The LRU had three main areas of activities in 1919-1940 – culture, sport and military training.
The riflemen's units had orchestras, theatres, libraries and sport clubs.
The union published weekly magazine Trimitas.
The riflemen were required to educate themselves and to participate in educating the society.
To help with that they aimed at building riflemen centres in all cities and towns, where the union was active.
The centres were to be dedicated to the needs of the nation.
Centres were built in Utena, Tauragė, Alytus and some other cities and towns.
The centres served as meeting and training places for riflemen, as well as housing their clubs and administration and hosting cultural activities.

The organisation received a unique legal basis, in 1921, 1924 and 1935 laws on the LRU were passed that defined the activities of the organisation and its functions in the State.
The laws aimed at restricting the autonomy of the LRU and to tie it as closely as possible to the Ministry of Defence and the Military.
In 1935 the LRU became directly subordinate to the Chief of Defence (See the List of governments of Lithuania in 1918-1940).
The law abolished dual leadership – previously the organisation was led by the Chairman of the Central Board, elected by riflemen, and by the LRU Commander, appointed by the Minister of Defence.
Thus the riflemen were fully integrated in the defensive structure of the country, and the district military commanders became the commanders of riflemen regiments.

It was recorded that in 1935, the LRU had 33,276 members, of which 24,976 were soldiers.
The organisation had 7,371 rifles and 32 machine guns.

By 1940 the LRU had become one of the most popular and largest organizations in the country, with about 62,000 members.
Both men and women were active in the organisation.
The LRU had units of university students, including student corporations Saja and Živilė.
Many famous politicians (Antanas Smetona, Rapolas Skipitis, Mykolas Sleževičius, Juozas Urbšys), artists and other members of the cultural elite (Antanas Žmuidzinavičius, Unė Babickaitė-Graičiūnienė also known as Une Bay, Antanas Vienuolis-Žukauskas, Petras Vaičiūnas), scientists (Tadas Ivanauskas, Augustinas Janulaitis, Liudas Vailionis, Antanas Graugrokas) were active in the union.
Even though the majority of members originated from the farmer class, the main principles of the Union were also appealing to other classes.

Members of the organization are registered in the journal
The LRU had three main areas of activities in 1919-1940 – culture, sport and military training. The riflemen's units had orchestras, theatres, libraries and sport clubs. The union published weekly magazine Trimitas. The riflemen were required to educate themselves and to participate in educating the society. To help with that they aimed at building riflemen centres in all cities and towns, where the union was active. The centres were to be dedicated to the needs of the nation. Centres were built in Utena, Tauragė, Alytus and some other cities and towns. The centres served as meeting and training places for riflemen, as well as housing their clubs and administration and hosting cultural activities.
The organisation received a unique legal basis, in 1921, 1924 and 1935 laws on the LRU were passed that defined the activities of the organisation and its functions in the State. The laws aimed at restricting the autonomy of the LRU and to tie it as closely as possible to the Ministry of Defence and the Military. In 1935 the LRU became directly subordinate to the Chief of Defence (See the List of governments of Lithuania in 1918-1940). The law abolished dual leadership – previously the organisation was led by the Chairman of the Central Board, elected by riflemen, and by the LRU Commander, appointed by the Minister of Defence. Thus the riflemen were fully integrated in the defensive structure of the country, and the district military commanders became the commanders of riflemen regiments.
It was recorded that in 1935, the LRU had 33,276 members, of which 24,976 were soldiers. The organisation had 7,371 rifles and 32 machine guns.
By 1940 the LRU had become one of the most popular and largest organizations in the country, with about 62,000 members. Both men and women were active in the organisation. The LRU had units of university students, including student corporations Saja and Živilė. Many famous politicians (Antanas Smetona, Rapolas Skipitis, Mykolas Sleževičius, Juozas Urbšys), artists and other members of the cultural elite (Antanas Žmuidzinavičius, Unė Babickaitė-Graičiūnienė also known as Une Bay, Antanas Vienuolis-Žukauskas, Petras Vaičiūnas), scientists (Tadas Ivanauskas, Augustinas Janulaitis, Liudas Vailionis, Antanas Graugrokas) were active in the union. Even though the majority of members originated from the farmer class, the main principles of the Union were also appealing to other classes.
Members of the organization are registered in the journal
Lithuanian Riflemen's Union