Going to the range = PITA. Am I the only one?

[shermacman]

I keep my hand guns, ammo, eyes and ears, stapler, push pins, targets, hand cleaner etc. in three black, Nylon, not interesting travel bags. Grab them and go! No the guns are not locked down, only my immediate home security gun is kept loaded. I live in a fairly crowded suburban area so the rifles draw attention, so be it!

 

[davidtdm]

Hello all,

I just signed up on THR a few days ago but I was on TFL but didn't post much.

I enjoy the trips to the ranges so those arn't really a big deal to me. I try my best to have all items prepacked prior to the range day wether indoor or outdoor. However, the most frustrating thing fro me is the target isseue. I have found and now use the most wonderfull product from Walmart. It's posterboard with foam backing. We (cslinger,sheslinger,and I) use the black color and tape paper plates to it. We can usually fit four plates on it. Put an colored sticker in the middle and presto you have reusable targets. We've had about 4 range sessions so far.

just my two cents.

Dave

 

[keyhole]

I've found that I usually take fewer guns to the range, ( 20 minutes away), and that makes it a bit easier. Lately I spend more time shooting, than working out there, which is a plus! Keeping just about all the stuff, ammo, staple gun, magazines, in the range bag, and we have targets, and cardboard already at the range. I still find other stuff to play with!
Everything but guns and ammo there. Makes it a lot easier to go out there.

 

[bogie]

This is a "typical" benchrest shooting list, for when you're going to a match that'll be a bit of a distance from your home. It was composed by Bart Sauter, of Bart's Bullets. I haul a similar list of stuff to matches. My 3/4 ton van helps.

====

My check list!
Guys for what its worth I drag 4 boxes to the range and have bunch of "seperate items" that I also take. Below is the check list that I use. It has saved me from leaving equipment behind a time or two, when throwing stuff into the motorhome or back of the truck for a shoot! You can copy and paste and modify for your own use.
Bart

LOADING BOX
 Bullet Puller Hood
 Bullet Seater
 Bullets
 Small base Die
 Calipers with Bullet Attachment
 Case Trimmer Sinclair
 Cases for each Barrel
 Davis Bullet puller
 Neck Cleaner/Crazy Cloth
 Calipers
 Powder Container x 2
 Powder Throw
 Primer Pocket Cleaner
 Primers & Holder
 Priming Tool
 Sizing Buttons
 Steel Wool
 Case cleaning rags x 2
 Allen Wrenches
 Hand Held Radios
 BORE SWAB
 Bolt lube
 BRUSHES
 SIZING WAX

CLEANING BOX
 Arbor Press
 Harrell Press
 Butches- containers x 2
 Leather Stock Cover
 Iosso
 JB Bore Cleaner
 Patches 1000
 Slick 50 (Small Can)
 2 x C Clamp
 Extra Brass
 Gun Tarp
 Cartridge Box

Flag Box
 5 Flag Poles
 5 Flags
 6 x Squeeze Clamps
 Barrel Vise
 Action Wrenches
 Large Towel

REST BOX
 Bag Stabilizer leather
 Front Rest
 Hammer Rubber Mallet
 Rear Bag
 Suave Deodorant
 Surveyors Ribbon
 Timer
 Towel
 Non-skid mats

Separate Items
 RELOADING BOX
 FLAG BOX
 CLEANING BOX
 Rest box.
 Cleaning rods
 Shooting stool
 Loading chair
 Shooting glasses
 Digital Scales
 Tarp
 Cart
 Rifles and bolts
 Loading table
 Bore guides
 Barrels
 Scope Extra
 Tripod Spotting scope
 Spotting Scope

 

[Ledbetter]

No wonder you guys are tired.

Learn from the golfersbarf: ).

Keep in car:
Gun Rests
Ears
Eyes
Target stands
Range bag (targets, frequently used mags (usually .22 caliber), stapler, Leatherman, Otis cleaning kit, CLP, Rem Oil, rags(s), hex wrenches, scope/binos.)

Keep ammo in ammo cans by caliber and drop in the mags you need on top.

Buy cases that fit more than one gun.

Then take your ammo cans and guns and get in the car and drive.

 

[zahc]

I just walk out on my back porch to shoot my spinner target

 

[MikeK]

Like some of the others I keep a cardboard backer, staple gun (and staples), targets, spare eyes and ears in the truck. A bag is always packed with range badge, muffs, glasses and some misc. supplies (pen, screwdrivers, patches etc.). So all I have to do is pack the guns and ammo. I do sometimes forget the spotting scope. For me, packing and unpacking is not a problem. The 40 minute drive is actually pleasant.

