I will NEVER buy anything from this store again. On Oct 15 I ordered 3 items and then received a email stating they were 3 to 4 weeks from shipping, so I called on Oct 19 to cancel the order, and they charged me a 25% restocking fee for items that not only had not shipped yet, but were not even in stock. How can you charge a restocking fee on something you don't even have? I will let ALL my shooting friends know about their bad business practices. read more

Exceptional personal service. I highly recommend Solar Tactical for all your tactical needs. The staff is great and the store has everything you need, and if the don't they'll order it. Excellent shop! read more

Where do I start? The employees are full of shit. They try to act cool and like they know everything. A gun shop that doesn't know where to get lower receivers engraved or punched. They sell lowers with no engraving too. They sold me a magazine which the bag had been opened and also a highly overpriced rear sight that didn't fit my railing. When I went to return it they charged a ridiculous restocking fee of 25%. Their stock is not big enough to charge a fee. I can walk around the perimeter of the store in less than 15 seconds. Horrible experience and will never go back. read more

I live in Fremont and drive past other gun shops in my area to get to Solar Tactical. I have 3 kids (11,10 and 8) and the crew always makes them feel welcomed and comfortable. They are knowledgable and extremely approachable. Other shops I felt intimidated to ask questions, here they make you feel comfortable. One thing that stood out to me, is my son (who is undergoing radiation for tumors) was talking to some of the crew (Andrew and Matt) when they noticed his PICC line (IV for his meds) right away they gave myself, him, his brother and his best friend company shirts! I was so grateful because it truly made my son's day! As I'm writing this he is undergoing his next radiation treatment, and we are all wearing our Solar Tactical shirts!!!! read more

Solar Tactical - Solar Tactical! - Guns & Ammo Near Me - Livermore, California

This place is my home! I love the many selections they have from firearms to ammo and a few other things. Staff is extremely helpful, and great with customers. I've purchased all but one firearm from here, and that one I got at a gun show. The others, all were great experiences for me. I tell a lot of people about this place...It's a great place to purchase from and build a relationship.... read more

I've had good experiences service wise with Solar Tactical. I've even purchased a few firearms from them as well. I try to support my local gun store as best as possible and I know their overhead is high especially owning and operating a business in the Bay Area but my last purchase with them left me with a sour taste in my mouth. I ended up purchasing a 1911 from them and found a few other places like Sportsman's warehouse selling the same gun for $700 cheaper. When they have their sales you can do pretty well. If you're on a tight budget you might consider looking else where. Overall it's a good place. Weekends tend to get packed so plan accordingly! read more

I have been to different gun shops in the bay area and I always have the sense of they really don't care about you and have this "what you want?" with an attitude look. Solar Tactical in Livermore......total opposite compared to the other gun shops I have been to. They make you feel welcome. Staff is really cool and they really educate you and make you feel comfortable by treating you like family. Unfortunately I didn't purchase my first firearm here but my when it was time buy a riffle and another handgun no question this is the place to go. I recently ordered a AR 15 lower online and have it transferred here for the FFL and I was told by the shop to have the online store to call them for the FFL exchange but the online store seems to not to read instructions. I went to Solar Tactical to check on the status of my FFL transfer and they told to contact the online store to have them call them since its store policy. I contacted the online store but they refuse to call them so I'm kinda stuck in the middle. So I told them about the situation and so they took care of it and called the online store and exchange FFL information. Problem solved!!! I did give the online store a bad review (don't ever order from runnerrunner.com). This place goes over and beyond to help their customer to make sure they are taken care of. They come in happy and they leave even more happier. Friendly staff and very courteous. No matter where in the Bay Area are you from. If you need anything gun related from handgun, riffle, shotgun, ammo or anything that you need to make a trip to a gun store you all need to come here.....Highly Highly Highly recommended!! Also if you find a lower price online, print it out and you can bring it with you because they will beat or match the online price. read more

