top of page

PISTOL PERMIT FAQ's

New Shooters at Greyson

GG_White_720px.png
New Shooter

How do I sign up for the course? 

 

Courses are by appointment only. Please contact us at info@greysonguns.com (please provide your telephone number) or call us at (203) 553-9077. 

How do I get a pistol permit? What is the process?

  • Greyson CT Pistol Permit Course: The first step in the pistol permit process is to take the course with a certified NRA/State approved instructor! You'll complete the classroom instruction and live portion in our one-day course. We'll go over safety and firearm basics as well as basic shooting fundamentals, then you'll qualify with live-rounds in our range. Upon completion, we'll issue you a certificate that will allow you to apply at your local police department.

  • Apply at Your Police Department: Once you obtain your certificate, you are eligible to apply at your local police department. This will start your process with the State. You'll submit paperwork required by your PD (please check their website as each town differs slightly) and get fingerprinted. This is done by appointment only at some departments. 

  • Pick Up Your CT Pistol Permit: Once your background clears, you'll be issued a 60-Day Temporary Permit -- with this, you have (60) days to go The Department of Public Safety in Middletown, Troop G in Bridgeport or Troop E in Montville to obtain your CT Pistol Permit.

 


Can I buy a gun once I take the course?


You cannot purchase a firearm until you obtain your CT Pistol Permit, per Connecticut State law.
 

What can I buy with a CT Pistol Permit?


A CT Pistol Permit allows you to purchase any hand gun or long gun (rifle / shotgun) as long as it is Connecticut compliant.

 

 


What’s the difference between a CT Pistol Permit and a CT Long Gun Permit?


A CT Pistol Permit allows you to purchase any hand gun or long gun (rifle / shotgun) as long as it is Connecticut compliant. In addition, it allows you to carry on your person. You are required to be at least 21 years of age to apply for a CT Pistol Permit. On the other hand, a CT Long Gun Permit ONLY allows you to purchase long guns and long gun ammo. You are required to be at least 18 years of age to apply for a CT Long Gun Permit.

 


Can I shoot in the range once I take the course?


Due to town ordinance, we require you to possess a CT Pistol Permit or be accompanied by someone with a valid CT Pistol Permit – we also offer instructors that can accompany you as a private instruction! By appointment only.

 


How does the course differ from others?


Our course offers a comprehensive curriculum that goes beyond the State’s requirements. We emphasize the importance of safety and becoming proficient with shooting fundamentals and being knowledgeable with the basics of the firearms, to start. Additionally, you will shoot a variety of calibers using different weapon platforms.

