Construction Update #3

The build is moving along at a rapid pace.  Our partners, Action Target and Carey's Ventilation, who are outfitting the range have done hundreds of ranges throughout the nation, and both have stated that they've never seen a range built so quickly, especially one that is so intricately detailed.

The steel framework for the front facade is in place, and now the beautiful angled architectural lines of our building are clearly evident.  Our massive skylight will fill the retail area with natural light and give it an open and spacious feel!  We won't be just another plain and dark rectangular box building, warehouse, or strip mall range!

Nexus Shooting is seeking a diversified staff!

We would encourage members of all ethnic groups, all ages, and both genders to apply for positions at Nexus.  We feel that in order to provide the highest level of service to our customers, a staff with varied life experience will best help us gain insight into the needs of our patrons.  Nexus Shooting wants to break the mold of the testosterone-fueled-alpha-male machismo atmosphere of most gun stores with a friendly, professional, and diversified staff.  We have already extended job offers to members of four different ethnic backgrounds and a nearly equal number of males and females.  So, for anyone concerned about the prototypical staff seen at most gun shops, we would assure you that your future colleagues and work environment at Nexus will be far superior to what you've seen and encourage you to apply today!  Details on the application process can be found here: 
http://nexusshooting.blogspot.com/2012/10/nexus-shooting-is-now-hiring-apply-today.html

Nexus Shooting is now hiring! Apply today!

Are you interested in joining Nexus Shooting?  We are looking for enthusiastic, clean cut, friendly, and energetic team players to help us bring our vision into reality.  If you DON'T have the typical "I know more about guns than you and you are not worth my time!" attitude that seems to be the norm at most gun shops, then you'll fit right in!   NO prior firearm experience is necessary. 

Nexus Shooting is bringing the future of indoor range shooting and firearms retail to Davie, Florida.  With 40 lanes available in traditional or electronic targeting systems, reactive and moving targets, an advanced air-conditioned ventilation system, run and gun, and private bays, Nexus will provide an unequaled state of the art range and retail facility.

Positions currently available include (see descriptions below):

- Sales

- Range Safety Officers

- Greeters
  
- Gunsmith

All employees will be expected to provide the highest level of customer service, assist in the daily operations of the range, follow Nexus policies and priorities, and be able to work in cooperation with other employees.  Employees will also be expected to become familiar with federal, state, and local firearms laws, and take a quiz as part of the interview and selection process.  No prior firearm knowledge is necessary as regular training classes throughout the year as well as a one month intensive pre-opening course will be provided.  Employees may be required to undergo random drug testing. 

To apply, please click this link to fill out the online application and upload your resume at the bottom of the application form:  https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form?EQBCT=7b320ec7aaa546d6a90841d70bb99edf

Questions can be directed to zrmcwilliams@nexusshooting.com or calling (954) 587-8005.

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Sales

Primary Responsibilities - Assist customers in sales of firearms and with accurate knowledge of current firearms law in firearms and accessories sales.  Become familiar with range equipment such as the customer kiosk, lane selection interface, and electronic targeting system.  Be proficient in handling refunds, consignment transactions, rentals, and firearms.  Stay up to date on product information and firearm law.  Ensure compliance of firearms transactions with federal, state, and local laws.

Pay/Benefits - $11/hour initial pay increasing up to $15/hour based on time, experience, and proficiency plus profit sharing.  A health insurance plan will be available.  Employee discounts provided.

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Range Safety Officer

Primary Responsibilities - Ensure that customers are shooting in a safe manner and in accordance with range policies.  Perform daily maintenance and cleaning of the range.  Assist customers with firearms malfunctions and range equipment. Ensure that all shooters are adults or minors accompanied by a parent/guardian. Ensure that ammunition sales are made to adults or minors accompanied by a parent/guardian.  Accomplish these tasks both on foot throughout the range and at the central monitoring station.

Pay/Benefits- $9/hour base pay increasing up to $12/hour based on time, proficiency, and experience plus profit sharing.  A health insurance plan will be available.  Employee discounts provided.

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Greeter

Primary Responsibilities - Greet customers entering the premises. Inform new customers of membership options, range policies, and direct them to the appropriate location.

