NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation®(NSSF®), the trade association for the firearms industry, is pleased to announce that it has awarded its highest Five-Star rating for excellence to Guns N Gear range and indoor shooting range.

Located in the thriving metropolitan area of Idaho Falls, Guns N Gear is a 20,000 square-foot facility boasting 15 shooting lanes, a robust menu of membership offerings, a wide array of rental firearms, and an expansive retail store that has proven so popular that the range maintains a separate warehouse facility to ensure shelves don’t go empty and customers ordering online get fast delivery. Strategic branding partnerships with a number of firearms, clothing, ammunition and accessory manufacturers add cachet, while banquet facilities, a VIP lounge that can accommodate up to 70 people and an events calendar packed with manufacturer demo days, instructor training classes, ladies nights, date nights and a variety of indoor shooting leagues keep the front doors swinging seven days a week.

As well-rounded as this range is, at the core of this family-friendly facility is its training curriculum. Guns N Gear staffs 11 instructors and apprentice instructors to support its extensive and well-attended classes, which run the gamut from a basic firearms owner course for new gun owners and CCW classes for area residents to specialty classes such as defensive AR-15, pepper-spray certification, low-light and flashlight night shooting and emergency/tactical first aid. It also provides continuous training for both instructors and other staff.

“Seeing a range dedicated to creating safe, fun and memorable experiences for all its patrons through a wide array of offerings to meet everyone’s needs — from the first-timer to those looking to build on their shooting sports and self-protection skillsets — is very gratifying,” said Zach Snow, NSSF Director, Shooting Range Services. “Guns N Gear truly shines when it comes to its training programs, and that, paired with its outstanding amenities, attention to detail and customer service, more than earn it our Five-Star rating for excellence.”

“We’re very lucky to be in one of the nation’s best communities,” said Guns N Gear General Manager Mike Loy. “Our dedication to the shooting sports has grown substantially each year with the support of Southeastern Idaho, Western Wyoming, our amazing staff, our customers and our valued members. Every one of these contribute to expanding firearms training, shooting sports knowledge and safe gun handling, and that makes it possible for Guns N Gear to achieve the nation’s highest Five-Star rating for ranges and retail stores. I’m proud to say thank you to everyone who has helped make it possible for Guns N Gear to serve our region.”

NSSF’s highly respected Star-Rating Range Program works to encourage ranges of all sizes and locations to excel. Applying for rating requires answering a comprehensive questionnaire and business owner self-evaluation of the facilities, staff, community outreach and other criteria. Ranges that appear to meet the criteria for Four- or Five-Star rating receive an on-site evaluation by NSSF staff. NSSF member ranges that meet a Three-Star rating are recognized for being a part of the Star-Rating range family and are provided guidance to improve their facilities and achieve the higher two ratings. For more information, including instructions on how to apply for NSSF’s Star-Rating Range Program, contact Zach Snow at zsnow@nssf.org.

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About NSSF

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 12,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.