How much junk do you drag to the range?

I don't take more than I really use. I stopped the "might need" thinking because it got to be overwhelming.

I only carry two rifles per range trip.Enough ammo. Rest and bags. Spotting scope.

The range bag has the same little stuff others have mentioned...and yes, it is kind of heavy!

Often I will take two handguns with ammo.

If I find I have the range to myself I can park 20 feet from the benches. So, even at worst, I don't have far to haul the stuff.

Mark

Way too much.
Portable heavy-duty bench, pop-up shade, ground stakes w/hammer, ground tarp, prone mats, two folding tables, chairs, wash station with an extra ten gallons H2O, wind flag, radios, range finders, chrono, marking stakes, steel targets of several types, cardboard targets & stands if needed, target supplies, paint, spotting scope, ice chest, timer, binocs, score cards, portable lighting and radio-operated controller for night events, food, bench-top shooting accessories, tools, cleaning supplies, weapons rack(s), flagging tape, trail markers if indicated, brass collection tub, stick magnet for steel cases, spare hardware for any necessary targets, etc, etc. Not every range trip means all of it goes, but for specific type events or research means most of it.
Not to mention various weapons, ammunition, cases, etc.
If we spend the night, a whole second vehicle just for camping supplies as well.

King Cobb said:

I just take a range bag with ammo, oil, ear muffs, eye protection, and my gun. I pack light to the range.

Click to expand...

Ditto

I'm notorious for hauling all kinds of **** to the range. It takes me at least 5 or 6 trips to get set up.

Average range day consists of:
Several range (duffle bags) bags or more to pack a chrony, 3 tripods, 1 for the chrony, 1 for range finder, 1 for the spotting scope, several different package of targets, two target boards, one at the line with fresh targets ready to go, 1 range board down range, staple gun, box of staples, ear protection, shooting glasses, a few rifles, a handgun or two, which I don't always shoot, lead sled, several sand bags, one for the sled, and a couple for the target stand in case the wind is blowing, which it inevitably is, a bunch of reloads, usually at least 3 different calibers, log books, cleaning kit, a few tools should I need to work on something or swap a scope, a small ice chest with cold gatorade, water, lunch meat, bread, cause I'm usually out there for most of the day, ibuprofen, and tums. It's really not a lot of hassle though, cause I keep most of my range gear pre-packed in the range bags, so it's more or less load the truck and go.

Range day that includes load work:
Primed and ready to load brass, dies, powder scale, accessible cover for the scale, scoop kit, dial calipers, one or two different rifle powders, a powder cup, bullets for each caliber, C-clamp to mount the press.

And if one of my sons and wife are joining me, the pile of crap is triple that.

And actually, there always two or three others out there that drag that much **** with them. We like to be prepared to do just about anything related to shooting while on site.

And although I'm in S. Az., the heat isn't bad in the shade of the firing line. It's usually a very dry heat, so even in triple digit temps staying comfortable is easy if you know what your doing. Splash a little water on a wash cloth, wipe my face, and it feels like someone turned the A/C on. Last Saturday was heavy over cast, pretty windy, but temps were in the 70's, almost chilly, burr.

GS

I take two rifles with ammo, shooting mat, rear bag, data book/ cell phone app, and my range bag that contains: ear plugs, safety glasses, small tripod, kestrel 4500 NV with the wind vane, Leica rangefinder, oil, and a backup ballistic calculator.

Let's see... typically two rifles in their own cases (maybe a shotgun too), mid-size bag for handguns and extra gear, another two or three bags for ammo and magazines, targets and backer boards (if needed), range mat (if needed), and a spotting scope. Then there's the aluminum cans, milk jugs, bowling pins, etc. for fun time shooting, and several trash bags for when were done.

After reading all the comments, it seems I fall somewhere in the middle.

I need to make a couple of trips between the truck and the rifle range. Only one trip needed between the truck and the pistol range.

I propose we invent the THR range gear cart...

Depends, indoor range or the outdoor range. Indoor just my range bag which has guns, scotch tape, ammo, and muffs. Not much at all. Outdoor range depends on my plans for the day but targets and everything target related in one tupperware large flat, like staplers. Cleaning supplies, the chronograph and supports for it. basic tools just in case. Plenty of assorted ammunition for whatever I drag for guns.

For me the indoor range is a few hour affair, the outdoor range is an easy 6 to 8 hours on the range.

Ron

When I go to my gun club, every week ( sometimes three times in one week)... IT IS A MIXUTRE of socializing, enjoying breakfast or lunch with member friends at the clubs restaurant. It could be an unknown day of fun at the club... I go there to eat... to practice with my EDC. and then to enjoy a few rounds of skeet, or some 22 bench shooting, with friends who came to also shoot. I go to the club with some purpose, but I also go for some social shooting... Some times, I might make a date to shoot some specific shooting discipline, with friends later in the week... its nice to have so many options and so many diverse shooting comforts at my gun club..

