Barracks 616: Firearms Training, Retail & Range Review

Would recommend barracks to any new shooter much better customer service compared to silver bullet

Friendly and knowledgeable staff, military and veteran discounts. Make sure your bullets are non-magnetic. I've never bought ammo there, but I would guess it's similar to buying food at an amusement park, expensive. Come prepared and you'll have a great time.

Excellent staff. I stopped going to Silver Bullet because they make you feel un welcome and are pretty much all rude with the exception of (2) guys one whom is Marty.

Excellent staff and top notch selection of handguns, shot guns and training. Was recommended this location to train for my CPL and the staff was very helpful in walking me through the process and inspiring me to be a responsible gun owner. Would highly recommend them for training, ammunition, and accessory needs. Have brought several friends here and we now rent guns and range time regularly.

Absolutely love this place. Hands down 150% better than Silver Bullet. Definitely more helpful and knowledgeable. Attitude is definitely better too. I always find myself referring people here alot including a friend of mine who just recently bought his first handgun here. They also offer an awesome CLP classes. (Sorry Silver Bullet, you guys seem way too stuck up)

Had fun here. Very professional and very safety conscious. Fun to watch old men practice their hip shots. ;)

I came here for my bachelor party with absolutely no experience at all. I could barely hit the target at first, but my instructor, Rudy, was absolutely awesome! He taught me how to shoot, and by the end of the session, I could actually group my shots together. I will be a normal customer from this point on. This place has highly skilled instructors with military experience, and they are great at teaching the little technical aspects of shooting.

I came to this place full of hope to buy a Springfield 911 and there was several employees just walking around and 2 of them were helping people out and since I saw the had a 911 in stock I stand there for good 20 minutes waiting for one of the guys the finish up with the costumer but when he was done he just looked at some paperwork for a few minutes and then he just went with the other guy to join in the conversation while I was just being totally ignored so I just walked away, being a minority doesn't get the best costumer service in a few gun shops but this one takes the cake

Best gun dealer and indoor shooting range in town. The prices are decent, awesome layaway options, and the a range is great for pistol and rifle shooting.

Clean, nicely appointed store. Pretty good and interesting inventory, though not particularly broad. The lack of couch commando types is nice, with sales people talking like enthusiasts of various types. Representations of good brands in gear and otherwise. Overall, positive experience, check them out.

Tom was really helpful, working with him made it easy and for my family to purchase our first gun.

The two men working in the range on 8/27 made me feel very uncomfortable and not welcome, I go their pretty often great place!

Excellent customer service, knowledgeable staff, and wonderful selection. Their range is also very well made. I would highly recommend this place!

Great Facility and very helpful staff. The facility is modern, clean, and attractive. I've got a number of very fair deals on firearms, and one very good deal on a used gun that was on sale. They have a very complete selection of everything from firearms to accessories including cases. The range is extremely nice - clean and very well ventilated. It's my first choice as a range and firearms store in Grand Rapids.

The service and facility is excellent and a very safe place to hone your skills.

Already a low section on anything from firearms to magazines they slap a no entry without a mask on the front door? I was fully prepared to be over charged for .45 ammo. And a couple mags. But now... I'll not return to this store

Took the CPL course this past Saturday with Gary and not only did I learned a lot but really enjoyed the class overall with a great instructor. Thank you. I have used the Range before and have no complains, staff is always friendly.

Knowledgeable staff and great place to shop or shoot!

Wife and I attended a class and could not be happier with the experience. We both considered ourselves "familiar" with handling a firearm, but learned a lot of new techniques and helpful information that we had never thought of before. Our instructor, Derek, was super nice, very approachable, and clearly well-versed in not only the subject matter, but how to teach it as well. It's a bit out-of-the-way for us, but we will definitely be coming back to Barracks 616.

Yet again another great experience. Great people. Great place. Always a good time. Keep up the good work!

