Barracks 616 is West Michigan’s newest, state-of-the-art shooting facility, firearms & accessories retail store, and training/education center. We offer friendly, knowledgeable service for all skill levels — from beginner to the expert marksman — with the product selection you want.

Our goal is to provide a comfortable environment to anyone interested in shooting, whether you have experience or not. Safety and education are our top priorities.

We offer everything you need for a great day of shooting, or firearms & accessories shopping — all under one roof.

Rental Firearms

We offer a wide selection of rental firearms with two options for rental:

• Full rental – $10 for the firearm ($20 for suppressed firearms) + Cost of ammunition (rentals must use our ammo).
• 10 for 10 – $10 for the firearm + 10 rounds of ammunition to try it out.

Purchase of Firearm within 24hrs of firearm rental will result in rental price credited toward purchase (Two Rental Maximum)

NOTICE: Due to limited ammo supply, customers may use their own new, brass cased ammunition in our rental firearms if ammunition is unavailable for purchase at the store. 

Derek Jensen

Derek has been with Barracks 616 since it’s very beginning. A lifelong hunter, Derek’s interest in firearms began as a child, hunting and target shooting with family and friends, eventually participating in multi-gun competitive events. That passion has grown into a career focused on high quality firearm training, from the safety basics to certification classes, from one on one instruction to reality based self defense training classes.

Derek obtained his CPL after taking the NRA PPITH class and knew immediately there was a great need for high quality firearm instructors. He has trained through many of the top quality schools, including MPD, HSP, GCT and the NRA, and has spent hundreds of hours working with MIL/LEO instructors. Derek is certified to teach the USCCA Concealed Carry & Home Defense Fundamentals Course, NRA’s Personal Protection Inside the Home course, NRA Basic Pistol course and the NRA’s First Steps course. He is a Certified Pistol Instructor and Chief Range Safety Officer. In 2018, Derek became one of the first Instructors in the Country certified to teach the USCCA DSF Level 1&2 courses.

Derek is dedicated to delivering the highest quality education and training, including reality based self defense, in a relaxed, professional setting. He continues to further his own education, skill and knowledge working with the best instructors nationwide.

Certifications Include:

USCCA Certified Instructor

USCCA DSF 1

USCCA DSF 2

NRA PPITH
NRA Certified Pistol
NRA First Steps
NRA Chief Range Officer
ADSI Intuitive Sight Fire Instructor
ADSI Defensive Shooting Instructor
M&P Armor
NSCA-CPT
AHA Heartsaver CPR-AED

Gary Dredge

After completing his training as a Pilot and Aircraft Mechanic at Grand Rapids School of the Bible & Music and serving as a staff flight instructor Gary was recruited by Missionary Flights International for service in Haiti and other needy island countries.

After serving as a DC3 Pilot & Mechanic with MFI for 12 years Gary, His wife Cheryl and their 2 children returned to the Grand Rapids area. He worked for a time as a charter pilot before He began a second career with Grand Rapids Fire Dept. as a Firefighter, Fire Equipment Operator and Medical First Responder.

Gary began teaching firearms classes in 2011 and is certified in several disciplines with the NRA and the United States Concealed Carry Association.  He also enjoys competing in defensive pistol and Cowboy action shooting and hunting.  Additionally, Gary is the Director of Safety & Security at his local Church and is called on to consult with other Churches developing safety ministries.

Gary retired from GRFD in 2015 and began working at Barracks 616 in 2016.  He has a passion for teaching and strives to enhance his instructing abilities through further training.

United States Concealed Carry Association Certified Instructor

Concealed Carry & Home Defense

Defensive Shooting Fundamentals I & II

Countering the Mass Shooter Threat

National Rifle Association Certified Instructor

Basic Pistol

Personal Protection in the Home

Personal Protection Outside the Home

MAG 40 (Legal use of deadly force) Masaad Ayoob

ICE “Intuitive Defensive Shooting” Rob Pincus

M & P Armorer

 Bad Day Industries

Tactical Emergency Casualty Care

Church Responder Training

AHA CPR/AED

Michigan State Police “Security Issues in Places of Worship”

Sheepdog Seminars (Church Security) Col. Dave Grossman

 2TheRescue    Church Security Team Training

Kent County Sheriff Dept. “Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events”

Zechariah Gurley

Zechariah (goes by Zech for short) did not grow up around firearms. In his teen years, his interest in firearms grew as he was exposed to various firearm classes alongside family members. After experiencing a few classes, Zech chose to further his firearm education by pursuing a gunsmithing career through Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI).

