Lifelong friends open gun shop in Portage

PORTAGE | Mike Lanovich and Jon Glackin have been friends since they were children growing up in the Chicago area.

They said they both grew up in families of gun enthusiasts, so it wasn't a stretch when they decided to open DownRange Dynamics, 2644 Hamstrom Road, this past month.

"I'd been in the business for three years. I moved to a retail outlet because there is an untapped market in Portage except for Bass Pro Shop," said Lanovich, who worked for the sports retailer for three years and now lives in Portage.

Lanovich said the economy has not taken a toll on gun sales.

"With guns, it is the exact opposite. There are steadily increasing firearms sales," Lanovich said.

The two said they have a passion for guns and hope to pass that enthusiasm on to their customers.

Their shop is filled with handguns, rifles, shotguns, ammunition and other shooting accessories. They also can special-order guns or accessories from seven distributors and can complete firearms transfers and background checks for firearms purchases over the Internet.

A part-time gunsmith is also on staff to do repairs on firearms.

"We will buy, sell or trade," Glackin said. "If they have handguns, handed down, and they don't know what to do with them, they can come in here."

Lanovich said he and Glackin, both 23, "make a pretty good team." Glackin, who attended college intending to be a history teacher, is a "history buff" and knowledgeable about older weapons. Lanovich enjoys the new-technology side of firearms.

The two also provide firearms training. They are National Rifle Association-certified firearms instructors.

"Before we sell a gun, we make sure the person is properly trained on how to use it and when to use it," Lanovich said, adding he and Glackin hope to add more formal firearms training sessions.