First-Timers And Firearm Aficionados

All Welcome At Shooters

By John Voket

Newtowner Dick Giannettino says his love for guns was spurred, like so many other youngsters, by the classic Westerns featuring Roy Rodgers and Gene Autry. But the self-proclaimed “lifelong sportsman” recently brought his passion for firearms full circle by acquiring his own pistol range and gun shop near New Milford center, which he dubbed Shooters.

Owned by Mr Giannettino, managed by his older son, John, and staffed by son Andrew, who also studied full-time at WestConn, the modest, but meticulously clean and well-stocked business is quickly becoming a destination for many men, women, and teens who come from all over Litchfield, Fairfield, Westchester, and Putnam Counties to hone their skills down on the range.

Adding to the draw is former police officer Herbert Furhman, who leads Shooters pistol permit, personal protection, and private instruction classes, many of which are state mandated for those either looking to purchase a handgun, or to apply for a carry permit.

While some people never forget their first girlfriend, or their first car, Dick Giannettino quickly rattles off the specifics of the first pistol, rifle, and shotgun he ever owned.

“I still own my first handgun — a Smith & Wesson Model 19 .357 Combat Magnum,” he said with a smile, as he took a break from his shift behind the counter. “But my first gun was a Marlin 336 .35 caliber [rifle], and my first shotgun I got at Sears, a JC Higgins 12-guage pump.”

He can talk guns with the best of them, but it seems like both Dick and his sons enjoy indoctrinating people into the world of firearms for the first time.

The Giannettinos typically start newbies with a quick firearms orientation, explaining the mechanics, safety features, stance, and technique to appropriately handle a small caliber weapon, typically a .22 caliber pistol.

“We get them comfortable with a light gun so they get over any fear they might have. If they get that far, we may recommend they enter the pistol permit course in the event they might want to eventually acquire a handgun of their own,” Dick Giannettino said. “In the meantime, we’ll start stepping them up in caliber so they can get used to the increasing recoil of a larger weapon.”

Lock & Load

Once the client is guided through the permit course, the Giannettinos stand ready to walk the individual through the various options to purchase a firearm.

“Women and youngsters, I find, have a reputation for being more afraid of guns at first,” Dick said. “But once they get in the door and get used to them, they often become our most avid shooters. On par, women actually tend to be better than men, don’t ask me why.”

That may explain the growing popularity of Shooters specialty activities, which include the mixed Monday Night Pistol League and Thursday Boy Scout Night. Mr Giannettino explained that his pistol league is part of the national Winchester Bulls-Eye Pistol Program, which mixes men and women against each other in slow, timed, and rapid-fire sets, with everyone out to capture the elusive perfect score of 300.

When they are not on the range, many of Shooters’ patrons socialize in the retail area of the shop, which includes firearms, shooting fashions, targets, gear, and a variety of paintball products.

“We are one of the only places around where you can get paintball CO2 or nitrogen tank refills,” John Giannettino said.

The Giannettinos pride themselves on keeping their Shooters range so clean, even many of their female clients go out of the way to compliment the owners. And the high-powered exhaust system keeps the air clear of smoke, even when every range is occupied.

Faye and Chris Bouchard travel down from Kent regularly to practice with pistols and small caliber rifles on the range. Chris, a landscaper and former Marine Corps reservist, and his wife, a registered nurse, said they have a lot of fun, while keeping their skills sharp so they are prepared in the unlikely event they ever have to take gun in hand for personal protection.

Lovin’ The Classics

About 30 percent of Shooters clientele are hunters, according to John Giannettino. The rest enjoy the recreational aspect of target shooting. And while a number of their customers are collectors, all three Giannettinos get fired up when someone comes in with a rare firearm.

“A lot of our clients like the old Colts and military arms,” John Giannettino said. “And once in awhile we’ll draw a crowd around someone with a unique World War II or World War I vintage firearm. Once in awhile we see one come through here that is even Civil War vintage.”

The shop stocks a fair amount of contemporary handguns, hunting rifles, and shotguns, but Dick Giannettino assures that “we can get just about anything in terms of equipment or ammo, usually within just a day or two.”

John Giannettino has plans to carry on the new family business, and he learned the ins and outs of the shop’s operation as an employee of the store’s original owners, who sold his family the operation last summer.

For clients without a valid firearms or hunting permit, there is a two-week mandated “cooling off period” before they can acquire any rifles or shotguns, Dick Giannettino explained. “And you can’t buy a handgun in Connecticut without taking the minimum eight-hour class, and passing the written and range tests to get your pistol permit,” he added.

Shooters range accommodates up to and including .44 magnum firearms, and rifles are welcome as long as they are pistol caliber — no full automatic, black powder, or shotguns are permitted. One-day basic pistol classes are scheduled for March 13 and 21, as well as April 3 and 18.

The store has variable hours, six days a week, and is closed on Tuesdays. Range rates are $20 for one hour, $14 for a half-hour, and $8 per extra person, per station. Firearm rentals start at $5 per half-hour for select pistols.

Yearly memberships begin at $325, and Shooters also offers family and business memberships. Discounts are available for military and law enforcement personnel and groups. All ammo used at the range must be purchased at Shooters.

To learn more, call 860-354-7575 or visit the website shooterspistolrange.com.