Los Altos Gun and Rod Club Experience

[fatass]

Love going to the range there, they have some pretty awesome land and the vista is gorgeous. But seriously, some of the range masters seem to be a huge dick for no reason. Been reading some reviews online and it seems like a common complaint. I have no issues with them reminding people about safety and being overly cautious but it's one thing to be babysit and it's another to lecture people like a 5 year old. Reminds me of yard duties but way worse.

[Damn True]

I shoot there often. I've never had an RO say boo to me there. I have seen them jump in the grille of people who were not obeying their rules or engaging in unsafe gun handling. A few of those folks were indignant about it....but those people were jackarses.

[MrExel17]

OP i know what you mean, but there is a lot of shooters out there that can not listen and follow directions. I seen it many times when shooting stations a clear for us to change our targets and people still stop and grab/touch items on the station after its been direct to DO NOT do so.

Do this x2 and you will have a babysitter, their rules right? I never had a single problem with this.

[TakeFive]

This range is the safest place I have ever shot at with people I do not know. You can almost absolutely relax about the shooters around you due to the range personnel's education and vigilance. My experience is that you have no interaction with them if you scrupulously follow their rules.

[Jason_2111]

I've had only one bad RO moment at LARG...
In addition to going to do a bunch of pistol shooting, I brought along a rifle to do a function fire on. I didn't need to sight it in or anything, just a function fire.
Rather than put up a target, I waiting until it was proper to do so, and put a few rounds through the middle of a target holder for my lane. (yes, on the rifle part of the range, the tin can alley was stupid packed that day).
The RO comes over and asks why I'm shooting up his target holder. I told him about just needing a few rounds down the pipe for a function fire, and he said I'd have to wait until I had a target up, so I wouldn't, "Destroy his target holder".
I looked at him and said, "You know, the paper targets don't stop bullets right? I'm just shooting the dead center of the tar paper."
He got all upset, and said nobody was going to ruin his target holders.

Obviously, a fairly short-bus moment. Other than that one time, I've talked to lots of great folks there, and never had any issues at all. I think this one guy just didn't have enough coffee to get his brain working or something.

[ander]

I've been going to LAR&G for a few years now. When I first started I noticed a lot if stern interactions between ROs and shooters (and people not following the rules about vehicle speed). My visits during 2013 have been worlds different.

The whole facility continues to really stand out to me as a beautiful, well run, and positive place to be. I had a few chats with ROs last time I went and even complimented them on their demeanor. They both said that it's something they have been working on as a team and I definitely am seeing the results of their efforts.

[fatass]

I definitely agree there are some really awesome range masters there which is why the discrepancy between a really good one and one that really got on my nerves was so huge. Most have been kind enough to mentor and guide everyone with helpful advice which is greatly appreciated. It's when the tone turns into a lecture/reprimand, there is a right way and wrong way to dictate the rules.

[chainsaw]

I've gone to LA R&G maybe four dozen times. Some of the ROs are very obnoxious, some are very professional and easygoing, and most are in the middle. I think this is an effect of the clientele: some are unsafe, some are complete jerks, and those customers force the ROs to become obnoxious, and eventually that sets the culture.

This is one of the reasons I prefer to go shooting somewhere else (like Metcalf, Chabot or Coyote), even those are much longer drives for me. In particular, Metcalf has the best range officers in the area, and the most safe and pleasant atmosphere.

[emtmark]

I had gone up the hill 5-6 times before my incident. Ill not return, I asked for and received clarification regarding my choice of target (ammo box) for the tin can range. I placed my target and returned to behind the bench. Firing commenced and some first timers with me took turns with my 10/22.
An oncoming RO spotted my target (approved by previous ro) and grabbed my shoulder while firing to effect a cease fire. He directed me to clear and safe my gun which he then placed on the table roughly. He then asked if I could read, questioned my ability to listen, powers of observation and inferred that I should not own or handle guns. Having been berated for the remainder of the firing period I was directed to go down and pick up my target and the remains in a manner akin to father speaking to their child.
All this in front of first time shooters I had brought and other shooters on the line. I complied with all requests and quietly packed up my gear. I was not asked to leave but was mortified and angry at the interaction. I sought out the RM in the office above the lanes and was told essentially have a nice day I diddnt see it or hear it.
Friends on the range up the hill from me heard this guy during cease fire. I spoke to the office staff about my experience and was told the same.
You can run a safe range and not be azzhDles. As I said ill not go back, and anyone who asks about them gets the same story. I do all my range time at Metcalf or private ranges on friends land.

[T O Double D]

I've had very mixed dealings with those guys. I've seen some of their ROs absolutely loose control of their emotions and make situations worse. Case in point, I watched one RO scream at a very small woman. He was standing over her screaming and actually made her cry. Her offense? Carrying a cased handgun during non shoot time. Yes, I'd agree she needed to be talked to, but screaming at her was over tge top, IMO. She was obviously new to guns and made an honest mistake. I'm sure she would have put the case down if told to in a calm manner.

LARG was the place I learned to be safe shooting in a public setting. (I'd always shot with small groups of friends out in tge woods or desert.) I made some mistakes and the ROs calmly explained to me what I was doing wrong and how to correct my behavior.

On another visit I was shooting a brand new Marlin 336 (bought just after the Remington buyout). On the fourth shot I ejected the case and noticed it was split in half. I didn't know what to do and asked the RO about it. He looked down the barrel, yes pointing it at his face, and said, "well I don't see the other half of the case. It must've gotten shot out with the bullet. You should chamber another round and see what happens." I chambered a round, but before firing I had a voice in my head say, "would you trust a man that just pointed a gun at his head?" I unloaded the gun, put it back in its case, and took it home. After inspecting the barrel with a flashlight I saw the top half of the case lodged in there. I'm sure glad I didn't follow the ROs instruction on that one. For those interested the head spacing was off on my "Remlin".

Anyway, I've gone to a few other ranges including Sunnyvale and Laguna Seca and found the ROs and shooters to be more profesional, helpful, friendly, and safer to boot. I no longer go to LARG, mainly because of their ROs. And honestly Id rather drive a bit more and shoot on open land anyway.

[controlled_burst]

Been going there for years, never ever had any issue or have even been spoken to by the RO's, of course, I am very careful to follow all the rules. They usually go over them if its your first time on their range and the tin can lanes are clearly marked regarding what targets are acceptable.

CB

[TimRB]

LARG is about twenty minutes from my house. That said, whenever I want to go shooting I drive to a range about an hour and a half away.

Tim

[Remus]

Went there 20-30 times, before moving from the area. Never saw/had the RO's go berserk. Did have one come up to me and my shooting partner at the manual traps - I put the gun down to let it cool off for a few minutes while I cleaned up my and previous shooter's hulls. He went into a long winded explanation about having to ensure the trap was not set unless we were actively using it - he then activated it with me right next to the swinging arm. I gave him a long winded lecture - he knew better than to try and argue.

[CrippledPidgeon]

I think the only time I've ever been talked to at LARGC was when I was a relatively new shooter and did something a little borderline on the 40 yard range, but after that, nothing really big. And there was the time they asked me what was in my water bottles (I put in food coloring to make them more interesting). But after I changed jobs and could only really go on weekday mornings, I never had any problems the ROs were usually more relaxed around all the regulars.

[microwaveguy]

From my experience there are a couple of RO's that have poor people skills and really shouldn't be doing that job. Not very happy with my last outing there because of how they treated the group next to me , but I'll give them another try. Double teaming a poor guy over carrying an uncased rifle to the beach was just uncalled for.