What’s in your range bag?

[John292]

Not too long ago I bought my first real rage bag.

Before that I used a surplus GI Musette bag from WW2, however I outgrew it.
State law here requires arms be kept in locked cases for transport and the old musette wouldn’t fit three MTM 806 hard cases.

New things seem to always require reevaluating the status quo, like what else I need to keep in my spiffy new range bag.

Targets? Yeah, all but the large silhouettes will fit and even those can be rolled up and placed under the bag’s handles,

Ammo? Plenty of room for a few boxes and even loaded mags in the —what do you call ti? Elastic loaded mag thingy?

Cleaning kit? it has been a long time since I’ve shot at a range with an adequate place for gun cleaning so I leave the cleaning kit at home unless I 'm shooting exceptionally dirty range ammo, then a Boresnake will at least take out enough fouling to keep me in business for the session, and of course a cloth for wiping down afterwards(I’ve long preferred a well washed cotton diaper for the job as they leave no lint behind.)

Coffee can? The traditional container for policing spent brass. Sadly doesn’t fit with everything else in the range bag, however I reload my brass and I always want to leave the range cleaner than I found it so so I won’t leave it behind.

Staple gun? A staple gun is always handy even at indoor ranges using backer boards which help keep targets from moving from the ventilation systems air currents. If you supply your own you won’t have to wait to borrow the range’s staple gun.

Ears and Eyes? For me, “eyes” are built in—I wear glasses, and “ears” don’t take much room. Even with my old small bag I’d loop them through the carry strap and be G-T-G.

Target pasters? Black and regular color masking tape are a class act. Nice to have but they’ve never been must haves for me and make your targets useful for a bit longer.

Tools? Neither of my pistols require specific tools for field stripping but I like the idea of having a squib rod and hammer. Shoot long enough and you’re bound to encounter a squib eventually, which will put you out of business until the bullet can carefully be driven out of the barrel, I can see where a screw driver is useful if you’re sighting in with adjustable sights,

Another item I want is a small note book and pen or pencil for, well, note taking and writing on targets.

[Fish]

@John292

…my first real rage bag…

Slip here? Or perhaps this is what we should all be calling it.

[Gary_H]

In addition to eye & ear protection, basic tools, etc., I also always carry an eyeglass cleaning cloth.

Since COVID I have been wearing a face mask while shooting. Consequently my eye protection fogs up. So, borrowing from the snow ski industry, I have added a Smith no-fog lens cloth to my bag. It works pretty good!

[Gary_H]

Alright, here is the 10 minute update: I searched for “best anti-fog for glasses” and saw some SCUBA/Freediving Mask anti-fog solutions listed.

I didn’t think about this before, so I grabbed my bottle of Paul Mitchell Baby Don’t Cry shampoo (you guys didn’t think I bought the same stuff for ludicrous prices at the dive shop) and put a drop on each lens, rubbed it around, and rinsed. I cannot get them to fog up now. I’ll give it a test at the range tomorrow and report back results.

[John292]

My error!

[Winson]

When going to the range:

2 sets of ear muffs
2 pairs of safety glasses
Kimber UC2 .45
100 rounds .45acp fmj
Kimber Mirco 9
100 rounds 9mm fmj
Kimber Micro .380
Sig Sauer p238
200 rounds .380 fmj
Ruger Vaquero .45 LC
50 rounds .45 LC
1 box of each caliber, Hornady Critical Defense/Critical Duty
.45 and 9mm cleaning kits
4 oz bottle of Shooters lube stage 1
Small bottle of gun oil
4 mags per weapon
25 rounds 12ga 3" slugs
25 rounds 12ga 00 buck
reading glasses

That’s about it.

[Craig6]

I gave up on “Range Bag’s” years ago.

I have a “Range Truck”
Tool Boxes,
Gun Tool Boxes
Spotting Scope Boxes
Steel Targets
Spray Paint
Paper targets
Staple Guns
2"x4" A-Frames
Target Chain Ammo Box
PVC target frames
Cardboard
Corrugated plastic panels
Various cans of ammo
Various gun cases that go with the ammo cans
Various cans of magazines to go with the various guns and ammo
Chronograph case
Shooting Bench
Cooler (ie Shooting Bench Chair)
12’ x 24’ Tarp, Telescoping Tarp Poles, Sand anchors, 550 Cord, Bungee cords
12’x12’ CLOTH painters tarp to catch brass
Empty Ammo can(s) for brass

It is all combat loaded so that the base is unloaded and then I drive out to maximum distance usually 1K or mebby a mile and post steel at whatever random distance past 500 yards ish. If I am playing pistol I will set up half a dozen PVC stands where they are useful near the base. Park the truck rig the tarp and bench and the day begins, it take about an hour if I go to 1K a bit more if to 1 mile. I rarely EVER just shoot pistol but I set up to 300 w/ steel if doing Carbine/Rifle Caliber Pistol Other steel from 15yards and out, paper from 15 yards and in. I have 16 steel plates and I think 8 PVC stands so it provides a lot of flexibility. Someday I should take pictures.

Cheers,

Craig6

[Brad]

That is quite funny.

I’m always trying to go smaller/less. I carry what I’m going to shoot (handguns in individual rugs), preloaded ammo for as much as I think I want to shoot for each, an extra box or partial box of each caliber in case I get enthusiastic, eyes, earplugs, a few targets, and not much more. It is only year 9 for me, but I’ve not needed anything else.

[Greg33]

My range gear/bag(s) remain consistent. I use an Orca brand range bag, carried with shoulder strap, and weighs between 13-14lbs depending on amt of ammo carried. Regular contents include 2 earpro, 2 eyepro, small set of binocs, one small rolled-up closed-cell foam mat to lay pistols on, a Uplula (sp?) for reloading mags, 4-5 pre-loaded pistol mags, Sharpie marker, ballpoint pen, and a small Write-in-the -Rain notepad for logging date, type/rounds, firearms used. A second bag, which is a flea market purchased used military helmet bag, and that contains paper targets, small zipper-closed staple gun w/staples, and a small cleaning kit. Pistols (1-3 depending on mood) to shoot in separate gunrugs, snacks, and a couple bottles of water. Only other “bag” taken to the range would be the AR in it’s oem soft, zippered case. I’m usually at the range (13 miles from the house) no longer than 2 hours, so I don’t need a lot of “stuff” with me.

[Fish]

I finally got around to doing this. This is my normal range bag. Some other things may come and go, like some splattering zombie targets, etc. This is just mine. My wife has her own and it contains a quite similar variety, but is a backpack.

The Bersa .380 is my normal EDC, along with two extra mags. The other two are a .22LR and a .45ACP. These ALWAYS go to the range with me, but some others may be added also.

The two 1911s reside in triangle cases when in the bag, with the loaders with them.

The BLUE FAK is mostly a comfort kit, with all the normal bandages and stuff, but I have added a few other things to it. Some of the trauma stuff was pictured above also.