I participated in the CPL course on February 28, 2015 taught by Garrett, with Michael as our attorney and Eric helping on the range. The course was very well organized, the experts were just that - experts, and everything was presented in a way that it was easily understood. The range time was well orchestrated, with everyone getting individual instruction and we never sat out more than a few minutes. Safety guidelines were clear and well followed. The staff at Barracks 616 actually seemed happy to have us there (unlike another local range). Overall it was a great day.

A very, very professional establisment with stellar facilities and personnel. Roy, at the shooting range counter, is an astoundingly courteous and knowledgeable person that we always look forward to seeing at the range. My wife did her CPL course here and was very impressed.

My sister and I did the handgun safety course and loved it! The instructor, Derek, was very knowledgeable and thorough. It was a long course but packed with really good info and the range experience was great! The instructors were very detailed and really helped safely build the confidence to shoot. My sister and I had never shot a real gun before, so it was a wonderful first time experience! We'll definitely be back!

I want to say that Ryan made my first visit with my wife an awesome one. Ryan took the time to help her with her first shootings- and a good shot at that with Ryan's instructions. I will make the trip again for their professionalism and passion for the sport.

As I travel around the country on a daily bases.. I always find a gun store and range to go and enjoy some down time and relaxation.

Barracks 616 caught my eye and I had to stop by and take a look for myself.

First went into the range and had to see what all the talk was about. Let me say that the range is a class act. Well ventilated, well maintained, very clean and organized. Even with a range safety officer.

The Gun rental selection is very extensive, and impressive selection and at a reasonable rental price.

After enjoying the lower level of the range we stepped upstairs to the retail store.. didn't have much time to look around because of closing. Good thing too, otherwise I would have broke into next year's planned purchases.

Very knowledgeable and friendly staff all around this modern day retail store and indoor range. Wide selection of guns, ammo, and everything you would need at the shooters level.

Definitely a establishment.

Great time! Went here for a date night & we both left with targets and smiles from ear to ear! Great facility great people!

I'm a member since 2014, I enjoy everything about Barracks 616. Helpful and courteous staff! Anytime I have an issue they are there to give advice or help me through my situation. The have been like family to me and my guests I have brought with me to enjoy the experience of shooting and buying from Barracks 616. I will never think about going anywhere else! You have a customer for life. Joe McGraw

Shoot with them often. I booked all the lanes for a group event and everyone had a great time. The staff were awesome, friendly and safety was never a concern. We will surely use Barracks again for our special events.
My team prefer Barracks over Silver Bullet hands down!

Excellent customer service! Nice range, very clean facility, very friendly, helpful, knowledgeable staff. Top notch instructors. Highly recommended.

The only shop I use and trust. Amazingly friendly and helpful staff. Highly recommend.

I went to get some range time 3/8/14 but found out that due to its popularity, making a reservation is HIGHLY encouraged. They take reservations over the phone up to a month in advance, which is awesome! While I was waiting for my range time, I checked out the retail upstairs, and found it was well-priced for the firearms and ammo.

Overall, it's a MUCH better experience than silver bullet. While at barracks616, I didn't get a feeling that I was just some dumb customer; while at silver bullet, IF you can get the attention of an employee, they treat you like you're a major inconvienence in their day.

Took a class that was great. Derek definitely knows how to get the job done when teaching. Will definitely be back for more advanced classes.

Stopped in there Tuesday to look at what they had for pistols one caught my eye the Sig p320 pre cert carry so I waited to purchase it came back The next day and they had updated the price of the gun by $150 more that it was on Tuesday I wont be looking at any more guns there.

So in the shooting range they tell you that you are entitled to pick up your own brass and take it back with you BUT they don't allow you to shoot any other type of cartridge other than brass because then it slows down their sorting process so they can make their own crappy ammo. So if i can pick up all my spent casings, why can't i use steel and just pick them up when i'm done?

Went there the first time simply out of curiosity. Came back repeatedly due to a great experience. All the guys there are very knowledgeable! Great selection of guns, ammo, and accessories. Used guns as well. The staff is super friendly. They all seem to be the type that enjoy what they do and don't mind educating others. Retail shop is great. The range is awesome. Large selection of firearms available for rent. Very clean & well kept indoor range. Safety is rule # 1 at the range, but not pushed in the way to make you nervous. The range does get busy at times. So it's a good idea to make reservations.

