Must Have Items for Your Range Bag

[jajo]

I have some band aids
A bandana
Multitool
Allen wrenches for my scope mounts
UPLULA
Silicone wipe down rag

I seem to use all of these things regularly.

Our range is outdoors. Depending on the season, I will take bug spray and some sunblock. I wear a hat or cap to the range.

 

[xxspudxx]

GSW kit
Hand soap / water / rag

 

[keefer216]

A shovel and a bag of lime. Oh sorry wrong thread.

 

[Hemione]

I tried putting this sucker in my range box, but it wouldn't fit.

 

[FlamingCeasar]

I have seen gloves mentioned for comfort but I reccomend some leather work gloves.

I have some Winchester M22 that my 15-22 doesn't like. Many FTF....I once had a FTF that also failed to extract. I dropped the bolt on it a couple times to get the extractor to catch, no dice. So now I have a hot round that won't come out. I tapped one of the local club members on the shoulder for some advice and he grabbed his leather work gloves and a leather man and coaxed it out of the chamber. I wouldn't have felt safe doing this without gloves. I can think of a number of uses for some work gloves at the range.

Now I have two bags, one that comes to the firing line with the basics and one that I bring but leave in the car for 'just in case'.

 

[TheBigC1234]

Depends where you shoot. Indoor public or private, outdoor public or private.

I shoot at indoor public ranges (anyone with money can shoot) therefor I have a trauma kit with a tourniquet (one hand use) and other medical items. I also have pens, markers, post it notes (cover target make it like new) some tape (same purpose), dummy rounds to practice jams, flashlight, knife, multitool, extra ear and eye pro, spare mag's.

 

[Majorlk]

I have seen gloves mentioned for comfort but I reccomend some leather work gloves.

I have some Winchester M22 that my 15-22 doesn't like. Many FTF....I once had a FTF that also failed to extract. I dropped the bolt on it a couple times to get the extractor to catch, no dice. So now I have a hot round that won't come out. I tapped one of the local club members on the shoulder for some advice and he grabbed his leather work gloves and a leather man and coaxed it out of the chamber. I wouldn't have felt safe doing this without gloves. I can think of a number of uses for some work gloves at the range.

Now I have two bags, one that comes to the firing line with the basics and one that I bring but leave in the car for 'just in case'.

Cleaning rod inserted from the muzzle ...

 

[duppie]

I carry a bottle of sterile saline and a eye cup......

 

[gm272gs]

...Who hasn't bulged a barrel yet...

Uh, that would be me.

 

[gm272gs]

...and a leather man and coaxed it out of the chamber...

Stainless steel pliers have no business in or around the breech of a rifle, in my opinion. Do the "coaxing" with a sharpened chop stick or other wood (or hard plastic) instrument - especially around a live rimfire round. Most .22s have a recess next to the barrel (for the extractor to go into). This is where you stick your pointed instrument (conveniently under the cartridge case rim), and gently pry the round out.

The cleaning rod from the muzzle works too, but be careful. Drop the rod (let it fall just with gravity) and keep your hands and face away from that business end! Also - if you do this - point the open breech away from you and downrange. The rod can unseat the cartridge and hit the rim against the open bolt case, causing ignition inside the open breech. This is what we call "bad", and using method one is always safer.

 

[Taylor339]

This has been a very useful thread.

 

[Dikinalaska]

I shoot a lot at a remote location so I do carry toilet paper for the lady, snacks in case we decide to stay longer, and firestarters in case we decide to camp/truck breaks down. Of course I always have a couple bags of balloons and clothespins. Cheapest targets I've ever found.

 

[Mike McLellan]

You never know when you might need:
Bug Dope
P-38 can opener
Ball of binder-twine
Cordless drill
Turkey baster
Honey bucket
Sawzall
Rolling papers
Machete
Hot Sauce
Two-hole punch
Ice tongs
Whistle

 

[gr8jab]

I always carry hand wipes (moist towelette). After a shooting match, you would be surprised at how many people want a few when they see them.

