Vol. 15 No. 4 Fall 2012
NSSF’s Magazine for Shooting Facilities
Shoot For Senior Moments Clean up on Discarded Ammo SM
The Range Report Fall 2012
Help Voting Shooters Get Educated 1
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www.wheretoshoot.org
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The Range Report Fall 2012
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Vol. 15 No. 4 Fall 2012
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Features
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Departments
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Lessons Learned by a Range Developer The school of hard knocks has some tough teachers.
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The older set represents an attractive potential customer segment.
Environmental Aids A combination of planning and products helps get desired results. By Carolee Anita Boyles
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Shoot for Senior Moments
By Barbara Baird
Clean Up on Discarded Ammo Recycling opportunities help the environment and can fatten the bottom line. By Carolee Anita Boyles
Exercise influence and responsibility. By Glenn Sapir
By Andy Massimilian
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Letter from the Editor
Sighting In Scoping out news for the shooting range community By Glenn Sapir
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Q&A Maximize the SHOT Show experience. By John Monson and Dennis Rohman
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The Undercover Shooter
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Home on the Range
Handgunning in the Big ‘D’
Observations at Five Star shooting ranges By Zach Snow
On the cover:
© 2012 National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Range Report , SHOT Show® and all other trade names, trademarks and service marks of the National Shooting Sports Foundation appearing in this publication are the sole property of the Foundation and may not be used without the Foundation’s prior express written permission. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. SM
“Shoot for Senior Moments,” beginning on page 20, not only tells you why you should be attracting seniors to the range, but also how to get it done. Photo by Barbara Baird
The Range Report Fall 2012
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Letter from the Editor By Glenn Sapir
Exercise Influence and Responsibility
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s a shooting facility, you are an attraction to a lot of people. Those people, despite all of their differences, share one common interest: the desire to exercise their Second Amendment right. As a result, you can presume that Second Amendment issues are likely one of their considerations during an election year. Whether you are a small gun club or a large commercial operation, you are a voice to the sportsmen and women who use your facility. This year, and at this time of year especially, your voice should be delivering an important message: Become educated about the candidates and issues and, then, vote intelligently. Since the scent of a political race first hit the air, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry—and the publisher of this magazine—has been delivering its message: Register to vote, 4
become educated on the candidates, encourage friends, families and other acquaintances to do the same and then vote. To help people become more acquainted with the candidates, the issues and the candidates’ stand on those issues, NSSF set up a special website—www.nssf.org/gunvote. What a resource it is!
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The Range Report Fall 2012
Here web visitors can get linked to registering to vote, to finding their polling place and getting connected to a variety of information that can help them decide for whom they wish to vote. They will find links to elections in their area and to published articles on the presidential race, as well as on races in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and for state governorships. They’ll see the results of respected polls, and they can click on entries in the NSSF blog. News items related to election choices are also available here. This is a website that you must check out, if you haven’t, and be sure to encourage club members and customers to do the same. Not to encourage these people to commit to voting and become educated on the candidates and the issues before they cast their ballot is a wasted opportunity and an unfulfilled responsibility on your part. An ad says that a mind is too important to waste. So is a vote! The participation level of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot is, sadly, routinely low. About 131 million Americans voted in the 2008 presidential election, marking the highest percentage turnout of eligible voters since the 1968 national election. The numbers and records may sound impressive, but it also means that only some 64 percent of eligible voters exercised their right. Almost 75 million eligible citizens did not The Range Report Fall 2012
bother to vote. However, on the bright side, hunters, shooters, anglers and other sportsmen do vote in greater numbers than the general voting-eligible population. Nearly one-third of all voters are sportsmen, and 80 percent of them are likely to vote in a presidential election year. Furthermore, sportsmen make up about 20 percent of the population in key “swing states,” such as Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania. Sportsmen are one of the most influential voting blocks in the country. The sportsmen’s vote counts! Theodore Roosevelt made an insightful comment along the lines of a citizen doing all he or she could to become a responsible voter: “A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.” The famous British statesman Winston Churchill once said, hopefully facetiously, “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” NSSF has taken on the challenge to help eligible voters become marksmen, that is develop character by registering, becoming educated and casting their vote intelligently and, thus, raising them well above the level of Churchill’s “average voter.” NSSF has accepted the challenge. We hope you will, too. R
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The Range Report, published four times per year by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, is dedicated to serving the needs and to helping meet the challenges of today’s shooting facilities. The Range Report encourages letters, comments, suggestions, questions and tips. Material to be returned should be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The Range Report does not assume responsibility for the loss of unsolicited graphic or written material.
Correspondence should be sent to: The Range Report c/o NSSF 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470-2359 Fax: 203-426-1245 E-mail: rangereport@nssf.org We reserve the right to edit for clarity and space. Bill Dunn Managing Director, Marketing Communications Glenn Sapir Director, Editorial Services Ann Siladi Administrative Assistant (advertising inquiries) Deb Moran Director, Creative Services
NSSF RANGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Bill Kempffer, chairman of NSSF Range Advisory Committee Deep River Sporting Clays, Inc. Sanford, N.C. bkempffer@deepriver.net Don Turner, president Don Turner Consultant, LLC North Las Vegas, Nev. dmturner@cox.net Robin Ball, owner Sharp Shooting Indoor Range and Gun Shop Spokane, Wash. Robin@sharpshooting.net Jay Cook, shooting ranges branch chief Arizona Game & Fish Department Phoenix, Ariz. jcook@azgfd.gov
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Glenn Duncan, owner Duncan’s Outdoor Shop, Inc. Bay City, Mich. glenn.duncan@chartermi.net Jon Green, director of education and training Gun Owners Action League (GOAL) Northborough, Mass. jongreen@goal.org Holden Kriss, director Indian River County Public Shooting Range Sebastian, Fla. kriss3051@bellsouth.net Brandy Liss, HR director & marketing coordinator The Arms Room League City, Texas brandy@thearmsroomtx.com John Monson, president Bill’s Gun Shop & Range Robbinsdale & Circle Pines, Minn. jmonson@billsgs.com
Phil Murray, national sales manager White Flyer Houston, Texas Murray826@aol.com David O’Meara, vice president Meggitt Training Systems Suwanee, Ga. david.omeara@meggitt.com Stan Pate, president Oregon State Shooting Association Albany, Ore. onekmeters@msn.com Doug VanderWoude, range program manager AcuSport Corporation Bellefontaine, Ohio dvanderwoude@AcuSport.com
The Range Report Fall 2012
If you’re not using KMA as your target retrieval system, you’ll need a backup. How about Rex?
KMA Overhead Target Retrieval System. Nothing is more reliable! From the moment Savage introduced the KMA Overhead Target Retrieval System, shooting ranges have been converting to the most advanced and reliable retrieval system available. No more down time, no more lost revenue! The future of target retrieval... now! With programmable controls, target turning of 90˚ (with an option of 360˚), a bright LED adjustable-intensity target light that travels with the target and illuminates when the target faces the shooter, and a modular track that can accommodate any length of range, the KMA is the perfect choice for ranges with aging target retrieval systems. It’s faster, smarter, more flexible and programmable than any other system ever made, and its ease of installation and low maintenance is unmatched. So when you are ready to replace or upgrade your current target retrieval system, there’s only one choice,Savage Range Systems’ KMA Overhead Target Retrieval System. No bones about it!
Booth Control Unit deploys and retrieves target, turns target and allows the shooter to set the distance with GO and HOME buttons.
The KMA Overhead Target Retrieval System’s carrier rides a modular rail system to fit any length of range. Target lights and the turning motor are protected by 1/4” armor steel.
The carrier-mounted adjustable intensity LED light travels with the target. Red and blue flashing lights can be added to simulate ‘in the field’ lighting.
Optional Booth Light LED bright white lights are low wattage, plug into the Drive Unit and can be controlled from either the Booth Control Unit or central control.
