www-theshootersdepot-com

IMPORTANCE OF FIREARM TRAINING

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 14:22:27 GMT

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been an increase in new gun owners. Our team at Shooters Depot believes it is incredibly important for gun owners, new and old, to be trained on the safe operation of their firearms. You may have learned basic firearm usage and safety from a friend or relative, but taking a class at Shooters Depot can be a great way to learn new information and refresh your knowledge that you may have picked up. Here are 4 reasons to take a firearm class at Shooters Depot:

You can forget skills or safety knowledge over time. If you’re a new gun owner, a beginner’s class is a great way to help you learn the correct way to handle your new firearm. If you’ve learned from family, friends, or took a class a while ago, you might have forgotten different skills or knowledge that can help keep you safe. Again, a beginner’s class can help you brush up on your knowledge.
It’s not too late to learn something new. An old dog can learn new tricks, and taking an advanced class can help you learn something new, even if you are an expert at firearm control and safety. Laws and firearm techniques are constantly changing, so an advanced certification course can be the ideal way to make sure you’re staying on top of your firearm knowledge.
Practice makes perfect. An advanced firearm course can provide a time for you to practice in a safe, comfortable learning environment. A class can help build muscle memory so you will be so comfortable with your gun.
Learn from an expert. All of our classes are taught by NRA-certified instructors, and our expert instructors can help you make little improvements in form, posture, and how to correctly clean your gun, all of which can make a big difference in your firearms use.

Our team at Shooters Depot is proud to offer a variety of certification courses. We have training from Basic Pistol Certification all the way to Advanced Defense and Tactical Training. Register for a class today!

ONLINE STORE

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 14:28:08 GMT

2020 saw an intense rise in online shopping across the country. There were 18% more e-commerce sales in 2020 than in the previous year. You have most likely come in and see our brick-and-mortar store in Ringgold, right off of I-75, but did you know that you can flex those online shopping muscles at our ONLINE store ?

Our online store is easy to use and offers a wide selection of firearms, handguns, rifles, safety gear, ammunition, accessories, targets, and more. You can make all your purchases without leaving your couch! If that’s not enough of a reason to check it out, here are 3 more reasons you should visit Shooters’ Depot online store:

More Availability - If you’ve ever come into our brick and mortar store, you might not have found exactly what you’re looking for. The past year has made many firearms and accessories difficult for our team to order from suppliers. However, our online store had a much wider selection. So, if you don’t see it in-store, check out our online store!
Easy Delivery - You don’t have to worry about having your handgun or ammunition left on your porch while you’re out of town, exposed to the elements; your order from the online store will be shipped directly to Shooters Depot and you can pick it up there!
Better Deals - Our online store has the best deals! You can find less expensive items in the online store than many in-person stores.

Our online store is easy to navigate and has Featured Products, Popular Categories, and Sort by Brand to make your shopping experience great! We hope you will visit our store, purchase your new firearm, and then try it out on our shooting range !

2020 GIFT GUIDE

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 14:30:06 GMT

2020 has b een quite a year - I think we can all agree on that. But Christmas is rapidly approaching, so we are all having to start planning out all gifts for all those in our life. However, our team at Shooters Depot is confident that no one on your list needs more stuff to clutter their homes. So this year, we encourage you to try something different; instead of more stuff, consider a certification class or shooting range membership. Here are a few ideas to get you started!

For the new firearm owner - Basic Pistol Certification Class.

This 2-hour course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary for owning and operating a firearm safely. This course is designed for new gun owners, and this class will teach the rules for safe firearm handling, parts and operation, shooting fundamentals, loading and unloading, rules for the shooting range, and conceal and carry laws.

For the family who wants a 2021 activity together - Premier Family Membership.

If you have a family on your list that wants to spend more time together in 2021, a premier family membership to our shooting range is a great present. The membership includes unlimited shooting time at the range for the entire household. Members of the family 18 and up are welcome at the range during regular store hours, and children under 18 are welcome to come to the range when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, making it a great option for any family that wants to spend more time together.

For the firearm owner who wants to learn more about safety with firearms - Advanced Defensive Shooting Certification Course

This 4-hour course is perfect for anyone interested in learning how to use their firearm for self-protection. This certification course will further their knowledge of handguns and shooting fundamentals, as well as cover the safety rules and proper procedures for grip, aim, and trigger pull. This training will also cover the concept of defensive focused shooting and provide an edge in a critical dynamic situation, making a great experience for anyone who wants to feel more comfortable with their gun.