This is the first time I checked this place out due to the many positive reviews that I've seen online and the availability of handguns in store despite COVID times. With the shortages of firearms during this pandemic, I completely understand that firearm prices go up and I'm all for it and everything. But here's the problem...when you see an SD9 selling for about the same price or pretty darn close to, let's say, a pre-COVID priced SA 1911 mil-spec 45 (black) or even a Kimber custom 2, it's unbelievably shocking and appalling. Price gouging much? SMH. I'm not even going to get started with their Glock 17 because the price they are selling it for is highly amusing. It seems that these prices are set specifically to target "first-time buyers" (always do your research before you go to a gun shop). So why the 2 stars? The employees at the front seem pretty cool unlike typical local gun shop grouches. They also had 5.56 available, although ridiculously over-priced as expected (roughly about a $1.40 per round/box of 20 cartridges of Hornady 55 grain LOL), whereas most places don't even know when to expect a shipment in. So I ended up buying their extremely overpriced ammunition even though I never spend more than a dollar per round of 5.56x45 just so I didn't feel like I wasted a trip out to Livermore. If the base didn't run out of firearms or ammuntion to sell, I would be shopping there as usual because integrity still seems to exist there. But, unfortunately, I had to settle for Livermore's Solar Tactical. Never again... read more

Went in today 7/10/20 to see about purchasing a 12 gauge shotgun. Place was packed which is understandable during these times. I finally got to speak to an associate (I think I heard that his name was John). My appointment was at 4:00 and I got some service at about 4:30. There is a clearly marked sign on the window that stated you must wear a mask in the store. I guess John didn't see the sign because he was the only one in the store that didn't have one on. He asked how he could help. I told him I was a first time buyer and was interested in a shotgun. "You're looking at them he said". I repeated that I was a first time gun buyer and he nearly threw up his hands and asked what I wanted it for. Home protection was my answer. He said I needed to take a gun safety test. Took 10-15 minutes to get the test and he went on to help another customer while I took the test. I finished and waited another 10 minutes until he got back to me. He took my paperwork to an office to grade it. At some point I watched him walk out the front door. I didn't know where he was going so I didn't pay a lot of attention. It's now 5:15 or so and another employee finally approached me and said "John just dusted you". I didn't understand and he said that John had left in the middle of our transaction! WTF?? No mention that he was going home. Not a "I'll pass you along to the next associate". Nothing. The guy who took over was great and answered several questions, but John ruined it. I was ready to buy a gun but I have decided not to spend my money there. All the other associates seemed engaged and helpful. John, not so much. I'll take my business elsewhere. I gave a 2 star rating just because of the other associates. I get that they are really busy but it felt like as soon as I said I was a first time gun buyer, John lost interest in my business. read more

If you want a cool looking, rare & hard to find rifle this is the place. Scars, Vepr, Galil, Tavor, Tommy Gun, Saw...I've seen them all in the shop, and even checked a few off my list of wants. I've seen guns in the Livermore store that I've never seen anywhere else. The staff is super cool and helpful, and if they can, they will help you with your firearm issues on the spot. The prices are a little bit higher, but for these rare guns in Commifornia, I guess it's kinda expected. You can find these rare guns online cheaper, but they aren't CA compliant and the seller won't ship them to CA. They do get busy, and be prepared to wait if there is more than a few people in the shop ahead of you. Great shop overall. read more

Pricing is very competitive. The staff is very helpful and friendly. I purchased a Glock 21 and a Kriss Vector. The transaction took just over an hour which was expected. However, that can vary on how busy they are. Overall, very satisfied and I will return for future purchases. read more

My first review of 2015! Great customer service and very knowledgeable guys. I recently purchased my first handgun and the process was quite painless (other than the hoops that the government makes you jump through to own a firearm). I took my firearm safety test here, filled out all the paper work and came back 10 days letter to pick up my new gun. The vibe here is really chill and friendly. Its a family business where the people working there will spend the time showing you everything you want to see and explaining the pros and cons of each item you're looking at. At no time did I feel that theses guys were trying to rush me out the door (Its always busy here and there is always a line). They also offer training courses and gun smithing services as well. Some helpful tips: Be sure to grab a number when you walk in Have an idea of what you want to look at Be sure to bring your ID and a utility bill with in the last 3 months if you are going to purchase something read more

Supper friendly staff!! I just purchased another addition to my collection, and I am very please. I normally have to drive to Sacramento to get a good deal on my toys., I stopped by this place and after telling them what I wanted and how much I was willing to pay. They matched the price I was originally was going to pay, and saved me the drive. I will definitely make my next purchase from this place. read more

