What to put in the range bag?

[BWarwick]

Hey everyone,

After 6 months of looking and saving I will be getting my first pistol on saturday an XDm 9mm and I need to know what I should have for the range/home.

I'd love recomendations on pretty much everything. Hearing protection, plugs or muffs or both, a good cleaning kit or maybe different parts I should buy to make my own cleaning kit ect. I would love to hear everyones favorite brands and why.

I just dont want to show up to the range and be the new guy who doesnt have half the stuff he should.

Thanks in advance.

Brandon.

 

[Nushif]

I have hearing protection (no specific safety glasses, my normal ones do that), ammo and uh ... that's it.
I guess some very basic tools would be nice if any of my guns needed to for a field strip.

Not much else though. 8)

 

[doc2rn]

Here is a list of the minimal things I keep in my bag:
US surplus M9 cleaning kit: comes with brush, rod, CLP,and swag holder
6" shoot-n-see with hole covers, 50 count
3 sets of disposable foam hearing protection
1 earmuff electronic noise reduction set
1 set of S&W shooting glasses (I prefer the Yellow)
1 oily rag in baggie
1 copper rod and hammer (to remove squibbs from barrel)
1 Leatherman multi-tool
1 tub of Mr BerryHills wonder lube
1 bottle of Hopps #9
1 pen and notepad
Thats my kit, hope this serves you well.

 

[braxton14]

Also water & binoculars if the range is outdoors, and print out targets from websites.
ENJOY!

 

[Davey Wavey]

Hearing protection, plugs or muffs or both

I use plugs with muffs on top.

 

[remmy70]

Plugs with muffs on top is a good idea. My right ear is shot out from not listening to an instructor years ago.

 

[Skylerbone]

Add a Sharpie and a small Arrow stapler and duct tape with the above mentioned. I usually keep a few MTM plastic target backers and cardboard or poster board in the Jeep just in case. A safety flag for the chamber is another good idea and a belt holster if shooting at an unmonitored public range.

That last one might seem odd but there have been reports of people shooting at ranges who left firearms unattended to check targets (presumably) and were killed and robbed. News reports, not Internet rumors. Can't be too safe these days.

A good range bag can help with organization as well. I've taken to cleaning firearms at the range to keep from exposing other family members to harsh chemicals. Disposable nitrile gloves come in handy for that. A few ziplock bags for brass as well.

 

[killchain]

Let's see...

CLP
Couple of gun rags
Ear/eye protection (and extras for other people)
Cleaning rods for either field cleaning or clearing squibs
Q-Tips
Two M9 cleaning kits
Leatherman
Head lamp
Targets
Ammo

And other assorted stuff. Magazines, etc.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Good suggestions

I also take a first aid kit(stocked how you like) and a magnifier for checking ammo, my eyes are goin fast.

Using inner and outer ear protection works for me.

Canned air is very useful.

I use a good bit of blue tape to secure targets and cover holes to reuse the target.

A thin rubber place mat makes good, no slip, protection between the firearms and the bench. Mine is rubber mesh that I can roll up, it is the first thing to come out of my bag.

 

[easyg]

Target ammo for whatever I'm shooting that day.

Extra magazines for whatever I'm shooting that day.
I pre-load these with target ammo before going to the range to save time.

At least one magazine of self-defense ammo for my sidearm for when I'm done shooting (I've seen plenty of guys leave a range carrying several guns and no ammo whatsoever...not safe IMO).

Paper targets.

Ear-plugs and ear-muffs.

Safety glasses (I prefer orange tint).

A sharpie marker and a pencil (for marking targets and making notes).

A small multi-bit screwdriver set and punch for my Glock.

A wooden dowel for clearing barrels.

Masking tape to secure targets and cover bulletholes.

A couple of wash cloths to wipe down the guns after shooting.

A small LED light (Photon).

Always wear a hat when shooting (it keeps the sun out of your eyes and hot brass off your head).

Always wear a shirt that hot brass cannot get in to.

Always wear a holster for your primary carry pistol.

Always carry a cell-phone (in case you need to call 911 or in case you want to take a picture of something).

Always keep a first aid kit in your car or truck.


Happy shooting,
Easy

 

[ultradoc]

Extra mags,hearing protection,eye protection,pen,paper,multi tool,ammo,rag,bottle of water,energy bar/granola bar [depending how long you will be at the range AND some don't allow food/drink on the range],lube.