Savage Range Systems Shooting Ranges • Bullet Traps • Target Systems • Shoot Houses
The Range Report Fall 2012
www.SavageRangeSystems.com
7 ISO 9001:2008 Certified 7
Sighting In Scoping out news for the shooting range community
Development Workshop DVD Set Available On June 18-21 the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) held its inaugural Range & Retail Development Workshop for a capacity crowd of entrepreneurs. The fourday workshop addressed questions such as “Where do I get started?” “To whom should I talk?” “How much does it cost?” “What rules and regulations do I need to follow?” These questions and a variety of other important topics to better prepare someone in the planning and decision-making process were addressed by knowledgeable industry representatives. Topics thoroughly covered included: Choosing your location / Demographics; Public relations / Community relations; Planning / Zoning / Permitting; Bank relations; Profit margin vs. markup; Business case / Business planning; Architectural aspects / Build out; General contracting / HVAC; Lead-management practices; Store infrastructure; Operational expenditures; Insurance; Staffing / Training; SOPs/Poli-
cies/Procedures; Marketing / Opening; and Revenue-enhancing ideas for the return on investment (REI for the ROI). All of the proceedings of the workshop have been captured on a ninedisk DVD package. It is available to members of NSSF for $350 and to nonmembers for $695. You can order here. Not a member? Learn how you can join NSSF and cash in on not only this discount opportunity, but the many other benefits that come with membership.
D.C. Metro-area Residents Pack First Shots® Seminars Washington, D.C., residents and their neighbors from Virginia and Maryland attended National Shooting Sports Foundation First Shots® seminars at area shooting ranges. Making the leap from interest to actual ownership can be challenging. So, to provide helpful answers to the questions area residents had about the safe practice of handgun ownership, as well offer first 8
hands-on experience in many cases, five facilities held free First Shots seminars. NSSF co-sponsored the seminars with ranges. First Shots seminars were held Aug. 24-28, at: Blue Ridge Arsenal, Chantilly, Va.; Sharp Shooters Small Arms Range, Lorton, Va.; St. Charles Sportsmen’s Club, Waldorf, Md.; Clark Brothers Guns, Warrenton, Va.; and Range 82, Midland, Va.. Demonstrating the public’s high level of The Range Report Fall 2012
NSSF’s Range Partnership Grant ProgramSM Awards Nearly $400,000 The National Shooting Sports Foundation has awarded $399,456 in grants to 16 shooting ranges to develop programs that will put more people on the firing line. The NSSF Range Partnership Grant Program assists qualifying shooting ranges in their efforts to introduce newcomers, reactivate lapsed shooters and encourage active shooters to try different aspects of the shooting sports. Deep River Sporting Clays in Sanford, N.C., received a grant, for example, to grow its “Give Shooting a Shot” youth program, which expects to attract 1,000 new shooters and retain 40 percent of them as active participants. NSSF received 79 proposals in all—15 more than last year and a new high for the program. Launched in 2008, the NSSF Range Partnership Grant Program has awarded funding to 62 ranges totaling $1.57 million to date. “Nearly all the projects funded by the
NSSF Range Grant Program emphasize outreach to the community, reminding residents that target shooting is fun and social and that participating is easy to do at a nearby range,” said Melissa Schilling, NSSF’s director of recruitment and retention. Projects such as physical improvements to facilities that are not essential to the operation of the range are not eligible for grants. Schilling explained that a priority of the program is to highlight “models of success,” so that grant-assisted initiatives that have been successful at the piloting range can be adopted by other facilities to build more participation, customers and profits. Case studies of programs that have received funding in prior years are available for review at www.nssf.org/shooting/grants. See the NSSF press release to learn which shooting facilities received grants for 2012.
interest in firearms instruction and ownership, all five ranges reported their classes — up to four a day at each range — were filled. “First Shots seminars provide an introduction to safe and responsible handgun shooting and firearms storage,” said program manager Tisma Juett. “Each seminar covers laws and regulations, emphasizes the value of proper training and puts participants on the firing line with certified instructors so they can experience the fun of target shooting.” The seminars were open to men and
women 21 years of age and older. The First Shots program has provided an introduction to firearms ownership to 40,000 people nationwide. According to program research, half the individuals who attended past seminars have met local requirements for handgun ownership and have introduced another person to their new-found sport of target shooting. For more information about First Shots, contact Tisma Juett at tjuett@nssf.org or go to www.firstshots.org. Watch a video of the D.C. Metro-area First Shots.
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Q&A Your questions answered
Maximize the SHOT Show Experience Q. Why do you go? How do you make the most of the SHOT Show? A. John Monson, Bill’s Gun Shop & Range The SHOT Show presents an incredible opportunity to meet company representatives, see new products and even cash in on SHOT Show Specials, deals that are only offered at the event. One of the reasons the show presents such an awesome opportunity to the range owner and retailer is, of course, its enormity. A show that big requires a plan, so here’s what I do. First, I enter having given forethought to what I want to accomplish. For example, this year I went to SHOT with one of my goals being to find about available cleaning agents—learning what is out there and how to dispose of the used cleaning fluids. Another goal was to find out what was available in the category of brass cleanup and polishing aids. So, the first day I walk every aisle. I want to get an overview of what is on exhibit, I grab literature of those booths 10
that may be of particular interest to me, and I make notes of where they are. It takes me a full day to walk the aisles, not stopping to talk to anyone at any booths if I can avoid it. Then, back in my room, I look at the categories I have an interest in—such as the cleaning agents and brass cleanup and polishing aids. I prepare my list of targeted exhibitors and the questions I want to ask them—cost, volume, delivery time, availability, etc. By dealing with categories, I am not overwhelmed by the wide variety of products on display. I can stay focused on my identified needs and interests. I don’t set appointments, because I find that upsets what I can accomplish by simply stopping by the booths I wish to visit. With my “Attendee” badge that shows I am a range owner/retailer/ buyer, I have no problem getting the attention of a representative in the booth. I typically don’t buy a lot at the show, though I may order products that are in high demand, limited supply or being offered at a special price at the show. What I typically go home with The Range Report Fall 2012
JOHN MONSON Owner Bill’s Gun Shop & Range Twin Cities, Minn. www.billsgs.com
is information on the products in the categories in which I am interested. That allows me to evaluate what I’ve learned and do my ordering from my office. A. Dennis Rohman, P2K Range The SHOT Show, being that it comes in January, rejuvenates me for the new year. It is a great opportunity to see all of the new products I can introduce to my store and my range, refresh orders and visit, face to face, with the reps who sell those products. Attending the SHOT Show really gets me pumped up. I’ve attended every SHOT Show University, the day long sessions held the day before the show floor opens. Ron Rosenberg’s insights on marketing the last two years have been great, and I have been able to apply many of his points to our business. The session on hiring employees last year has really helped us in our prescreening process. I love to bring staff to the show. Last year I took seven staff members. I assign them to specific manufacturers and products. When we get back to our facility, they are the ones responsible for presenting training sessions The Range Report Fall 2012
DENNIS ROHMAN General Manager P2K Range El Cajon, Calif. www.p2krange.com
In Q & A, The Range Report invites NSSF’s Range Advisory Committee members past and present, and others with special expertise, to provide their answers to questions of interest to our readers. If you have a question you’d like to see addressed, submit it to rangereport@nssf.org. If you would like to comment on the answers given in this edition’s Q&A, or if you have related follow-up questions for these experts, please share your thoughts at the same e-mail address. to our entire staff on the products they were assigned. When there are concurrent sessions at SHOT Show University, we can divide our forces and cover them both. I find that bringing new staff members is especially helpful, because it gives them a sense of the scope of our industry. They return to our facility with a new attitude, that is, they have a new appreciation of the size and importance of the industry in RR which they work. 11
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The Range Report Fall 2012
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The Range Report Fall 2012
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Lessons Learned by a Range Developer Trouble has its place even in a gun-friendly locale
By Andy Massimilian 14
The Range Report Summer 2012
REAL-LIFE SCENARIO
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his is my account as manager of Ransom Recreation Shooting Sports LLC of developing a commercial range that could easily be a story line from a grade B movie. Unfortunately, as you are about to find out, reality can be more absurd than fiction. My company was looking to open a public outdoor shooting range in northeastern Pennsylvania, and after several years of searching found land in Ransom Township, just outside Scranton. The parcel is about 600 acres and in a good location. There are only a few houses in the area, and they are not very close to the property, which borders hunting land, a cemetery and a landfill. Those are not exactly the type of nextdoor neighbors that would object. Once the land was found, researching the zoning regulations was the very first thing I did followed by calling the building inspector, zoning officer and township secretary who were made fully aware of our plans to build a range on this property. Relying on these conversations and the Township Zoning Law, which allows a commercial shooting range as a permitted use (i.e. a use permitted by right and not subject to discretion of officials or the imposition of restrictions other than those outlined in the law), we bought the land. That
was the easy part of the development. Though we have all heard the adage that real estate value is all about “location, location, location,” the single most-important factor for shooting ranges is zoning entitlements. Zoning ordinances tell you if and in what locations ranges are allowed and, also, what sort of restrictions apply to the ranges’ design and operation. Zoning laws make or break a business plan because they can significantly impact construction cost and type of shooting programs offered. Soon after, we moved several tan “deuce and a half” military trucks and a military-style trailer to the property that would be used in the construction. Though the area’s largest employer is a military base and a Pennsylvania National Guard unit that repairs such trucks is just down the road from our land, the trucks were noticed and caused one nosy neighbor to stop and speak with one of our representatives who explained that a commercial shooting range would be built. This was a mistake, for talk of the shooting range, coupled with seeing military trucks, sparked rumors of a “militia” moving in and tanks operating on the property. These rumors hit a crescendo when a flyer was anonymously distributed to every township home and even people
In a blatant example of impropriety, the then township counsel gave legal advice at township meetings on how to stop the range.
