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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Place have a lot of guns and rifles. Always a long wait when I'm here. The guys working there don't try to hurry up with there customer, that is why they take forever to help you. They need more workers there to help out waiting customers. If you are there to buy accessories don't even go there cause you will be waiting for a long time. read more

Great shop. Very good inventory. Perfect buying experience, the whole process was quick and easy. Thank you!!!

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

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

First time here and definitely won't be the last! The guys here are great! All were very friendly and helpful, especially Zack! The gunsmith, I wish I caught his name, helped complete my own built rifle and answered a ton of questions that we had. Will be back next to customize my Glock! Highly recommend this place to any gun owners or those interested in purchasing! 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

They have changed a lot. I would highly recommend this shop!

OH MY!!!! Michael & Andrew -ILyce Great People who know what they are doing!!! This is the way business should be done..... MY HUSBAND IS SOOOOO HAPPY to receive the item I purchase. Thank You for all your help------REFERRALS I will send my family and friends there for all their wants.. Who needs to go to a event.. when they should just call or go to SOLAR TACTICAL and talk to Mike.. read more

This place is great! Ima a former Marine and so are most of the workers. They give veterans discounts and treat you professionally. They have amazing toys, as well as great knowledge. Very friendly staff and good location. The only negative is the prices. Although you cannot blame them for the price of ammo. Thanks obama -_- read more

This is one of the best gun shops in the bay. Very nice inventory and a lot of options to choose from. Employed are very helpful and will take care of you in the store. read more

Solar Tactical is getting my business from now on... They have been more than helpful every time i have been there, and lately that has been quite often... Even when i wasn't buying and just looking for information they were more than willing to take the time and help answer all my questions and narrow down my decisions for a future build... It is definitely worth the hour drive it takes me to get there from my house... And if anyone asks me where to go for anything guns i will be pointing them in there direction... read more

If your looking for a store with a great selection to choose from, you have to come here. Great staff with friendly service. They have all the unique items most stores in the valley don't have. read more

Ordered M70 NPAP AK from "Classic Firearms" (in June) but needed a Mag-Lock (to make it Calif. Legal)sent and attached to the firearm before they could send it out to my FFL (UGI). Asked if Solar could send the Mag Lock and they had no problem with it, so I just want to say " Solar Tactical" made my purchase go very smooth! The shipping manager is Awesome and I just want to add "Solar Tactical" is Solid and I would definitely Purchase and use them in the Future! read more

BEST SERVICE! Hands down best gun store in the area. Great Selection. Great prices. Great location. Knowledgeable and polite staff. Buy local, Solar Tactical will make sure you feel good you did. read more

I was new to the AR platform and called up Solar Tactical when I jammed my barrel. I had called other LGS in the area and even stopped by another one to try and resolve my issue with no luck. Long story short. Solar Tactical went above and beyond to get me back to the range. Super friendly staff awesome customer service and will be back for all my AR needs and questions. read more

Great place I pass 3 gun shops to get their.Ammo is cheapest in the bay area I had 20+ questions they answered them all:)