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A good shooting range kit can make your range time safer, more effective, and more fun. It needs the shooting range gear, gun accessories, and supplies you’re most likely to need, as well as the emergency essentials you’ll want on hand in the case of injury, vehicle breakdown, or another incident. Pennsylvania’s Largest Gun Show is the perfect place to build a range kit tailored to your shooting needs, but you have to know what you’re looking for. Let’s take a look at some mandatory shooting range basics and some nice-to-haves you’ll want to add to your kit bag.
The short answer is whatever you want to be in your kit, and the long answer takes a lot of personal decision-making. Your range kit is a portable resource for your shooting lifestyle, whether you’re getting ready for a big hunt or putting in practice for self-defense. Its purpose is to make sure you can get the training and practice you need without having to run home or run to the nearest sporting goods store a half-dozen times for odds and ends.
Your first big decision is which bag will house your shooting range kit. It needs to be spacious enough to hold all your shooting range gear, strong enough to withstand the weight, and tough enough for rough handling in and out of vehicles, dusty outdoor ranges, and inclement weather. It’s a tall order, and those are just the basics.
Look for a range bag that has some structure to it, whether it’s a hard case with dividers or a soft bag that uses multiple pockets and pouches to separate and secure your shooting range kit items. Make sure it has handles or straps that are carry-friendly because the walk to and from your vehicle can feel even longer with webbing cutting into your circulation. If your case has wheels appropriate for your range’s terrain, so much the better.
Personal protective equipment helps keep you safe at the range, so it’s always a good idea to keep your shooting range kit well-stocked. This includes hearing and eye protection at a minimum. Many ranges also stipulate the wearing of head protection in the form of a baseball or trucker-type cap.
Over-the-ear muff-type hearing protection not only protects your eardrum but also the sensitive bones near the surface of the ear. Electronic hearing protection uses the latest technology to actively block or dull loud sounds while letting you hear instructions from the range master or warnings from other shooters. Eye protection should be safety glasses or goggles with shatter-resistant lenses and panels or a design that also blocks threats from entering above, below, or around the lenses. It’s also a good idea to throw a spare cap, set of earplugs, and safety glasses in the range bag, just in case.
It may seem like a no-brainer, but you’ll want to take the guns you’re planning to use as well as ammunition for them. They may not fit in your range bag–although plenty of larger bags and cases have enough space for a few pistols–but you should have the ability to carry or secure them along with your bag.
It’s a good idea to carry enough ammunition to get you through your range time with a given gun. Range ammo prices are frequently higher than ammo purchased at your local gun show or through a retail sporting goods shop. This is especially true if you’re an ammo reloader who recovers your brass and builds out your rounds to save some money. Ammo may be heavier to carry, but it keeps your bank account from getting lighter.
When choosing the guns to bring, it’s often best to limit yourself to one or two. Practically speaking, the more you dilute your practice by splitting it between guns, the less fine-tuning you can do on your skills with any particular gun. In addition, the more you shoot, the more fatigue will begin to set into your eyes, ears, and muscles. Shooting takes a physical toll. While there’s something to be said for training through mild fatigue, the effectiveness of your skills training goes down as fatigue increases.
You may not need your full-size cleaning kit at the range, but there’s a place in your bag for a smaller kit that has the essentials you’ll need to protect your gun. Whether it’s the corrosive compounds found in your propellant and primer, range dust, or inclement weather, a quick wipe-down and barrel swab after you’re done can help the longevity of your weapon. A cleaning rod can also be a handy tool for dislodging a jammed casing that’s threatening to derail your range time.
Look for a small travel or utility gun cleaning option for your shooting range kit. These are usually about the size of an ammo box, are self-contained, and feature everything you’d need for a quick field cleaning. To make your own, grab a cleaning rod, bore brush, patches, and a small bottle of CLP. This will let you do a quick protective once-over until you get home for a proper cleaning.
Take plenty of targets with you. Like ammunition, these frequently cost more at the gun range if they’re sold there. Make sure you have the right target for the right job. Round targets for sighting and general marksmanship. Tactical targets for defensive shooting drills. If you’re a sports shooter or getting ready for a qualification range test, bring targets like those you’ll be shooting for competition or class.
Depending on the set-up at your range, it may also be handy to bring some extra clips or a staple gun to secure your target to the stand. Marking pens and shot placement stickers can also be helpful training tools. If you’re on a longer-range course, you may also need a spotting scope to identify where your shots are placed to avoid having to wait for a cold range to verify your target up close.
As with the cleaning supplies, your shooting range kit needs a few handy essentials. You can leave the bulk of your gunsmithing tool chest at home. You should have a good tactical knife in your bag because a utility blade is always handy to have on hand. A small screwdriver and/or Allen wrench can help with tightening gun accessories, swapping batteries, or adjusting windage and elevation. Finally, tweezers or a set of needle-nose pliers not only help with the manipulation of smaller parts, if necessary, but they can also pull a splinter on more primitive ranges.
Your standard first aid kits are stocked with bandages, antibacterial ointments, alcohol wipes, and everything else needed for minor cuts, scrapes, or splinters. First aid supplies for your shooting range kit should also include burn cream or ointment for the minor burns that happen most often at the range, touching a barrel that’s a little too hot or a stray casing finding an opening in your clothing. More seriously, it’s a good idea to have a trauma pack in case of a more serious injury, like a deeper cut or even a gunshot wound.
Finally, make sure you have the power to get help when it’s needed by adding a cell phone battery pack to your kit. These small devices, about the size of a wallet, let you top off your phone for emergency calls or a map to get you home. Some even have a handy flashlight or can power other devices.
Your local gun show is coming up fast, and that means it’s time to fill up your shooting range kit. Our vendors have the supplies and accessories you need to make the most of your range time. Take a look at our Pennsylvania gun show calendar and circle the date. Order your tickets online to your next Eagle Shows Gun Show today.
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