You know him best as the tough-talking Gunnery Sgt. Hartman from "Full Metal Jacket." But actor and Marine veteran R. Lee Ermey is has a lot more to him than his foul-mouthed drill instructor persona.

Take, for example, his love of shooting things and blowing stuff up. On his new show "GunnyTime," premiering on Outdoor Channel April 15, Ermey will be in his element, surrounded by military gear, an array of high-powered weapons, and — of course — Marines. Lots of Marines.

For Ermey, 71, this is not a first foray as a television show host; he has previously hosted "Mail Call" and "Lock N' Load" on the History Channel, both shows with an educational edge highlighting his knowledge of weapons systems.

"GunnyTime" will keep the focus on weapons systems in a variety show format, but give Ermey even more leeway to have fun along the way.

A 30-second promotional video for the show features Ermey with a favorite new toy — the six-barreled M134 Minigun — turning a Mercedes sedan into scrap in a blaze of hot metal by shooting it with a six-barreled M134 Minigun.

In the making of the show, "we blew some cars away, some enemy cars," Ermey chuckled.

Some of the 11-episode first season of "GunnyTime" was filmed aboard military installations, and some on ranges and open areas near Los Angeles and out west, Ermey said. He visited School of Infantry-West at Camp Pendleton, California, for two weeks in early March to showcase some foundational high-powered Marine Corps weapons systems, including the 80mm and 61mm-mortar systems, the MK-19 grenade launcher, and claymore mines.

Rank-and-file Pendleton Marines will make cameos on the show, Ermey said.

"We work with all military, but I always start out with the Marine Corps," Ermey said. "First thing I do when I want an M1 Abrams main battle tank is go to the Marine Corps. It's the simple fact that I am a Marine, so of course that's where I start out."

It has gotten harder, Ermey said, to arrange military base visits in order to "play with toys" and film segments of the show. He attributes the new challenges to increased budget tightening and carefully controlled official messaging. But, he said, he still gets a warm reception from the Marine Corps when he reaches out.

"I believe I've proven to the Marine Corps that I can be trusted," he said. "I look at the show as one heck of a good recruiting tool. My objective is to make the Marine Corps look good."

Viewers of "GunnyTime" can also look forward to special guests including former Navy SEAL Craig "Sawman" Sawyer; former Army Green Beret Grady Powell; and Army National Guardsman and 2013 Miss Kansas Theresa Vail.

Despite the macho premise of his show, Ermey said he expects "GunnyTime" to have broad appeal, attracting male and female viewers alike. In the past, his History Channel shows have done well in both demographics, he said.

"It's really fun," he said. "Too many people get too damn serious, don't they?"

"GunnyTime" premieres on Outdoor Channel April 15 at 8 p.m.

Twitter: @HopeSeck

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