Pay/Benefits- $9/hour base pay increasing up to $12/hour based on time, proficiency, and experience plus profit sharing.  A health insurance plan will be available.  Employee discounts provided.

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Gunsmith

Primary Responsibilities - Provide basic gunsmithing services including, but not limited to, installing and adjusting sights, cleaning, NFA engraving, basic diagnosis and repairs, after-market customizations, and preventative maintenance of range rental guns.  Be knowledgeable and meticulously detailed in proper intake, modification, and release of firearms in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws.  Prior experience is a must.  Gunsmithing degree or certification is a must.

Pay/Benefits -$12/hour initial pay increasing up to $18/hour based on time, experience, and proficiency plus profit sharing.  A health insurance plan will be available.  Employee discounts provided.

The Nexus Shooting Difference - Part 2 - Bullet Traps

Arguably, the single most important piece of safety equipment on a shooting range is the bullet trap.  A properly constructed trap is vital to prevent bullets exiting the range and harming people and property outside of the range.  But, an often overlooked aspect that is equally as important, it that it must capture and prevent ricocheting bullets to prevent harm to the patrons inside of the range.  There are a wide variety of bullet traps in existence including granulated rubber traps, steel funnel traps at each lane, wide open steel funnel traps, or even a dirt berm in a basement.  All of these serve the primary purpose of ensuring that bullets do not exit the range adequately.  But, only one of these is the best at protecting the shooters inside of a range. 

The  steel funnel type of trap at each individual lane seen below is very common at indoor ranges.  Why?  Because it is relatively inexpensive.  The problem with this kind of trap is that the very narrow opening that leads to the bullet deceleration chamber can clog with lead residue over time and eventually these openings can fill up to the point that bullets strike the buildup and ricochet erratically.  Also, the presence of vertical partitions between each trap provides a second area where bullets can and have ricocheted.

Although rubber traps do a very good job of capturing bullets and are very cost effective initially, they are subject to a high degree of maintenance.  These traps can work just fine as long as the are regularly maintained every few weeks to months depending on the volume of shooting.   However, if the rubber traps are not cleaned out frequently, a large pocket of lead can build up in a highly concentrated area.  As the superficial layers of rubber are worn away and this lead ball builds up to the surface of the trap, the likelihood of a bullet striking this large metallic mass increases, as does the chance of dangerous ricochets.

  

We could have easily equipped our range with one of these less expensive traps; however, just as we spared no expense obtaining the best ventilation system possible to protect our customers' health, we purchased the safest trap available despite the fact that it costs considerably more than these other options.  Thus, we decided to go with Action Target's Total Containment Trap for our rifle lanes.  These are the same traps used at many military and law enforcement installations.  The design of this steel ramp guides bullets into a deceleration chamber with no intervening vertical components present that could cause dangerous ricochets.   This trap is not subject to the same maintenance requirements as rubber traps as the spent lead is automatically and continuously collected into containers by a mechanical auger system.  So, patrons can shoot without worrying about whether the range management is performing the necessary maintenance to ensure safety because for the Total Containment Trap it is being maintained continuously!

In fact it is so safe that shooters involved with tactical training will be permitted to shoot as close as only 1 yard away!  Also, for tactical shooters you can shoot at any angle all the way across the entire width of the range from a single position due to the lack of vertical obstructions.  

Watch the video below to see an officer fire as close as 1 yard away and shoot  an AR-15 at multiple angles!

On the pistol side of the range, we will be utilizing Action Target's flat trap which incorporates an angled metal plate that stops bullets, but we will also have multiple layers of self healing rubber curtain which prevents splatter and ricochets.  When a bullet passes through this rubber material, a 9 mm bullet leaves a hole only the size of a pinhole enabling the curtain to take hundreds of thousands of rounds before needing replacement.  The curtain prevents any backsplatter or ricocheting metallic fragments from reaching the shooter. 

Nexus Shooting is committed to shooter safety and well being.  In the next additions of our Nexus Shooting Difference series, we will continue to detail our plan to create the best possible indoor shooting range environment by covering topics such as sound abatement, innovative safety products, and more.

