Hello, I was wondering about the need/importance of gloves when practicing on the range. From what I’ve learned so far (I am pretty much a newbie at this point), you are supposed to practice with the weapon you will use to defend yourself, including gear like a night sight, holster, etc. I can’t imagine that I would put on gloves prior to defend myself in any scenario. So, do they just provide protection against the ammunition dust? Thanks in advance to all who reply.
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Hey @Kevin180 and welcome! I was just at the military surplus store this morning looking at tactical gloves, thinking the same thing. I chose not to get them because unless you’re in urban warfare, paintballing, or the middle of a riot, you wont need them. Plus you shouldn’t be in a riot lol. The only other reason you may want them, is for better grip on your weapon, bullets and magazines.
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I’d guess if someone wore gloves a lot in a cold climate?
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Even in the south it gets cool enough to need to wear gloves when your outside. The temperature is finally to the point where I can pull my “winter” driving gloves out of the closet & see how my EDC shoots with them.
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We use gloves on occasion, just since we might be shooting a few hundred rounds. What we use as a glove is golf gloves we get them at the local golf super store use the bargain bin style 5-6 bucks. just easier on the hands on a long day and no real loss of tactile sensation.
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I’ve used gloves on and off (no pun) for better grip on the range, sometimes in competition, when extremely cold and when extremely hot, mostly rifle. Same reasons with pistol, when it gets 99 degrees and 100% humidity sure! However, I do train religiously without them, including inclement weather, never snow, 35 degrees to thunderstorms and everything in between. Rain and humidity represents and feels like having bloody hands.
Actually started wearing gloves after slicing a finger on the range from loose rails, and a slide lock failure due to manufacturing flaw kept shooting even though hand bloody. Don’t like cutting up my hands just to simulate stress in a shoot out. I do carry them with my tactical gear and I wear driving gloves, I wear gloves for work the smooth Kevlar type. (Not carried any more by 5.11 tac-nfa fire resistant) So I practice the way I normally dress. These are not the hard knuckle gloves, 5.11 tac A2 .
Never can tell when you might need a quality pair of gloves, riots aside!
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It’s good idea at least to feel if you can shoot in gloves, and if yes - how to shoot in gloves.
I use gloves it two cases:
- all day long class to avoid blisters
- cold weather
Ammunition dust is not a problem, for this I use baby wipes 
I do not use regular winter gloves (these have never worked with handgun in my case).
My choice is IronClad EXO Operator [Black]. They work perfectly on the Range and look as regular winter gloves when worn with coat or jacket.
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When I practice with the weapon I carry concealed, I will practice with the gloves and garments, e.g. coats etc. that I wear in the colder months. I also practice at the outdoor range during those cold months (I live in a cold weather mid-west State).
Train for the situations you might find yourself in is my thought process on that.
Other than that, I might wear a pair of mechanix when I take a rifle out or one of my other pistols depending on the weather and or activities.
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Hey,
Practice with what you wear.
No different from edc. Changing weather conditions as listed above!
Good luck! 
As I was taught a long time ago, “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable”
Bad guys don’t wait for beautiful days
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IMO, if you don’t ever wear gloves when carrying (I am assuming the warmer states; or don’t do a lot of work/hobbies where hand protection is preferred), I don’t think there is any need at the range other than personal preference. If you use gloves at times while carrying, it might be a good idea to try the controls, as well as firing at the range with those gloves to see if changes need to be made.
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I started using gloves, when my old hands got some sort of cut every time I went to the range. Padding also helps with recoil management.
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I dont wear gloves. I dont like gloves or anything on my hands, but that is just me. There are some advantages to them, especially when shooting heavy-caliber revolvers or in sweaty or cold situations, but as you pointed out, in a SD situation, you probably wont have them on or even with you. So, I guess my question is this. What do you expect to get by wearing gloves? If it is for handling your firearm, maybe try taking a look at other grips or the tape-on grips if you have a polymer gun.
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Thanks @AdamHutch. I don’t do any of that, especially the last bit, and I hope never to be in that situation!
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Thanks, @PossumSlayer1 Thankfully, it’s not that cold where I live but I do wear light gloves most of the late fall/winter. I guess I would also have to practice with my cold weather outerwear as well.
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Just realized I can respond to everyone at once on this. Thanks to all of you for the quick responses and all the great information/suggestions. I will consider each suggestion and incorporate them into my developing routine. I am a newbie (couldn’t ya tell? 
) and am firing at an indoor range only at this time. So it’s great to know that there is such a great support group out there. I’m really glad I joined USCCA - excellent information and experience!
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PERSONALLY…i dont like gloves, we have trained on ranges all day in summer and winter. Our firearms fit our hands, and no blisters. When we hunt in cold weather, we fire with no gloves…cant feel the trigger…Besides, we like the feel of firearm, touch, smell…etc.
If you prefer to wear, wear and train. James322 said “get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
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In my line of work I wear gloves everyday to one extent or another and my hands still take a beating and I have anywhere from one to four bandaids on my fingers at any given time. For work I use the Milwaukee work gloves with the “Smart Swipe” finger so I can get at my phone.Prior to the advent of 5.11 , Blackhawk and Mechanix and in my previous life I wore GI “Flight Gloves” and still love them for general purpose wear. Long before plate carriers and molle we wore flight suits when we were doing bad things to bad people and the gloves were part of the kit and we practiced with them. So yes I shoot with gloves on and off because at any given point in the day I might have them on.
Cheers,
Craig6
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