Essential Items To Be Contained In A Range Bag

Posted by Gauge Outfitters on January 22nd, 2021

Heading to the range means more than just grabbing your gun and some practice ammo. What else do you need? While it’s obviously impossible to shoot guns without those two key ingredients, a good day at the range also involves a lot more preparation and gear.

Range etiquette and safety rules dictate that guns should be stowed away until the shooter is at the firing line and ready to shoot. So, you’ll need to bring your gun and all your supplies in a range bag big enough to carry all you’ll need. What should your American made range bags contain?

     1. Eye protection with a spare

Keep those peepers protected from flying spent brass and the occasional stray bullet fragment. Ideally, eye protection should be ballistic rated. If you want to make quick friends, bring an extra set-in case someone else forgot theirs. Remember, safety for all.

     2. Ear protection with a spare

Whether shooting indoors or out, gunfire can cause hearing damage. Protect your ears with a good pair of shooting muffs, preferably noise-cancelling, or good earplugs. Even foamier are better than nothing. And just like with eye protection, bring an extra set just in case. If you use electronic protection, remember extra batteries.

     3. Spare mags

Time spent stuffing magazines instead of shooting is time wasted. Bring extra mags so you’re not frittering away valuable range time reloading your only magazine over and over. Also, sometimes mags break. Springs fail, base plates crack, etc. Have a backup just in case.

     4. Ammo

File this under “no brainer” but remember to bring more than you think you’ll shoot. A box of 50 is gone before you know it. Now what? Don’t be that guy who didn’t bring enough ammo and has to go out to the counter to buy more while your range time clock is ticking.

     5. First aid kit with tourniquet

Accidents happen. Even if you follow the safety rules religiously, not everyone else does, or maybe an accident happened in spite of your caution. Either way, a good rule is “If you shoot guns, carry a trauma kit.” Attach this kit to the MOLLE on the outside of your range bag for emergency access.

      6. Hat

Yes, even if you’re shooting indoors. Ever had freshly ejected hot brass land between your eye pro and your forehead, leaving a nice little scorched mark? Be prepared next time with a hat that covers that part of your face.

     7. Gloves

For two reasons: to protect your hands while handling a hot gun and then to practice shooting with gloves on. Not all gunfights take place in July. Prepare for the one that happens in the middle of cold and snowy January.

     8. Packable rain jacket

Obviously, you won’t need this if you’re shooting indoors, but always keep one in your range bag for those unexpected trips to the outdoor range. Keep it tucked inside all the time and you’ll never forget it.

Conclusion

We hope that you will carry these items the next time when you carry a range bag.