What do I need to bring with my for my first trip to the range?

[jblane]

It is very nice to see someone smart enough to buy .22s to learn with. You will be better at shooting for it. Even after nearly 50 years of shooting a .22 is still fun.

It definitely seems like the smart thing to me now after having gotten some good advice here. But when I first found this forum I was planning on starting off with 338 lapua. Now I realize I'll never need anything more powerful than .308.

 

[shockwave]

In addition, it would be good to have a "spotter" with you to make sure you don't inadvertently violate any safety rules, until they are ingrained habit for you.

That's a very good tip. But if you don't have a spotter familiar with the range, then take your time, listen carefully to instructions and watch what others do. Even after many years of range time, I've found that when visiting a new range it is difficult to not violate a rule inadvertently until you learn how they like to run things. When unsure, ask questions.

 

[thorn-]

Don't forget to pick up all your brass. Once you get a few pounds of .22, recycle it for a bit of cash. Take a couple large ziplocks to hold it. Anything larger than .22, keep for the future. You never know when you might want to start reloading.

Magic marker/Sharpie pen... mark your best targets with the date, distance, etc.

Another range bag item: spring-loaded clothes pins. For target "hangers' (usually seen on indoor ranges, but sometimes outdoor) they're better than tape.

thorn