For your friend who has every new gadget for their firearm, but needs more practice - Standard Shooting Range Membership.

A standard shooting range membership is perfect for individuals who want to practice their firearm skills with unlimited range visits. This will give guests 18 and up plenty of time to hone their skills.

For the person impossible to shop for.

If you can never find a good gift for the last person on your gift list, come by Shooters Depot and pick up a gift card that they can use on ammunition, a new firearm, safety and storage gear, classes, or range time.

We hope these will help you find a perfect gift for everyone on your list, but our team is happy to help find some other options for you. Give us a call at (706) 406-0300 so we can help you with all your Christmas shopping needs!

GUN LAWS SEMINAR

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 14:33:34 GMT

On October 22nd, Shooters Depot will be hosting U.S. Law Shield’s Firearm Program for a seminar on gun laws in the United States. As we’ve said in previous blogs, the current climate in our country is full of unrest. Now more than ever, there is a need to be vigilant and have a full understanding of gun laws in the United States. This seminar will enable new and seasoned gun owners to obtain the information they need on the laws regarding firearms in the United States.

In the United States, there are several situations in which a person is justified in using force or deadly force. This seminar will specifically discuss the self-defense laws in Georgia. It will unpack the difference between “force” and “deadly force,” when a person is legally allowed to use deadly force against another to protect themselves or others, and whether displaying a firearm constitutes the use of deadly force.

Laws are confusing and may change over the years, so continually re-educating yourself is helpful and important. This seminar will feature legal experts like attorneys, law enforcement officers, and other firearms professionals. The topics covered in this informative event will be the Castle Doctrine, the justified use of deadly force in defense of yourself or others, where you can legally carry a firearm, what to expect when law enforcement arrives at the scene, and much more.

Space is limited, so sign up here and enter FRIEND in the discount/promo code area upon registering. If you have any questions, give us a call at 706-406-0300.

5 WAYS TO REMAIN CALM, COOL AND COLLECTED IN A CRAZY WORLD

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 14:35:08 GMT

In today’s cultural and political climate, with the addition of a global pandemic, it is important for all of us to remember to stay calm, cool, and collected. Here are 5 tips for staying calm when it seems like the world around you has gone crazy!

Stay positive . It’s easy to feel overwhelmed if you are looking at the world around you with a negative attitude. Instead of focusing on the negative, choose to confidently face any hardships with a positive attitude.
Identify the stressor. While it might seem counterintuitive, focus on what exactly is causing you to feel stressed. This will let you overcome those feelings by focusing on the strengths you have and your ability to understand what is seeming scary or crazy.
Reframe the situation. When faced with a crazy situation, take time to calm down and decompress. Once you remove yourself from the stressor, you can develop a different perspective to help you reframe the crazy world into something that you can face head-on.
Make a plan. If you are faced with a crazy situation, make a step by step plan to get through the difficulties. Creating a clear plan of attack, you will be able to stay calm.
Have fun. Take advantage of any opportunity to have fun by doing something you enjoy with people who make you happy. Spending time doing something you enjoy can help you feel calm. As we’ve mentioned before on our blog, spending time at the shooting range has health benefits and can help you stay calm in the face of the crazy world.

Things around you may seem crazy, but if you apply these 5 simple tips, you will be able to stay calm, cool, and collected!

SPECIAL PRICE ON BASIC FIREARMS CLASS!

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 14:37:14 GMT

Safety is of the utmost importance at Shooters Depot, so we offer firearms safety classes, and right now we are offering a discounted price on our basic firearm safety certification course!

As we talk ed about in last month's blog, there are more new firearm owners in 2020 than ever before. We offer firearms safety classes at all levels -- from novice to full tactical training -- led by certified instructors and law enforcement personnel.

One of our most popular certification courses is our basic pistol safety course. This two-hour course is designed for new gun owners or those who have never received any formal training on firearms, in particular single mothers or others interested in learning self-protection. Participants for this course need a semi-automatic handgun or revolver, 50 rounds of ammunition, targets, and eye and ear protection (rentals are available).

The Basic Pistol Certification Course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude for owning and operating a handgun safely. In this class, participants will learn the rules of safe firearm handling, parts and operation, shooting fundamentals, and range rules to name a few.