During his time at SDI, Zech obtained an Advanced Gunsmithing Certificate, in addition to his Associates of Science in Firearms Technology degree. Continuing his love for gunsmithing, Zech obtained a Glock Armorer Certification and now offers Glock Armorer services at Barracks 616.

Zech began working at Barracks 616 in 2019 and quickly found interest in teaching others how to safely use firearms for recreation, hunting, and preservation of life. In December of 2021 Zech completed training to become a licensed instructor through the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA). He now teaches Basic Handgun, AR Intro, and Private Lessons.

Certifications:

USCCA Certified Instructor

Glock Armorer

Advanced Gunsmithing Certificate 

Associate of Science in Firearms Technology degree

MDFI Alumni

Sage Dynamics Alumni (and patch holder)

Zachary Gruchow

Zachary Gruchow (goes by Zak / Z3) is an Army combat veteran, an avid competitive shooter, and a USCCA-Certified Barracks 616 firearms instructor.  Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he graduated from East Kentwood High School and Grand Rapids Community College before joining the US Army in 2004. Zak was trained by Army intelligence and infantry to help with intel operations in the Global War on Terror. He deployed to Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division from 2005-2006. From 2008-2009, Zak was also deployed to Afghanistan as an attachment to US Special Forces where he aided with intel operations.

Upon completing his Army Service, Zak earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Grand Valley State University and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University. After two years in the profession of Psychology, Zak returned to the firearms industry armed with the clinical knowledge of how the brain and body work together and a desire to apply these principles to both competitive shooting and preservation of life. 

Zak began shooting competitively in 2021. Not only does he regularly participates in USPSA, IDPA, and multi-gun,  he also wrote and currently teaches the Barracks 616: Introduction to Shooting Sports class; a course designed to help newer shooters successfully enter the world of competitive shooting. He has been personally trained by Scott “Jedi” Jedlinski of Modern Samurai Project, Aaron Cowen of Sage Dynamics, and is a Michigan Defensive Firearms Institute (MDFI) alumni. Outside of firearms, Zak enjoys dog training, reading books, camping, overlanding, and drinking expensive bourbon.

Army Awards:

Army Combat Action Badge

Overseas Service Ribbon x 2

NCO Professional Development Ribbon

Global War on Terrorism Medal

Army Good Conduct Medal

Meritorious Unit Accommodation

Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 2 Campaign Stars

Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ 1 Star

Army Achievement Medal x 3

Donald Love

Donald Love (goes by Donnie) joined the Barracks 616 Team in 2020. Since Donnie joined he has made many contributions to Barracks 616: dominating in retail sales, refining our in-store NFA process, and bringing together his outside connections within the greater shooting community to Barracks 616’s facility.  Earlier in his life, Donnie spent four and a half years in the Marine Corps as an Infantry assaultman.  He then transitioned into a career in manufacturing before moving into the firearms industry full time.

Donald Love is a certified instructor through USCCA and Stop the Bleed.  Because of his constant desire to learn, he is an Alumni of Barracks 616, MDFI, Sage Dynamics, Modern Samurai Project, and Dark Angel Medical. Donnie has also been the driving force for bringing in these bigger names in the firearms industry to Barracks 616, providing top-tier experiences and opportunities for our interested guests.  When he is not at the shop he can be found on the range competing in IDPA, USPSA, ACTS, and BPSL (Barracks Practical Shooting League).  Donnie was also instrumental in revitalizing the Shooting League that is held at Barracks 616’s facility once a month.  And if he’s not on the range, you can find him hiking parts unknown with his dog or taking sunset strolls on the beach.

Jay Climer

Jay Climer has always been interested in firearms.  Starting as most Michiganders do, as a hunter, he then inherited his first pistol from his grandfather and his interests grew into something far more than he expected.  Jay started as a regular customer here at Barracks 616, bringing along his own family to our facility and starting over his firearms education with our basic classes.  Because both he and his family enjoyed the experience at Barracks, Jay and his family would continue to come and spend time at the facility, shooting regularly and taking more classes as time would allow.  Jay would eventually be offered a part-time job at Barracks 616, become certified as a USCCA Instructor, and continue to take classes both at our facility and with other well-known groups in the firearms community.  This was also around the same time that Jay Climer both realized and developed a fervent love for shooting competitions.