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outside the township. The flyer was replete with erroneous claims that a separate shooting sports company that I own in New York bought the land on which to operate its business. The flyer was based on information from the New York company’s website, and the anonymous author claimed the same activities would be conducted in Ransom. The author used selective phrases from the website to mislead the reader about what was planned and who—“out of town New Yorkers”—would be using it. The flyer was also sent to every
large media outlet, which, in turn, contacted me for comment. Finally, the rumors became so annoying that the township asked me to attend one of its monthly meetings to speak about the range. I accepted after speaking with the township supervisors, who suggested the topics I should address. Unfortunately, at this meeting nothing went according to plan. The meeting was ineptly run by one supervisor who allowed hecklers to disrupt my discussion and sidetrack the meeting while he sat behind me visibly amused by the badgering and insults I received.
Advice from the sch • RESEARCH THE ZONING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCES OF THE AREAS YOU ARE CONSIDERING. This needs to be done before doing a site search because an ideal spot is worthless if your zoning is onerous. Yes, zoning laws can be appealed and variances granted, but it’s a costly battle requiring lots of legal, engineering and public education investments. One misinformed or anti-gun neighbor can block a zoning variance from being granted in some states.
create false rumors. You are better off to conduct informational sessions and educate the public afterward with full knowledge of the plans and in a controlled setting. Be prepared to address questions on noise, bullet containment/safety, lead pollution and traffic. If you will be selling or renting firearms, be ready to address other matters as well. • A PUBLIC RANGE WILL GET MUCH MORE SUPPORT FROM THE AREA THAN A PRIVATE CLUB. Some gun owners even told us they would only support a public-access range.
• UNDERSTAND YOUR STATE’S RANGE PROTECTION AND FIREARMS PREEMPTION • USE GOOD ENGINEERS FOR DESIGN AND STATUTES, IF ANY. These laws can PERMITTING. Clark Vargas from Vargas materially impact your range in the Associates is a very experienced rangeplanning stage and in the future. design engineer who offered guidance • KEEP YOUR PLANS PRIVATE UNTIL to us. Dieter Engineering did the plans, YOU SUBMIT THEM TO THE APPROVING highway access and National Pollutant AUTHORITIES. Advance notice can only Discharge Elimination System (NDPES) 16
The Range Report Fall 2012
Moreover, the attendees expected a development plan and were dissatisfied because we were not ready to present one. This troublesome supervisor was up for election that year, so he chose to “pour gas on a fire” to his political advantage. At subsequent meetings he voiced opposition to the range, without having seen any plans, and he encouraged residents to form a neighborhood group to find a way to stop it. Soon after, two people sent a flyer to residents containing fallacies and misinformation and urging them
to join a group to “get answers to questions.” The same supervisor also took the unprecedented step of allowing the township meeting room to be used by this group free of charge. It was at these meetings that some of the most incendiary and flagrantly ignorant ideas about the range were propagated by a few residents whose homes were hundreds to thousands of yards away from the proposed firing lines. Someone from this group even sent a letter to local rod and gun clubs urging them to oppose the range, claiming our development would take
hool of hard knocks permits, and Scott Hansen Consulting provided sound-mitigation plans. • INVOLVE NRA AND NSSF RANGE DEVELOPMENT STAFF EARLY IN THE PROCESS. NRA’s Range Development Conference and Range Source Book are absolutely essential sources of information as are NSSF’s DVDs on noise mitigation, lead management and baffles/berms. View the list of NSSF’s resources for ranges. Also consult with NRA-ILA legal staff if the municipality you are in appears to ignore your state’s rangeprotection and firearms-preemption laws. • BE PREPARED TO FILE A LAWSUIT TO PROTECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS. Lawsuits put the world on notice that you expect all parties to follow the law with respect to your land development and that you will not hesitate to defend your business’s The Range Report Fall 2012
brand image, reputation and economic future. Lawsuits also tend to check the spread of reckless rumors designed to undermine your business before it opens. • NEVER ASSUME THAT LOCAL GUN OWNERS WILL SUPPORT THE RANGE. Some of the “opposing team” were gun owners. The only reliable gun-owner support we received was from NRA members who understood that shooting ranges are safe and who correctly identified firearms ownership with American freedom. • GET TO KNOW THE LOCAL POLITICAL LEADERS. They need to understand you are a responsible party. Explain that your project is a large personal investment and that a well-run facility is in your best commercial interests and will bring recreational, safe firearm training and commercial benefits to the township’s residents. 17
Graphic examples of the vandalism suffered at the location of the planned shooting facility
away some of their members. These ideas included shooting down commercial planes, hosting wild bachelor parties that mixed alcohol and shooting, “dangers” posed by ammo storage, running paramilitary operations, tank maneuvers at night, terrorists using the range, shots raining down on a public park more than a mile away—and more. The local police, Homeland Security and the FBI were all contacted and asked to investigate. Local politicians were asked to pressure the township supervisors to block the range. The FAA from an airport 10 miles away was called, as was the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, on the false tip that “a heavy-duty gun range was moving in next door to the highway.” In a blatant example of impropriety, the then township counsel gave legal advice at township meetings on how to stop the range. The leader of the “kill
the range” group even thanked the counsel publicly for his help with their cause. Consequently, the troublemakers circulated a petition demanding a change of zoning and lowering the noise ordinance to impossibly low levels that would have eliminated the hope of developing a shooting range. Just as seriously, several of our trucks were vandalized, one was destroyed by gunfire and a written death threat against me was made. We were forced to sue five people, including one supervisor, for commercial disparagement and intentional interference with contractual relations because of the real damage to the range’s future business and reputation from the lies and falsehoods being spread. We believed the damage being inflicted by the recklessness of a few people was substantial and quantifiable. Moreover, the few troublemakers who opposed the range and those who would
...several of our trucks were vandalized, one was destroyed by gunfire and a written death threat against me was made.
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The Range Report Fall 2012
evaluate and approve our development plans needed to understand that we would not back down from a fight. After our preliminary plans were filed with the planning commission, the strategy of the troublemakers changed from trying to change the zoning ordinance to making it appear that our plans did not comply with the ordinance or the range was going to be a public nuisance and should be disallowed regardless of the law. I was told that the engineer hired to determine if our plans complied with the zoning and landdevelopment laws was pressured into asking questions that were irrelevant to these laws and were asked to satisfy the troublemakers and obfuscate the approval process. One ordinance that could only be interpreted to regulate the storage of
The Range Report Fall 2012
ammunition by classifying ammo as an “explosive” is rendered a nullity by Pennsylvania’s Firearms Preemption law, but we were still asked to describe how we would store ammo, what quantities were stored and where. This was despite materials from NRA explaining that state and federal laws do not classify small-arms ammunition as an explosive and that state law preempts localities from regulating the sale, possession, ownership or transportation of firearms or ammunition. Space limitations preclude a more complete narrative of what we have experienced, but you’ll find in a lengthy sidebar to this article my advice to those who are seeking to develop a range. As of this writing, our revised plans have been submitted to the planning commission for review. We hope to write a RR subsequent article once we open!
