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June 14, 2023
Blue Trail Range Receives NSSF Four-Star Range Rating
WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, has awarded Blue Trail Range in Wallingford, Conn., a Four-Star rating for range excellence. The NSSF’s star-rating system evaluates shooting facilities on appearance, management, shooting sports development and amenities and is a recognition sought by shooting facilities across the country.
Blue Trail Range is an admirable venue dating to 1945 and is widely known by New England firearm owners for its outdoor shooting facilities, though it also has an indoor range. Blue Trail has been in the Lyman family for generations, and today Deb Lyman serves as President of the Blue Trail Range Corporation. Kyle Overturf is the new General Manager, having recently retired from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection after serving more than 32 years with the Environmental Conservation Police.
“It’s a great pleasure to welcome Blue Trail Range to the NSSF star-rating family,” said Zach Snow, NSSF Director, Member Development. “Seeing a longtime range evolve and upgrade its facility and services to meet the needs of today’s customers—whether it’s for shooting, shopping or training—is gratifying. Blue Trail Range always has been a special place among New England shooting facilities, and it is most deserving of its NSSF Four-Star Range rating.”
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to receive this Four-Star Range Rating from NSSF,” said Deborah Lyman, Owner and President of Blue Trail Range. “The honor recognizes the hard work everyone at Blue Trail has been doing to make a visit here a great way to spend a day at the range in Connecticut and beyond.”
Blue Trail is a full-service facility. The outdoor range, which covers two acres, is the only public outdoor range in the area. It offers customers the opportunity to shoot year-round at distances of 7 to 100 yards. Rifle, handgun, black powder and shotguns are accommodated. There are no clay target facilities, but a shotgun field allows for foot traps to throw clay birds.
Renovations that began in 2018 include rebuilding the north end of the outdoor range, where 27 new spacious shooting booths were constructed, each with station dividers and an adjustable shelf to hold gear and ammunition to accommodate shooting in either standing or sitting positions. Additional upgrades completed in the last few years include an enhanced retail store layout, new LED lighting throughout the store and lounge area, a brand-new warehouse building with a state-of-the-art classroom and additional garage space for outdoor facility management equipment.
The 50-foot indoor range has 10 shooting positions and receives much use, including for the live-fire section of the Connecticut pistol permit classes regularly scheduled and taught by NRA-certified instructors. There’s also a private shooting range utilized by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and private training companies.
Training and education are a big part of Blue Trail’s offerings. In addition to the pistol permit class for Connecticut, Utah and Massachusetts, a class for the Connecticut long gun permit is offered. Other classes include defensive pistol, the U.S. Concealed Carry Association’s Legal Use of Force, developing a personal and home defense plan, youth education and individual or group instruction in firearm safety.
For those who enjoy competition, there’s a bull’s-eye league, a high school league and a junior rifle club.
The renovated retail center is well stocked – offering customers new and used firearms, ammunition, handgun rentals for range use and they also handle FFL transfers for a fee.
Blue Trail prides itself as a destination for combining socializing and target shooting. Whether it’s a corporate outing, birthday party, gender reveal celebration, anniversary or other gathering, Blue Trail Range can provide a fun time. Food at past events has included everything from burgers and hotdogs to a pig roast, game dinner, clam bake and even a catered five-course dinner.
Blue Trail Range will celebrate its 80th year in 2025. A lot of gun owners have brought their children and grandchildren here to take their first shots and to enjoy the shooting sports over a lifetime. As NSSF’s Four-Star designation indicates, Blue Trail Range is ready for future success—something that customers and staff can look forward to.
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About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.
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Media contact:
Bill Brassard
202-220-1340
Categories: BP Item, Featured, Press Releases, Ranges, Retailers, Top Stories
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