My search for Riley's Reloader story

[Mtn folk]

Back in the '70s, as a young boy growing up in Rialto, my dad would take me to our lgs called Riley's reloader. I would watch my dad as he would eyeball guns, listen to him shoot the bull with the owner, I could usually talk dad into buying me a tube of BBs.
This place was a dive, dirty, cluttered, poorly lit, no windows, boxes of gun parts on shelves, sweet smell of hoppes in the air. Guns were used, ammo in plastic bags, bullet trap up on a shelf that the owner would play Annie Oakley with his old pump .22.

As I got older, I would ride my bicycle there and buy my BBs, then drove myself there once I got a car. Years later took my wife when it was time to upgrade from her .32 long colt her dad gave her. Took my boy there for BBs, then his .22, then shotguns.

This was by far my favorite gun store. Always a first name greeting walking in the door, I never had to take a number, never a rush, never a know it all kid behind the counter. They changed their name once but the place stayed the same, dust and all. I spent a lot of time and a whole lot of money there over the years. It was a sad day when they relocated out of town now it is too far to go.

I miss that place.

[titan2]

Back in the '70s, as a young boy growing up in Rialto, my dad would take me to our lgs called Riley's reloader. I would watch my dad as he would eyeball guns, listen to him shoot the bull with the owner, I could usually talk dad into buying me a tube of BBs.
This place was a dive, dirty, cluttered, poorly lit, no windows, boxes of gun parts on shelves, sweet smell of hoppes in the air. Guns were used, ammo in plastic bags, bullet trap up on a shelf that the owner would play Annie Oakley with his old pump .22.

As I got older, I would ride my bicycle there and buy my BBs, then drove myself there once I got a car. Years later took my wife when it was time to upgrade from her .32 long colt her dad gave her. Took my boy there for BBs, then his .22, then shotguns.

This was by far my favorite gun store. Always a first name greeting walking in the door, I never had to take a number, never a rush, never a know it all kid behind the counter. They changed their name once but the place stayed the same, dust and all. I spent a lot of time and a whole lot of money there over the years. It was a sad day when they relocated out of town now it is too far to go.

I miss that place.

Looks like they moved here:
If they are the ones....may deserve a road trip!!!

[Joshua Tree]

Riley was a character. I once went to the Rialto location on Baseline, and Riley was shooting a bolt action .22 rifle with BB-caps backwards over his shoulder, using a motorcycle mirror taped to the buttstock to get a view of the sights. Customers were along the line of fire, but in front of the display cases in that tiny shop. He was betting people $1 a shot he could hit a target in a trap. I won that bet.

I stumbled upon the Barstow location around five years ago when I had jury duty, but never actually went into the shop.

FWIW, a review on Yelp says the shop in Barstow is now defunct.

[rils99]

Update: I was the owner of Riley's Reloader in Rialto from 1976 to 2004. We changed the name in 1984 to A1 Wholesale Guns, Inc. when we started selling gun parts nationally. I had many great times in that shop. A couple corrections to the previous posts: we were located at 647 W. Foothill which is now a car wash. In 1978 my brother and I opened the Barstow location, which he ran until 2012, when he passed away from the effects of Agent Orange. We no longer have a store front, but sell parts online under the name rils99.

[Enzo rules]

Riley’s Reloader....great gun shop. I bought my first AR 15 from Dennis. Great guy.

[Spartan301]

Good Memories!

Bought my first handgun and rifle in the early 80s at Riley's Reloader in Barstow.

Great store, Good people, Good memories!

[Notpc]

Anyone remember Bill's Powder Horn? It was down the street from Riley's in Barstow. If I remember right, they didn't get along. I bought a few guns from Bill, he was a cool old guy.

[AnchorTactical]

Update: I was the owner of Riley's Reloader in Rialto from 1976 to 2004. We changed the name in 1984 to A1 Wholesale Guns, Inc. when we started selling gun parts nationally. I had many great times in that shop. A couple corrections to the previous posts: we were located at 647 W. Foothill which is now a car wash. In 1978 my brother and I opened the Barstow location, which he ran until 2012, when he passed away from the effects of Agent Orange. We no longer have a store front, but sell parts online under the name rils99.

I remember A1 on foothill. I forget which pistol I bought from you guys. It was a yellow house right?

[rils99]

yellow as yellow could be

Yes it was bright yellow. Tony my brother that owned the Barstow store was in the 1st cav.
I was only 27 when I started the shop. All the old times taught me everything I know those old boys know a lot.