They had some pistols and rifles I'd been wanting to check out in person that other local shops just didn't have. Prices were a little high. For example, their FNX-45 Tactical is almost $200.00 more than another shop here in the Grand Rapids area. I noticed most of the guns cost a little more and I really don't like to waste my time arguing about price so I mean I've bought a couple small odds and end here but not firearms. We have two dealers here in GR that do transfers for $10.00 dollars so I normally just buy guns from Buds or Gunbroker. I would gladly support a local shop if it was $25~50.00 dollars more but when your taking a couple hundred, I'm sorry I like my money too much to just throw it away. Check out Mr Gun Dealer here in the area, their prices are roughly online pricing.

Very friendly staff which helped me find the best gun for me to shoot. Rentals are $10 and ammo prices are fair. Always a good experience shooting at their range!

If you want to spend $75-$100 more on a pistol than any other shop in GR, this is the place to go. Their radio ad about going for gold instead of settling for silver is a cheap crack at another local gun store that actually beats their gun prices significantly.

What a great gun shop and I've been several times over the last three months! Super clean and super friendly and knowledgeable staff! Would be a 5 star review except my last encounter with the range staff, would not give eye and ear pro to my family shooting on the range with me for the lanes we rented unless we "rented weapons" I was very dissapointed by this as the previous 6 times I'd shot there the eye and ear pro were provided by the range for the lane. Bring your eye and ear pro for your beginners if you want to have an enjoyable time.

Great store! The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and straightforward with you which I appreciate a ton. The store is clean and organized which provides a pleasant shopping experience, and helps you find what you're looking for more easily. Prices are great as well! Will definitely return and send friends.

Great place to shoot but I would suggest ear protection on top of ear protection. Anyone shooting above 30 Cal can be quiet loud but sometimes the range officer will move you away from the Dick's firing 308-.50 into you own private smaller range so it was nice . Range officers know their stuff, range has decent prices for rentals and upstairs sales me know their stuff. Prices are typical for new guns but you occasionally find a great deal.

You can't quick fire unless the range officer knows you a little btw. Don't let others get you in trouble. You need to show you know what you are doing.

Would give 2.5 stars. Been here several times

The good: good selection of firearms. Upstairs in the shop have more ammo. They carried bricks of .22LR when no one else had any. Staff mildly friendlier than the competitor but I attribute this to the other place being swamped with customers and this place tends to be slower in the sales department. Think about why that may be. Ammo prices are comparable to other stores.

The bad: selection of accessories is not nearly as broad as the competitor. Many times they don't carry what I'm looking for: examples: no reloading equipment, a small number of safes but no dessicant, and just overall smaller selection of goods.

The ugly: it's hard to get into their range. At least used to be able to call. Now when I tried to phone to both range and the shop, you just get a machine asking you to leave a message. Unless you reserve in advance or want to show up and get lucky you are NOT shooting here.

Unfortunate because I really want a nice alternative closer to where I live. Competitor can frustrate but that is mainly because they are swamped due to great selection and good prices.

Needs 10 stars. The guys here are awesome. I have shot here a few times and just recently took a class and they truly do care about their customers. I would not hesitate to spend my money here ever.

Bought a handgun from them this week. Fantastic staff, where professional and quick about getting through the process. Surprise to me - also received a 30 day free range pass!

Barracks 616 is a new state-of-the-art facility with a friendly and knowledgeable staff. I would highly recommend it!

Staff is helpful and precise, would rather drive 30 mins to shoot here than 6 mins to shoot at the closest range.

Nice place. Great prices, only reason 3 stars if u rent a firearm from them, always jam or sights are way off

Great stuff.. Great prices and selection. Bought my first firearm here.

best prices best value for trade in best overall store around

I had at least 10 great experiences at barracks 616 at their indoor range. They allow miltary to shoot for 10 bucks for 1hr between 1-4. I'd give just the range 5 stars.

