FULL-AUTO  ·  BY APPOINTMENT  ·  LONDONDERRY, NH

Machine Gun Experience

Shoot automatic firearms under the direct supervision of a certified instructor. No firearms license required. No prior experience required. Choose from the HK MP5, MP7, M249 SAW, AK-47, HK416D, P90, and more — 60 minutes from Boston, an easy drive from anywhere in New England.

Format
Live Fire
License Needed
None
Experience Needed
None
Minimum Age
18 (14+ w/ parent)
i
The closest legal full-auto experience to Boston. Massachusetts residents regularly drive up for this — Londonderry is about 45 minutes from our Woburn shop, 60 minutes from downtown Boston. You don't need a MA license, a NH license, or any license at all. Vantage Defense is a federally licensed dealer with the appropriate SOT authorization to operate NFA-registered fully automatic firearms for instructor-supervised shooting. Slots are limited — book ahead.

Real Guns. Real Recoil. Real Fun.

This is not a shooting simulator, a paintball course, or a laser-tag room. You are putting live rounds downrange through genuine NFA-registered fully automatic firearms — the same platforms carried by U.S. military special operators, European counter-terrorism units, and SWAT teams around the world.

Most of our guests have never fired a full-auto firearm before. That's by design: we built this experience to be approachable for first-timers while still being a genuine thrill for enthusiasts who've been shooting for decades.

When you arrive: photo ID, waiver, electronic ear pro and safety glasses, then a hands-on safety brief with inert training firearms before a single live round. Your instructor loads every magazine and belt, calls the line safe between transitions, and stands directly behind you while you fire. You walk out with the targets, the brass, and the photos.

Instructor-led machine gun experience at Vantage Defense in Londonderry, NH
Instructor-Led, Every Shot

The Natural Home For This Experience.

New Hampshire is the natural home for the full-auto experience in New England. NH firearms law is substantially more permissive than Massachusetts' at the state level, which is what makes it practical for a properly licensed dealer to maintain and operate a full inventory of NFA-registered machine guns for instructor-supervised shooting.

Every firearm on our menu is registered with the ATF, maintained by our armorers, and never leaves our instructor's direct supervision. You're not taking possession of the firearm — you're shooting it under our direct control on our licensed premises. That's what keeps the experience legal in any state you're visiting from, and that's why you don't need a license of any kind to participate.

For our Massachusetts guests: you're closer to us than you think. Most of Greater Boston is within a 45-minute drive of the Londonderry range.

What this means for you:

  • Reservations mean reservations. Your time is your time — no walk-ins in your queue.
  • One-on-one instruction. A dedicated instructor, not a high-volume conveyor belt.
  • A serious arsenal. Premium European and American platforms — not the minimum viable product.

Approximate drive time to the Londonderry range:

From Boston
~60 Min
Via I-93 N
From Woburn, MA
~45 Min
Our other shop — straight up I-93
From Manchester, NH
~15 Min
Just south of MHT airport
From Nashua, NH
~20 Min
Across the Merrimack Valley
From Portsmouth, NH
~50 Min
Via I-95 & Route 101
From Providence, RI
~90 Min
Easy day trip with lunch

The Full-Auto Menu

Below is the current lineup of fully automatic firearms available for our machine gun experience. Individual firearm availability may vary day-to-day based on maintenance schedules and armorer rotation — we'll confirm the exact menu when you book.

The Vantage Defense machine gun arsenal — 20+ NFA-registered fully automatic firearms
The Full Lineup — On The Table
Assault Rifles & Carbines
USA  ·  Colt
M16
5.56×45 NATO

The service rifle that carried American soldiers from Vietnam to Iraq. Full-size, full-auto, full history lesson on every mag.

USA  ·  Colt
M4
5.56×45 NATO

The modern U.S. military carbine. Shorter than the M16, more controllable on full-auto, and what most of today's infantry actually carries.

USA  ·  Daniel Defense / Colt
MK18
5.56×45 NATO

The 10.3-inch SBR favored by U.S. Naval Special Warfare. Compact, violent, and intensely fun at close range.

Germany  ·  Heckler & Koch
HK416D
5.56×45 NATO

Short-stroke piston-driven rifle carried by U.S. tier-one units and most NATO special operations forces. Legendary for a reason.

Germany  ·  Heckler & Koch
HK 417
7.62×51 NATO

The 416's big brother. Battle rifle punch in a modern piston-driven package — 7.62 on full-auto is an experience all its own.

Germany  ·  Heckler & Koch
HK G36
5.56×45 NATO

The standard rifle of the Bundeswehr and German police for two decades. Smooth, controllable, unmistakably European.

