Mad River Firearms started operations in 2005 by Anthony D. Zaccagnino Jr. a Retired Law Enforcement Officer, with over 26 Years of experience in the Law Enforcement Field and with Firearms. He has served in various positions with several different Law Enforcement Agencies throughout Connecticut.

    After having served over 26 years in the field of Law Enforcement and the Experience and Expertise obtained in Firearms Training & Instruction he decided to use his Firearms Training and Experience and started Mad River Firearms.

    In addition to the Firearms Business he is also a Licensed Bail Bondsman & Bail Enforcement Agent and started Zaccagnino Bail Bonds & Fugitive Recovery also after retiring from Law Enforcement.

    He is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association and also an NRA Certified Firearms Instructor & Range Safety Officer and also an NRA Membership Recruiter.

    Mad River Firearms offers the NRA’s Basic Pistol Course, which after successful completion qualifies the Student’s to apply for their Connecticut State Pistol Permit.

    He Limits his Class size to between 6 and no more than 12 Students at a time and each Class receives his Personal Attention and Instruction.

    Classes run approximately 8 Hours in Length, which includes the Classroom Portion of Instruction using the NRA’s Basic Pistol Course Materials with Hands On Demonstration’s in the Safe Handling and Operation of the Various Types of Pistols, the Relevant State Laws & Ordinances and a Written Test, which is then followed by Live Firing Exercises at one of the Local Indoor Firing Ranges.

    After successful completion of the Basic Pistol Course and the Live Firing Exercises the Students are awarded their NRA Basic Pistol Course Qualification Certificates, along with a Copy of the Original Certificate as a courtesy to the student, which needs to be presented to their Local Law Enforcement Agency along with their State Pistol Permit Application Packages and Finger Print Cards and the required fee’s for their Background Investigations and Permit’s. He always recommends that the Students keep the Original Certificates, as they are suitable for Framing and then available to them to make additional copies if necessary.

    He also offers Private & Semi-Private Classes if so desired at a slightly higher price.

    All Class Materials including the NRA’s Basic Pistol Course Study Booklet’s & Testing Materials, Firearms, Ammunition, Hearing & Eye Protection as well as Range Rental Fee’s are all included in his Class Fee’s.