Essential items for a range bag?

Kimio · July 31, 2014, 09:44 AM

So, I'm not sure why I have not done this yet, but figured later is better than never.

Aside from ammo, mags and if course the gun, what do ya'll believe are absolute essentials to a range bag?

There are a few that I can think of.

Broken shell case removal tool
Cleaning supplies + rod (varies on gun)
Sight adjustment tools (if needed for the chosen firearm)
Needle nose pliers
Masking tape
Screwdriver (Phillips & flat head)
First aid kit
Water (1g jug)

There is probably more, but these I feel would be some good items to start with if you plan on staying at a range for extended periods if time.

Thoughts?

nate_g_2003 · July 31, 2014, 09:53 AM

A few extra sets of the cheap foam ear plugs.

g.willikers · July 31, 2014, 10:18 AM

Don't forget your guns and ammo.
Been there, done that, as, no doubt, have many others around here.
Somehow, it's just not the same throwing rocks at all the neat targets that I did remember to bring.

Brian Pfleuger · July 31, 2014, 10:23 AM

I must confess, I find nothing in your list of essentials to be "Essential", except maybe the tape. In fact, I've never even brought any of them to the range except the tape and screw driver.

Maybe I'm too simple.

My essentials are

1)Ear protection
2)Eye protection
3)Tape
4)Stapler
5)Targets

I assume that the desired firearms and ammo for them are a given.

BarryLee · July 31, 2014, 10:24 AM

I also carry a notebook, pens and sharpies. I like to record shot count and any other issues in my notebook. I use the sharpies to mark targets if I’m adjusting sights or technique, etc.

wogpotter · July 31, 2014, 11:02 AM

My range is very much DIY & as an RO I bring a lot as I like to be the helpful guy who gets you out of trouble rather than the "Range Nazi". Because of that I have a lot of stuff.
Gun(s)
Magazines
Ammo.
muffs for each person going
spare foam ear plugs
Spotting scope
Tripod for it
gun screwdriver kit.
watchmaker screwdriver kit
2 small flat sandbags
Rifle/pistol rest
Toolkit beyond the screwdrivers. (specialty tools like gas plug wrenches & so on).
Broken case extractors for all the calibers I use.
Comprehensive cleaning kit.
Notepad
pen
pencil
red & black felt markers (to color pasters)
Targets
pasters
stapler
spare staples
duct tape
Leatherman tool (I always have this anyway)
AA mag-lite
fiber-optic for it
AA batteries
9v "Radio" battery Fits chronograph
AAA batteries (for Peltor muffs)
6" S/S ruler
Solvent
gun oil
grease
Q-tips
Lupe (magnifying glass)
Lens tissues/cloth
tie wraps

I think that's about it. It all goes in a plastic tool box, the type where it opens layers of compartments as you open the top.

spacemanspiff · July 31, 2014, 12:04 PM

My bag contains:

Targets
Stapler w/box of staples
Two pairs of muffs, One set of plugs
One leatherman
Stack of targets (multiple sizes/types, all are the black splatter type)
Ziploc bag containing cleaning supplies (patches, qtips, boresnakes, rags, solvents, oils, brushes, etc)
Two different sets of cleaning rods
Lense brush/scope cleaner

Ammo typically is in cans
Magazines are typically stacked inside an ammo can
Spotting scope, rifles, handguns in their own individual carrying cases

I need to get my own wagon to cart all my gear up from the truck to the range. The wagons at the range sometimes are all occupied when I arrive.

July 31, 2014, 09:44 AM	#1
Kimio Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,171	Essential items for a range bag? So, I'm not sure why I have not done this yet, but figured later is better than never. Aside from ammo, mags and if course the gun, what do ya'll believe are absolute essentials to a range bag? There are a few that I can think of. Broken shell case removal tool Cleaning supplies + rod (varies on gun) Sight adjustment tools (if needed for the chosen firearm) Needle nose pliers Masking tape Screwdriver (Phillips & flat head) First aid kit Water (1g jug) There is probably more, but these I feel would be some good items to start with if you plan on staying at a range for extended periods if time. Thoughts?

July 31, 2014, 09:53 AM	#2
nate_g_2003 Member Join Date: July 3, 2013 Location: Atascocita, TX Posts: 78	A few extra sets of the cheap foam ear plugs. __________________ -Nathan- Remington 1911R1 .45ACP ~ Remington 870 Express SuperMag 12G ~ Smith & Wesson 629 Classic DX .44 Mag ~ Parker-Hale Model 1200 .30-06 CMP M1 Garand Special .30-06 ~ Tula '39 Mosin-Nagant M91/30 7.62x54R ~ Romanian M1969 Trainer .22LR

July 31, 2014, 10:18 AM	#3
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Don't forget your guns and ammo. Been there, done that, as, no doubt, have many others around here. Somehow, it's just not the same throwing rocks at all the neat targets that I did remember to bring. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

July 31, 2014, 10:23 AM	#4
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	I must confess, I find nothing in your list of essentials to be "Essential", except maybe the tape. In fact, I've never even brought any of them to the range except the tape and screw driver. Maybe I'm too simple. My essentials are 1)Ear protection 2)Eye protection 3)Tape 4)Stapler 5)Targets I assume that the desired firearms and ammo for them are a given. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

July 31, 2014, 10:24 AM	#5
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	I also carry a notebook, pens and sharpies. I like to record shot count and any other issues in my notebook. I use the sharpies to mark targets if I’m adjusting sights or technique, etc. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

July 31, 2014, 11:02 AM	#6
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	My range is very much DIY & as an RO I bring a lot as I like to be the helpful guy who gets you out of trouble rather than the "Range Nazi". Because of that I have a lot of stuff. Gun(s) Magazines Ammo. muffs for each person going spare foam ear plugs Spotting scope Tripod for it gun screwdriver kit. watchmaker screwdriver kit 2 small flat sandbags Rifle/pistol rest Toolkit beyond the screwdrivers. (specialty tools like gas plug wrenches & so on). Broken case extractors for all the calibers I use. Comprehensive cleaning kit. Notepad pen pencil red & black felt markers (to color pasters) Targets pasters stapler spare staples duct tape Leatherman tool (I always have this anyway) AA mag-lite fiber-optic for it AA batteries 9v "Radio" battery Fits chronograph AAA batteries (for Peltor muffs) 6" S/S ruler Solvent gun oil grease Q-tips Lupe (magnifying glass) Lens tissues/cloth tie wraps I think that's about it. It all goes in a plastic tool box, the type where it opens layers of compartments as you open the top. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.” Last edited by wogpotter; July 31, 2014 at 02:03 PM.

July 31, 2014, 12:04 PM	#7
spacemanspiff Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2002 Location: alaska Posts: 3,498	My bag contains: Targets Stapler w/box of staples Two pairs of muffs, One set of plugs One leatherman Stack of targets (multiple sizes/types, all are the black splatter type) Ziploc bag containing cleaning supplies (patches, qtips, boresnakes, rags, solvents, oils, brushes, etc) Two different sets of cleaning rods Lense brush/scope cleaner Ammo typically is in cans Magazines are typically stacked inside an ammo can Spotting scope, rifles, handguns in their own individual carrying cases I need to get my own wagon to cart all my gear up from the truck to the range. The wagons at the range sometimes are all occupied when I arrive. __________________ "Every man alone is sincere; at the entrance of a second person hypocrisy begins." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." - Soren Kierkegaard