Construction update #2: The storefront has come a long way!

Sorry about the long delay since our last construction update.  As you can see in the animated slideshow, the build has been humming along and at this point the storefront is very recognizable.  We are getting closer to achieving our vision of an eye-catching, modern, and unique piece of architectural art!

The Nexus Shooting Difference - Part 1 - Range ventilation

We will be writing a multi-article post describing features of Nexus Shooting that will set us apart from the typical shooting range.  For this first article, let's discuss the important topic of range ventilation.

Lead poisoning is a very real problem with many shooting ranges.  The Center for Disease Control / National Institue for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH) has published the following guidelines for preventing occupational lead exposure which also includes many case reports of lead poisoning from shooting.  Feel free to peruse their recommendations and the case reports by clicking this link:  http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2009-136/pdfs/2009-136.pdf

Lead poisoning can induce nausea, vomiting, headache, high blood pressure, abdominal pain, memory and mood disorders, and alter fertility.  Because of these significant effects, lead levels of shooting range employees are very strictly regulated.  Have you ever seen any of the employees at a range wearing one of these?

 

It is because their blood lead levels tested abnormally higher than allowed!   Fortunately, they have the good sense to follow the recommended testing and prescribed intervention.  But, these guidelines are for EMPLOYEES of ranges.  Where are the guidelines for CUSTOMERS of gun ranges?  THERE ARE NONE!

Besides lead, there are all sorts of different byproducts of shooting which can be inhaled.  Carbon monoxide, gunpowder, smoke, etc.  Below is an actual picture of a standard N95 filter mask (in front)that has turned visibly grey after shooting 100 rounds in a poorly ventilated range (a new clean filter is in back for comparison).  Clearly, this is garbage that you do not want to inhale!

So, how is a ventilation system designed to prevent inhaling all of these shooting byproducts and help reduce the chance of lead poisoning?  The recommendations by the CDC/NIOSH state "Perforated radial air diffusers mounted at ceiling height have been tested and demonstrated effective in meeting established industry and regulatory air flow criteria.  Diffusers that produce jets of air can create turbulence at the firing line." - page 14 of  guidelines for preventing lead exposure

This diagram shows ceiling air diffusers which draw outside hot air in and  produce swirling air and turbulence.  Clearly, this is ineffective at properly ventilating the range.  Additionally, the introduction of jets of cold air from standard air conditioning vents disrupts air flow, causes turbulence, and is only minimally successful at producing "warm" air.  Even worse, some ranges only turn on the ventilation sporadically to save on energy costs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The diagram below shows what optimum airflow from a radial diffuser looks like.  The air moves as a single mass, all in a downrange manner, in a laminar fashion with NO turbulence at 75 feet per second.  The ventilation system should be on the whole time.

 

 

The above radial diffuser works great at ventilation, but the problem with the this setup is that it draws its supply from the hot humid outside air.   Some ranges try to band-aid fix this by introducing those same standard air conditioning vents which cause jets of air, disrupt the laminar airflow, and result in turbulent warm air as shown below.  With this type of system you are back to square one with a poorly ventilated sauna!

The best way to obtain the combination of great ventilation AND ice cold air is to cool ALL of the air coming out of the radial diffuser while recirculating a portion of the cold air through multiple layers of HEPA filtration as shown below.  Obviously, this is the ideal situation to have at an indoor shooting range.  So, why don't all ranges use this system?   Because it costs about FIVE TIMES more in just the capital costs of the equipment alone and cooling the entire volume of air sends the electric bill through the roof!  But, because we are committed to providing the best shooting environment possible, we are installing this ventilation system, which literally costs $1 million!  This is the same exact system used in many military and law enforcement indoor ranges.

As a medical doctor, I am acutely aware of the numerous health risks present in most pre-existing shooting ranges. At Nexus Shooting, if we can provide the healthiest and safest environment for shooters, we can sleep easy at night knowing that we care about our customers and are not just trying to maximize the bottom line.  

- Dr. Bernard Hsiao, MD. Ph.D, co-owner of Nexus Shooting.


 

 

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