AREA 52 #3 - Comments, Suggestions, Ideas

[draconianruler]

I recomend moving the camp sites up a bit. Off the rocks and into the flat playa part of the bowl. Those rocks made my air matress leak. I was waking up every couple hours to fill it back up

[DrunkSkunk]

I recomend moving the camp sites up a bit. Off the rocks and into the flat playa part of the bowl. Those rocks made my air matress leak. I was waking up every couple hours to fill it back up

i've gone camping with air mattresses before and i hate em. this time i brought a cot. i'll never go back to an air mattress again! only thing i need is a bigger tent, i had a 4 man tent and it filled the entire tent. i need to find my 8 man tent, it's burried somewhere in storage.

[DrunkSkunk]

As PackNRat mentioned; his tent (no sunshade over it) - got so hot; it blew up 4 of 6 soda cans; and made his weapons so hot he couldn't touch them.

-M3

yep - it popped the cork on 2 bottles of wine (oh boo hoo, i had to drink 'em) and i left my sig inside the tent had to wear gloves to handle the damn thing. nice and toasty

[tophatjones]

[mcubed4130]

So.... draw something for us.

-M3

[domokun]

See the other thread for pics.

[Toolbox X]

Disclaimer: Any criticism listed is meant to be constructive and used as learning experience to make future trips even better.

1. The Heat
- Sunshades for the firing line are almost a necessity
- EZ-Up Sunshades are SOOOOO much easier and faster to put up compared to the old school style with lots of polls.
- Make sure you stake down your sunshades at both the campsite and firing line
- There was a good breeze on the firing line. There was no breeze along rim where we setup all the tents. Our group stayed a lot cooler sitting under our canopy on the firing line than back at the tents

2. The Full Auto Guns
- I paid $225 to shoot 220 rounds of 5.56 ($175 + another $50 donation at the table). Ammo got REALLY expensive by the time Bill was able to buy it, I understand. But I think it was a big mistake not to tell everyone at least roughly how much ammo they should shoot. I'm not happy that other people shot up more than half the ammo I purchased, and I know there were some people who fired less than 100 rounds.
- Next time everyone needs to be given their share of the ammo they payed for. That would also regulate and spread out the use of the FA's which would give them more time to cool.
- There desperately needs to be a couple of fans to cool down the FA's between shooters.
- All of the non-FA guns should have been moved to another table somewhere else. The semis confused everyone and took up a lot of table space

3. Over-packing
- Man 'o man did I over-pack.
- Before the trip I had ambitious plans to do all kinds of stuff. Once we got there the heat zapped almost all the life out of me.
- Never again will I plan to cook on such a short trip.
- I brought too many ice chests, too many guns and WAY too much ammo.
- Next time I will select only a few guns and be realistic about ammo.

The People
- Guns are cool. OLL's in their full glory are excellent, and full auto is a dream come true for many of us. However, I had 10 times more fun talking and hanging out with everyone than I did shooting.
- I would totally be game for more shooting/camping trips, especially in beautiful California, when and where the weather is gorgeous. I don't need to shoot FA or have a detachable magazine in order to have a good time. Calgunners are awesome wherever they are.

Thank You!
Bill has earned a spot on the Toolbox Christmas Card List for his amazing effort in successfully herding more than 50 cats into the desert, dealing with mountains of unexpected obstacles, tracer fires, and walking away with a poll that shows everyone had an excellent time. My hat is off to you my friend.

[Hunter]

.... I'm not happy that other people shot up more than half the ammo I purchased, and I know there were some people who fired less than 100 rounds. ...

From reading all of the posts you guys made here, it sounds like DedEye needs to break out his checkbook

... I got carried away with the FA weapons and didn't realize that I was using more than my share...

[Toolbox X]

From reading all of the posts you guys made here, it sounds like DedEye needs to break out his checkbook

I doubt it was just him. I don't know the details of the ammo, and I don't care. I'm over it.

I'm glad I got to shoot the M16A1, M4 Commando thing, and the HK93. I wish I could have shot the MP5 and the HK91, but it was not to be.