Personally, I hate getting back into my car and smearing gun oil, soot, and 22 muck all over everything.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I purchased a range bag yesterday from Primary Arms. So now I'm working on a list of items to stock it with. Please list a few items you feel are "must have" in a range bag. No need to mention ammo

Gun range keys (you don't want to drive all the way out there and not be able to get in. Don't ask me how I know this)
Internal lock keys for any firearm you take that has the unfortunate device
Hearing and eye protection for two (you may take a friend)
Break Free CLP
Cleaning kit with rod, jag, patches, etc.
Good set of hollow-ground gunsmithing screwdrivers (not hardware store)
Semi Auto mag loader like UPLULA
Toilet paper (better to have and not need), hand sanitizer
Shop rag or old t-shirt
3/32 inch punch or Glock disassembly tool
1911 bushing wrench
Quality set of hex keys and torx keys
staple gun and extra staples
targets and pasters to cover holes (not in range bag, but next to it, so you don't forget them. Don't ask me how I know this)
Zip lock bag to put your carry ammo in while you are shooting your carry pistol

It is best to have duplicates of all of this stuff for your range bag and for your house so your range bag stays packed all the time and all you have to do is grab guns and ammo and go.

In addition to the contents of the range bag, you should have these items handy:

weapons
practice ammo
extra mags or speed loaders
holsters
magazine or speed loader pouch
any weapon-specific tools needed for a particular firearm

You will add stuff as your experience dictates.

 

[duppie]

You never know when you might need:
Bug Dope
P-38 can opener
Ball of binder-twine
Cordless drill
Turkey baster
Honey bucket
Sawzall
Rolling papers
Machete
Hot Sauce
Two-hole punch
Ice tongs
Whistle

There's always a machete in the car{ a holdover from growing up the Islands,never know when a coconut might need opening} as well as a bottle of Sriracha for those roadside Pho joints. The turkey baster I ain't touching.......

 

[mwtdvm]

STAPLES!!

for the Staple gun and make sure they FIT!! There are different sizes and lengths. And you WILL learn to check how full the staple gun is before you walk downrange to put up your targets.

Also everything that everyone else said.

And if you just cleaned your bolt action. be sure and put the bolt in the range bag if you haven't put it in the gun...

 

[guy22]

Depends where you shoot. Indoor public or private, outdoor public or private.

I shoot at indoor public ranges (anyone with money can shoot) therefor I have a trauma kit with a tourniquet (one hand use) and other medical items. I also have pens, markers, post it notes (cover target make it like new) some tape (same purpose), dummy rounds to practice jams, flashlight, knife, multitool, extra ear and eye pro, spare mag's.

Depends where you shoot. Indoor public or private, outdoor public or private. +1
I used to carry way too much stuff.
If at a range that charges by the hour. You don't want too carry more than eyes, ears, targets, a multi-tool, bore snake, and loaded mags.
I do not pay to fix stuff at the range. I do not pay to load mags at the range. I pay to shoot.

I also belong to a range that time is unlimited, and pay a yearly fee. So I carry alot of stuff. Since some of the time I have the range to myself. I carry first add kit, tools, plenty of cleaning stuff, and water.
Of course duct tape, parachute cord, staples, push pins, and bulldog clips.
Guy22

 

[rhinoh]

My favorite summer time range item is my Ryobi cordless fan! The range I shoot at is outdoor, in SC with high humidity, and mostly white sand berms on 3 sides. When the sun is reflecting off all that sand in the summer and the berms are blocking any possible breeze, it can be very miserable.
That fan is worth its weight in .22LR rounds!
Another item I always keep in my pocket is my cellphone, particularly if I'm the only one at the range- accidents do happen.

 

[Hillbilly77]

Along with the obvious stuff like ammo & ears, etc.

• Black sharpie and a pen & paper for marking targets and keeping track of my shots & groups.
• A roll of fluorescent orange duct tape - works great for a DIY target bullseye. Also a lot cheaper than buying targets. Just slap a square of duct tape onto a piece of cardboard and voila! Poor-man's target.
• I keep a small plastic box with extra ear plugs in my truck - for the occasion that I forget my muffs at home.
• A cheap hand towel to put under my elbow to reduce rug-burn at the rifle bench.
• Sometimes I'll bring a cordless drill & a box of screws - we have some morons that like to shoot the target stands to bits - sometimes have to screw them back together.