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Shoot for Senior Moments The older set represents an attractive potential customer segment By Barbara Baird
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alk to range owners anywhere and they will more than likely mention the upswing in attendance at their shooting classes lately. They might even mention that the demographics for their classes have grown in the senior citizen category. Is your range reaching out to seniors? Ranges that cater to senior citizens will reap benefits. Range owners have discovered many ways to entice the senior set to the firing line without setting up classes for seniors only. Whether it’s for defensive shooting, bull’s-eye leagues or clay sports, here are five good reasons why you should shoot for some senior moments: 1. Seniors are able to visit ranges during daytime and weekday hours. 2. Seniors often have disposable income. 3. Seniors want to learn to protect themselves. 4. Seniors might be looking for a recreational outlet, like bulls-eye shooting. 5. Seniors network, often the old-fashioned way, by word of mouth. “Like a community college” Phil Roux owns two shooting stores/ ranges in Arizona. With locations in Phoenix and Peoria, Shooter’s World offers 47 air-conditioned shooting lanes, along with private and group training classes. “What really works the best with our senior citizens is the NSSF’s First Shots program,” Roux said. Because the Peoria location borders Sun City, a popular retirement community, it serves as an important site for training for seniors. Roux said it is 22
imperative to offer beginner classes, and the First Shots program – with its three-hour session – is perfect for introducing seniors to shooting. “We haven’t had to create any specialized senior classes, but then, again, I wouldn’t put a 25-year-old former Marine, just back from Iraq, as lead instructor with a class full of seniors,” he said. With an able-bodied staff of former FBI and law enforcement officers, themselves considered “seniors,” Roux has plenty of instructors in the stable from which to choose. He said, “These retired guys who are instructors really cater to our retired students. They love them. “When teaching seniors, it’s all about the pace of the class,” he added. “You’ve got to make it comfortable, more like attending a community college course. We even offer coffee and donuts.” Roux noted that senior attendance at his ranges is seasonal, with the snowbirds arriving back in Arizona beginning in mid-September. He will add senior shooting leagues to the schedule then. He said, “The seniors love their early mornings.” He considered adding weekly morning leagues and keeping it to .22 caliber. “It’ll be cheaper for them,” he said. Therapeutic shooting on many levels In Bay City, Mich., Glenn Duncan runs the family business of Duncan’s Outdoor Shop, Inc., which includes two 50-foot pistol ranges (with retractable target systems and a handicappedaccessible booth), two 50-yard ranges, The Range Report Fall 2012
a 100-yard rifle range, a 200-yard rifle range, an adaptive-use air rifle/archery range and a 0-50-yard shotgun patterning/rifle range. Duncan stressed the importance of offering wider lanes for handicapped accessibility. Duncan’s facility also offers an elevator for ease in getting to the shooting range, which is on a lower level. Offering an extensive lineup of classes–from personal protection to hunter safety–and from youth leagues on up to senior bull’s-eye leagues, Duncan brings in shooters from up to 60 miles away on a weekly basis. “Our bull’s-eye league is made up of 50 percent senior citizens,” Duncan said. “The shooting sports are easy for them. Many of them miss participating
in sports and competition, and this is a way they can continue to compete and challenge themselves.” Duncan said some clients and their physical therapists use the range for continuing therapy. “The shooting sports are a great way to use certain muscle groups, and we have people of all ages on the range with their physical therapists,” he said. Seniors teaching seniors Firearms instructors Chuck Helmke and Charlotte Guttenberg, themselves classified as senior citizens, train senior citizens monthly at a range in Titusville, Fla. Helmke, who founded Individual Security/Survival Solutions, US, conducts civilian defensive training classes with a
Catering to the Senior Set at Your Range 1. Find out why they want to learn to shoot or improve their skills. Is it for self-defense, recreational shooting or a mixture? 2. Find out if they have any medical conditions or disabilities that you should be aware of before you begin instruction. 3. Find out their past history with firearms. What baggage are they bringing? 4. Make sure you hire extra instructors for classes with seniors. 5. Good lighting, handicapped-accessible parking and easy access are all important features for seniors on the range. 6. If you offer a bull’s-eye league, make sure you create a seniors’ division, or even a super seniors’ group. The Range Report Fall 2012
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Get a Grip When Working with Seniors We asked Dr. Ron Martinelli for advice on how to improve seniors’ shooting abilities. Q. Why is proper grip and grip strength needed for accurate shooting? A. Accurate shooters quickly learn that having a consistent ‘master grip’ on any handgun is critical for accurate shooting. The master grip is acquired directly from the holster or when picking up the gun and must be consistent every time. Having grip strength is important to control recoil and the firearm itself, whether the gun is a revolver or semiauto handgun. Q. What can seniors do to increase grip strength? A. They can use a variety of exercises and simple devices designed to increase grip strength. • A sponge “squeeze ball” works well. • Taking sheets of paper from a newspaper or magazine and balling up the sheets with each hand provides good exercise. • Finding a handgrip exerciser that is for seniors (not for youth or younger adults) is also good.
well-qualified staff, including Guttenberg – who is a tactical weapons trainer – at the American Police Hall of Fame Shooting Center. “Age is a number,” Helmke said. “I trained a veteran in a walker who could do the self-defense course.” Helmke and staff once offered “seniors-only” self-defense handgun courses. Three years ago, with the “age is only a number” concept in his head, Helmke decided to integrate seniors into the monthly self-defense classes. “We will accommodate anyone 24
who is not picking up the skills during class,” he said. “We have a 2-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, so Charlotte and I float and work with anyone having troubles.” Helmke runs an introductory class that is popular with seniors, too. As one of the lessons, he brings in several types of cleared handguns, and participants may hold the guns, learn how to grip them and rack slides. “It brings new participants a sense of comfort to work with the gun before it is loaded,” he said. The Range Report Fall 2012
On Friday nights, the range runs an International Defensive Pistol Association scenario, often in low light, so that participants can shoot in real-life conditions. This is extremely popular with all the students, and, of course, is available to seniors. One thing that Helmke stresses is be understanding of arthritis and other disabilities and help a senior to work out a way to overcome any shooting impediments because of that disability. ‘Street Safe’ seniors Dr. Ron Martinelli, a retired San Jose, Calif., police officer who also is a nationally renowned forensic criminologist specializing in police/corrections practices, founded Martinelli & Associates, Inc., which offers self-defense
courses that combine combat physiology with how the human body reacts to stressful situations. Titled “Street Safe Defense, Firearms Training Program,” the program offers five separate semiautomatic pistol and shotgun selfdefense firearms courses in Temecula, Calif. Himself a senior, the 61-year-old Martinelli noted that easily one-third to one-half of class attendees are senior citizens. He listed the following problems to be aware of when working with seniors: mobility, hand-eye coordination, near-vision loss and grip strength. The oldest senior in his course was an 89-year-old woman, who performed “phenomenally.” About teaching seniors, he said, “It requires a different type of mind-
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set that is nurturing and supportive. Seniors present more anxiety and often question their confidence. You want their time on the range to be enjoyable, as well as educational. “Seniors need to have fun and experience challenges and successes, just like everyone else to enhance motivation and self esteem,” he added. “Good handgun classes need to use a combination of teaching methods that incorporate handgun safety, manipulation of the weapon, marksmanship and exciting, interactive shooting to attract seniors.” Martinelli recommended using lower velocity firearms such as .22s and .38 specials to increase confidence before moving up to higher-caliber guns. “Having a fun shooting course that allows the student to demonstrate marksmanship, while testing vision, movement and situational awareness and allowing the students to experience success at a skill enhances self-esteem, confidence and keeps them coming back for more,” he advised. 26
Glock offers competition matches for seniors Chris Edwards, a range master/match coordinator/instructor with the Glock Shooting Sports Foundation (GSSF) estimated that on average between 10 and 20 percent of attendees at GSSF’s nationwide matches are people aged 55 or older. GSSF even has two categories for seniors: The Senior category for those people who are between 55 and 64, and the Super Senior category, for 65 and up. In 1990, Glock launched the GSSF, and it has grown to 44 competitive matches annually held throughout the country. Based on stock Glocks, the two-day matches are fairly simple, with no speed reloads or much movement involved. The competition also includes some events for modified Glocks. Average attendance at these events is about 300 participants. Edwards said GSSF events are conducted under supervision of range safety officers. Factory-trained armorers attend each event, to talk to Glock The Range Report Fall 2012
Getting them there Of course, once seniors are hooked on shooting at your range, they will network for you. Getting them there, though, is another thing. Phil Roux, owner of Shooter’s World in Arizona, said he looks for an area that he wants to target, finds a local community center or golf club and makes personal contact with several members. “Seniors network better than any other group we know of,” he said. “Not all seniors spend time on the Internet,
owners about their firearms, because GSSF members receive services of that armorer at an outdoor match. Of course, Glock set up the GSSF to promote its products, but Edwards said, “You don’t have to a top shooter to win. It is a generous program with generous prizes.” Edwards said shooting a GSSF match is a “good inoculator” into competition, especially for seniors, because it is straightforward, without severe physical demands or memory requirements for stages. To participate in a GSSF match, a person must join the GSSF. An individual membership fee costs $35. Family memberships cost $90 for up to six members, and grandparents are considered immediate family. There are other benefits to buying a GSSF membership, including the opportunity to purchase a Glock pistol at a discount. The GSSF is interested in finding more ranges to host its matches. Find out how your range may host a GSSF match. RR Learn more about the GSSF. The Range Report Fall 2012
so contacting these groups directly is most effective.” Ron Martinelli, founder of Martinelli & Associates, Inc., stressed getting in touch with local media to highlight what you’re doing at your range for seniors. Offer interviews and then teach something in the interview – a quick tip. “The best marketing has proven to be stories written about our program that drive people to the website and our phone number,” he said.