After Jay participated in his first shooting match, he was hooked.  He directed his experiences in shooting competitions and his passion for training towards fueling his drive to not only refine his own skills, but to also share what he has learned with others.  This would come in handy, as he started working Full-Time at Barracks 616 as a Firearm Range and Retail Associate and joined the Barracks 616 Education Department as an Instructor.  Leaving his 20+ year hospitality career behind allowed Jay Climer to pursue his passions, and go from shooting only a few times a year to training almost daily.

USCCA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR

NRA RSO CERTIFIED

SAGE DYNAMICS PATCH HOLDER

BPSL, IDPA, USPSA, and Two-Gun match shooter

Joseph Sowers

Joseph (Joey) Sowers’ love of firearms began at a very young age.  His father brought him squirrel hunting in the woods of Saranac, MI with their .22LR lever action rifle.  From there, Joey would continue his firearms journey, being introduced to the competitive shooting sports of trap and skeet, and learning how to shoot a shotgun.  When he turned 21, Joseph came to Barracks 616 and purchased his first handgun, and became a regular patron that visited the range and practiced his shooting skills.  It would only be a year later when he would officially apply for a part-time position as a Firearms Range and Retail Associate and be hired at Barracks 616.

Even though he was growing more and more dissatisfied with his full-time warehouse job, Joey quickly leaned into what he described as his “dream career” at Barracks 616.  No matter what job was required, he would be the first to volunteer.  And once he left his warehouse position for a full-time position at Barracks, Joey quickly worked his way up to the top, becoming top salesman of the year, being promoted to Sales Floor Manager and NFA Associate, and a Barracks 616 Firearms Instructor.

Joseph would continue to push himself, constantly training his firearm skills specifically for Preservation of Life applications.  He started off assisting with weekly basic handgun and concealed pistol license classes for a full two years, devoting thousands of rounds of ammunition and hundreds of hours of training with our in-house instructors, all while completing his USCCA Instructor Certification in April 2023. Because Joey greatly enjoys teaching new shooters firearms safety and proficiency, he is now one of the instructors that teach our intro/basic classes.

USCCA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR

MI FORKLIFT | HI-LO CERTIFIED DRIVER

Rodolfo Lionel Salinas

 Served in the U.S ARMY from 2003-2012 as an Infantryman (11B)
 Served with Eco 102 nd MI 2ID LRSD (ARTO/RTO) Camp Essayons S. Korea
 Served with Aco 1/9 later 2/8 1stCav 1 st Bde Ft. Hood, Texas
 Served in Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom(IV/V/VI)
 Served in Iraq for Operation New Dawn
 Before leaving the Army received certificates for E.M.T. through Central
Texas College
 Graduate of Central Texas College with degrees in Social Sciences and
Interdisciplinary Studies
 Worked as an Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician (specialized in child
orthotics) 2014-2016 for O&P National Fab in Round Rock Texas
 While finishing double major in Allied Health Sciences (O.T. & P.T.) at GVSU
started an armed security company Eleven Series Ltd.
 Invented and patented the Auto Cant Holster in 2017 (Eleven Series Holsters
Ltd.)
 Began work at B616 2017

Dan Boelens

Dan served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1970 (Vietnam) where he was awarded the Purple Heart. He served 8 years in the National Guard during the Iranian Crisis.

Dan has 25 years experience in law enforcement, including 12 years on the Kentwood Police Special Response Team. Dan also worked for Eastern Michigan University as an Assistant Instructor with SOS Temps/former SEAL Team 6 teaching SWAT courses, including CQB.

Since 9/11, Dan has worked for several security companies in both domestic and foreign theatres in their personal protection divisions. He served on protection details for V.I.P.s including Hollywood celebrities, sport professionals, and political figures.

Dan deployed 5 times with Blackwater as a team leader on Personal Security Detail. He completed 2 tours each in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2004, Dan formed his own company, Eagle Tactical, providing tactical/gun training — as well as personal protection services — to private clients.