Livermore Range???

[4DSJW]

Trying to plan a family shooting event and the Livermore Rod and Gun Club seems pretty centrally located for everyone. I have never been there but the website info looks pretty good.

We will be shooting WWII rifles for the most part and I have two specific questions-

- Is the range usually crowded, or, what times of the day on the weekends are the best times to go?

- Can we use Greek surplus ball ammo that attracts a magnet? (didn't see any info about this on their website)

- Any other suggestions or comments about the range would be appreciated.

Thank you for your help!

[BayAreaShooter]

It has been a while since I have been there but it is normally crowded on the weekends. Be prepared to wait depending on what time to go. I found on the weekend the best time to show up is just before they open or around 11:30 since most people are leaving for lunch or are done shooting. Every weekend is different though.

Pertaining to the ammo. I have never had a issue with any surplus ammo at Livermore. They might ask you what calibers you are shooting as if it is just .22 they will stick you on the first few lanes, but I have never seen them even check anyone's ammo. Its outdoor so no real reason to restrict anything.

Again I have not been in a while so things could have possibly changed, but I can guess it will most likely be the same. As a brief overview I found Livermore to be my favorite range in the area. They started to do a lot of rebuilding (fences, roofing, soda machines, ect..) about a year or two ago so i'm sure they have it looking real nice now. Enjoy the range day.

[fiddletown]

I haven't been up to the rifle range in a while, but the last I remember is that bullets attracting a magnet were not allowed. Probably best to call first.

[nssurge]

Livermore is pretty much always busy on the weekends, first thing is definitely rhe the best if you want a few benches for your group. There is also no restrictions on ammo there, the only downside is you're unable to shoot standing at the 50yd+ targets due to their metal overhang

[sammy]

Like others have stated, crowded on weekends. The last time I was there (a year ago) shooting rifles offhand is limited to 25 yards. Dumb, dumb, dumb. That runied it for me.

Come out to USI in Concord. Much nicer facility and cooler weather. You can shoot offhand to 100 yards as well.

Sammy

[Tank 57]

I am an ocassional RSO at Livermore.Don't volunteer much anymore due to family issues.Your ammo will be fine.The only way you will get benches together is if you are there when they open at 10AM.Would recommend getting in line at 9:30.

Shoot and then go have a nice lunch.Lots of good places to eat in Livermore.

[4DSJW]

Thanks for all the info, really appreciate the help. The family gets together for our annual "Garand Shoot" at some time every October. We normally go the Chabot Range in the Oakland Hills but this time it may be necessary to meet in the "middle" and Livermore is in the middle.

Glad to hear that the surplus ammo won't be an issue but the timing may be. Getting the whole family moving from three different locations early in the day is a non-starter, LOL. We may just have to take our chances and do the best we can meeting up in the early afternoon.

Thanks Again!

[jtv3062]

If you have anyone in your group that's a first time shooter or noise sensitive take them to USI in Concord. I wish I never had taken sons girlfriend for her first time to Livermore. Livermore use to be a nice range before it was redone.

[jtv3062]

I am an ocassional RSO at Livermore.Don't volunteer much anymore due to family issues.Your ammo will be fine.The only way you will get benches together is if you are there when they open at 10AM.Would recommend getting in line at 9:30.

Shoot and then go have a nice lunch.Lots of good places to eat in Livermore.

What do you get benches together. The three of us went and got crammed into the same cubby hole. That was no fun that day and it scared off a first time shooter.

[BrassCase]

I shoot at Livermore twice a month. On weekend mornings show up at around 9:45 to get in line, the range opens at 10. I've shown up at 11 and had a 1 hour wait and I've shown up at 11 and got right in. Once school starts up and vacations are over I expect it to go back to waiting if you show up at 11. The problem with shooting there later in the day is that it can get fairly windy up there. The advantage to the afternoon is that you probably won't have to wait, but it will be windy and it seems to be a swirling wind most of the time.

What I like about Livermore is that you can set up a 25 yd target and another at 50-75 or 100 yds on the same lane due to the berm design. So I bring a pistol and rifle. When the rifle gets to hot I switch to pistol for a while. The other good thing about Livermore is the people that work there and the RSO's are all good people, but the RSO's don't put up with any nonsense.

What I don't like about Livermore is that all the shooting beyond 25 yds is bench shooting, again due to the berm design. You can't stand and shoot because the roof is lowered to prevent that unless you are severely vertically challenged. And of course you can't shoot prone, again due to the berm design. And as mentioned above, it is noisy due to the sheet metal roof.

I must like it enough if I'm going to go twice a month.

[renardsubtil]

Concord USI has a Garand shoot a couple times a month, you might to see if they'd allow your family to participate becuause that would mean access to their 200 yard range.

[thbat]

The best thing is you get to shoot both pistols and rifles in the same station at Livermore.

[4DSJW]

Thank you again for all the helpful replies. I have been out to the Concord range and really liked it. This is as much about organization as it is about actually shooting, as in, three generations, four locations, and two States. At this point something between Chabot in Oakland and a range in Livermore would work the best. And as for the 200 yard range... great suggestion but none of us shoot that well, LOL, and this is mostly a chance to spend some time together.

Thanks!

[xtcat9k]

What I don't like about Livermore is that all the shooting beyond 25 yds is bench shooting, again due to the berm design. You can't stand and shoot because the roof is lowered to prevent that unless you are severely vertically challenged.

I won't call myself vertically challenged and I have no issues shooting at the 100 yd target standing up.

[BigPimping]

USI is much easier to get to and also has lanes available nearly all the time. My experience at Livermore was waiting in line for 30 minutes before they opened and it was very crowded. I won't be back.