7 Things to Keep in Your Gun Range Bag

Have you ever trekked to the gun range only to discover you forgot something you wish you had brought? Yeah. Me too. Well, here’s a list of things to permanently keep in your gun range bag so that doesn’t happen. (Some are pretty obvious, but just think of this as a reminder.)

1. Eye and Ear Protection

Like I said, yeah obviously. But you guys, I’ve had my eye protection break—lenses fall out, or some idiot (me) accidentally steps on them. Keep a spare in your bag in case something happens. At the range, safety is paramount for both eyes and ears. But also…

2. First Aid Kit

We’re all about preparedness and safety. A basic kit is important to have for things like insect bites, splinters, and the beginners who might accidentally get slide bites. It’s a good idea to have a first aid kit in your car at all times anyway, so another kit in your gun range bag isn’t a big deal.

3. Ammunition and Spare Magazines

Of course! You’re going to need ammunition, but you should take all you’re going to shoot. Trigger time is what’s going to help you in the long run, so it’s good to put as many through your pistol is possible. You should be practicing reloading, too, so having your extra magazines is paramount. In fact, if you’re looking to have some ammo out of your bag, you can check out our affordable Mag Pouch here.

4. Targets

This is probably the only thing that I regularly forget when heading to the range. In my gun range bag, I now keep balloons because they’re cheap, compact, light, and help me in my tactical drills with my kydex holster (shooting until the “threat” is gone, the popped balloon signaling this accomplishment). But you should grab your paper targets too; even if you have to fold them.

5. Staple gun (and/or Clothes Pins), Staples, Marker, Measuring Tape

Depending on where you do your shooting, you’ll need a way to hang your targets. Some ranges have vertically mounted pieces of plywood, some have stakes and chicken wire (like the range I haunt). So, either a staple gun (don’t forget staples, y’all) or clothespins can hold your targets up. You need the marker (particularly a black and permanent one) to circle previous shots for easy acquisition. The measuring tape doesn’t have to be big and bulky, just long enough to measure shot groups.

6. Firearm Cleaning & Maintenance Kit

This is just in case you run into a malfunction and need to get your pistol back into operational order. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting valuable range time.

7. Firearms & Holsters

Well yeah, we’re not talking about archery here, so you won’t need a bow. But if you have more than one concealed carry pistol (and you should check our post about this) then you need to practice with both. And you also need to practice unholstering and reholstering as well. Don’t bring your whole collection, just bring what you intend to practice with because holsters can take up quite a lot of space. We recommend having at least one adjustable and modular holster with you at all times. Checkout our concealed carry holster. Finally, if you’re only bringing a few pistols, and can separately and safely store them, go ahead and pack them in your bag as well.

Are there any other items I forgot to add to this list?

Hannah Staton holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing from the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith where she also is a Writing Tutor. She was issued her Concealed Carry License in 2016, but has grown up around firearms her whole life. She is a Contributing Editor and Copy Writer for Clinger Holsters. She is an artist, cigar enthusiast, poet, and an avid shooter. She resides in Van Buren, Arkansas with her dog, Sunday and spends as much of her free time either with her family or making art. You can find her on Instagram @hr.staton or reach her by email: hr.staton@yahoo.com

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1 reply
  1. Mike A
    Mike A says:

    I wouldn’t say ALL of this is a necessity considering where you’re going to shoot. If you’re going to an indoor range, you can be confident they will most likely have first aid kits and even a gunshot trauma kit available. Still doesn’t hurt to maintain a first aid kit in your car though.

    Also depending on the gun range, you may not be able to bring ammunition and have to purchase from the range. Usually it’s because a liability issue arose and they can’t have reloads or explosive ammunition risking safety or damage to the range.

    I would also say the most important is to bring a good attitude. Nothing will make your time at the range less than stellar than being angry and shooting off-mark…. making you even more angry. Also if you’re not in a receptive mood, you chance ignoring cues from a range safety officer or an instructor’s tips.

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