Matt helped me with my Kriss and SW firearms and he was outstanding. Over the next few visits I was helped by many other employees, all the guys are great. Extremely helpful and will spend as much time as you need. Given the current hype, there are many people just browsing, first time buyers etc. Every staff member was extremely patient. The selection there is unlike any other gun store in the Tri-Valley, probably entire Bay Area. My go to spot from now on! Thanks Solar! read more

Great little tactical shop. Their website is terrible, and considering its the Bay Area, that's a little ridiculous. However, all silly criticisms aside this is a great tactical shop. This is not a gun store, it's a tactical gun store. Don't come here for hunting or non-tactical pistol needs. They have lots of goodies in stock and are happy to have you check them out. Pretty close to Internet prices. Great service. Super nice and knowledgable staff. read more

Visited for a Private Party Transfer for a gun I sold from CalGuns forum. Staff was helpful, knowledgable and transparent about the process. The paperwork for the transfer was completed quickly. After, I looked around the store and held a few different handguns. Everyone staffed behind the counter was attentive and engaging. I was probably helped by 4 different employees in total and never had to wait around despite the very busy store filled with about 10 customers on a Saturday afternoon. If Solar Tactical was closer to me, they would be one of my go to FFLs/dealers. I recommend them to all of my friends/family in that part of the Bay Area. Great job Solar Tactical. Keep it up and best of luck. -BC read more

I had fun in this store. John treated me like his Brother. Well we are...Military Brothers..both willing to protect OUR FLAG at all costs. He was VERY helpful and didnt make me feel rushed. I even said HEY SORRY SO MANY QUESTIONS and he said DONT SAY SORRY IM HERE TO HELP! All businesses must treat people like John does. The other people working were kind and professional as well. Im coming back tomorrow! Thanx guys. Go Solar Tactical. O ya 5 STARS!!!This review is from Dennis. Im using Samanthas fone. Oops read more

Wow I almost think they like bad reviews with how they speak to people just shocked they talk to people that way at all regardless of where or when it is. Some really cool hard working helpful veterans are there but guys who hate their job or just dont want to be there make me never want to give them business again and I've bought from both stores before. There are several other gun stores from Fremont to Petaluma who don't talk down and condescend their customers. Shop has cool stuff but be ready to be kicked in the teeth with the disrespect, wish I never them a single dollar. read more

Conveniently right off of 580 - a perfect spot for highway robbers. Pandemic pricing is one thing, but having the balls to charge $900 over msrp for an IWI TS12 takes the cake. I'm done here. read more

I was looking for some G17 rebuild kits. They had them in stock, reasonably priced, and all information was clearly stated. I ordered, added a note that I needed them by a certain date for competition. They arrived in the mail quickly and were as advertised. Why 4/5 stars? Nothing major, but I never received any email confirmation that my order had shipped. Subsequently, I called to find out what was happening with the order. The person on the phone said he was busy with customers and asked me to call him back later. At the very least, he was being honest and nice about it. Would I do business with them again? SURE! BTW, my order arrived at my office that same day that I had called asking about it. Peace! read more

Best shop around! There is always a large selection of guns and accessories and the guys at shop will take the time to answer questions, make suggestions and ensure you are getting exactly what you want. They also offer training, I have been through the pistol course and look forward to carbine. Great trainers, great course. read more

Have not bought a gun in awhile and just recently started looking around. Checked a few shops in the area and this was my last stop. I had a friend who has purchased a few guns from this place and recommended checking this place out. Good selection pistols, rifles, etc to look at and if I did not see what I wanted, they could order it. I had them order a gun and was called within a couple days of its arrival. No issues with DROS and pick up process. Pedro, Nick, and Ryan were all helpful in answering my questions and refreshing me on the gun law changes. Worth the drive and traffic headache (lol) Look forward to stopping by again. read more

I went into Solar Tactical over a month ago. After waiting about 15-20 minutes (they were very busy) I finally spoke with an employee. The employee was very helpful and recommended an AR-15 build kit that they "build all the time". translation in my mind "high part availability and short wait time". However, it was all down hill from there. I was told that the parts would come in a week. I called back a week after my first visit and was told "we haven't ordered your parts yet, but will get them ordered, it should take about a week". Another week goes by, no phone call from them. So I called again. Once again, I was told "we don't have the parts". I said how long will it take. they replied about a week. The next week, I went down to the store and spoke with the manager. I told him my experience and he said "it should not have been handled that way". I agreed. He then directed me back into the store where he asked what my name was, as he attempted to look up my order on the computer. it was NOT in the computer. He then went back to the back room where I saw him grabbing parts off different shelves. He came back and said, "look we have all the parts except (blah - I can't remember what it was). They were still waiting on that part. I said how long... he said ... you guessed it "about a week" it has been another two weeks... no calls... You can bet when they call ... I will say I will be over "in about a week" read more