This class is usually $140, but for a limited time, this course will be offered for $99! If you are interested in learning more about basic firearms safety as a new gun owner or if you want a refresher course in shooting fundamentals, sign up for the Basic Pistol Certification Course at the discounted cost of $99!

To register, CALL: (706) 406-0300

NEW TO FIREARMS? HERE'S A STARTING POINT!

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 14:38:38 GMT

With so much upheaval and uncertainty in the world today, it is often comforting to own a firearm. However, there have been over 2 million first-time gun owners in the first half of 2020, which means that there is an increased need for an understanding of gun safety and security!

At Shooters Depot, we believe that firearms can be used to keep our homes secure and protecting our family, but we also know that it’s so important to keep firearm safety in mind. Here are a few resources that we think may be helpful to first-time gun owners:

NSSF - The Firearm Industry and Trade Association’s 10 Rules of Safe Gun Handling
A Girl & A Gun’s 4 Rules of Gun Safety
Gun certification courses to train on how to safely use your firearm - Shooters Depot offers a variety of certification courses, from basic to advanced
Range time is key to practice your skills - Shooters Depot has the Chattanooga area’s premier gun range
Purchasing the correct firearm and ammunition for your needs - Check out Shooters Depot online store for a range of firearms and ammunition to fit your needs or stop by our brick-and-mortar store for a consultation with one of our experts

We hope that these resources help you to better understand what it means to be a first-time gun owner and how to be safe with a firearm.

CERTIFICATION CLASSES FOR NEW GUN OWNERS

Fri, 15 May 2020 14:41:01 GMT

In our last blog, we talked about the unprecedented increase> in firearm and ammunition sales across the country. With these record sales of guns and ammo over the past two months, 75-80% of these purchases were made by new gun owners.

With so many purchases made by people new to guns and shooting sports, Shooters Depot is recommending that the new gun owners take a basic safety class, so they are more comfortable with handling and shooting their new firearm.

Our Basic Pistol Certification class is 1.5-2 hours. It is required to bring a semi-automatic or revolver handgun, 50rounds of ammunition, targets, eye and ear protection (rentals are available). This course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude for owning and operating a handgun safely. It is perfect for new gun owners or gun owners that have recently purchased a new type of gun or have never received formal training, especially gun owners interested in self-protection. In this class, an NRA-certified instructor will teach the rules for safe firearm handling, parts and operation, ammunition, shooting fundamentals, sight acquisition, loading and unloading, range rules, shooting from the bench rest position, firearm cleaning, conceal carry and carry laws, and overall skill development.

Once new gun owners have completed the basic pistol certification course, they will know how to handle their gun safely, as well as break it down, clean their firearm, and then put it back together.

We also offer advanced classes including pistol certification, defensive shooting, and tactical carbine training.

If you are interested in attending one of our courses, you can call Shooters Depot to get on the roster for one of our classes. We can schedule classes Monday through Saturday, so you can come to learn more about your new firearm at your convenience. We hope to see you soon!

UNPRECEDENTED GUN SALES IN THE USA

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 14:42:54 GMT

You may have noticed if you’ve come into our brick and mortar store since March that our shelves are looking a bit bare. While our online store has still had a wide inventory, our store off of I-75 has been an in-person example of what is being experienced around the country over the past few months, since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Firearm retailers, like Shooters Depot, have been experiencing record sales during COVID-19.

According to the FBI, over 3.5 MILLION background checks took place in March. While this statistic isn’t directly correlated with gun sales, it does tell us that more guns were sold in March than ever before going back to 1998, when the background check system was put in place.

According to USA Today, gun sales revenue in the United States is up 309%. However, the other statistic worth noting is that crime rates have also gone down. Since the beginning of the pandemic in March, arrests have gone down 47% across the country, when compared to the previous month. We are grateful that the crime rates have not gone up alongside the increased firearms sales rates. While we have appreciated the influx of business, from new and returning customers, we want to remind all gun owners of the importance of gun safety and firearm storage. It is vital to store your gun locked up, with ammunition stored and locked separately.

We appreciate your patience with us as our inventory has not been as full as normal. We have been working hard to track down specific firearms and ammunition as customers have reached out with requests, and our online store has been seeing record traffic. Thank you for your continued support during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we look forward to seeing you at the range!

HEALTH BENEFITS OF GOING TO THE SHOOTING RANGE

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 14:46:38 GMT

We all know that heading to the shooting range can be incredibly fun, but did you know that there are also some great health benefits of firing a gun?