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Environmental Aids A combination of planning and products help effect the desired results By Carolee Anita Boyles
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The Range Report Fall 2012
OPTIONS & INNOVATIONS
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you with a first line of defense if a hink of environmental aids as regulator or a reporter shows up. You spring cleaning tools for ranges. Some of them let you clean up can say, ‘Yes, we’ve thought about messes. Others help you address more that and addressed it. Look on page serious problems with a “deep clean.” such-and-such of our environmental Still others prevent problems. stewardship plan.’” “Good housekeeping and routine One of the most important aspects maintenance are just what we do,” of an environmental stewardship plan said Dick Peddicord, president of Dick is the community education aspect. Peddicord & Company. Options for education include working “Environmental management at with charitable organizations and ranges is very much the same thing events, developing relationships with as spring cleaning.” It stands to the press and sponsoring outdoor reason, then, that environmental programs on talk radio in your area. aids for ranges encompass a wide These all are ways to communicate to spectrum of items, from simple tools your community the good things you’re to well-planned doing, such as infrastructure. preserving green One of the most important “When we space, providing aspects of an environmental wildlife habitat talk about environmental or installing stewardship plan is the range aids, nature trails on community education aspect. we’re really portions of your talking about property that are environmental stewardship,” Peddicord away from the shooting range. said. Another area that ranges often One easy-to-access environmental overlook is personal hygiene. aid is the digital library on the National “By its nature, shooting a gun is Shooting Sports Foundation’s website. dirty,” said Scott Kranz, an engineer Here you can find numerous documents with URS Corporation, a leadreclamation and -recycling company to help you develop an environmental stewardship plan for your range that in Oregon. “There should be a space takes into account lead management, immediately off the range for people noise abatement, erosion control, water to wash their hands. The area should quality and many other considerations. have running water and soap. The biggest risk of lead exposure at a range Sample templates give you guidance as is hand to mouth; you get the lead on you develop a site-specific plan for your indoor or outdoor range. your hands and then you eat and you “An environmental stewardship plan ingest it.” provides continuity,” Peddicord said. One of the most serious ongoing “It keeps you on track and keeps you issues that ranges deal with is proper lead management. The EPA has issued organized and prepared. It provides The Range Report Fall 2012
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a step further and ‘fix’ the dissolved a series of best management practices lead to a material,” he said. “That can for lead management, including be costly and is more of a remediation keeping the soil within a particular pH product than a maintenance product.” range to prevent lead movement. “You don’t need to worry about the If properly written, your acidity of water in ponds and streams,” environmental stewardship program Peddicord said. “Water moves too fast, will cover how often you need to and you can’t manage it. But you can sample, what materials you’ll need manage the acidity in the soil, because to use, acid rain conditions (or lack that’s what the lead is in contact with.” thereof) in your area and other factors “PH affects the solubility of lead,” related to lead management. said Paul Stull, associate engineer with Another environmental issue is AMEC Earth and Environmental in projectile management for safety, and Oregon. “You can use pH amendments the use of an impact absorption layer in to moderate the pH and reduce the the impact zone. solubility and mobility of lead.” “There are a lot of products for Monitoring the pH of your impact use in this area,” Stull said. “There’s a zone is fairly simple, Stull said, and is lot of variability when you’re talking about indoor accomplished with Another environmental ranges, where the use of a pH you can use a meter such as is issue is projectile used in agriculture. number of rubbermanagement for safety, “It’s not a farm, type materials or and the use of an impact but you’ll be using baffling systems soil amendments that will direct absorption layer in the like a farm does in bullets into a impact zone. the bullet impact chute. Outdoor area,” he said. ranges usually use ballistic sand, because they are in an “You also can have a little weather environment where you have to deal station and keep track of the pH of the rain in your area. In some areas of the with weathering and UV light. Ballistic sand is akin to a roadway product; it’s a country that’s not a problem, but in crushed rock material that has a certain other areas it is; if you’re in an acid rain area, you may be using amendments gradation range and lends itself well to to neutralize the rainfall so you don’t ballistic absorption. A lot of outdoor mobilize the lead.” ranges are going to ballistic sand Depending on whether and how because it’s easy to manage.” much you need to affect the soil’s On shotgun ranges, Stull said, shot pH, Stull said, you may use simple curtains are becoming more popular for agricultural lime or other amendments, managing pellets. or it may take something more “Shot curtains are used a lot in effective. Europe,” he said. “A shot curtain is “There are some ballistic-particular similar to a curtain used on a driving products that are phosphates, that go range for golf but it’s made of a 30
The Range Report Fall 2012
Preventative Medicine The benefits of Being an NSSF Retail Member National Shooting Sports Foundation®
F
irearms and ammunition retailers have it tougher than ever and their issues vary. Unfriendly laws. Aggressive competition. But retailers have a partner in the business. The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the voice of the firearms industry and a trusted resource for outdoor sporting goods retailers. By becoming a NSSF member, you are never alone. Some key benefits designed specifically for retailers include: • Comprehensive materials and guidance to maintain ATF/legal compliance with everything from a 4473 overlay to a new legal hotline just for retailers. • Discounts to help retailers grow from national brands such as Federal Express® and Staples® to cost savings for services such as credit card processing, employee background checks and telecommunications offerings. • Customized services and amenities at the industry’s leading trade event, the SHOT Show®. • Programs and partnerships to help recruit new customers such as First Shots®, Hunting Heritage Partnership® and the NSSF Range Grant Program. • Discounts on the industry’s benchmark research that gives retailers a competitive edge During this year when our industry will be challenged more than ever, your NSSF membership helps you grow your business and adds one more strong voice to our chorus. Contact Bettyjane Swann at 203-426-1320 or bswann@nssf.org.
