Handtrucks to the range?

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I note a lot of different ways folks carry their guns and gear from their vehicles to the shooting benches at the range where I shoot. Quite a few lash their gun cases to handtrucks. One regular has a wagon of sorts that he loads up and hauls it all in with.

Any of you do something like this? I just lug it all by hand, usually making two or three trips. Good exercise, I figure. Besides, I drive a car, and I think it would take a truck, or an SUV with and empty trunk section to carry some of the rigs I've seen. Still, it is interesting to see how creative some guys get.
 
Mine is all hand, shoulder and backpack carried, but I am thinking of something with wheels, that folds, like a luggage carrier. Any other ideas?
 
Fortunately at the range I shoot at I can back my truck right up to any of the range shooting positions. Literally the open back end of the truck is about 6 feet from my shooting bench. Getting older so I like that. :)

However, at other ranges I have seen guys do exactly as you mention. Many have devised some pretty cool packaging that mounts on a hand truck and gets everything from point A to point B in a neat leisurely fashion. If things weren't so convenient for me I would be using a hand truck also.

I guess it depends on what you have for a vehicle and how things would fit. I like Buckeye71's thinking using a luggage carrier too.

Ron
 
I am looking into getting a range wagon of some sort to haul my gear to the line. At my range you have to park a good distance from the firing line and so it takes several trips (target stands, guns, ammo, sand bags, etc.). Factor in the desert heat and all the trips back and forth to the truck takes some of the enjoyment out of the occasion!
 
Ya mean like one of these?

prd_342.jpg
 
...to the shooting benches at the range...
Click to expand...
No benches at the IDPA ranges in my area. but I've noted some rigs that haul:
guns
ammo
tools
ice chest
chair
large sun umbrella

Whatever else to keep oneself comfy for the duration of the match. The inventiveness is remarkable is several cases.

For the terrain at these ranges, hand trucks tend to be tippy and the smaller tires don't navigate ruts too well. Also, the rigs that are pulled. fare better than those that are pushed.

Keep in mind that we move stage to stage, as opposed to parking at a bench.

Regardless, I manage with hand-carrying just a range bag and folding stool -- even for 2 gun matches. My first 3 gun is coming up, and expect to do the same.
 
I picked up a collapsible hand truck at sears last year for 30 bucks. bag on the bottom and pistol case on top then I carry my rifles in soft cases with my free hand. I don't use it all the time as one range I go to you can park about 10 yds from the benches.
 
Sadly, there is such a thing as a bad back.

I am a moderately healthy-looking guy in my 40's, but about 6 months ago I had a stupid accident while doing some manual labor. Now, picking up much more than one gallon jug of milk can put me in bed for weeks at the time with excruciating pain. As far as I can tell, this is one of those problems that stays with you for life... medicine has no cures for this. :(

I would guess that the hand-truck guys have similar problems. They have found a way to adapt and keep going.

Actually, it sounds like a GREAT idea... I'll probably be one of those hand-truck guys soon! :)
 
I have a hand truck like the collapsible hand truck only not collapsible. I use square plastic milk crates. The bottom crate is permanently attached the bottom of my collapsible handled hand truck and I can stack 1 to 3 more on top, 4 total is the max. I use bungee cords to hold them in place and to attach other items that do not fit in the milk crates. Works great for me
 
I use a Radio Flyer wagon. Pulls easy and goes through most terrain well.
 
I use a fold up luggage dolly with a plastic storage box on the bottom (kitty litter bags, brass collector, spotting scope, ammo, etc.) and a MTM range box (Handguns, tools, misc.) on top. Rifle(s) in soft cases on the rare occasions that I shoot a rifle. Getting to old to hike to put up rifle targets any more.
 
I have access to a very nice club where you can (usually) back right up to the covered shooting area. However I also go to an open public range at a National Forest and at that place you DO NOT leave your stuff unattended. When at the latter I either go light, or use the cart from my SASS days.

A friend uses this really nice "Rock N Roller RSD10" handtruck. The big wheels move easily on rough terrain and it folds up to almost nothing.

I also know a guy with a pickup truck who uses an industrial yard cart like this one. He puts down his ATV ramp and rolls it (fully loaded) right off his truck and over to the shooting area. At the end of the day he rolls it back onto his pickup bed, puts a tarp over it, straps it down, and goes home.
 
The range that i shot most of my Service Rifle matches, you had to hike from the lot to the range. I used a folding hand truck. Not ideal, but better than hanging everything off your back.

There are some purpose built carts for transporting guns and shooting gear from the car to the range, but they are more expensive than i was willing to spend at the time.

At my home range, I just load up the utility vehicle, drive to the target stands and drive to the shooting position.:)
 
ArthurDent said:
Sadly, there is such a thing as a bad back.

I am a moderately healthy-looking guy in my 40's, but about 6 months ago I had a stupid accident while doing some manual labor. Now, picking up much more than one gallon jug of milk can put me in bed for weeks at the time with excruciating pain. As far as I can tell, this is one of those problems that stays with you for life... medicine has no cures for this. :(

I would guess that the hand-truck guys have similar problems. They have found a way to adapt and keep going.

Actually, it sounds like a GREAT idea... I'll probably be one of those hand-truck guys soon! :)
Click to expand...
See a good neurologist. They can do a lot today. I did major damage almost twenty
Years ago. Good doc from the outset and I'm about 95%.

And to keep this on topic, I use one of those wagon with balloon
tires. Today's wagons hold lots of gear and roll easily m
 
Hi-Power rifle folk particularly and even competitive Trap shooters have been using wheeled help forever. I use them for ammo an guns I move around but there are these little collapsible hand trucks that are pretty darn useful -- if you're careful they hold a little more than you might guess.
 
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