Here are 3 health benefits that you experience from shooting at the range:

Improving your eyesight - Your eyes experience fatigue throughout the day from looking at computers, phones, and tablets, which leads to stress on your eyes. When our eyes are staring at screens all day, the eye muscles are not working and can cause imbalances in your vision. Firing a gun at the shooting range can help you develop proper sight alignment and use all of the muscles in your eyes.
Gain physical strength - Firing a gun helps increase the strength in your arms and wrists. Because you have to hold the gun steady, your upper body will increase in strength and stability. Your core will also get stronger from your visits to the firing range. Since your shooting stance involves finding your center, remaining still, and keeping your weight balanced, your abdominals and lower back will be exercised and strengthened.
Relief from stress - Time on the range can help clear your mind of the day, and for some, provides an almost meditative time when people can focus. Because you have to focus on safety and the routine of shooting, the range gives you time to get away from the other thoughts and stressors from earlier in your day.

The shooting range can help you strengthen your body and improve your eyesight. Also, you can use your time at the range to get away from the stressors of your day and calm yourself by focusing on something other than everything else going on in your life. If you are looking for a fun way to strengthen your body or need a new way to relieve your stress, check out our membership program

CHURCH SAFETY & SECURITY TEAM

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 14:48:56 GMT

Church pastors and lay leaders, do you have a volunteer safety and security team in your congregation? If you don’t, you need to think seriously about getting a team set up. While it might seem daunting to think about asking for volunteers with specialized experience and skills to fit the needs of your church, here are 4 easy steps you can take to get a safety and security team up and running.

Identify people in your congregation that would be a good fit for the team. Think through characteristics that would make people a good fit for this organization, such as a good people-person, mental and emotional stability, observant, and good judgment. You may have people in your congregation who were or are in law enforcement. It’s also important to determine if the volunteers whom you are considering have any background with firearms and already hold any firearm certifications. Finally, it’s important to get EMTs, nurses, and doctors involved in the safety and security team for overall protection.
Ask those people you’ve identified as potential volunteers to consider participating. Make sure you describe what you have in mind for the safety and security team. Also, it’s important to tell the prospective volunteer that a criminal background check will be required to officially join the church’s safety and security team.
Make sure all of your volunteers receive appropriate training and orientation. This is where Shooter’s Depot comes in! We can help with individual and group training for this volunteer team. We provide training through a wide range of firearms classes and a place to train. We can also help provide security training that doesn’t involve firearms, what is most commonly thought of as self-defense maneuvers.
Deploy and manage the team! Once your volunteer team has been selected and trained, it’s time for them to get started. Make sure to check in with the safety and security team at regular intervals to make sure that all is going smoothly. It’s also important to have team leaders so that there is a “chain of command” inside the team. Establish a serving schedule so that volunteers have time where they are not serving on the safety and security team, this will keep all team members fresh and ready to serve.

If a safety and security team something that you would like to implement at your church, the team at Shooter’s Depot is happy to help. Give us a call at (706) 406-0300.

SHOOTERS DEPOT IS UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 14:51:09 GMT

Did you know that Shooters Depot is under new ownership? Starting this summer, Jeff Knittel is the new owner of Shooters Depot, that Chattanooga/North Georgia area’s premier shooting supply store and indoor range.

In recognition of his ownership, Jeff wanted to tell you a little bit about himself:

Hi, I’m Jeff Knittel. I have been involved in the shooting sports since I was 15 years old and received my first shotgun. I have been shooting ever since and loving every minute of it. I have been involved in shooting everything from handguns to shotguns up to the AR15 platform. I have been in sales and the trucking industry over the past 30 – 40 years and finally decided that it was time to get back to something that I am passionate about. That brought me back to Chattanooga and Shooters Depot. We have a very experienced team here and look forward to assisting people in buying their first gun or their 200th gun. We also match up the shooter to the area of training that they request.

Our goal here at Shooters Depot is for the customer to have a comfortable experience while they are shopping with us. We want their shooting experience to be a good one so they will want to come back. Shooters that are comfortable with their firearm are better and safer shooters. I hope to see you in Shooters Depot soon!

We invite you to join the Shooter’s Depot community b y stopping by our store at 5443 Battlefield Pkwy, Ringgold, GA, which is conveniently located only 5 minutes from the I-24/I-75 split!

Please come see us during our store hours: Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.