WWW.NSSFMEMBERSHIP.COM
The Range Report Fall 2012
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Environmental-Aid Resources PH METERS, WEATHER INSTRUMENTS Cole-Parmer North America 625 East Bunker Court Vernon Hills, IL 60061 800-323-4340 or 888-358-4717 www.coleparmer.com Grainger 100 Grainger Parkway Lake Forest, IL 60045 847-535-1000 www.grainger.com Hanna Instruments 270 George Washington Highway Smithfield, RI 02917 800-426-6287 or 401-765-7500 www.hannainst.com/usa
SHOT CURTAINS Hope Global 50 Martin Street Cumberland, RI 02864 401-333-8990 www.hopeglobal.com
SOLAR POWER HelioPower 25767 Jefferson Avenue Murrieta, California 92562 951-677-7755 www.heliopower.com Hunter’s Green Electric 7301 17th Way N Saint Petersburg, FL 33702 727-432-4876 www.huntersgreenelectric.com Smart Solar Solutions 10869 Scottsdale Road, Suite 103-282 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 800-392-1593 www.smartsolarpv.com 32
metallic-chain-link-type material. Pellets hit the shot curtain and roll down to the bottom of it where you can harvest them easily every year or so. It’s also a way you can have a skeet range on a small property.” Sound management is becoming more of an issue, Stull said, as residential zones continue to grow closer to existing ranges that originally were in rural areas. “In cases like this, we can rebuild a range to drive the sound upward rather than outward,” he said. “We do this by the way we redesign the berms. Sometimes we put a solid hedge along the top of the berms for a visual and sound break. The sound is there and is going to get out one way or another; the key is to deflect it as much away from residential areas as possible.” Another issue is storm water. How will you handle the results of a sudden summer deluge? “You want to segregate the area where the bullets end up from where the rest of the storm water goes,” Stull said. “You can do it by grading and drainage that typically are designed to segregate that water from the storm-water system and get water away from the bullets as quickly as possible. That way, you mitigate the transportation of any dissolved lead and prevent the discharge of the water from that part of the range into a surface body of water or into a sewer system.” One aid some ranges can use is solar panels to reduce power consumption. Although many people believe that solar power still is too expensive to install for the return a facility receives, in many cases that’s no longer the case. According to a recent paper by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the cost of solar power has declined sharply over the past several years. “Average PV module prices have fallen by nearly 75 percent in the past three years,” the paper’s authors wrote. Another factor is the financial incentives that some states are giving to businesses that install The Range Report Fall 2012
A shot curtain can help contain shot, similar to curtains containing golf balls at a driving range. photovoltaic and other renewable energy systems. “California and New Jersey are the two strongest states in terms of solar-energy installation,” said Glenna Wiseman, vice president of marketing for HelioPower in Murietta, Calif. One range that has installed solar panels is Sprague’s Sports in Yuma, Ariz. Owner Richard Sprague put panels not only on top of the building, but also over his employees’ parking area. Now his employees can park in the shade of the solar panels, which generate power for the business. In an environment such as Arizona, having covered parking is a major benefit. Ideally, protecting the natural resources on your range will have been addressed by your environmental stewardship plan. “You may be protecting wildlife The Range Report Fall 2012
habitat on a tract that’s a couple of hundred acres,” Kranz said. “Protecting this habitat is good for the community and good for the range.” A good source for help with this aspect of range management is your state game and fish department. Another one is a local chapter of a national conservation organization such as Ducks Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Options for dealing with environmental issues on your range are limited only by your imagination. Though some environmental issues are dictated by best management practices, others—such as protecting natural habitat—are more a matter of good public relations and good stewardship. Being attentive to both categories will help you be a good neighbor and a well regarded RR member of your community. 33
Di
Recycling opportu and
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Clean Up on iscarded Ammo
unities aid the environment— d can fatten your bottom line! By Carolee Anita Boyles The Range Report Summer 2012
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A
t the end of a busy day, you’re left with piles of plastic hulls and brass, used targets, and other detritus associated with shooting. You can approach their disposal in one of two ways: as garbage to be cleaned up; or as a resource that can add dollars to your bottom line. “Both lead and brass are recyclable materials,” said Miles Hall, president of H&H Shooting Sports Complex in Oklahoma City, Okla. “This goes to the root of what we’ve been doing as hunters forever. Remember that the shooting community were the original conservationists.” You can recycle—and make money from—plastic shotgun shells, brass, and even lead. Yes, it’s about stewardship, and it’s also about improving your bottom line any way you can. “One of the big advantages to recycling all those materials is that it significantly reduces the range’s wasteremoval costs,” said Andrew Fishbone, a partner at Garrison Green, a company that develops customized shotgun-hull 36
recycling programs for ranges. “One range we worked with went from a 20-yard dumpster to a 3-yard dumpster, and it’s about to eliminate that.” Brass is one of the most obvious resources that accumulate on shooting ranges. No matter how many buckets and cans you set out with signs to “Put your brass here!” you’ll wind up having to pick up a lot of it yourself. Several companies, including Ammo-Up and UniqueTek, have equipment to make picking up both brass and empty shotgun hulls much easier than bending over and picking it all up by hand. Once you have your brass and plastic hulls picked up, you have options for handling both. “You can sort brass by caliber and sell it to reloaders,” Hall said. “Or you can sell it as scrap without sorting it. As scrap, you can get $1.80 to $2 a pound.” If you have enough brass and choose to sort it, you might even look at a brass sorting machine such as those The Range Report Fall 2012
RR The Range Report Fall 2012
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made by Camdex and Ultimate Sorter. “Brass can be a great revenue source for you,” Hall said. “Reloaders will come from all over to buy used brass.” The one caliber that’s handled separately is .22 brass. “Most brass recycle facilities won’t accept .22 brass, because it’s a softer type of brass,” Hall said. “However, we recently sold two 55-gallon drums of .22 brass to someone who takes them and makes jackets for bullets out of them.” Used shotshells have a wide range of uses. “We’ve been in the shotgun business for more than 23 years,
so we’ve always had a lot of hulls,” said Bill Kempffer, president of Deep River Sporting Clays in Sanford, N.C. “We’ve been making them available to our customers to take; if they want to reload them, they can have them.” Recently, Kempffer has talked with Garrison Green about recycling the hulls that accumulate at Deep River Sporting Clays. “What we will do is pick up the hulls and put them in bags that Garrison Green provides,” he said. “We use White Flyer targets, and the way this is supposed to work is that when the targets are deliv-
If you have enough brass and choose to sort it, you might even look at a brass sorting machine...
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The Range Report Fall 2012
ered, our distributor will pick up the bags and take them back to the White Flyer facility, and from there they go to Garrison Green. Then we get credit toward furniture and fixtures made from the recycled hulls.” Kempffer already has some experience with furniture made from recycled shotgun hulls; he once purchased a judge’s chair made from them. “It’s absolutely super stuff,” he said. “So we’re looking forward to participating in the program.” Kempffer says the part that will be hard for him is the labor of preparing the hulls. Shooters leave a lot of hulls on the ground, he said, and when they do pick them up, they mix them with soda cans, plastic water bottles and just plain trash in the range’s barrels. “What we’re doing is actually sort-
The Range Report Fall 2012
ing everything,” he said. “We put the trash in a different bin and put the hulls into a container that we dump into the Garrison Green bags. It’s going to be an extra step for us, but we think that anything we can do to recycle as opposed to helping fill up land fills is a good thing. So we’ve made a decision that that’s the way we want to go. Anything we can do to help the environment is good public relations and is just common sense.” Fishbone said recycling hulls is not without challenges. “It’s very difficult to recycle an object that contains multiple materials,” he said. “Shotshells consist of paper, plastic and metal. What we do is completely destroy and resize the different components. Then they all go to different plants to be made into a
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Bags of spent ammunition earn points toward low-maintenance furniture—and money! variety of things. The metal and paper can be used for just about anything. The plastic becomes poly lumber.” As Kempffer said, Garrison Green has partnered with White Flyer to make recycling shotgun shells efficient. “White Flyer operates factory trucks from three of their locations,” Fishbone said. “When they deliver to clubs, on their empty backhaul, they pick up bags of shotgun shells and wads for us.” Ranges that provide hulls are enrolled in a rewards program. “For every bag the range sends us, they get one point,” Fishbone said. “Once they reach four points, they can start cashing in their points for a variety of things such as benches, gun racks, scorers’ chairs, picnic tables and other items made out of poly lumber that is made from shotgun shells. We put that program into place because ranges have so much maintenance and upkeep on wooden benches; having poly lumber furniture eliminates that.” 40
Eventually, Fishbone said, Garrison Green plans to accept aluminum cans, plastic water bottles and cardboard and paper from ranges as well. Whether you have an indoor or outdoor range, spent lead is a resource you can recycle. “There was a time when lead was only a nickel a pound,” Hall said. “But today lead is much more expensive. We have a company that comes in and ‘mines’ the lead out of our trap for us and then pays me for the lead.” Depending on where you’re located, Hall said, you might make that type of arrangement, or you may pay someone to clean out your trap and then keep the lead and sell it to another company that recycles it. Kempffer agreed. “There are companies who will come and ‘mine’ our berms and pay us for the lead,” he said. “We follow the EPA’s best management practices for lead, so we keep track of the number of shots, The Range Report Fall 2012
One Industry. One Voice. National Shooting Sports FoundationÂŽ
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or over 50 years, our mission has never wavered. Promote, protect and preserve our hunting and shooting sports. We are the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association of the firearms, ammunition and shooting industry. Whether it is in the field, on the range, in Washington, D.C. or 50 state capitals, we stand proudly as your voice.
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elp us make your voice louder and stronger where it counts. Now more than ever, it’s time to become a NSSF member. To join contact Bettyjane Swann at (203) 426-1320 or bswann@nssf.org.
The future of your business depends on it.