However the upstairs is another story. I purchased 2 rifles previously, used at great prices.

The experience that causes the 2 stars is this. They had a Surez Glock 19 for 700 bucks on consignment. It was a great deal. I brought in 3 firearms for trade including a HK P30L 40 S&W. With it being 40 I understand it's not worth as much as a 9mm. However when u offer me 150 trade and 100 cash on a 1k gun new, instead of just saying u cant make an offer on a 40 like your competitors, u have lost my business.

Stupid expensive transfer fee. They charge more then twice as much as anyone else.

Just got done with my pistol safety class. The class was setup to be understood in all things. Hands on teaching. The instructor was very knowledgeable in pistol safety. Great job Mr. D. Many thanks to all for it was a good visit for me. Will continue to learn more from the team.

very nice range, friendly staff and prices are comparable to silver bullet firearms. plus it is a lot closer to my house than silver bullet.

Great service and super professional. Prices are fair and selection is more than most other places. Didn't use the range but looking forward to going soon.

I really like this place. It's cleaner, larger and closer than their primary competition. They are laid back and friendly people too.

I have to take a star for a few of reasons: First, weekends are a zoo on the range. They only have 8 lanes open to the public on weekends and they do a poor job of keeping people queued properly when they walk in. They are also disheveled when checking people in or out, often charging them and not returning ID's etc. At silver bullet there are distinct lines and the process is orderly, not 10 people storming all sides of a counter.

Second the range memberships are ridiculous. $450 dollars a year for a membership and it includes only range time, no locker, no priority scheduling, no members range, no eyes and ears provided. Top Gun offers a full year for 280 and includes eyes and ears. Barracks only gives you 30 days free range time with the purchase of a gun, Top Gun gives you 90 days free.

Third (and this is minor) they don't separate rifle and pistol ranges. The have two ranges (one is 4 bays, one is 8), but you can be out on the range with a 9mm or 22 target pistol having a great time and somebody breaks out the big rifles and you have to run to put earplugs under your muffs. They allow up to 50 cal on the regular range. Rifle and pistol.

If they ran a tighter ship on the weekends and reduced the membership to 300 (or said members get priority on weekends), I would be there a few times a week. I think they will get there though.

Lastly, silver bullet has a LOT more ammo, and at far better prices. Barracks is asking 18.99/50 of 9mm range ammo, silver bullet has range ammo (9mm FMJ) for 13:99.

That said, it's close enough that it is still my range of choice. But I will be joining an outdoor shooting club this summer instead of joining Barracks AND an outdoor club. They priced themselves out of my business with the range memberships.

Everyone that works there is really nice and helpful! Great place to go and destress!

Wonderful collection of firearms and an exceptional staff.

Had another great experience at Barracks. I met Rick the owner during construction of the store many years ago and he has held to his vision of a stand alone exceptional range and retail store. I purchased a BG AR 15 for myself and a Glock 19 for my wife. Kyle and Tom were phenomenal and the service and knowledge was impeccable. Thanks Barracks!

I love Barracks 616! The store and range are always very clean, and the staff is knowledgeable, experienced and helpful. Everyone is down to earth and the environment is great. I will not shoot anywhere else!

I've shot here at their indoor range many times and have always had a great experience. I took their Concealed Pistol class back in August and enjoyed every bit of it. Derek was extremely professional and was a phenomenal instructor for the class.

Very disappointed. We reserved a couple of rental handguns and range time, so I could see which one I like better before I purchased. When we got there, we were told that even though the guns were reserved they were not available because they were using them in one of the classes. But they did have our range time available. That didn't do me any good without the guns I wanted. Just be aware that just because you reserve a gun for rental doesn't mean you are going to get it.

Been a customer of B616 since they opened, it now the only place i trust And will not go anywhere else when it comes to firearms. Great staff, and management. Again, B616 has become the only gunshop i will work with in Grand Rapids.

