If you’re going to the gun range, especially if you’re going to make a habit of doing so, you need a range bag in which to carry your pistol and/or necessary and useful gear. Your choice of range bag will vary according to practical issues, like what and how much you intend to carry in it, but also according to social issues, like just how overt you want to be about your shooting hobby.
* * *
Regarding that last point, you may decide that it’s perfectly fine with you that co-workers and neighbors regularly or occasionally see you carrying an obvious gun-range bag. Like some, though, you may instead decide that it’s best to be a bit more discrete with regard to your shooting habit, and opt for a more commonly seen type of bag.
In any event, having a dedicated range bag is a good idea, as is having the essentials and even the nice-to-have things packed neatly in your bag. Let’s look at some range bag options and then examine some of the things you’ll want to bring along with you to the range.
Range Bag Choice
Regardless of what you choose as a range bag, it will need to meet some criteria in order to be suitable. First, it will need to be tough to endure wear and abrasion, from inside and outside. It will require sturdy construction to stand up to some significant weight from firearms and ammunition. Next, it will need to have adequate volume for the things you’ll carry with you, including your pistol(s), ammo, and other items. Also, it is best if the bag has a way to segregate your pistol(s) and/or other items from the rest of the bag’s contents.
There are generally three types of candidates that make for good range bags.
The dedicated range bag
This one is made specifically for the purpose. These bags typically feature tough construction and though they vary in size and capacity, they generally feature some assortment of pockets and/or divisions of the primary content area.
As you might expect, the purpose-made range bag is the most practical choice. Given the likely gear you’ll want or need to bring to the range, a real range bag will often have specific or suitable compartments for things like ammo, a pistol or two, and other various sundries common to training at the range.
Depending on your preference, the purpose-made range bag can bring with it the uncomfortable quality of actually looking like a gun-range bag. Many of you may think, so what, but perhaps some of you may be put off by this fact. No matter how you dress, if you’re carrying one of these, it is either clear to—or raises questions in the minds of—neighbors and onlookers as to what you’re up to.
Carrying a dedicated range bag says, “I’m a gun owner and I’m going to the gun range.” And yes, the man’s clothes here say something too. The photo of the women here is from TheWellArmedWoman.com
Despite what I’m pointing out here, there’s no reason you have to worry about what your bag communicates to others who see you. I bring it up here, and later in this article, only for those of you who DO have this concern. Keeping and bearing arms is every law-abiding American’s right. It is fundamental to our culture. But we each make individual choices. Different strokes for different folks!
A Laptop Bag
A laptop computer bag is a good alternative to the purpose-made range bag. It has the benefits of generally being functionally suitable and, for those of you who care about such things, being less overt with regard to communicating “GUNS!” to onlookers.
When I first started making the gun range a several-day-a-week habit I used a laptop bag as my range bag. My choice was mostly because it was what I had at hand, but also because I was not yet sure that I wanted my neighbors and others who saw me to know I was a gun owner and carrying a firearm. A laptop bag is something any citizen can be seen with without prompting any questions in the mind of others.
These issues aside, the laptop bag is quite a functional piece of equipment. These bags are typically well constructed, durable, and more than able to stand up to the weight and abrasion common to range bags. Laptop bags have the added benefit of having a padded compartment that provides good cushion and segregation for a pistol.
The Backpack
The “covert-carry” backpack is an option, with the added benefit of a padded, pistol-specific compartment.
When you think of needing a bag that allows you to carry all sorts of things in public, a backpack is an easy solution and likely a first thought. A backpack can serve as an excellent range bag. The only general drawbacks are perhaps 1) most backpacks are a bit large for a range bag and 2) the probable lack of a padded compartment for a pistol.
There is, however, the “laptop backpack” that today is not at all rare. The benefit of this version of a backpack as range bag is the addition of a padded compartment. It allows for the necessary padding and segregation of your pistol. There are even “covert-carry” backpacks that have a separate compartment for a carry pistol. I cannot condone off-body carry of a concealed firearm, but as a range bag option, this could be quite suitable.