After only visiting Solar Tactical a few times, I can confidently say that this is best gunshop in the Bay Area. I recommend this place to all of my friends for any of their firearm needs and would recommend the shop to any others, beginners and aficionados alike. Not only does the shop carry specific firearms that are considered rare in California, such as bullpups like the Tavor and AUG; they do so with what I would considered competitive prices. Every time I've visited the store, with the exception of extremely busy times, an associate has always greeted me when first stepping foot inside and has been available for any questions that I could think off. During the busy times mentioned previously, the "take a number" system works great to take sure that nobody gets ignored. Employee Andrew has been great in the past with recommending parts for an AR build and getting me exactly what I needed. When I came in yesterday, Employee Ryan was very helpful in fielding my many questions as well as explaining the layaway process to me while I put money down towards a new shotgun. Paying off the rest of the firearm gives me an excuse to come back and check out the new arrivals and get my hands on any future purchases. I am also looking forward to trying out the Solar Tactical training when my calendar opens up. read more

Total pros. Knowledgeable, responsive, great selection and they always treat customers with respect.

Great group of guys I've met there. Very helpful and informative. They have a good amount of gear there. They even had a few Daniel defense firearms there which has been super hard to find. I'll be visiting there more often for anything I need. Don't hesitate to ask questions. THEY GET BUSY THOUGH! Haha Thanks guys at Solar Tactical! read more

Came in looking for a hand gun to keep at the house for protection. The gentleman that helped my fiancé and I was super patient and answered all of our questions even when we kept going back and forth on the different options. Highly recommend. read more

These guys were awesome last holiday season during the year end rush. Even though the line got crazy long the staff at the store functioned like a well oiled machine, making sure everyone got helped in turn. This shop has a relaxed atmosphere when not packed. There is an open floor and most items are behind counters. They have a good inventory of even hard to get stuff. Another cool thing is their proprietary products that enhance end user manipulation, well designed and just work. The staff are no pressure, no ego, and in general everyone seems like cool people that you'd like to have a beer with. They make you feel comfortable about asking questions and they are great at handling client requests over the phone. My only complaint that does not warrant removing a star is location, but that's only because I live too far away. read more

New to the Hobby, yet walking in here as a noob you don't get that intimidating feeling you may get when walking into other establishments. Down to earth laid back guys always providing useful information. Pricing is a little bit higher, but that's is fine because I want to continue to go to a local shop like this for my firearms needs. They have a pretty decent selection from what I can tell... I only wish that they had all the little parts that are hard to find as these items don't take up alot of space, they offer a good profit margin for the seller, and wa as the the customer is willing to pay for it since no one else has it. Ex:. Springs, plungers, catle nuts etc.... Good place. read more

A year after I'm still a customer. Spent a lot of $$$ here. The guys are still nice and very professional. Mike is the best. PPT, repair, order or buy from stock - always good experience. Will bring more business here. read more

TOP RATE CUSTOMER SERVICE~ for a first time gun buyer! :D Mike, runs a first rate spot here with stellar staff, great inventory, prices and sales! ALL of the guys who work here are respectful, patient, kind, knowledgeable and professional! WOOP! Zach, Ryan, Matt, Pedro and Scott were all SO helpful to my process of obtaining all the equipment I need to take the Beginner Handgun course! They are genuinely passionate about helping customers. They knew me when I entered and knew why I was there! I would give Solar Tactical 10 stars* if I could!!! Plus, I noticed that the culture of this store attracts down to earth, fun people, who are all there for the right reasons. Even the customers were excited about my new GLOCK 17 with .22. conversion and custom Cerakote design! My new gun is gorgeous, fits me perfectly and I can't wait for the outdoor training with Scott, to move my skills forward! The customers speak so highly about Scott as an incredible teacher and as "One of the BEST!" :D Many Thanks to all of you, at Solar Tactical! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!! So happy to have a store like this to call Mine! :D See you VERY SOON! Peace, Lynnette B. :D read more