IMG_5043 2.JPG
in_bays_instruction_14.JPG
  • RANGE FAQ's
    What days are you open? What are your hours? We’re open Tuesday – Sunday from 11 AM – 7 PM. Doors open to members at 10 AM! ​ How many lanes do you have? We offer 11 partitioned lanes, 75 feet in length. ​ How many guests can shoot with me? We allow two people per lane at a time. At least one person per lane is required to hold a valid CT Pistol Permit. ​ What’s the age minimum? We ask that all minors be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. ​ I don’t have a pistol permit – how can I shoot? You are required to be accompanied by someone who has a valid CT Pistol Permit or you can take a lesson with one of our instructors! Contact us at info@greysonguns.com for information on lessons. ​ Do you offer rentals? Yes! We offer a variety of hand guns AND long guns to rent, starting at $10 per firearm. ​ Can I make a reservation? Only members can make advanced lane reservations. Contact us at info@greysonguns.com to learn more about our membership benefits! What can you shoot? What can’t you shoot? Permitted: Hand guns, rifles & shotguns (slugs and 00 buck ONLY) Calibers up to .308 win NOT Permitted: No steel core ammo and green tips No buckshot (00 buck is allowed) or birdshot
  • RANGE RULES
    At All Times, Your Safety Is Our Priority ​ Here at Greyson Guns Shooting Club & Range we have a Range Safety Officer on premise at all times to ensure that all safety protocols are being followed. They’re the final authority on what is safe/unsafe for our guests, as well as a resource for our shooters. We want your experience to be safe, comfortable and fun! ​ RANGE RULES All firearms must enter the retail store and range in a case. NO EXPOSED weapons are allowed. All firearms must remain IN A CASE unless they are currently in use on the FIRING LINE. Firearms do not enter or leave the firing line except in a case. This includes short term storage in the cubbies at the back of the range. ​ Shooters must: Keep muzzle pointed downrange at all times Keep finger off trigger until ready to shoot Load/Unload firearms only in RANGE STATION on FIRING LINE Wear eye/ear protection at all times upon entering the range Be sure to fire at the center of the trap in assigned lane NEVER handle loaded firearms outside shooting port NEVER cross the firing line for any reason Unload all firearms before leaving the shooting port​ TRACER, ARMOR-PIERCING, and INCENDIARY ammo is PROHIBITED. It is extremely damaging to range components and risks the safety of everyone on the range. *There will be a $250.00 fine for EVERY round fired.* No open toed shoes or low-cut tops permitted No open food or beverage permitted ​​ REMEMBER ANYONE CAN CALL A CEASE-FIRE AT ANY TIME ​ YOU are financially responsible for all damages that you cause to the range and its equipment. You will be charged for damages resulting from your shooting anything other than the backstop. ​ FAILURE TO FOLLOW RANGE RULES MAY RESULT IN PERMANENT EJECTION FROM GREYSON GUNS SHOOTING CLUB & RANGE ​ Our rules are intended for the safety and comfort of all guests. If you have questions regarding any of our safety protocols, feel free to discuss them with the RSO on duty.
  • SAFETY BRIEF
    Greyson Guns Shooting Club & Range Safety Brief ​ Firearms Safety Our main priority at Greyson Guns is the safety of our guests. We know that shooters come to our club with a diversity of training backgrounds and experiences. Luckily, the four basic rules of safe gun handling are something that is shared by all. From military personnel to the avid sport shooter, we all know at least some variation of the following safe gun handling rules. Please review the ideas below carefully, they are responsible for the safety and comfort of all of our guests. ​ Rule 1. ASSUME all firearms are loaded, but KNOW the status of any firearm you handle. Following this rule is paramount. This simple approach to all firearms brings a level of caution and respect necessary for safe gun handling. Following this rule will keep you from violating any of the other 3 rules because “the gun was unloaded”. A safe shooter should know the status of his firearm, whether that be loaded or unloaded, and perform appropriate and timely checks to confirm that status as needed. Having an unloaded firearm, and not knowing that when you intend to employ it to save your life can be just as dangerous as foolish behavior with a firearm that is thought to be unloaded, and is not. We also cannot ALWAYS treat a firearm as if it were loaded, or we’d never be able to clean it or perform maintenance. What we can do is constantly know the status of our firearm, and assume it to be loaded, treating it as such until we’ve positively proven otherwise to our satisfaction and only for necessary functions…cleaning, disassembly, etc. Any time we set an assembled firearm down and pick it back up, it is appropriate to check status. To clarify, an unloaded firearm is one where there is no magazine attached, there is no ammunition present in the firearm, the breach is open, the bolt face is exposed and there is no cartridge in chamber. Anytime we pick up a rifle, or holster a handgun, we need to know that it is also in an appropriate status. We will assume that it is loaded, in that we will, of course, not violate any of the other rules when we pick it up, but we will check status to make CERTAIN that it is indeed loaded, if that is where we want it to be. Check your status when you gear up, know your status, but if in doubt, check. Do