These issues aside, it’s not a stretch to adapt any backpack you may have on hand to serve as a range bag. They are both roomy enough to serve and usually inconspicuous enough to raise no questions in the minds of neighbors and onlookers, should that be a concern for you.
There are, of course, some backpacks that while perhaps more functionally suitable as a range bag, are a bit more overt looking.
The pack on the left says, “I’m just a regular person off to do regular things.” The one on the right says, “I’m strapped up and ready to engage any threats in my AO! Also, I’ve seen some stuff. Bad stuff…”
There is no wrong or right with regard to your choice here. It’s entirely up to your preference. The most important factor likely rests in how a particular pack suits your range bag contents, which we’ll examine next.
Range Bag Contents
There are some things you probably must have in your range bag, things you’ll likely want to bring, and things you might include according to your specific habits and training environment.
Must Haves
Some things every range bag must have include:
- an Emergency Personal Injury Kit (EPIK)
- a rapid-application tourniquet
- eye and ear protection
- a notebook and pen (for recording your rounds fired and perhaps notes on your training and performance)
- a cloth for wiping down your firearm and magazines after training
- ammunition (when you’re on your way to the range)
I find that too many people fail to have emergency medical equipment with them, either in their range bag or in clothing pockets, when they visit the gun range. An EPIK and tourniquet are not optional items and it is irresponsible to operate firearms without the means to deal with a traumatic injury. Also, be sure you know how to use your emergency medical equipment. People make mistakes. Don’t let that fact cost you or someone else a life.
Other Advisable Items
It’s generally a good idea to bring to the gun range items that help you deal with minor mishaps and uncommon needs:
- a small cleaning kit and some lube might come in handy once in a while
- some specific- or general-purpose tools can help keep you running if your firearm or other training equipment experiences some minor malfunction or needs adjustment
- medium-size adhesive bandages are very useful for covering minor cuts and abrasions or even for padding a thumb that is sore from loading magazines
- a roll of masking tape comes in handy once in a while for taping up targets or covering shots on your target
It is worth noting here that Eagle Gun Range prohibits cleaning your firearm on the firing line bench. A cleaning kit it a good component of your range bag, but be aware of or or inquire as to where you may and may not employ it at your range.
My Range Bag Contents
For a look at a full complement of what you might consider for your range bag, I took a photo of the things I keep in mine. It’s not necessarily what you should keep in yours, but I hope you find it helpful.
A – eye protection, both clear and as sunglasses for outdoor training
B – band-aids
C – a small flashlight (for seeing into firearms during minor repairs or for shining down a barrel in case of a suspected squib round)
D – notebook and pen
E – dummy rounds, for malfunction drills
F – sharpie marker
G – gun oil
H – cleaning supplies
I – screwdriver with multiple bits
J – cleaning rod – rigid steel so that it can also be used to eject stuck casings or a squib round from the barrel or chamber
K – Glock disassembly tool and an AR front-sight adjustment tool
L – multi-tool
M – ear plugs
N – extra magazines for my pistol
O – shot timer
P – electronic ear muffs
Q – gloves (for cold-weather training or when training involves hand abrasion)
R – Emergency Personal Injury Kit – (my RATS tourniquet is in my pocket)
S – cloth rag
T – masking tape
Beyond must-haves and advisable items, maybe include in your range bag things that are specific to the type of training you do and things contextual to your training environment (indoors, outdoors, pistols or rifles, standing target practice, or dynamic moving and shooting, etc.). It’s YOUR range bag and should be set up to serve you, given what you do and where you go to shoot.
While there’s no need to pack your range bag like you’re going away on a weekend trip, you want to have the things that will make your trip to the gun range a comfortable one and allow you to be prepared for when minor and major things go awry.