USA  ·  SIG Sauer
MCX Rattler
5.56x45 NATO, Full-Auto

A 5.5-inch-barreled PDW. Designed for suppressed close-quarters work and shorter than most pistols. AGGRESSIVE

USA  ·  Q LLC
Honey Badger
300 BLK

The famously quiet, subsonic-optimized SBR. Full-auto .300 Blackout is surprisingly soft on the shoulder and violently satisfying.

Russia  ·  Kalashnikov
AK-47
7.62×39

The most iconic rifle in human history. Heavy in the hand, heavy on the recoil, and utterly unforgettable on full-auto.

Russia  ·  Kalashnikov
AK-74
5.45×39

The Soviet answer to 5.56. Lighter recoil than the AK-47, distinctly different sound signature, and a favorite of enthusiasts.

Russia  ·  Kalashnikov
AK-74U “Krinkov”
5.45×39

The short-barreled Kalashnikov that caught the West's attention during the Soviet-Afghan war. Tiny, loud, and absurdly controllable.

Submachine Guns & PDWs
Germany  ·  Heckler & Koch
HK MP5 (SD)
9×19 Parabellum

The most iconic submachine gun on Earth. If you've seen an action movie since 1980, you've seen the MP5. Impeccably smooth on full-auto.

Germany  ·  Heckler & Koch
HK MP7
4.6×30mm HK

The modern PDW of choice for elite units worldwide, including DEVGRU. Almost zero recoil, 950 rounds per minute, tiny in the hand.

Switzerland  ·  B&T
B&T MP9
9×19 Parabellum

The Swiss submachine gun used by Austrian EKO Cobra and multiple European protection units. Top-folding, ultra-compact, absurdly fun.

Belgium  ·  FN Herstal
FN P90
5.7×28mm

The bullpup PDW with the 50-round top-mounted magazine. If there was a single gun the internet was excited to shoot, it's this one.

Belt-Fed & Light Machine Guns
USA  ·  FN Herstal
M249 SAW
5.56×45 NATO, Belt-Fed

The Squad Automatic Weapon. Belt-fed 5.56 from a 200-round nutsack, 800 rounds per minute, and the reason grunts love their lives.

USA  ·  FN Herstal
M240 Bravo
7.62×51 NATO, Belt-Fed

The medium machine gun of the U.S. military. Belt-fed 7.62, roughly 25 lbs of steel and linkage, and the closest most civilians ever get to a crew-served weapon.

Curated To You. Every Time.

No set menus. No cookie-cutter packages. Every machine gun experience at Vantage Defense is built around the shooter — pick the firearms you want, the round counts that suit your group, the platforms you've always wanted to put your hands on.

Lock in your date with a deposit. Within 24 hours, we'll email you a personalized PDF menu of every fully-automatic firearm currently available in the armory — complete with per-firearm pricing and recommended round counts. Build your loadout, send it back, and we'll prep your session exactly to spec.

01

Reserve & Deposit

Book your slot through the widget below and place a deposit to hold the date. Your time is locked in — no walk-ins ahead of you, no waiting around when you arrive.

02

Receive Your Custom PDF Menu

Within 24 hours of your deposit, we email you a personalized PDF of every fully-automatic firearm currently in our armory — the HK MP5, MP7, M249 SAW, AK-47, HK416D, P90, M240 Bravo, and the rest of the lineup above. Each platform is listed with per-firearm pricing and recommended round counts, so you can build to your taste and your budget.

03

Build Your Loadout

Pick the firearms you want. Two of them, six of them, every one of them — your call. Want all three Kalashnikovs and nothing else? Both belt-feds back-to-back? The full European SMG lineup? Send your selection back and we'll confirm total pricing, round count, and any questions before you arrive.

04

We Prep — You Show Up

Your firearms, ammunition, targets, eye and electronic ear protection, and dedicated instructor are all staged and ready before you walk in the door. No surprises, no audibles — exactly the loadout you ordered.

Pricing & Inclusions

All-Inclusive. Always.

Most experiences land between $149 and $699 per shooter depending on firearm selection and round count. Every booking includes all firearms, all ammunition, targets, eye and electronic ear protection, and one-on-one instruction with a certified range safety officer. Group rates apply for four or more shooters; private buyouts available for larger parties.

Who Can Participate?

This experience is designed for adults of any background and ability level. You do not need any shooting experience — most of our guests have never fired a firearm before. You don't need a MA LTC, NH license, or any other permit. You just need to meet a few basic requirements that keep the line safe.

