I'm going to start shooting on the weekdays.  How early do I need to get there to get a bench on the rifle side?  Best day to go Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday?

Aloha and thanks,
Chuck

Last time I went on weekdays, I found they close half of the range because there's no enough people to monitor the whole thing. Also I hear that a lot of people get there at 7AM or even earlier to get a bench. I got there at the opening time (12PM) and waited about 2 hours to get a bench. I could not enjoy much time for shooting since they close at 4. Hope this helps.

I only go during the weekdays. Stopped going on the weekends years ago due a combination of inconsiderate and very unsafe behavior by some of the shooters there.

I show up after lunch and was always able to get a bench.

Last time I went on weekdays, I found they close half of the range because there's no enough people to monitor the whole thing. Also I hear that a lot of people get there at 7AM or even earlier to get a bench. I got there at the opening time (12PM) and waited about 2 hours to get a bench. I could not enjoy much time for shooting since they close at 4. Hope this helps.

thats ridiculous.  the last couple times i went on thursday, i got there at 11 and waited all of 5 minutes past 12, and the last time, i got there at 11 and there was 5 benches open. 

am i just getting lucky?

When I go on weekdays, I usually go on Friday first thing.  I try to get there between 9 and 10 if I want to get a bench in a particular area.  I've noticed that it usually fills up by around by 11 am, give or take 30 minutes each way.  Occasionally, the benches won't fill up until right before the range goes hot.  IIRC, the range closes at 3 pm on weekdays and they close off about a quarter of the benches at the far right/makai side.  Definitely not half of the benches. 

I've heard that Thursdays are usually the busiest with a large group of regulars meeting that day.

I prefer to go on the weekdays because it isn't nearly as crowded as the weekends.

It seems like the rifle side has been slowing down a little recently.  Before Nov., if you weren't there by 1030 or so, you'd be on the wait list, especially on Wednesdays.  I shoot pistol pretty much once a week and I have noticed a few open benches the past few weeks on the rifle side when I'm driving in around 1100 or so. 
I have noticed that the pistol side has been getting a little busier though.  Wednesdays used to be really crowded, now it seems that even Thurs. and Fri. is busy too.   Don't know if the availability, (or lack of), of rifle ammo is having something to do with it though.

I go at around 10 on fridays and there's usually like 2 or 3 guys there. Benches are almost all filled by 11

There's always that guy who brings the Japanese tourists to shoot. I forgot his name but he's cool.