Range gear for new shooters

[Cody]

Great and thoughtful post OP.

[geoint]

bummer I just ordered those Howard Leight ears, they had way too many good reviews on amazon. I hope they do not suck as bad as your saying

The OP has a few nice things on there, but he must go to a really bad indoor range. Ive shot with my Howard Leights indoors and ya it was still loud but they didn't 'suck'. Would I have shot 500 rounds in one setting with just them on in an indoor range? Hell no. But usually I shoot less than 100 rounds and mix in a lot of drills with snap caps so it would not be an issue.

If you are at an outdoor range, they are more than enough.


Also, his use of respirators because he 'read on calguns about lead poisoning' makes me doubt how experienced he is. Yes lead poisoning is a real thing, but your average new shooter isn't going to need to worry about it unless he has an accidental discharge lol


Edit: Also, OP should have mentioned a good stapler and lots of extra staples. Most places will let you borrow one if you lend them your ID, but just wait til youve forgotten to turn it in and you have to drive all the way back to a range just to get your DL back. Or I mean have your wife drive you

[uhlan1]

bummer I just ordered those Howard Leight ears, they had way too many good reviews on amazon. I hope they do not suck as bad as your saying

I like mine just fine, indoors or out. Just be sure to pull them all the way down and fir them up and snug. otherwise you could have a bit of a gap at the bottom.

[uhlan1]

Oh, don't forget the sunscreen if shooting outdoors. A must.

[WizeWizard]

I can't tell if this is real.
It's funny as the dickens!
I'm not one to jump on new shooters. I think it's great.
So I see the original post scratched off a few items that aren't needed.
Go ahead and scratch off all "loaders". Use your hands.
Don't wear yellow eye pro at an indoor range please.
Plano plastic cases are ok but grab some metal ammo cans.
Targets don't matter unless you are comparing paper vs steel.
Howard Leight ear pro that you listed are excellent.
Gun and rifle bags don't matter either. I go covert. backpack. Cool.
Good luck and shoot outdoor more than indoor. You'll get more out of your training. Get a nice stapler and bang away paper targets. Work up to AR500 steel gongs. Have fun.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Trade the backpack for a wheeled pack of some kind. The one I use also doubles as a standard backpack if necessary. Of course with the tons of stuff I put in mine:
Lots of ammo-by far the heaviest stuff that goes in the bag. If I'm meeting friends, might be 1000 rounds of various handgun ammo
Mags for all my guns-not just the ones I'm taking with me. You never know when you might forget your main mag at home.
Targets-paper, shoot n c, zombies, darts, battleship...
Tape
Stapler (outdoors)
A few tools-Allen wrenches (standard and metric)
Mid size and small screwdrivers
Multi-tool pocket sized (in my pocket) and full sized
Eye/ear protection (multiple sets of both) clear/yellow/dark lenses, foam and electronic ears
Uplula-yes, a loader, mostly for the ladies and those with "soft" hands
Buckmark speed loader
Occasionally a sight pusher (if I'm taking out new guns or helping out a range buddy)
A small snack
Beverage
Pillow case to store spent brass
Dustpan to collect spent brass
Gun oil-needed it to lube a slide last time and jus gonna leave it in the bag.
Towel/rag

Lets see, what else...
A small refrigerator with ice maker
The kitchen sink



Guns in a separate case that I can bungee to the handle of the rolling bag, or carry in my hand.

Th mon bonus is that I can just leave everything in the bag, and I don't worry about forgetting anything.

[uhlan1]

Brass squib rod and yes, again, a speed loader. Could care less if someone thinks I'm a woos, want to shoot not load and those last few rounds can be a PITA especially in emasculated 10 rounders.

[jarhead714]

An alarm clock to get them out of the rack in the morning helps too!

[TheChief]

Great post OP

I would suggest adding:

6 inch paper plates - much cheaper then paper targets. Small enough to staple up multiple targets to the backer for shooting drills. Also, a good sized target for general (non-sharpshooter) accuracy training

Sharpie - to mark your previous target shots, circle your groupings, write down notes on the target, and to note you shotgun pattern numbers on you case of ammo

While I agree with others on what is not needed, that is just personal preference so take what you want. If you get looks on the range, who cares...its not the High School locker room.

One (more) comment...if you are at an indoor range where you need a mask, can taste the propellants after shooting, or get black snot after shooting, find another range as their air handlers are not up to the task of maintaining a clean environment and they wont change it if people keep coming anyway.

[HighWildFree]

Spotting scope.

[TheChief]

One more comment

If your reading this thread you are not likely LE or a real operator looking for pointers. Your going to the range to have fun, do some training, and maybe try to improve your shooting and accuracy techniques. When you are there, give your self and others a break. Be helpful and not judgemental. We want more people interested in the sport and playing uber-snobby-gun-jerk wont help that. On the flip side, don't worry what others think of how you shoot, practice, or how accurate you are. Take your time and enjoy yourself.

[dyson]

bummer I just ordered those Howard Leight ears, they had way too many good reviews on amazon. I hope they do not suck as bad as your saying

They are okay for outdoors as long as you're not next to someone shooting a 308+. I double up on mine with ear plugs and they work great. Can still hear people talking electronically.

[Wordupmybrotha]

I'm going to take off the respirator. I'm being overly cautious. For a once or twice week shooter, it's probably an overkill.

[Wordupmybrotha]

bummer I just ordered those Howard Leight ears, they had way too many good reviews on amazon. I hope they do not suck as bad as your saying

Save your packaging. They took mine back without a problem. The video review from the audio engineer sold me on it.
Report back with your experience.

[Wordupmybrotha]

Great and thoughtful post OP.

Thanks Cody