Go Ronsgunsct

Ron's Guns opened in the early 1970s when Ron Rando was still working full-time at Suburban Propane. He'd finish his day job and open the shop at night out of an addition to his home on Boston Post Road. Eventually he went full-time, moved to a larger space at 194 Boston Post Road in East Lyme, and built a reputation that lasted five decades.

Ron Rando passed away in November 2023 at age 87, but the shop continues under the ownership of his son Ed Rando and business partner Matthew Fleisher. The transition happened specifically to keep the business alive—Ed wanted to maintain a place his father could visit during his final years. Ron was there regularly until just weeks before his death, doing what he'd done for 50 years.

Winchester Rifles & Deep Expertise

Ron was known as a gun expert with particular depth in Winchester rifles. Staff members like Josh Ebersole, who learned from Ron directly, carry that same knowledge forward. Newer employees like Nicole Deer and Lena Ebersole work alongside veterans who can answer almost any firearms question.

"He was a legend in the gun industry in Connecticut. Any question you had, he probably could answer it." — Josh Ebersole, long-time employee and friend

Ron didn't sugar-coat anything—not his opinions, not his advice. He was straightforward about how he felt, and that directness extended to how he treated customers. He cared about people and about the community (he served two terms on the Board of Selectmen in the 1990s).

What You Get: - Staff with nearly as much knowledge about guns and gun laws as Ron had - A shop where regulars come to talk, not just buy - Expertise in Winchester rifles and general firearms knowledge - People who remember you and ask about your family

The shop sits across the parking lot from Ron's former home on Boston Post Road, a location that's been part of East Lyme's gun culture for over 50 years.