Events always seem to go sideways when you least expect it, like when a fun day at the range turns sour and you discover your red dot has dead batteries. Or, the rim of a cartridge case breaks off, leaving a spent shell in the chamber of your AR.
The right equipment can turn a problem into just a momentary blip on your range day. Sometimes it’s as simple as having oil for a dry AR-15. Other times, you might need a specialized tool.
Fundamentally, if you prepare for the unexpected on your range trip you should have the tools and other essential gear in your range bag you need. Here are a few things I carry in my range bag that you may not have considered.
Range Bag Basics: Essential Gear
There are some basic items you should always plan on carrying to the range. These are the bare minimum things you will need for a safe day of shooting. These essentials include eye and hearing protection, ammunition, targets and magazines. Depending on your range and needs, you might have other mandatory gear such as water and sunscreen when shooting outside.
I break down range bag gear into three primary categories: protection, gun gear and tools.
In addition to my own hearing protection, I always bring extra earplugs. You never know when your buddy will forget his ear muffs. Likewise, using plugs to double up with muffs makes a lot of sense for anyone new to shooting. For me, if there is someone in the next bay shooting a short-barrel rifle with a comp, I might want to use both plugs and muffs due to the excessive noise.
In the gun gear category, a stapler and tape are on the essentials list along with paper targets. If I’m shooting a rifle, I pack a spotting scope, tripod and a toe bag. You may also want to bring a journal and a pencil to keep notes.
I also like to have specialized tools with me. Here are some of the tools that I have found to be helpful.
The Right Range Bag
Fundamentally, you need a range bag to carry all of your gear. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should be able to tote the essentials like ear and eye protection, extra batteries, magazines and ammunition. My goal is practicality.
In the past, I tried to make do with an old gym bag or backpack. The problem is, everything seemed to accumulate at the bottom of the bag in a jumble. I was forever fishing through the bag for what I needed.
For me, the solution is the 5.11 Range Ready Trainer Bag 50L. I’ve found it is the near-perfect size to carry all my gear plus any extras I might need for certain shooting situations — things like a spotting scope for rifle shooting.
5.11 makes it easy to create and adjust sections inside the bag. This allows me to arrange things so all of my gear is handy when I need it. The size of the bag also allows me to use it as a shooting rest.
I dislike having so many pockets that it becomes difficult to track where everything is. On this bag, the number of pockets is minimal to keep things streamlined. The carry handles are comfortable, as is the shoulder strap — even when loaded up with a few hundred rounds of .45 Auto ammo.
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The Range Ready Trainer Bag (50L) has a suggested retail price of $150.
Multi-Tool Set
No matter what you do, sometimes things loosen up and come undone. Having a multi-tool set like The Works from Fix-It Sticks can mean the difference between quickly fixing a problem or going back home to get the right tools.
The Works is a firearms toolkit specifically designed for shooters. It can help you with all kinds of issues common to pistols, shotguns and rifles.
In the kit are many different tool tips and sizes, from Torx and hex to slot screwdriver and Phillips screwdriver. The Works also includes a tiny torque-limiting socket that can be adjusted so you don’t accidentally gorilla the fastener and strip it.
For all of the AR-style-rifle shooters, the kit includes a number of specialty tools including a scraper for the bolt carrier group, a castle nut wrench and an A2 front sight adjustment bit. Likewise, 1911 fans are treated to a quality bushing tool. There is even a universal wrench for shotgun chokes.
Frankly, if you can’t fix your problem with this toolkit, then your gun probably has to go to the shop. The Works comes in a small soft-sided case with tool holders to keep everything in place. I really appreciate the magnetic patch that holds screws or small parts so they don’t get lost. This kit has saved me numerous times.
Pricing on The Works toolkit starts at $232.
Compact Cleaning Kit
I’ve had a few stuck cases over the years that completely put my gun offline unless I had a metal cleaning rod. I keep an aluminum .22-caliber rod that breaks down into sections in the event I have a stuck case.
I also keep a small cleaning kit with picks and brushes in the event an extractor is gummed up or crud needs to be removed. I have an older Otis Technology tactical cleaning kit that’s about the size of a paperback book that cleans multiple pistol and rifle calibers as well as 12-gauge shotguns.
The company no longer makes that kit, but they offer a variety of compact cleaning kits for all kinds of firearms. A good one to look at is the LE Rifle/Pistol Cleaning System. This is a kit designed for .223/5.56mm rifles plus pistols and subguns chambered for 9mm, .40 and .45 ACP. It doesn’t have a long enough rod to dislodge a stuck case in a rifle, but it has just about everything else you need to keep your gun running.
The MSRP for the LE Rifle/Pistol Cleaning System is $65, and it is made in the U.S.A.
Gun Oil
Having the right lubricant is a must, especially when shooting 1911 pistols and AR-15 rifles. A small bottle of gun oil is all that’s needed to get your gun up and running again. Many shooters have specific preferences for gun oils. In general, a lightweight lubricant works very well regardless of brand.
I also keep a rag in my range bag a rag to wipe off excess oil on the exterior of the weapon, especially handguns. Slippery handguns aren’t much fun.
Shooting Gloves
Depending on the gun and the amount of lead you plan on sending downrange, a good set of shooting gloves can save your hands from excessive abrasion. Guns like AK-style rifles can have sharp edges on the stamped metal parts that can chew up your hands. And let’s not overlook that gloves can make training more comfortable in colder weather.
I like a thin pair of gloves like Mechanix Original Covert gloves, which are lightweight yet offer protection without loss of dexterity. Gloves that allow me to easily pick up a single cartridge at a time to load a magazine and allow the use of touchscreens like my smartphone (which captures all my ballistic data from my Garmin Xero C1 chronograph) are my favorites.
They are good in hot and cold weather and have an MSRP of $33.99.
Lead Cleaner
While fun, shooting is a messy business. Lead and other toxic residue can build up on your gun and on your hands. And don’t forget the gun oil and cleaning solvents.
Hand wipes are the latest addition to my range bag. These can remove toxic substances from your hands and keep them out of your system.
There are a variety of brands from which to choose. I am currently using Hygenall LeadOff disposable wipes. The wipes come in a small, lightweight plastic canister. Many times, I don’t have access to soap and water after shooting, but with wipes like these I can still clean the toxic junk from my hands.
The company also offers foaming soap and other cleaners. A container of wipes starts at $29 and goes up depending on quantity. The company also offers bulk dispensers for gun ranges.
Final Thoughts
Packing your range bag with the right gear isn’t about bringing everything you own. Instead, it’s about being prepared for the small stuff that can turn a good range day into a headache.
Take some time to review what you carry and tailor it to your specific needs, your guns and the type of shooting you do. A little planning now means less frustration later. Whether you’re helping a friend who forgot earplugs, dealing with a stuck case or just keeping your hands clean after a long session, being ready makes all the difference.
Figure out what works for you, keep your kit simple, and your next trip to the range should go a whole lot smoother.
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