Choosing a Range Bag

[Lon C.]

New shooter here, everyone. I have gone shopping recently and found only bags that are either way too big, or for pistols exclusively [I'm a devoted revolver beginner(!)] which have a lot of slots [for magazines, etc.] that I'll never use.

Currently, I have one 5 inch "N" frame revolver, a full cleaning kit, ear muffs/eye wear protection and a large pad to lay the revolver on. Plus ammo of course, in a separate and secured, metal strong box. I'll carry a second pair of muffs/glasses for my wife in the bag too.

Is there anything else that I'm missing that I should include before I begin to search again for the range bag?

Many thanks for taking the time to respond!

Lon

[Citadelgrad87]

I like a couple small screwdrivers and allen wrenches for sights.

Tape.

Target dots and targets

Flashlight, its dark in most indoor ranges.

A trauma kit. Some tampons. Not kidding.

[Redneck Geek]

I like a couple small screwdrivers and allen wrenches for sights.

Tape.

Target dots and targets

Flashlight, its dark in most indoor ranges.

A trauma kit. Some tampons. Not kidding.

Great advice.

I've decided range bags are like camera bags - you'll buy a collection of them and like/hate each one for different reasons.

[XPOED]

Another revolver. Not kidding


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TKCastle]

Buy the midway range bag. Its on sale right now.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020438366/midwayusa-competition-range-bag

Done.

[Ora Serrata]

I've got a couple of cheap ones from the OC Gun show I like. They're small, something like 16" wide, have a couple pouches but not dedicated magazine pouches. I find it's a great size - just a bit larger than the free NRA bags you get when you join, but made a lot better and with more useful pockets.

I always carry a bore light in my bag (just one from Walmart), a gun wipe cloth, chamber flags (for ranges that require them), and a small pump bottle of Lead off.

[johnk518]

Buy the midway range bag. Its on sale right now.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020438366/midwayusa-competition-range-bag

Done.

I concur

[Citadelgrad87]

I concur

I posted that sale in the deals forum this morning.

[XDJYo]

The Midway USA Range Bags are great deals! Personally, I like to keep my gear separate so the bag doesn't get too heavy. Like you, my wife goes shooting too, so we have eyes, ears, mag loaders, targets x 2 and mags for each of our guns that we're shooting. I also have a small canvas tool bag for ammo and the spent brass afterwards (I reload).

I similarly carry Quick Clot and a Tourniquet, a few tools, gun oil, extra earplugs, chamber flags etc. I carry in my pocket always a good flashlight (Fenix PD35) in case I need extra lighting at the range.

Sometimes we cram our pistols into a separate pistol case (Voodoo Tactical) to keep things light.

[billped]

While it may have improved, Midway shipping is steep, probably adding nearly 50% to the price of that bag.

Get a few items at the same time as the % goes down.

[johnk518]

While it may have improved, Midway shipping is steep, probably adding nearly 50% to the price of that bag.

Get a few items at the same time as the % goes down.

They often do free shipping on $50, which is WAY easy to do. . .Especially for a new shooter.

Also check out Opticplant.com

[Squidward]

I'll go out on a limb and suggest a plain Jane backpack and a soft handgun case. It won't draw the attention of a dedicated range bag and, in my opinion, will be more flexible as your handgun and range contents change.

[broadside]

I have that Midway bag and rarely use it anymore. It is very large. So unless I am taking enough stuff for multiple shooters and multiple guns, it stays home.

In addition to the big Midway bag, I have a medium size bag and a 4-gun GPS Tactical Backpack Tall (4-gun, versus the not tall 3-gun). I use the medium size bag the most, then the backpack.

I am willing to transfer gear between bags, so I keep the "extra" items in the big Midway bag and grab as needed for each trip. The medium bag keeps my primary gear all.

But if you are going to carry a full cleaning kit, etc then maybe the big bag is for you.

[hermosabeach]

In my pistol bag, I leave a $5 allen key set from Harbor freight
English/ metric and torqs

Small screwdrivers
medium adjustable wrench - crescent wrench
black sharpie - touch up sights and mark targets

Tourniquet
Super Glue - cuts
bandaids
extra ear plugs
Stapler
Box of staples
slightly bend cleaning rod and flat tip jig for stick case removal
Oil
spare ear pro batteries
to the strap is attached a spare base ball cap
Extra set of eye pro

$30 in cash

Empty bags are relatively light. Get one that can hold 4 pistols. This way your electronic ear muffs will fit too

[johnk518]

No matter what I have in my range bag, I never have what I'm looking for on that trip.