I dont see why people seek out more expensive, less safe & more rule burdoned ranges. Join a club! For $58/year you get unlimited range use 8am-11pm 365 days a year a SCFGPA in Bridgewater with no RO, no time limits, no crowds, safer people.

 

 

It is a shame to see rays go, though

 

Cool store

 

70 mile drive each way! I wish I knew about it when I lived up there.

For $58/year you get unlimited range use 8am-11pm 365 days a year a SCFGPA in Bridgewater with no RO, no time limits, no crowds, safer people.

 

Because we like shooting rifles, but don't want to climb into a sewer to do it?

I'm clearly showing my age here ........................... but ................................................................ The site on 22 Westbound wasn't the real iconic Ray's building. The original was on the eastbound side of 22 and burned in a huge fire that shut down 22 for days (and that was before 78 was in place all the way out) . Ray built the new store afterward.

I remember Ray's when it was in Scotch Plains before it burned down. Can't remember when it burned but probably in the late 50's or early 60's.

Scig

I think it was in the late 60's as I was there too. It had a sand floor.

A moment of silence for the first place I ever fired a firearm in NJ...

Me to back in the early 80s

 

 

Because we like shooting rifles, but don't want to climb into a sewer to do it?

 

IDE rather shoot in the "sewers" at 100 yards than not at all, rays didn't allow rifle. Not to

Mention it's 100 yards and not the usual 25 yard indoors that you pay dearly for at public ranges

Wow, walking through the doors you would think it's some run down bar or something....

The demise of these places are caused by online auction sites & strict NJ firearm laws.

Happened to drive by last weekend and they finally leveled the place.

The demise of these places are caused by online auction sites & strict NJ firearm laws.

 

No, he just wanted to retire and no one had the mega bucks required to buy a multi-acre site on Rt 22.

"I'm clearly showing my age here ........................... but ................................................................ The site on 22 Westbound wasn't the real iconic Ray's building. The original was on the eastbound side of 22 and burned in a huge fire that shut down 22 for days (and that was before 78 was in place all the way out) . Ray built the new store afterward. "

​I'm going to show my age also. My dad had an Antique store, mostly guns on 2ND Street and Madison Ave in Plainfield. Rays was on Front Street, right behind my dads place. I got my first hunting license from Ray's. Plainfield thought it would be a good idea to wipe out a large down town area. My dad and also Ray were out of luck. My dad turned our home into a shop, Ray opened up in a shopping center on 22 West. I think it was Blue Star shopping center. After I came home from my short Army career, Ray had built his own shop again on 22 West, the place that closed. I don't remember an east bound location. However that was the 60's early 70's. I was always told if you remember the 60"s you didn't live them. :-)

"I'm clearly showing my age here ........................... but ................................................................ The site on 22 Westbound wasn't the real iconic Ray's building. The original was on the eastbound side of 22 and burned in a huge fire that shut down 22 for days (and that was before 78 was in place all the way out) . Ray built the new store afterward. "

​I'm going to show my age also. My dad had an Antique store, mostly guns on 2ND Street and Madison Ave in Plainfield. Rays was on Front Street, right behind my dads place. I got my first hunting license from Ray's. Plainfield thought it would be a good idea to wipe out a large down town area. My dad and also Ray were out of luck. My dad turned our home into a shop, Ray opened up in a shopping center on 22 West. I think it was Blue Star shopping center. After I came home from my short Army career, Ray had built his own shop again on 22 West, the place that closed. I don't remember an east bound location. However that was the 60's early 70's. I was always told if you remember the 60"s you didn't live them. :-)

 

What was the name of your Father place??

Primitive Arts

A friend of mine actually bought Ray's house!! there were 3 or 4 huge gun safes that were craned in when the foundation was built!!! Good luck getting them out right?!! So I am assuming Ray either died (R.I.P) or moved to Florida!

Ray passed shortly after the store closed down. Maybe a year or so later. He worked everyday right until the place was sold and they finally closed. He was in his nineties. I once heard a rumor that he and another business associate tried to buy Smith & Wesson many years ago. The legend is they went to S&W with suitcases full of cash. Can't confirm the story but I have heard it several times from different people close to the family.