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“At one range we reclaimed about 300 tons of lead bullets. It was almost a football field of big bags full of lead bullets.” and we have a good idea of how much lead is out there and where it is.” Treating lead as a resource has broader implications for ranges than just financial. “Reclaiming and recycling lead is the cornerstone of EPA’s best management practices,” said Dick Peddicord, president of Dick Peddicord & Company. “When you reclaim and recycle lead as often as is practical so that you’re managing consistently with EPA’s guidance, EPA views you as being under the scrap-metal-recycling exemptions of waste-management laws. In that case, waste isn’t an issue because 42
the range isn’t generating waste; it’s managing a resource.” Lead reclamation and recycling companies are easy to find. Several are listed on the National Shooting Sports Foundation website. Companies that work with lead reclamation on active ranges include AMEC Earth and Environmental, URS Corporation, MT2 and NCM. An Internet search should turn up other, smaller reclamation companies in your area as well. “At one range we reclaimed about 300 tons of lead bullets,” said Paul Stull, associate engineer with AMEC Earth The Range Report Fall 2012
in nitrogen. Recycling goes beyond hulls, brass and lead. When Hall first opened his range, he threw everything away. “Then we found out that paper and cardboard from targets can be recycled,” he said. “If you generate enough, your local recycling company may bring you a special dumpster for those items.” Although you may not make much— or any—money recycling your paper and cardboard, it’s still good stewardship to do so. “There’s lot of opportunity to recycle used ammunition,” Hall said. “If a range owner looks, he can find options, many of which will make money. There’s no down side to recycling R R used ammunition.”
and Environmental. “It was almost a football field of big bags full of lead bullets.” Unburned powder can be an issue on ranges; equipment such as a TigerVac is useful for cleaning it up. A number of ranges have found ways to recycle, or even sell, unburned powder. “Some ranges collect powder in a drum and then provide that drum to a local fire department to use in their training programs,” Hall said. He said one range owner has even sold his unburned powder to an organic farmer for fertilizer because it’s so rich The Range Report Fall 2012
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undercover shooter
Handgunning in the Big ‘D’ Customer Customer service service in in big-city big-city ranges ranges
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ike money that burns a hole in my son’s pocket, my three new handguns were making my trigger finger ache for some range time. Saturday was slow to arrive, but when it did I packed up the shooting gear and headed north; my destination was the concrete landscape of Dallas, Texas. Hailing from the country, I am sensitive to good service and hospitality. As a shooting enthusiast, I have spent time at many shooting ranges over the years and regrettably, service at some shooting centers occasionally has been lacking. I had never visited the two facilities I targeted that morning, and I wondered what kind of service I would receive.
Range A
Smiles greeted the shooter
I followed the heavy stream of traffic until I saw the sign and pulled in. I had passed this indoor range many times over the years but never ventured inside. After parking my car, I walked to what the original architect 44
meant as a main entry only to find an annoying little note instructing me to enter through a side door. Just as quickly as I walked in a young woman wearing a red uniform shirt and sidearm locked eyes with me and offered a warm greeting through her widening smile. Her coworker, also in a uniform shirt, turned toward me and offered the same inviting gesture. Behind the counter, a heavily insulated Plexiglas-type window allowed for constant monitoring of shooting activities. At the end of the shooting range window, a host of firearms hung on hooks with rental information posted to the right. The rest of the wall was covered by shooting range rules and membership information. The young woman had me review the range rules and affirm compliance with my signature before I was allowed to enter the shooting lanes. As I headed to my appointed lane I noticed a range officer giving tips to various shooters; he would continue to assist shooters and monitor safety, never leaving the range while I was present. The floor was littered with The Range Report Fall 2012
brass casings making the walk to my lane a bit awkward and unsafe. There was a list of range rules posted in the shooting area, but I did not notice any signs posted in individual lanes as reminders. I believe the range distance was 75 feet, and the facility appeared well maintained. The same service and great smiles sent me on my way. Range B
Gun repair for free
Fifteen miles later I passed the entrance to the second range—twice. The only driveway, as it turned out, is off a side street rather than the main road, and traffic was heavy as a result of construction. Signage was good, and what appeared to be the front entrance, in this instance, was actually the entrance. I walked through the exterior doors, through a foyer and, finally, through a second set of doors. It was dusty and disorganized; however, a notice on the front door prepared me for that; they were remodeling. Midway through the store space I locked eyes with an employee standing behind a counter. He simply watched me walk by while inhaling his lunch – there was no welcome or inviting smile. I continued past him as I surveyed the area for another, more helpful employee. She was also eating lunch, but as I closed the distance she wiped her hands on her sweatshirt and The Range Report Fall 2012
asked if she could help me; she was quite pleasant. Range rules were scarce. I signed a tablet of lined paper simply acknowledging that I had been there; apparently no assumption of liability or review of range rules was required. While she helped me I happened to mention a problem I had encountered with my .44 magnum. She called for another employee, who looked at my revolver and made a slight repair. While he worked I took a visual inventory of the healthy assortment of rentals on the wall behind him; there were many handguns and rifles, including modern sporting rifles. When the technician completed his work he explained the problem and showed me how to resolve it on my own in case it happened again. He did not charge me any fee and was incredibly pleasant throughout the experience. I hope to meet up with him again one day. He turned out to be the owner. At my appointed shooting lane, I noticed the only hint of range rules was a piece of paper posted on the door with a general reminder of firearm safety. The shooting area was fairly clean, and only one other shooter occupied the shooting lanes. Like the first facility I visited, the range appeared to be 75 feet and was well maintained. I never did see a range officer during my visit. Still I had a great time quenching my thirst for trigger action and would be happy to return. (continued on next page) 45
undercover shooter scorecard Each category is rated on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest score. Editor’s note: The Undercover Shooter is an experienced recreational shooter but is not trained in technical aspects of range design and operation. Range A Customer Satisfaction Rating Signage/Visibility....................................... 2 • The lack of signage for the entrance left a lot to be desired, and that is an easy fix. When you are inside the facility and trying to exit, the entrance door and door to the shooting range are next to each other and unmarked. • Twice I tried to exit and started to walk into the mustering area of the shooting lanes. The mistake, I suppose, was partly my fault, but I’m sure others have made that mistake. Layout/Setting........................................... 4 • The layout of the facility was great. It was open and modern. Product layout left no confusion as to where I might find different product types while shopping. • In the middle of the store floor was a comfortable sitting area with a sizeable coffee table and large assortment of shooting magazines. Retail Product Availability......................... 4 • This range had a great selection of firearms, ammunition, shooting equipment and apparel. • I appreciated the ability to stand in one spot and survey the store to locate every product type I might be interested in investigating. Rental Availability...................................... 3 • Rentals included a wide range of handguns and rifles. Rental prices were between $40 and $80 and included a box of ammunition. • I felt rental pricing could be better by offering low rental rates and mandatory on-site ammunition purchases for rentals. Staff Friendliness....................................... 5 • Staff friendliness and assistance was top-notch. Ten miles down the road I was still deep in thought about the kindness and professionalism I was shown.
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Safety........................................................ 4 • I was forced to read and give my signature as confirmation that I had read and understood the range rules. • Signs were posted in the shooting area, and a range officer was present the entire time I was shooting. • Range officer spent a lot of time coaching other shooters on fundamentals; I found that extra detail quite impressive. Safety was obviously a priority here. • The awkward walk through the shooting area is the result of the hundreds of casings on the floor; this was the only unsafe condition I found. The range officer began sweeping the floor as I exited the shooting lanes. Programs/Membership............................... 3 • CHL and various other instructional shooting clinics, including hunter education, are offered. • Memberships include individual, family and corporate at both regular and premium levels. Cleanliness................................................ 4 • The store area was extremely clean and well organized. • The fault in cleanliness was, again, with the casings on the floor of the shooting lane area. Comments/Impressions • While the lack of signage on entry and shooting lane doors and lack of cleanliness on the shooting lane floor bothered me, overall I had a great experience. The staff’s hospitality and professionalism, the range’s focus on safety and the great store layout made me want to go back in as soon as I had left. This is a great place!
The Range Report Fall 2012
Range B Customer Satisfaction Rating Signage/Visibility....................................... 4 • Exterior signage was good. • I was less than impressed by the lack of access on the main road. • Interior signage was virtually nonexistent, although a few signs directed visitors to the two indoor ranges and restrooms. Layout/Setting........................................... 3 • The layout was wide open but still confusing. A lack of product and department signage, coupled with the horizontal display of products in glass cases, forced me to shop by browsing, not my preferred method. I did appreciate the wood flooring and wall coverings, as well as the many taxidermy mounts that adorned the walls. The entire facility had a comfortable, rustic feeling. Retail Product Availability......................... 3 • A good assortment of firearms and shooting accessories, mostly tactical • Apparel was quite lacking. • I appreciated the organized layout of handguns; they were displayed in order of caliber. Rental Availability...................................... 4 • A diverse array of rental firearms consisting of handguns and rifles, including newer model MSRs. • Rental rates were $10 to $15, but ammunition for rentals had to be purchased on site. I appreciated this method more than the rental program at Range A.