You're good to go if you…

  • Are 18 years or older (14–17 with a parent/legal guardian present and signed consent)
  • Have a valid government-issued photo ID
  • Are not under the influence of alcohol or any impairing substance on the day of your booking
  • Are a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or legal visitor
  • Are not currently prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law

You're not a fit if…

  • You are currently intoxicated, high, or otherwise impaired
  • You are currently subject to an active restraining order
  • You have been convicted of a felony involving violence or a weapon
  • You are a non-immigrant alien without a valid hunting license or other statutory exception
  • You are under a court order that prohibits firearms possession
Liability Waiver Required All shooters sign a standard range liability waiver before entering the line. You'll receive the waiver as part of your booking confirmation — read it, and show up with it signed if you can (we can also sign you in on arrival). Group members each sign their own.

What To Expect On The Day

Duration
60–120 Min
Depends on loadout — larger packages run longer
Location
Londonderry, NH
I-93 accessible — 45 min from Woburn, 60 from Boston
What To Bring
Photo ID
Closed-toe shoes, crew-neck shirt, hat recommended
What NOT To Bring
Your Guns
Personal firearms & ammunition are not permitted for this experience
Included
Everything
Firearms, ammunition, targets, eye & electronic ear protection, instruction
Photos & Video
Encouraged
Bring your phone or GoPro — tag us, we'll repost
Group Size
1–8 Shooters
Private buyouts available for larger parties
Gift Certificates
Available
Any amount, no expiration — our top seller at holidays

Lock In Your Slot

Reserve your slot below and place a deposit. We'll email your personalized firearm menu within 24 hours so you can build your loadout. Group buyouts and gift certificates — message us directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost?
Most experiences land between $149 and $699 per shooter, depending on firearm selection and round count. After your deposit, you'll receive a personalized PDF menu listing every firearm currently available with per-firearm pricing — you build your loadout to your taste and your budget. Pricing is all-inclusive: firearms, ammunition, targets, eye and electronic ear protection, and one-on-one instruction. Group rates apply for four or more shooters.
How long does the experience take?
Plan on 60 to 90 minutes from check-in to walk-out for most loadouts. Larger custom loadouts and group bookings can run up to 2 hours. Actual trigger time is shorter than that — the rest is safety briefing, firearm familiarization, loading and reloading, and photos. Nobody leaves feeling rushed.
Can I book this as a group — for a birthday, bachelor party, or company outing?
Absolutely. Groups are a significant portion of our machine gun experience bookings. Group bookings of four or more shooters receive priority scheduling. Contact us directly for bachelor parties, milestone birthdays, corporate team-building, or private after-hours buyouts and we'll build something tailored to your group.
Do you offer gift certificates?
Yes. Gift certificates for the machine gun experience are available in any dollar amount and are our most popular gift item around birthdays, Father's Day, and the holidays. Gift certificates don't expire and can be redeemed against any custom build. Text or call us and we'll email or mail a physical certificate the same day.
Is it safe?
Yes. Every shooter has a dedicated, certified range safety officer standing directly behind them the entire time. Every firearm is loaded by the instructor, cleared by the instructor between platforms, and handed to you in a known-safe condition. Eye protection and electronic ear protection are included and required. We've run this experience for first-timers, kids-with-parents, and veteran shooters alike — the protocols are the same for everyone, and they work.
What's the difference between this and your LTC course?
The LTC course is a Massachusetts State Police approved classroom course held at our Woburn, MA shop that qualifies you to apply for a Massachusetts firearms license. It's educational, classroom-based, and there's no live fire. The machine gun experience is a live-fire experience held at our Londonderry, NH range — no license required on your end, no classroom component, just real firearms on a real range. Many guests do both; just note they're at different locations.
What if a firearm I selected isn't available the day I come in?
Every firearm in our collection receives regular maintenance and there are occasional days when a specific platform is out of service. If that happens on your booking day, we'll offer you a comparable substitute (e.g., HK416D in place of the M4) and get your explicit approval before proceeding. If the substitute doesn't work for you, we'll reschedule without penalty.
Legal Disclaimer This page is provided for informational and marketing purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. All fully automatic firearms used in this experience are properly registered under the National Firearms Act (NFA) and handled in accordance with federal law (26 U.S.C. Chapter 53), state law, and all applicable regulations. Shooters never take possession of any firearm outside of active instructor-supervised shooting on premises. All shooters are required to complete a liability waiver, meet age and eligibility requirements, and comply with range safety protocols at all times. Vantage Defense reserves the right to refuse service to any individual at its sole discretion. Firearm availability is subject to change based on maintenance, inventory, and operational considerations; substitutions are made only with shooter approval. Any questions about licensing, eligibility, or the legal framework of this experience can be directed to our staff at info@vantagedefense.com.
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