Have you ever fantasized about firing a Thompson SMG? How about a US Garand rifle where you experience the signature ‘ping’ as the empty clip ejects? Or what about the Sten gun – loved and sometimes hated by British troops and Resistance groups all over Europe? If any of this is on your personal ‘Bucket list’ then Guns over Normandy has the two day break made just for you! ABOUT US
Based in Norman
dy (our title sort of gives it away) we are a British born couple who run this unique experience of live firing historic weapons. We are in close proximity to the UK with ease of access by either ferry or train from the UK, Ireland and Western Europe. WHAT YOU GET
Our two day events provide the following:
Two nights stay at the Manor with all meals and drinks
One day at the nearby club range – firing the Bren gun, Garand rifle, Thompson SMG, Sten gun, Garand rifle and the 1911 pistol. Also available on request are the SMLE 303 and German Ma**er. This is followed by a half a day on the Manor’s range firing black powder weapons – including the cannon. ARRIVAL
Guests usually arrive early evening, get settled into their rooms and then come down and blow off some of the travel dust with a glass or two of something or other by the blazing log fire. Ben will show you the armoury with its display of WWII memorabilia and weapons and before dinner we ‘meet the weapons’. Here you will get to know the weapons before we go to the range the next day and we also run you through how to load the magazines, strip them etc. All weapons have their own idiosyncrasies and we’ll go through each one that evening. After aperitifs we have dinner, with wine and in fairness the conversation tends usually to be gun/history related and – so to bed. Day two
Breakfast is at 08.30 and consists of coffee/tea/hot chocolate with, fresh from our local bakery that morning, croissant, pain chocolate, juice baguettes etc. After breakfast – the Briefing. Here we discuss range matters – safety being a high priority and you will be issued with your ear defenders. To the range
A short drive brings us to the range we’ll set up the targets and with headsets on – the fun begins. We decide who’s going first and then each guest (everyone has their own target) takes a turn with the selected weapon – the other guests get to watch as the shots are fired before they take their turn at their firing point. We break for a lunch (coffee/tea and sandwiches) at the range before starting the afternoons firing. By 4 pm we have completed the shoot and it’s home for wine o’clock, dinner and that log fire! Day three
Breakfast is followed by a briefing on the niceties of shooting black powder. Naturally something of a different experience to the previous day. Flintlock and cap and ball weapons need a totally diverse approach to the modern weapons – and can take some getting used to. But the end result is usually large smiles – and oddly a lot of laughter! Lunch is taken at the Manor and guests check out after that for their return home – taking with them their targets and one – with his or her ‘Winner’ certificate for best overall shot.
