Typically, I travel up to Lake Chabot when I need outdoor range facilities. It’s a nice place to shoot and an expansive facility, but the distance and time required for travel doesn’t make for a spontaneous outing when free time becomes available. Checking on the “Where to Shoot” web site, we located the Los Altos Rod and Gun Club up on Skyline Blvd in Los Gatos, a place I probably rode by many times on a motorcycle yet never noticed. Based on the range’s informative web site, the services offered, and the courtesy and expediency of responding to e-mail questions regarding use of a chronograph and picture taking, I decided to give the range a try.The Los Altos Rod and Gun Club has been in operation since 1953. The all day range fee is $10, and an annual unlimited pass is available for $250. The facility offers: 25/15 yard pistol range, 40 yard tin can range, 50 yard range pistol/rifle range, 100 yard pistol/tin can/rifle range, electric trap, manual trap, and pattern board. Black powder firearms are welcome virtually any legal firearm is permitted on the appropriate area of the range. Facilities include: bathrooms, picnic area, snack machines, and pro shop/office. At this time, the range is open from 9AM – 5PM Thursday through Sunday under the supervision of a range manager and assistants.
The day my wife and I went, there was a drizzling rain and fog, but the range had a full staff and they were open for business. Since we had not been there before, the folks in the office asked if we’d like to drive down to the actual shooting range area before signing in, to make sure it was what we expected. No there’s a rare courtesy. All of the road surfaces are paved and the main road passes just behind the firing line, with vehicle parking on the opposite side of the road. Primarily, that means we won’t have to invest in a self propelled battery powered shooting cart to move our gunk from the car to the firing line.
The shooting areas were spotless, the benches made from cast cement and rock solid, the cement apron of the firing line extended a good level 15′ in front the shooting benches, making a great surface for a chronograph tripod. The field was mostly dirt and gravel, but hard and with good drainage, so walking in and out with targets did not pose a challenge.
If you are in the area, you may want to check it out. The web site is linked at the beginning of this article, the site offers full details, photos and range rules. If you’d like to call, their number is 408 867-3106.
Thanks
Joe
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