[USN CHIEF]

I for one did not donate to shoot the MG's because I get to do it in SD all the time with the Military. I was offered the opportunity to shoot the MG's but decided that it would not be fair for those of you that did pay. With that being said, I did observe that some individuals did shoot the MG's more than others but like Toolbox said, it would have been better if the ammo was given in equal parts to those that paid to shoot the MG's. At the end I ended up loading 2 30 mags and took them to the firing line to hand over to slowguy for him to shoot them but then the fire brokeout, I dropped the mags and raced to my truck. When the fire was out and the range went hot I went to look for the mags but they were empty already....
My main reason to make that 1400 miles roundtrip was to chit chat and shoot the poop with you guys and that I did and had a great time.

[CHIGGA73]

i agree with Toolbox X, the time spend shooting was fun, but meeting others and hanging out, seeing new toys etc was great!

If an area in NV isn't found to shoot FA and blow up stuff, I'd still meet up and camp somewhere in Cali and shoot and meet others. If there wasn't that much heat and sun, there would have been more socializing happening. If it was closer and less travel time, there would have been more time to socialize and shoot as well.

[mcubed4130]

As we know... the "concept" of Area52 - is camping with people we all would like to hang out with. NV and FA - is fun... but not required.

But to be true to the past; we could use subtitles... Works for the movies

Area52: The Not So Dry Lake Desert of Full Autos (Part 1,2)
Area52: The Private Island of Tanerite
Area52: The Grand Canyon of Dragon's Breath
Area52: The Forrest of Slugfest

Yes, I've had a couple beers tonight - that I'm feeling obligated to drink - as they came home with me from "Area52: The Not So Dry Lake Desert of Full Autos (Part 2)"

-M3

[DrunkSkunk]

I for one did not donate to shoot the MG's because I get to do it in SD all the time with the Military. I was offered the opportunity to shoot the MG's but decided that it would not be fair for those of you that did pay.
My main reason to make that 1400 miles roundtrip was to chit chat and shoot the poop with you guys and that I did and had a great time.

same here - been certified for everything from the m4 to the mk19 so didn't really feel a need to do so even when i was offered to do so over there.

had a blast just hanging out.

[TK6790]

IMPORTANT

Hey everyone. Great feedback. Keep your suggestions and comments coming. We will look at your comments in the coming months as we get the new planning going. We are looking at the changes to be made with relation to the guns, ammo, etc....



However, now is the time for me to post my own comment about this year's trip.

First, I want to say everyone was great and the trip was fantastic. Got to meet a bunch of great people and great shooters. But there was one MAJOR problem. And I do mean MAJOR. It must be addressed.

I have been getting reports that the desert was not left in a pristine condition. I do not have the specific details as of yet, but news has reached me from people in that area that there is garbage left in the camp AND that the latrines were not cleaned up. it sounds like nobody tossed the bags of POO in the fire.

The BLM is very particular about the condition of the desert. The residents of that area (i.e. Gerlach and surrounding areas) are also very proud of their desert and like to protect it as much as possible. If this situation is not corrected immediately, we may find that desert closed to us permanently. YES, permanently. The BLM has left us alone because each year we left that desert as clean as we found it.

Everyone had fun on the trip. We need some volunteers to go back out there and make sure the desert is clean. Specifically the latrines. I would go myself, but it is 12-14 hours each way from So Cal. For most of you that came from Nor Cal, going out and back is a day trip.

Please PM me asap if you are willing to step up and volunteer to head back out to make sure the mess is cleaned up.

If it is not, we may all find this was the last Area 52 shoot. None of us want that to happen. If we don't fix this situation, it very well may be the last Cal Guns Area 62 shoot.


by the way, residents of that area know it was a Cal Guns group out there this weekend. they know about our message board and can easily find the threads for the weekend shoot. These residents have made it very clear that if the area is not cleaned up, they will take the issue up directly with BLM.

[sloguy]

I would go myself, but it is 12-14 hours each way from So Cal.

i say we each throw a $10 bill in to pay for the gas and travel food for whoever goes back. if everyone kicks in thats 500 some odd bucks to pay for gas and food and maybe a motel room while they are on the road for so long.

id be able to go out and clean up, but money got run really short on the trip. id need travel funds paid. im off work monday thru thursday to time isnt the issue, its gas money and road food.


i think part of the problem was that some people were in such a rush to get out that they were forced to leave friends who needed help packing cause their convoy was leaving. i say in all future trips that no one leaves till everyone is ready to go, and all trash is finished burning or packed up. aside from helping make sure that no trash is left, itll help others be sure that they arent stuck crossing the desert alone with no guide or buddy to help them if they break down.