With your target sighted, windage, and elevation set based on your last grouping, your rifle now zeroed, you take a breath in, exhale a bit, and squeeze the trigger. Your shot hits dead center. Your training, persistence, and practice have paid off. Whether you are shooting for sport or the thrill of the hunt, Gun Town in Grovertown has everything you need to keep your target in sight, whether you are an experienced firearm owner or a novice.
When it comes to firearms, proprietors Curt Mordus and Cori Knight are no strangers, both as United States Marine Corps (USMC) veterans who joined shortly after the events of 9/11. Having gone on his first hunt with a childhood friend and his father at the age of 14, Mordus became enthralled with shooting sports. A Chicago native, he served tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan training with USMC Reconnaissance, the Army’s Special Warfare Center and School, and the USMC Special Operations Command. Furthering his education of firearms while on active duty, Mordus became a certified National Rifle Association (NRA) instructor, as well as an instructor on North Carolina laws governing the use of deadly force. Today he is a United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) certified instructor and federal firearms licensed dealer and manufacturer.
Knight was a reserve police officer from California before joining the Marines. She became a close-quarters combat instructor and went on to shoot in division matches. Graduating at the top of her class from North Carolina’s basic law enforcement training, she holds multiple expert ratings in both pistol and rifle shooting, and has broken several state records along the way. Today, as the brains behind the operation of Gun Town, she is the coach for female shooters and is also the certified Red Cross first aid and CPR instructor.
After the owners settled locally, the topic of Gun Town came up while they were speaking with a client from a previous business. Their first thought was that this was an establishment used by local western reenactors. However, upon closer examination they saw potential, and that much of the infrastructure for a firearms establishment was already in place. After much effort and hard work to bring things up to code, Gun Town was reborn, and on September 1, 2023, they opened it to the public.
Besides being a federal firearms licensed dealer and manufacturer, Gun Town is a full-service shop. Upon entering the establishment, one is greeted with courtesy and respect by a staff member who is either a veteran or first responder, and is knowledgeable in their field. Along with being a USCCA range partner, Gun Town also has a certified gunsmith as well as a certified NRA instructor. Every employee at Gun Town is a certified range safety officer, and all training is nationally recognized. Safety is paramount.
Whether you are a first-time firearm purchaser or someone with experience, their goal is to know the person before their purchase. “I find comfort and satisfaction knowing that when a person leaves, I truly helped to ensure their safety and have answered all of their questions,” Mordus says.
Topics such as budget, hand size and purpose are all discussed before a sale. If one is not certain that the characteristics of a certain firearm will fit their needs, range rentals are available to learn and perform a test fire to better understand its properties. “This is always worth the conversation,” Mordus says.
Training and education are two necessities that should always accompany a firearm purchase. Being a certified USCCA instructor, Mordus offers various educational programs in a classroom setting, such as Back to Basics as well as more in-depth training programs such as the Illinois Concealed Carry course. “Without the repetition of training, a person loses the skills that they acquired from past training,” Mordus says.
Gun cleaning and care is the topic of another educational program that Gun Town provides, to ensure your firearm is in safe working order. Firearm owners who become members of the USCCA, the NRA, or both, have access to countless training programs that the organizations provide.
Handguns, classified as either pistols or revolvers, along with long guns, classified as either rifles or shotguns, are in stock for purchase. Popular brands such as Ruger, SIG Sauer, Springfield, Smith & Wesson, and Colt are available. Gun Town also has independent contracts with Geissele Automatics, Bond Arms, Stag Arms and Tippmann, which allows them to sell their firearms and supplies at a savings to the consumer.
Along with firearms, ammunition is also a necessity for the sport shooter or hunter. A wide range of ammunition is available, from .22 long rifle ammunition to the powerful .500 Smith &Wesson Magnum.
With the desire to keep as much business as close to home as possible, Gun Town has dealings with many local establishments. Tippmann Arms out of Fort Wayne, Precision Cartridge based in Hobart and Fostech located in Seymour are just a few. Again, working with other local businesses helps to assure a lower cost for the consumer.
In addition to sales, Gun Town offers a wide range of services available to the firearm’s owner. When necessary, your firearm can be professionally cleaned to maintain optimal performance. Also, a full-service gunsmith is on hand to assist you with repair, maintenance or modification. Shooting supplies such as targets, personal protective equipment, and gun cleaning products are accessible. Personal safety materials such as mace, tasers and an assortment of cutlery, along with tactical and bulletproof vests, can also be procured.
Looking into the future, the owners see expansion and growth. In addition to the static range now available, they plan to develop the adjacent lot into a tactical range. This would offer the shooter a more dynamic form of training, and allow him or her to develop a wider set of skills than those developed only by using the static range. As the name implies, the shooter is moving through the range with targets that are also moving, resulting in a very fluid environment, which helps in the development of a whole new set of proficiencies.
If you are in the market to purchase your first firearm, or if you are a seasoned shooter, set your sights on Gun Town for the knowledge that will get you successfully and safely started, or the necessities to keep you shooting.
Gun Town is located at 10660 Lincoln Highway in Grovertown, and can be reached at 574-867-GUNS.