I feel like I never take enough but in all honesty I probably take too much. Luckily I can make it in one trip. Rifle and case along with range bag which includes, mags, ammo, Fireclean, targets, stapler and staples, ear and eye pro (I usually have an extra set in case a new shooter comes along with me) binoculars, notebook & pen, brass bag, multi-tool, cleaning rags. There's probably some other things as well in some of the pockets of the bag that I'm forgetting but that's the jist of it. What I'd like to take is everything I've mentioned plus a truck load of ammo.

Depends for me... if Im just heading to the range to get some fresh air for a lil bit, it might consist of just a pistol, a single box of ammo, and a couple paper targets.

More involved, hours long range trip? pistols, rifles, hundreds of rounds of various ammo, metal targets, spotting scope, rifle rest & rear bag, etc etc. So yea... lots of stuff, and packing it can sure be a pain.

By the time I get home, after the range, I have decided that I took TOO MUCH stuff.Coogs.

Too much, because I'm always taking target stands, (paper) targets and shooting supports for my shooting buddy........but that may come to an end soon because he's buying some steel targets. Haha

Depends, sometimes just one gun. Sometimes just about everything.

None. I shoot

off the back porch.

Depending on where I am going to shoot and how long i have to shoot determines the amount of crap i bring.

It does seem to consistently more than the guy next to me haha.

I have been trying to reduce it, but it is hard. Targets, Ammo, Protection, Tools, Batteries for optics, etc etc

I started going to shoot once every other week or so on my rest days from the gym. I really got tired of the time getting eaten up by me packing/transporting gear.

So I started just taking a pistol with loaded spare mags, ammo, and maglula. All of it fits in my smallest range bag or it does go. I buy 2 or 3 targets max and use a marker to get full usage out of both sides. I generally shoot for an hour or less.

Try it. I understand the 'bring everything just in case' but on the days it seems like a hassle, pick the one gun you want to shoot and go out with as little as possible.

It is worth it.

-Matt S.

I shoot on private land. If I shot at a range, I would probably take even less because I am paranoid about my stuff growing legs there.

Nowadays I just have a simple bag with various ammo and a couple of guns beyond my CCW. Usually a .22 revolver and a .357 single action. This will take care of pretty much anything I might want to do.

Occasionally I might take a rifle or two. But just the simple bag is so much easier to deal with. Usually only time I take a rifle now is to test out a new-to-me specimen or a new modification (scope/sights, etc.).



When .22lr got scarce, I pretty much stopped carrying .22 rifles for recreational shooting. Glad things are getting better, and glad I didn't sell any of them. Still love shooting .22 in a rifle, to me that is still the best and most fun overall. I am a .22 rifleman at heart.

I have a "range box" that I built, and it has two boxes of each caliber I plan to shoot that day, plus a small tool kit, gun oil, and brass cleaning rod for clearing squibs, stuck rounds in chamber, etc.
Also, a large Rubbermaid tub containing range scope, targets, stapler, clothes pins, and a sand bag.
One more box, containing clays. AND, a few handguns and rifles in their cases.
My shooting buddy takes a bit more than I do, including a bench top rifle clamping rig, a big satchel of ammo, some more tools, and LUNCH!

I would hate to even show a picture...

As we now go only to open - legal - ground rather than "ranges" it becomes a "Beverly Hillbillies" trailer full of "might need this's"

Eventually, the weight and volume of crap we take will evolve the shooting events into overnighters.

Still trying to find the down-side to that briar patch.

How much? Till I run outa room!

Todd.

It all depends on the variety of what I plan to shoot. If it's just a rifle or just a pistol I don't need much. It it's riles, pistols, shotgun and bow then the truck starts to fill up.

I've been known to put 6 or 7 large frame pistols and all associated ammo/gear into one of those big Midway bags. I love that thing. The weight isn't an issue for me until it gets over 60 or 70 lbs...then I need something in my other hand as a counterbalance so I don't waddle.

My range is out back, so I usually only take a couple guns at a time and my range bag with ammo as I shoot a few times a week.

For the usual range stuff; steel targets, paint for steel, stands, paper tgts, stapler(s), wind flags, bench rest, etc. I have a range shed:





When I'm practicing with rifles at varying distances I carry a mat, spotting scope, rifles, ammo etc. in my "Tactical Golf Cart":



and some days when I'm really lazy I just pop off a few rounds at the 385 swingers off the back deck:


Chuck

Most of my "range junk" is kept in back of my Subaru Forester. Including portable maintenance center for rifles, cleaning solvents, patches, chronograph, tripod, rests, ear muffs, targets, spotting scope, tools.
Then I take whatever rifles, or handguns I plan to (or might) shoot that trip. Along with ammo and cleaning rod. Usually take several rifles and one or two handguns unless I m working on a specific project for a single rifle. Even then I bring along an extra or two to allow time for barrel cooling of The project rifle.

I rarely bring more than 3 guns to the range. I have an ammo box (plastic) for gloves, eye and ear, ammo, small targets, etc. That's about it. As a BK amputee it's hard for me to stand too long so my range trips aren't much more than an hour, but I have a couple of memberships and go almost every weekend. If I live long enough to retire (soon) I'll be there more often.

I sound about like you...........bringing a lot of "needed" stuff. Plus, a medical bag with a CAT tourniquet. And the dog is no help setting up or loading the car.