Where can you pattern buckshot in the Bay Area?

[SandHill]

Looking for a range where I can patter, or just shoot, buckshot without too many restrictions on the Peninsula or somewhere in the Bay Area. Most ranges around here, indoor or outdoor, are not too keen on buckshot. Las Altos Rod and Gun has a special pattern board, but you have to buy their target ($2.50), are only allowed to shoot it once and are limited to one distance (I think its fifty yards). Aside from cost, in a twenty minute cycle you don't get in too many shots in a day. At Jackson Arms, you can only shoot at 7 yards. I would like to be able to shoot at different distances, try out different ammo sort of inexpensively, and see what patterns my gun produces at different distances.

I keep a Mossberg 500 for home defense and not sure what is best buckshot load. Right now I have it loaded first two shots No. 4 Buck, then three Ranger OO reduced recoil. I just bought some No. 1 Buck and am eager to try that out.

I am inclined to think that any buckshot load will do just fine and get the job done, but I would like to have a rational, first hand basis for deciding what is "best." I have read tons of opinions on this subject, not looking for more.

Anyone have any ideas of public ranges that allow you to shoot buckshot at different distances?

[bigbearbear]

Reed's Indoor Range, up to 25 yards. The only limitation is that you cannot use steel shots.

[kf6tac]

I want to say that Field Sports Park (aka Metcalf) in San Jose has a shooting position for patterning shotguns on their rifle range, but I don't remember for sure. May want to give them a call to check.

http://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Pages/Field-Sports-Park.aspx

[Jpzum]

An employee at target masters told me any lead shot/slugs were allowed. 7-25 yards.

[ivanimal]

USI uses a grease paint board.

[raven290]

Chabot allows patterning, but the bench is on the regular rifle range, so you can't change your target after each shot.

[mjsweims]

Livermore has a patterning board at the rifle/pistol range. I don't know the restrictions. Give them a call.

[SandHill]

Thanks!

Thanks to everyone for all the ideas! It almost looks like I've been going to the only two places around who WON'T let you do this. I think I am going to hit Reed's with a variety of buckshot in my bag and see how they perform at various "home defense" distances from 7 to 25 yards. (OK, OK, in my case 25 yards is more like "yard defense, but you get the idea.)

[Sheepdog1968]

Livermore has a patterning board at the rifle/pistol range. I don't know the restrictions. Give them a call.

Bird shot only. No buckshot at patterning board or at regular range. I asked why and was buckshot chews up the berms pretty bad.

[big al]

At the trap range in Chabot. You just have to pay for the patterning paper.

[alfred1222]

Metcalf and right by the trap field at coyote valley

[raven290]

Thanks for the correction big al. I've just recently started shotgunning and haven't been to Chabot recently.

[wjc]

Be advised, OP.

Los Altos has a limit up to #4 on the patterning board.

http://losaltosrodandgunclub.com/guns_allowed.html

[loophole]

Downtown Oakland after sundown.