not get careless or hasty with status checks. Do them deliberately and consciously. Going through the motions and “looking” without “seeing” can be more dangerous than not checking at all. The old saying “familiarity breeds contempt” can also apply to our safety checks. Our lives depend on the serious attitude we all take towards our firearms. ​ Rule 2. Avoid covering anything with the muzzle that you are not willing to destroy. Muzzle discipline, or keeping our muzzle pointed in the safest direction available and reasonable given the task at hand, and avoiding pointing the firearm at anything that we are not willing to put a hole in, at all times, is of primary importance. The bottom line is to never point a firearm at another human unless they are a threat to your life. After that, we prioritize where we point our muzzle based on the direction that allows us to do what we need to do with the firearm and would cause the least amount of damage to persons and/or property, if the firearm were to discharge. This means considering the environment, backstops, material construction of structures we are in etc, to understand what the “safest” direction is. Be aware and conscious of your muzzle direction at all times, with the above factors in mind, to be as safe as possible. ​ Rule 3. Keep your finger straight, off the trigger, and outside the trigger guard until your muzzle is pointed at the target and you’ve made the conscious decision to shoot. Placing your finger in an exaggerated, straight extension, outside the trigger guard, and on a reference point well away from the trigger guard, provides you with the largest margin of safety in real life employment of a firearm, and does not materially affect the speed with which you can engage, should the need arise. When do we place our finger on the trigger? There are different answers to this depending on the situation at hand. The LE professional covering a suspect at gunpoint is in a different position than the hunter sighted in and waiting for a buck to turn. Once we have made a conscious decision that we wish to discharge the firearm and the muzzle is oriented at the target, whether verified by sights or otherwise, then we may place our finger on the trigger as we perform our trigger manipulation. For the purpose of our range and the safety of our guests, the finger belongs on the trigger only after environmental safety has been established, sight picture has been established, and the shooter is ready to engage their target, in their designated shooting lane. ​ Rule 4. Be sure of your target. Consider its foreground and background. On the range, we have a safe backstop, a target, and usually some method of control, whether physical or procedural, to prevent intrusion into the downrange environment. Here, we must simply verify that the backstop is indeed safe, the target is something safe to shoot at, unlikely to cause ricochets or flying debris and that no one moves in front of the firing line while the range is hot. ​ Safe Storage The last consideration to touch on is not really a rule, but a practice, and that is safe storage. When we are not actively using a firearm, we need to keep it somewhere. Where that is depends largely on how quickly we need to access the firearm and the degree of protection we would like to provide it. Loaded storage of firearms intended to be ready for home defense is perfectly acceptable, provided that access is appropriately restricted. We absolutely need to make sure that unauthorized access is prevented. ​ In the absence of more secure storage, using trigger locks or cable locks through the action at all times a firearm is not in hand is one way to restrict access. Gun safes or vaults of various kinds provide better security and can also provide a measure of theft and even fire protection for the firearms themselves. Unloaded storage is obviously safest, and is fine for the vast majority of firearms, but balancing security and readiness for home defense firearms that we wish to be able to deploy quickly is more complicated. ​ On the range, it is best practice to have only the firearm you are currently training with exposed and in the firing port. All other firearms, magazines and ammunition should be stored safely. This means: ammunition boxed and closed, magazines unloaded and in a bag/case, and most importantly, other firearms unloaded and secured in a case of some kind. REMEMBER, IMPROPER STORAGE OF A LOADED FIREARM MAY RESULT IN IMPRISONMENT OR FINE. ​ Living Safety There are many more considerations to overall firearms safety and responsible ownership, but the more we can learn about our firearms and the more we handle, manipulate, and shoot them, the greater our margin of safety should become. Care must be taken, however, that familiarity and knowledge do not lapse into overconfidence and carelessness, as this can be even more dangerous than ignorance. Training, such as that provided by Greyson Guns and other reputable organizations, is a great way to increase knowledge and capability with firearms while solidly reinforcing a diligent attitude towards safety. A firearm is a tool which can be used to extremely productive ends. Like many tools, they can also cause harm in evil or careless hands, so we must take the responsibility of ownership seriously. Maintaining sharp vigilance for these safety rules and considerations is the best way to enjoy a rewarding lifelong experience with firearms, shooting sports, and other firearms-related activities. ​ Greyson Guns Team
bottom of page