 

[gaijin6423]

It depends what I'm shooting that day, but I always have:
-Eye protection + extra
-Ear protection (plugs and electronic muffs) + extra
-Gerber multitool
-Staple gun w/ staples
-First aid kit with tourniquet
-Cardboard mailing tube (Great for targets)
-Disassembled cleaning rods
-Sharpie
-Gum
-Gloves

 

[springfield30-06]

The main things to bring are:

-Hearing protection, use foam inserts & outer earmuffs (I use a noise reduction of 32db inner and 30db muffs)
-Eye protecton
-Targets, print your own at www.targetz.com
-Ammo, bring more than you 'think' you will shoot... it will go fast and you'll wish you had more! If you show up with a box of 50, you're going to wish you had 150 or more!
-Stapler & staples for attaching targets
-Masking tape for attaching targets or covering holes to reuse a target
I think these are the minimum things that you need...

Cleaning kits, rags, oil, punches, hammer, screw driver set, etc. are nice to have but not totally necessary... though I do carry them in mine.

 

[Mt Shooter]

shot timer

 

[PapaG]

Stapler, staples, push pins, tape. Bright target spots. Small dead blow hammer and brass drift. Good screwdriver set. Cleaning kit with multiple sized jags. Solvent, oil, patches and a cheap pair of scissors. Note book and pen. Marker. Tape measure. Bore guide. Chrony. (And a pile of miscellaneous stuff that accumulated over the years). A roll of targets. Target pasters, black and white.
And a good 357 for the back pocket when you're down range a couple hundred yards and all alone on the range and didn't lock the gate....

 

[Blackrock]

I keep my pasters, push pins, sharpies and such in a kiddos pencil case. Ammo for the day and several bore snakes and bore cleaner, gun oil and gun grease.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Bandaids. I prefer GI Joe if you can find them, just for the humor.

But you will pinch your finger in a slide, cut yourself on a mag lip, shoot yourself with the staple gun, get a splinter from the range table, etc.

I swear every range session I do something that draws blood lol.

And a good 357 for the back pocket when you're down range a couple hundred yards and all alone on the range and didn't lock the gate....

Isn't that a weird feeling? I do this too, thought I was the only one.

 

[Murcielago]

+1 on the Bandaids; I use Hello Kitty ones - just for the humor. Also, in addition to a regular Sharpie, I also suggest a silver Sharpie, for numbering magazines if necessary or otherwise writing on black surfaces.

 

[Wedge]

Here is my go to bag contents:

First aid kit
Leatherman
Flashlight
Tissues
Hand sanitizer
Ear plugs
Shooting glasses
Ammo
Extra mags
Targets
Pasters
Staple gun + staples
Pen and notebook
Dowel
Boresnake

There are some others I bring with or leave at home depending on why I am going to the range. If I am going to an IDPA match, I leave the targets, pasters and stapler at home. If I am going to the range with multiple firearms I make sure I have ammo/mags for each and any specific tools necessary.

 

[mstrat]

I'd recommend you keep it simple to start with. As you shoot more and more, you'll figure out what you need and don't need.

Ammo, eye and ear protection, an old rag, and buy yourself a cheap 9mm handgun cleaning kit.

If your range doesn't sell targets, print some out beforehand.

That's it.

 

[Yo Mama]

I slimmed my bag to the essentials:

Screwdriver
oil
rag
ammo

I'm already wearing the sunglasses, and the ear protection around my neck.

Now, if we are going to the desert, the backpack with all the emergency survival items gets thrown in the trunk.

 

[mcdonl]

Depends on your range and situation I suppose. I have a setup and I bring the whole thing with me, and it is also where I keep everything at home except for the guns and ammo. I can also drive up to or within 10 yards of the benches at the range.

I have a two wheel dollie with a large moving company bin bolted to the platform. This is where I keep gun rest, stapler, cleaning kit, eye/ear protection, tools... pretty much anything that is not paper, ammo or guns.

I put all of my pistols in one padded case if I am not carrying the only gun I plan to shoot and the rest of my guns stay in their cases.

I have a plastic file box I use for my ammo and paper targets.

 

[Sport45]

Plenty of good advice above. For a range bag in the Houston area I suggest also including DEET and sun screen. Both have come in handy for me.

 

[GCBurner]

I just cleaned mine out and repacked it to take a first-timer to the range, so I know everything that's in there:

• Targets
• Ammo
• Spare magazines
• Staple gun
• Staples
• Notebook and pen
• Pocket First Aid Kit
• Spotting scope and bench tripod
• Multi tool
• Bore scope
• Open bolt indicators
• GI buttstock cleaning kit with sectional rod
• Plastic baggie with cotton patches
• Small bottle of CLP
• Hearing protection and shooting glasses

The bore scope and cleaning kit are there for checking and removing possible bore obstructions. I'm not going to take up a shooting spot on the range by taking time to actually clean my gun there, though several of the benchrest shooters take the time to clean their guns thoroughly, before putting them back in the case. I'd rather do it at home.

 

[JohnBiltz]

Good lists up there. I always take a small self contained screw driver set that has a complete set of bits, star and hex included. That way I can work on red dots or adjust lasers.