

Machine gun shoot

Held in April and October, "The World's Largest Machine Gun Shoot and Military Gun Show" is an event that draws machine gun dealers, collectors and enthusiasts from all over the country.cite web |author=Knob Creek Gun Range |url=http://www.machinegunshoot.com/shootinfo.htm |title=Machine Gun Shoot Information page] The Machine Gun Shoot itself consists of several rounds of firing at a wide variety of appliances, vehicles and pyramids of tires. Participants also have the opportunity to shoot at barrels of fuel with pyrotechnic charges attached, which explode when struck by bullets. The objective for these shooters is to destroy everything down range. The presence of many rare and powerful fully automatic weapons also draws many visitors, with firearms ranging from submachine guns to beastly .50 BMG heavy machine guns and M134 Miniguns.

The main event of the Machine Gun Shoot is the "Night shoot" where, after dark, gasoline-filled metal drums and explosives are set up in and around the targets, and tracer ammunition is used.

Although reserving a lane for the machine gun shoot can be difficult, lane holders usually rent the use of their weapons to spectators for a nominal fee to cover the cost of ammunition and wear and tear on the guns themselves.

Firearms dealing

The Military Gun Show is also a place for dealers to buy, sell and trade Class III firearms. Quote their website:

"The Military Gun Show has drawn dealers from all over the country to buy, sell, and trade Class III Firearms. The show is set up in a large lighted pole barn adjacent to the firing line and Clubhouse. Security is on patrol at all times. Knob Creek cordially invites you to come and support your second amendment "the right to keep and bear arms."

Television

On December 22 2005, the Knob Creek Gun Range was featured on R. Lee Ermey's television show "Mail Call" on the The History Channel (in episode number 91). [cite web|accessdate=2007-03-10
url=http://www.tv.com/mail-call/knob-creek-gun-range/episode/595689/summary.html
title=Mail Call:Knob Creek Gun Range
publisher=TV.com]

The biannual show has been featured on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.Fact|date=March 2007

Current TV did a "pod" (a segment) on it. [cite web|accessdate=2007-12-03
url=http://current.com/items/87302871_shooting_machine_guns
title=Shooting Machine Guns
publisher=current.tv]

Notes and references

External links

* cite web|url=http://www.knobcreekrange.com
title=Knob Creek Gun Range website
accessdate=2007-03-07

*cite web|url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110004165 |accessdate=2007-03-10
title=Trigger Happy - Family fun at the machine-gun range
author=Mark Yost
date=October 15, 2003
work=Opinion Journal
publisher=The Wall Street Journal