They have helped me twice with hands on modifications to my AR. Work that I would have to wait for at other shops they did on the sport for me and for a reasonable price. They stock items that I would otherwise have to order and wait for, and at a fair price. They may look small but they are well stocked, friendly, and competent. Give them a Try. read more

I came here recently when I had a problem with my AK firing pin. We had good communication over the phone before I made the hour long drive to the shop. When I arrived the AK smith was taking lunch, but the gentlemen at the desk helped out. They even fixed my issue within minutes...FREE OF CHARGE. They gave me advice on my red dot sight and mounting options. Everyone there was very helpful and so full of information. Extremely friendly, especially compared to my past experiences with other California gun shops. They also custom build AK's for you! These are the AK masters of the bay! I left feeling well taken care of. read more

The best gun store especially for the ak platform!!! Customer service is A++++ for sure these guys really are knowledgable and will help you anyway they can! Don't be shy! read more

Try answering your phone. Good God after multiple call yesterday and multiple calls today and no answer. NOT ONE. I'll take my business elsewhere. Why would anyone drive the distance to find out you don't have we need. I even tried the Castro Valley location and no sign of life. Just poor business practice. read more

This is by far THE BEST GUN STORE in the Bay Area. I came wanting to buy a AR pistol. They had one left on the wall & none in stock (sold out)..Mike saw I was heart broken an came thru like a Saint. He found parts to build me one! If thats not 1st class customer service I really dont know what is. Im a very happy customer after dealing with the guys at Solar Tact in Livermore. They are the best at being real with you & helping you look for what u need. read more

My friend and I were headed to Livermore-Pleasanton Rod & Gun Club when we decided to grab some extra ammo and sticky targets. After visiting our usual gun stores nearby, I found Solar Tactical completely by chance. This was one of the highlights of our day, second only to sending lead downrange at LPRG! Solar Tactical is located in a nondescript strip mall off of I-580. Despite its small size, the store is incredibly well-stocked and fully staffed. It was impressive to see not only tons of AK & AR variants available, but also firearms that you don't usually see in your typical CA gun store. FN, H&K, KRISS & IMI come to mind as the brands I saw that were featured here proudly. Popular and obscure pistols, shotguns and rifles of all kinds were in stock, as well as a respectable array of accessories and optics. We were greeted and helped quickly despite how busy they were. The clerk who helped us was very knowledgeable and passionate about firearms and he turned out to have worked for the same employer as my friend. A former peace officer, he was very personable and helpful. We hit it off with him as we talked about various stories and gripes! He explained to us that Solar Tactical was a new business(roughly 3-5 months old) and that the owners used to do solely custom work before opening the store. We were also told they offered firearms training at their own private range and that their instructors were experienced military veterans. At the time my friend was expecting a S&W M&P(one of the many pistols DOJ is taking off its roster) from Buds, but was later told the order had been cancelled due to an inventory mistake. Frustrated, he was able to have the exact same pistol put on hold at Solar Tactical. The clerk gave my buddy a law enforcement discount and despite being busy, set aside the time to get his paperwork done with priority. Needless to say, Solar Tactical left me and my buddy in awe. It sets the bar really high, even for J&R Sports Supply, the gun store we had previously believed to be superior to so many others. Their customer service was outstanding, they ended our transactions with a firm handshake and smile that you so rarely receive from any business, let alone a gun shop these days. Their inventory was also sure to impress and I will definitely be coming back here when I have the money to purchase a new firearm or take them up on a training course. read more

Poor service. Took them 15 minutes just to greet me. I was looking for a rifle case. They had a good selection of rifles but only one case. $109. Maybe I wasn't wearing enough tactical gear but none of the salespeople seemed to be interested in selling me a case or weapon. Went and bought the same one on Amazon for $80 free two day shipping. read more

Called regarding pricing and availability... Was put on hold and then told they would give me a call back.. Never heard from them again. Doesn't seem like a good way to run a business and lost sale.. Also didn't seem very knowledgable read more

Rude and a bit condescending on the phone. I called to inquire about the price of a item. The guy said he was sold out and would have more soon but they would be more expensive than the last ones he had due to demand. I asked what the last ones cost and he refused to tell me and said that if he did, than I would "quote him on that." Whatever the hell that means. My first and last call to them. I will stick with shops that like having me spend money there. read more