Clenaing them is another matter.

 

[NapAttack]

A range cart might just be the answer to your problems. I'm building my own right now so I can customize it to fit my needs.

Cal-Graf has some great looking gun carts and accessories. I've used their site and others to get some ideas for what I want to build.

You could organize your supplies into different boxes then build your cart to carry several boxes. It would help keep your different gun stuff organized too.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Can't drink a beer without walking to the fridge, getting the bottle/can, and opening it.

I know, it sucks. When you figure it out, though, please share!

 

[synoptic]

A solution to walking to the fridge:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...pe=1&dept=4044&path=0:4044:103150:91790:96087


The best chair in the house for a marathon of TV sports or hours in front of the DVD: this leather rocker recliner from Catnapper. This fine piece of furniture is equipped with a mini fridge in one arm, a speakerphone in the other and -- for the 7th inning stretch -- a massage mechanism to soothe your muscles. What potato would want the couch?

 

[dinosaur]

Synoptic

You`ve forgotten the old adage, "You cannot buy beer, only rent it." Unfortunately, though I rarely drink beer, (one of my favorite beverages BTW) coffee has the same effect :banghead:

 

[citizen]

Yeah; oh, and BTW; Still Learning and zahc - I HATE YOU!!!!!

 

[Nightcrawler]

I don't have as many guns as a lot of you guys, but when my collection was at it's largest, I rarely brought EVERYTHING.

Back in the day, we'd grab the guns, the ammo, and pop bottles and milk jugs to shoot at and head to the quarry.

Now, I have a backpack that I stuff with all of the magazines and ammo I'll use. I generally don't spend all day at the range, so about 100 rounds for the FAL, and maybe 100 for the handgun will usually get me by. (But then, my range is only a few minutes away, so I can go every day should I want to.)

*shrug* Don't have a spotting scope, and I use Army rubber earplugs instead of bulky muffs. I carry a roll of duct tape in the car, so that solves my target mounting troubles.

If I wanted to carry more ammo, I guess I'd get a larger bag. But you can stuff a lot of boxes of ammo and FAL mags into that one little backpack.

 

[Dave R]

I have a new routine that is very easy and soothing these days.

1. Grab the rifle
2. Grab the (locked) briefcase with ammo, ears, etc. in it.
3. Throw in car
4. Drive half-hour
5. Get out of the car, grab rifle, ears and start walking.
6. Every few hundred yards, stop and shoot at available sel-propelled targets (i.e. Prarie Dogs)
7. When tired of walking or ammo runs low, return to car.
8. Drive home.
9. Clean rifle (5 min)
10. Life is good.

Will have to alter that routine when summer heats up.

When fall comes, routine will change as follows:

1. Substitute shotgun for rifle.
2. Substitute flying targets for earthbound targets.

That's why I like Idaho.

 

[matis]

Hey!

I've enjoyed this thread.

And I've realized that I don't have to stuff everything into one range bag. Buying 2 more will help me get organized and make things a lot easier.

And Hansolo: Shalom y'all to you, too.

Matis (the OTHER Jewish redneck)

 

[dhoomonyou]

I take no more than 2 pistols to the range at any time. I Usually rotate them based on caliber and mood. After a range session I re pack the range bag with the next rotation, new targets and ammo.
UNLESS my sister & Brother in law are in town, in which case its EVERYTHING thats not nailed down and we dont finish until we run out of ammo.

 

[Bowlcut]

My biggest complaint is the drive to the range. Nothing close for me, that ive found atleast....nashvillians where ya go????

I usualy keep everything but the gun in a big bag as i dont have a safe. Grab the gun and go. Usualy others bring targets, or i keep a packet or two in the trunk. having to use my car for work means i cant keep too much in the car which sucks...

 

[DAL]

I don't share your opinion. The anticipatory charge I get from preparing to go to the range is some I enjoy. BTW, the range I go to is 40 miles from my home, but 90% of that distance is on the Interstate, so it's not so bad.

My idea of Nirvana is to hit the lotto and become a range rat. I'd visit it 3-4 times a week.
DAL

 

[Kenneth Lew]

Live 5 minutes from the range

I only bring my guns to the range. Everything else is in a locker over there. Full auto allowed there.