Buggered up my bolt release roll pin on my sbr being in a hurry. Hung my head in shame and called a couple shops. Several were asking me to wait weeks to even look at it. Brought it to barracks 616 and Brad was not only didn't make fun of me(which I deserved) but was also understanding and fixed it for me on the spot! Amazing! They earned a customer for life!! Best customer service in my life at such a time of need.

While Barracks 616 do have the nicest facility in mid Michigan this company falls VERY short where it's employees and business practices are concerned. Their prices are unnecessarily high, especially ammunition. When I attempted to purchase a scope from them they were very informative and helpful but even with a supposed discount their price was still $100 more than other retailers. I ordered a case of ammunition and was quoted a certain price. When the ammunition came in I was charged $3 per box MORE than I was quoted. I purchased a used 1911 which I was told was in complete working order but I found out afterwards that the backstrap safety was non-functional and the thumb safety retention pin was actually loose and needed to be repaired. I had to take it to a gunsmith before it could be made safe to shoot. When I tried to bring the issue to their attention Mark completely ignored me for nearly half an hour and then was extremely rude and belligerent before walking away mid-sentence to help other customers. On another occasion I took my WW2 Luger P08 to have the ejector spring replaced and a new magazine ordered. The gunsmith told me that his fingers weren't strong enough to fit the spring so he cut the new spring down which of course means that I will have to replace the spring again shortly. The magazine that they supplied caused jams and when I tried to remove the magazine it jammed inside the gun so I had to strip the gun and forcefully remove the magazine from the frame with tools. I was also quoted $450 for a repair to my Luger that a previous gunsmith quoted $50! In under six months I spent several thousands of dollars at this store, I even bought an Officer's annual membership and a CPL course but the way I have been treated is beyond unacceptable. My last visit was the final straw. I booked a lane on their range for myself and my girlfriend to try out a new shotgun. This reservation was made several hours in advance. When we arrived at the range we were told that they were just about to close down the main range to set up for a weekly event and that they were going to put us on the smaller private range instead. Shortly after we began shooting the range safety officer, Wayne, approached my girlfriend and told her that she could not have her holstered pistol on her hip while we were in the range and she would have to leave it on the table with the other firearms we were using. This is not one of their rules and not something that other customers have been asked to do. After checking with another employee the RSO did admit that he was wrong but the harassment was uncalled for. Shortly afterwards we were told by the employee at the counter (Wes) that our reservation had not been saved in the computer (even though we saw him check the booking when we signed in), the lane was now double booked and we were going to have to leave the range but said that a second reservation was being made for us for an hour later. He said to finish up what we were shooting and come out to the waiting area. As we were packing up the handful of guns that we had brought with us, Wes came back in the range and began shouting at us for taking too long to pack up. We finished loading up, retrieved our IDs from the employee at the counter, and left the building. I went back in to speak with a manager about the way we had been treated. Gregg the general manager refused to see me and sent out a young man who claimed to be a manager as well. When I attempted to explain the situation, he was dismissive and clearly did not care at all. So all in all the policies and staff behavior completely counter the quality of the facility. It's a shame because the facility has so much potential if it were only run by better people.

Made an hour appointment and was only allowed to shoot 45 minutes because they were busy. What's the point of an appointment if you can't use all of the allotted time? I'll find other ranges to go to from now on.

Cant say much about the retail side upstairs but the range is as awesome as expected

Professional and safe staff. Easy to work with if you are new to this environment. Good selection and prices all around.

Service was great! I'm not a gun guy but my wife took a CPL class (not here) and was ready to buy a handgun. They listened to her questions and walked her through the different types and features. They answered all her questions and they were very helpful. She walked a way with a S&W 380 and loves it!

Love hanging out her. This a great place to have some fun popping off a few rounds.

Fantastic little shop staffed by experienced, knowledgeable, and friendly people. The range is a great place for new shooters to gain experience with friendly and helpful range staff standing by to answer questions and offer friendly advice. You can always find cheaper prices if you look on the internet, but my family prefers to support local small business, and honestly, the prices aren't that much more than you can find elsewhere. They're even cheaper than Cabela's! 5 stars only because 10 isn't an option!

