Range bag MUST HAVES

[buzz1538]

So I just jailed my first handgun and am heading to the Vallejo gun show today. Im looking to pass my 10 days by buying things haha. I want to pick up a range bag and would like some ideas from everyone about what they MUST HAVE in their range bags besides guns and ammo.

[Turbinator]

In the bag?

Pack away several pairs of ear plugs. Extra is good in case you lose your primary pair, you have guests, or you want to give some away to someone at the range. I primarily use plugs and ear muffs, but have extra ear plugs in case.

Bring a marker - a Sharpie for example. Maybe a regular pen - so you can record details if needed. Some note paper too, doesn't have to be big, just enough to note something at the range if you need to.

Red dots - I have those in my range bag, these get put on the paper to enhance targets. Some people like Shoot N See's, I am too cheap to buy them. I just use regular office supply red dots.

Leave room for some cleaning supplies. Sometimes it helps to get the barrel soaking while you're on your way home from the range.

Empty plastic bags, if you want to save your brass.

Eye protection, if you don't already wear glasses.

Breath mints.. because sometimes you have to lean in close to your friends to talk while you're at the range.

The idea is that you want your range bag to be a "pick it up and go" arrangement, that way you'll never forget something going to the range.

Turby

[daybreak]

great post, turby.

I second remembering to bring a sharpie, ziplocks for brass, and extra ear plugs.

[Capybara]

Cheap foam earplugs for friends and family, cheap sets of regular headphones for the same reason, at least two sets of electronic headphones, spare AAA batteries for electronic headphones, spare batteries for any red dots or lasers, Uplula magazine loader, basic small pistol/rifle tool kit, section of small wooden dowel and or case extractor, spare mags, a few soft cotton cleaning rags. All purpose small portable cleaning kit, bore snake for your calibers.

Calguns flowchart if you have any OLL guns, Sacramento PD OLL letter, spare magazines, sunscreen, spare set of sunglasses if you go to outdoor ranges. The list goes on and on. If you shoot corrosive, perhaps some soapy water or some prefer Windex?

Here is something else to think about, rather than having "THE" range bag, if you shoot different sets of guns, consider multiple smaller, cheaper range bags. When I go shoot trap, I certainly don't need all of my handgun stuff. When I am going to shoot a couple handguns at the indoor range, I really don't need all of my rifle and shotgun stuff. I hate hauling around crap I am not going to need so I have 3-4 small, cheap range bags. Smaller and lighter always = better. I have a monster huge tool bag that I bring for the occasional range trip where I am going to shoot multiple rifles and multiple handguns and possibly a shotgun as well. But I like the small, dedicated bags better.

[anothergunnut]

I carry a number of items in addition to what Turby posted including a stapler for posting targets, a gunsmith screwdriver set, a can of CLP, and I'll second Turby on extra eye and ear protection. In my car, I have a three foot length of thin brass rod (22 cal?) to poke cartridges out if they fail to extract (never had to use it though!). Taped to my gun box is a cheat sheet for adjusting sights (if I adjust the front sight up, the bullet impact will be..).

[billped]

My additions to what has already been mentioned ... boresnake, a bit of gun oil or other lubricant, a small flat head screwdriver (ya' never know!), staple gun or tacks for targets at outdoor ranges, a rag.

Edit: dang, too slow to post ....

[mtenenhaus]

bandaids, copy of my range card, cleaning cloth for my glasses

[Hobofingers]

Masking tape.

[NeoGeo630]

Ammo loader

[Squidward]

First Aid kit; band aids, alcohol wipes, latex gloves, trauma bandages
Baby wipes; clean hands are happy hands
Multi-tool and misc tools for field expedient repairs.
Paper plates; to shoot
Water and snacks.

[pipboy]

All of the above plus
extra magazines
d-lead wet wipes
pair of gloves
staple gun with staples if shooting outdoors
small/medium sized towel
a good multi-tool
small flashlight if shooting at night
extra batteries for said light or electronic ear pro
small bottle of mosquito repellant.

[rkt88edmo]

Stuff that lives in my range bag:
*Ammo
*Eyepro
*Earpro + extra disposables
*LULAs
tape
stapler
shoot-n-Cs and orange dots
notebook (with important phone numbers inside)
pen & pencil
small pair binoculars
brass collecting sack
.17" brass rod
*Otis cleaning kit
*bottle o lube
*pocketknife
*flashlight
*rag (old sock)
nitrile gloves
Baggie of misc glock parts
AR spare bolt/parts
spare N batteries for electronic earpro
small towel for bench

*required

Optional depending on trip:
sight tool
multitool
IPSC target tape
Can for brass collecting
targets
Sunscreen

[liberallyloaded]

In addition to much of the above, I bring a microfiber cloth to wipe down my kimber after each trip... It seems to make it easier to clean later on. Could be just in my head though!

[cebuvfr]

All of the above plus i ALWAYS bring a binocular/monocular to see where my shots are hitting.

[bussda]

Wooden dowel(s) or chopsticks.