Range Bag / Gear Checklist Recommendations

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!
You're going to get a bunch of different recommendations here...it all depends on your needs, what you intend to carry with you to the range, and your thoughts on acquiring more handguns, accessories, etc. Also, prices will vary all over the board. I am a huge fan of the GPS line. They are really well-made and have terrific pockets and compartments all labeled for easy storage and access. I have one of their backpacks (the Tactical Range Backpack) and the Large Range Bag. The Tactical Range Backpack uses their Tactical Pistol Cases, which is a great way to store and transport your handguns and mags. I have probably 12 of the the Tactical Pistol Cases and that's how I separate and store each of my handguns in my safe, and when it's time to go to the range, I just grab whatever Tactical Pistol Case with the gun I want, and I simply add it in range bag to go to practice. Here's some links for you:

Entire selection of bags, cases, etc.: Pistol Range Bags -Tactical & Sport Clay Totes & Cases | GPS
Tactical Pistol Case: Tactical Pistol Case | GPS Bags (tip: I label the handles with cheap key chains and key tags to keep them all labeled and easy to identify)
Large Range Bag: Large Range Bag | GPS Bags (this range bag holds a lot, and it's great for 2 people; holds two sets of ear pro, safety glasses, several handguns, ammo, extra mags, and other gear like rear shooting bags, bipods, etc.)
Tactical Range Backpack: Tactical Range Backpack | GPS Bags (I've used this one for several years, and it has held up great...if I'm packing light or will need my hands for my rifle case, targets, etc., the backpack comes in handy).

You can get these GPS items on Amazon and other etailers, often at cheaper prices. I have other range bags but these GPS bags are super tough, well designed, and have excellent value for the money.

Look at the Dillon Precision or the 5.11 medium range bags. They are reasonably-priced and will hold a couple of pistols, ammo, your ear pro, knee/elbow pads, gun belt, etc. Buy a PACT Club Timer. That will fit in the bag, too. You will need spare magazines dedicated just for practice - OEM for pistols and for an AR platform, you cannot go wrong with Lancer or MagPul . You should have at least 2, if not 3 magazines for your carry pistol (and all of your other pistols) dedicated for self-defense - depending on if you need or want to carry 2 spare magazines - and keep them loaded with your self-defense "social" ammo. You should always carry at least 1 spare magazine for your defensive carry pistol. Ditto for your Defensive Carbine, but I would increase that to 3 loaded spare magazines for the carbine and some way to carry them on your person (chest rig, plate carrier, etc.) stored with the carbine. You do not want to have to load magazines to repel boarders. Your carbine should have a weapon light mounted. You should have a good hand-held flashlight that you can carry on your person. Some people like weapon lights on their pistols, which makes them harder to conceal. A weapon-mounted light on your concealed carry pistol adds weight and bulk, and does not eliminate the need for a hand-held flashlight. For weapon lights and flashlights, look no further than SureFire, ModLite, Cloud Defensive, and last place Streamlight. Buy good earplugs and passive earmuffs w/at least 30db noise reduction rating (NRR) to save your hearing when shooting at indoor ranges. Wear earplugs and good electronic earmuffs (Sordin Pro, or Pro Ears MAG Gold for pistol, they both also make dished ear muffs for rifle, but the NRR drops to 26) for outdoor training classes. A set of Fix It Sticks in your bag will solve lots of problems on the go. Pricey, but you only need to buy them once.

Buy once, Cry once. Buy top-quality guns, gear, ammo, and accessories. If you shoot a lot, you will soon find out that cheap is not always cheaper if you have to buy it over and over again. Cheap stuff "works" great if it only sits in the closet, safe, holster, or drawer. Get some instruction from renowned instructors/schools listed over in the training forum. Gunsite, Thunder Ranch, SIG Academy, Scotty Reitz, Tiger McKee, Mike Glover/Fieldcraft Survival, Travis Haley, and others (see BCM's website for their instructor "Gunfighters" list, too) will fine-tune your Training B.S. meter. You will spend a lot less time on the range and money on ammo with much better, measurable results than if you try to teach yourself what you don't know that you don't know. Good luck!

Lots of bag suggestions already, so I'll focus on things I keep in my range bag:

Hearing/eye protection
Spare mags
A small basic tool/repair kit
Trauma kit/TQ
Stapler/spare staples
An assortment of paper targets
Spare batteries (if you run optics/lights)
Holster/s & mag pouches

Some of this will be situation dependent - some ranges are well outfitted, some aren't. Some won't let you use holsters, etc. I also shoot a fair bit on public land, so I tend to carry everything I need and don't want to be having to remember to swap things in and out all the time depending on where I'm shooting that day.

Most ranges will (or at least should) have some kind of trauma kit on site. I still prefer having my own items and knowing exactly where they are, when time may be of the essence, and I also like knowing the condition of my 1st aid items, rather than depending on whatever might be in a range kit.

I wanted a big range bag. The largest I found was the largest NRA bag.
It has served me very well. Best I ever had, and I had several.

I go to a printer store and make paper size targets by the 100s.
They fit very nicely in a side pocket of the NRA bag.

I buy one chest size B-27 target. Then tape a couple page size at a time on it with blue painter tape.
Aim small and improve your shot.

Years ago I took a 3.00 Wal mart collapsible laundry bag. Cut half of one side out. Clipped a plastic sheet to the top, and turned it upside down.
Makes a very very efficient brass catcher. Rarely ever misses once I learned each gun throw pattern.
Collapses into the range bag.
I made two for when the first wears out, only it never has.

26" Tactical Duffle Military Molle Gear Shoulder Strap Range Bag TF126 DMBK Digital Camo Navy
Brand: NPUSA
4.2 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

$45.00 at Amazon

I have this bag and have been using it for about six years. It easily holds three Midway soft pistol cases with minimum of seven mags each (loaded). Two large end pockets and three smaller side pockets for ears, eyes, ammo ...other stuff. Plus, two more flat pockets in the top that are great for gloves, hand towels, maps etc.

VERY tough, durable and well made. Hard to beat in the price range for sure. I have the Navy Camo and it's pretty nice looking. My buddy liked it enough to get the classic Woodland Camo for himself.

As for what to take along I would go along with all the suggestions already posted. I always take a lot of extra bench stuff ... a soft blanket to cover the bench with, sandbags, an adjustable pistol rest, spotting scope. But I too, like the others, have my travel kit of tools, cleaning and safety / first-aid gear. When we go for a "range day" we go the day and I always take 4-6 handguns, and a rifle or two and ammo for everything. I pack a cooler with drinks and lunch / snacks ... we go for the day.