Staff Friendliness....................................... 4 • The staff was friendly. Unfortunately, my first impression was not good. I was not welcomed when I entered, and I was ignored by the first employee. Safety........................................................ 2 • Lack of focus on safety at this establishment. Range rules were scarce in the main store area, and I didn’t see any range rules posted in the shooting area. There was a note on the door in the shooting lane area requesting shooters to handle firearms safely. Certainly more could be done there. Programs/Membership............................... 3 • This range offers Blue (regular) and Gold (premium) individual and family memberships. • No youth training or programs currently exist although youth accompanied by a parent or guardian may shoot or attend clinics. • CHL classes and various types of shooting and firearm familiarity clinics are offered. Cleanliness................................................ 3 • The store floor was surprisingly clean for a remodeling project. It was dusty, but the remodeling signs were effective, well placed and offered a reasonable excuse for any lack of cleanliness. Comments/Impressions • I had a great visit to this range. More focus should be placed on safety. Employee training to create a friendlier, more professional staff may be in order; however, I would still be happy to return to this range.
Preferred Range Although the redirect to the side entrance was annoying, the welcoming committee and great service far surpassed my expectations and earned my preference: Range A: DFW Gun Club, 1607 West Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, Texas 75235 214-630-4866 • www.dfwgun.com All reports, comments, impressions, opinions or advice expressed in the Undercover Shooter column are solely those of independent, recreational shooting range consumers and do not necessarily represent those of the National Shooting Sports Foundation or its affiliates. Neither the NSSF nor its affiliates make any warranty or assume any liability with respect to the accuracy or reliability of any information provided by Undercover Shooter contributors. Readers are encouraged to and should perform their own investigation of the information provided herein.
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Home on the Range Views from NSSF staffers and guest contributors
Observations at Five Star Shooting Ranges What makes these special facilities get an elite rating
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hooting ranges come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with purposes. Public ranges focus on serving everyone in the community. In most cases, private ranges are set up with limited memberships. In any case, the Five Star Rating System is a tool that all ranges should adopt and utilize. The rating system encourages the range community to analyze six areas of the business – including appearance, management, customer/member focus, customer/member development, community relations and amenities. Although some of these areas might not be high on your range’s priority list, you should always think about the overall impression that your facility projects not only among your guests, the shooters and their family members, but also, and more importantly, within your community. The Five Star Rating System is not exclusively for shooting ranges in operation. If you are exploring the idea of getting into the range and retail business, use this as a template for aspects to incorporate into your business plan. At the same time, recognize that the existing Four Star and Five Star Ranges are go-to resources for you. They are great role models ready to help, motivate and provide guidance while getting started. Reach out to them for their input. Take time to tour the facilities. Before reaching out to them, however, make sure that you have a general idea or vision of what you
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want your business to be. Over the last 3 ½ years, I have traveled to and rated more than 15 shooting ranges across the United States. Although there are many similarities among those ranges, each range tends to have its own niche market. Some put greater emphasis on the classroom component of the business by providing an array of courses geared for everyone from brand-new to established shooters, all looking to enhance his or her skill and proficiency. In one case, a certified instructor was in such high demand that local ranges could not accommodate his range-time needs. As a result, he began exploring the idea of opening his own range and retail business, which is now a successful Five Star facility offering 22 different course curriculums. A common observation I experience when visiting ranges applying for Four and Five Star recognition is excellent customer service. This area is essential for all range and retail businesses if they want to see their customer base grow. I’ve been to some facilities where I wasn’t even acknowledged or welcomed upon arrival—a big turn off. Providing a warm welcome, on the other hand, can begin the creation of a lifelong customer. The key to being a Five Star facility is recognizing who your competition is. As a range, you are part of the entertainment business. You are competing against not only other shooting ranges, but also the
The Range Report Fall 2012
By Zach Snow Manager, Shooting Promotions
local bowling allies, golf courses, driving ranges, movie theatres, etc. Therefore, you need to create a memorable experience for your first-timers and your regulars. Five Star ranges do so by offering events to entice new customers such as golfers and movie-goers, along with active shooters, to come out to the range. Five Star facilities do this through different programs and promotional events, such as ladies night (a growing market not to overlook), family-friendly programs, shooting leagues and date night, to name a few. Ladies night has proven to be a very successful tool for ranges across the U.S. One Five Star range had its local news channel come out and feature ladies night on air. An important characteristic seen at Five Star ranges is overall appearance. Five Star facilities present the utmost level of professionalism. The presence of a clean, organized, well-lit and -maintained facility on the range, in the store, and in the lounge or clubhouse areas, including the restrooms, is necessary. First impressions make a huge impact on retaining new visitors. To make that lasting impression, Five Stars hire a qualified and friendly staff that completely understands and agrees with the mission of the business. This doesn’t always mean they start out knowing everything about shooting sports, guns and all the products the business offers. Nevertheless, they are eager to learn and provide input to build on the business they work for while enhancing the shooter’s or visitor’s experience at the shooting facility. Five Star ranges also work on
The Range Report Fall 2012
Zach Snow is the manager of shooting promotions for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Among his many responsibilities are servicing the needs of range members of NSSF and supervising the Five Star evaluation program.
developing and strengthening their relations within their state and community. Most work with local youth groups such as 4-H and Boy Scouts of America, local civic groups such as Rotary and Lions Club. They hold fundraisers to raise money for local and/or national charities. They make sure to have prepared safety and emergency action plans. They have Environmental Management Plans in place to stay in compliance with federal, state and local regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and National Institute for Safety and Health. Bottom line: they are well prepared and proactive enough to address any issues should they arise. Although it may not be feasible or even necessary for your range to become a Five Star member, the criteria provided in the Five Star Rating System will help you analyze and potentially improve your business model. My hat goes off to all the Four and Five Star member facilities. Does your range make the grade to become a Four or Five Star member? If so, submit your application scores, along with pictures and a write up that better describes your facility. If you do, I’ll make sure to put you on my RR travel calendar.
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Your First Shot at New Shooters
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An introduction shooting An introduction to to shooting
inding new customers is always a challenge. If there ever was a sure shot at new business, this is it. Best of all, ranges that held seminars found a significant increase in range activity, traffic and profits! Shooting range-hosted and -managed seminars are free to participants, easy to run by even small ranges and, best of all, low cost to facilities.
Here’s what range owners have to say: “We started to do First Shots almost a year ago and continue to run one class a month. We do this for two reasons, one is to get more shooters involved in the shooting sport and the second being a great way for us to give back to the community. We have seen participants who have gone on to take almost every class we offer on personal protection and continue to want to learn more about shooting. We will continue to participate in the First Shots program and look forward to the new classes that they are working on.”
We have already done most of the work for you as an NSSF member and actually help fund advertising for your seminar, provide loaner equipment, ammunition, targets and safety literature. First Shots is a short, hands-on introduction to firearms covering safety, responsible ownership and shooting fundamentals. Why is the program so successful? First Shots provides a system for bringing target shooting to the general public in one complete package that makes it simple for non-shooters to: 1) Gain awareness of target shooting.
Harry Misener, Special Events Coordinator, Shooter’s World
2) Build interest in learning more about target shooting. 3) Evaluate and try target shooting before investment. 4) Access continued opportunities to participate. The program’s elements of cooperative funding for advertising, a simple agenda, short time frames, limited trials and safe environment all result in an increase of new shooters and new customers to your range.
Many have seen remarkable results. To learn more go to www.nssf.org/firstshots or contact Tisma Juett (tjuett@nssf.org) or call 203426-1320. Taking that first shot is always the toughest and the most memorable.
Scan this QR code with your Smartphone for more information on First Shots
WWW.NSSF.ORG/FIRSTSHOTS
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50 TheRange RangeReport Report Winter Spring2011 2012 The Spring 50 The Range Report Summer 2012
Coming in the Winter issue of
NSSF’s Magazine for Shooting Facilities
Zombie Mania A Relationship with State Agencies Pays Off Make the Most of Social Media Fore! Rifle Golf
First-Aid Kits for Ranges
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