Very helpful, they helped me get my grouping closer together abdominal also have a big selection of guns

Really quality interaction every time I have been in. Prices are good and down right cheap if you factor in the free advice they are willing to give. I was actually talked out of a purchase because it didn't make sense for me. A better for my needs version of the same gun existed that they did not have the ability to order anymore. That just doesn't happen.

I've had mostly good experiences here, but also a few bad ones. Particularly when a few undereducated staff members sold me the wrong product. I rely on these guys to be experts and know exactly what they're selling me. On a few occasions, they have fallen short of that expectation. However, they have never failed to correct the mistake, and make the situation right for me in the end. I have full confidence in every dollar I spend here. Keep in mind that not all staff are experts in each area, I have learned to ask for several of their opinions before I draw a conclusion on which product to buy.

Excellent! Wow this place is professional and safe!

Pros:

Great staff, hands down the best I've encountered at a range!

Cons:

Way too many guys rapid firing AR's! These guys need to be separated to one end of the range if they want to shoot like that. Rentals and ammo is a bit on the higher than the norm.

Took a handgun basics class and LOVED it! Our instructor, Derek, was amazing! Answered questions professionally, gave thorough instructions, and gave me so much more confidence in handling handguns!!

I recently bought a Pistol at Barracks 616. The service was good until the gun came in. I was going to buy at Silver Bullet because of the price difference ($75). I was told on the phone that it was no problem and that Barracks 616 would match the price of Silver Bullet. I ordered through Barracks 616, and as soon as the gun came in, they decided not to honor their commitment. If you want a great range, integrity, AND great prices, I suggest you go to somewhere else.

Nice place, clean environment, comfortable couches outside the range too. Seemed safe as well, doors to the range locked, and they had shooters read and sign wavers. Staff was VERY friendly, in the range and out front. I didn't visit upstairs (store) but I may next time. Handgun rental is also cheap.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff who take the time to show me their guns and answer any questions. Nice selection of guns. Haven't used the range yet but will update after I do.

Great local business! Their prices on shotguns are cheaper than Cabelas, and Gander Mountain. Great customer service too.

Great time, very well run. Went with my son shot rifles and pistols. Very friendly.

Needed help with my pistol while on the range and help was right there! It was great not having to find someone out side of the range for assistance.

Vito, (I hope I got his name right) is a walking encyclopedia. I look for him when ever I go in. He's always been a great deal of help. The whole staff is friendly and knowledgeable.

Searched for months for firearm I wanted. So It needed to be ordered. Referred to them by a friend. They said they could order it, and I put the required 25% down. After about a month and a half I never heard from then, so I started to call to inquire, and that's when the excuses started. Finally after the fifth time calling they finally passed me om to a manager who basically said we will just give you your money back. I was shocked and couldn't believe since they were holdin on a large down payment of mine and felt complete betrayed. I asked it seemed like you didn't even try. I then went to the competitor on division and had my rifle in 3 days. I will never go there again nor recommend them to anyone.

Very friendly/welcoming environment. Took my girlfriend to go here for the first time and the staff were extremely helpful in showing her what and what not to do. Also gave me a few pointers as well. They aren't pushing you to buy product. They will take the time to explain what ever you need. Unlike another location in the area. I will drive the extra 10 mins just to shoot here!

Took the basic pistol class, took the CPL class, and purchased a handgun from here. Garrett and Dan were awesome instructors. Guns were reasonably priced, ammo wasn't all that bad either. The actual facilities are very top notch. I'm sure their business will expand exponentially in the near future.

Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it cost me $54 dollars to test out the carry gun I wanted. Great place and friendly staff of you live in the grand rapids area I would recommend joining.

We came here with another couple for the Tuesday night date night special. $20 each for a gun, ammo, ear and eye protection. We are all fairly new shooters and the staff was friendly and helpful and we all had a great time and plan to return soon!