Whether you’re a longtime gun owner, range shooter, or newbie, everyone can agree that being prepared for a fun and safe range-day is key. Being prepared isn’t just about having enough ammo to satisfy that trigger finger, it also requires having the right tools to enjoy and extend your range time.

The goal is to minimize distractions and safety risks so you can focus on slamming lead into some targets. This is where a range bag comes in handy.

Having a range bag and appropriate contents will no doubt enhance your time at the range. It’s basically your all-in-one carrying bag for your weapon(s), ammo, magazines, tools, and survival-minded sustenance. There’s a sea of options to choose from, and it can be confusing to know exactly what you should bring to the range.

At Pro Armory, our team has spent countless hours at the range, and we know there are certain things you never want to be without. Here’s a look at how we build our range bags and what you should put in yours to improve your time at the range.

Choosing the Ultimate Range Bag

A range bag can take many forms. In essence, it’s just a big, sturdy bag with pouches and dividers. The best range bags are built with firearms in mind, with materials and features to protect and secure your rifles, handguns, ammo, magazines, and related supplies.

Choosing the right range bag can be tough but also fun. Do you want a backpack? An over-the-shoulder satchel? A laptop bag? Any of these might work.

You could take the Matrix route and use a gym duffel, but it might not be the best choice. (Trinity and Neo didn’t worry too much about their guns being tossed around — we do). Likewise, a standard soft rifle case likely won’t have all you need to carry your firearm and related materials effectively.

Some people may desire more overt or covert styles of bags. Some like the visual deterrent of carrying an obvious range bag, and some like to stay under the radar. When possible, it’s best not to carry something that clearly says, “Hey! I have a rifle in this bag!”

Whatever you choose, make sure the materials, ergonomics, and carry capacity meet your needs. A great range bag should have the following features:

• Ample space and a mechanism for holding your firearm (straps, clips, etc.)
• A separate compartment for ammunition and magazines
• (Preferred) built-in magazine pouches or MOLLE loops
• A separate pocket for miscellaneous materials (targets, snacks, etc.)
• Locking mechanism(s)
• Convenient carrying straps
• A durable construction material

What Should Go Into Your Range Bag?

When packing the range bag, we need to address three needs:

• Having fun while remaining safe
• Remaining ready to shoot and train
• Dealing with any emergencies

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of getting to the range, but if you have everything all in one place, getting out the door (and staying as long as you need to) is a lot easier. You also don’t want to be carrying an entire arsenal or your whole garage with you. Pack what you need and only a bit extra.

Here are the essential to keep ready in your range bag at all times:

1. Eye Protection

You need your eyes to see and shoot (and to do a lot of other things). Bullet ricochet is real, so ensure your eyes are protected from damage. Add a good, comfortable pair of safety glasses to your range bag, dedicated for eye protection when shooting.

The Revision Stingerhawk safety glasses are a great piece of equipment. Some of us might remember this brand from the U.S. military and even overseas. They have an outstanding reputation for quality, and many veterans have worn them in the field.

The Stingerhawk safety glasses offer protection from high-velocity shrapnel at close ranges, and clarity in fog-of-war and in weather. With anti-glare and anti-fog properties, they’re featured in the range bags of many pro gun owners. They’re also smear-resistant and scratch-resistant, with a durable construction.

The comfort, adjustable nature, and long lifetime of Revision’s Stingerhawk glasses make them an easy choice for buyers.

2. Ear Protection

Even if you’re using subsonic ammo and a suppressor, you’ll still need ear protection when shooting. The loud blast over multiple shots can take a serious toll on your ears — especially if you're training with your firearm as often as you should. This isn’t a high-stakes self-defense scenario where you’re scrambling to stop an attacker — there’s no reason to deafen yourself when just practicing. Add ear protection to your range bag and always put it on before you shoot.

While common ear plugs are fine, we recommend wearing muffs that fully cover your ears. They offer adjustable comfort and better over-ear hearing protection from harmful soundwaves. Some include the option to only filter out sounds over a certain decibel, that way you can still hear human voices while also muffling the concussive blast of the gunshot.

Walker Electronic Earmuffs are a great pick for your range bag. These hi-tech earmuffs eliminate or reduce harmful sound with adaptable microphones that adjust to gunshots near or far. With a 0.02 response time in sound baffling, these earmuffs adapt like lightning with sophisticated processors to differentiate natural from dangerous sounds. You’ll still hear the birds chirping and your buddies cracking jokes about your aim, but you won’t hear the harmful supersonic or subsonic crack of a rifle or pistol shot.

With independent volume adjustment, superior comfort, ergonomic design, and decibel-crunching abilities, the Walker Electronic Earmuffs are one of our favorite picks.

3. Targets

You can’t always rely on ranges supplying you with targets, so it’s always best to pack plenty of them in your range bag. What’s more, bringing your own targets helps you customize your shooting experience. You can choose targets with a certain shape, size, color coding, or material. Either way, try to find durable, visible targets that best suit your training goals and put a few of them in your range bag.

The Birchwood Casey SHT-N-C 17.75" 5-pack of targets offers precise targeting even on a tight budget. Simple, cleanly readable, and efficient in design, these hi-viz target sheets don’t have the fancy and distracting qualities of some higher-end versions. Five targets in a pack also get you more bang for your buck.

These were designed with low-visibility in mind, so you can see your shots in dim lighting. The fluorescent grid also makes this target a must-have for all range bags. Forgot the staple gun? Don’t worry, these targets have self-adhesive backings to attach to almost any stand.

But bear in mind that paper targets can’t be used in inclement weather. They get wet and tear easily. Steel targets can help, offering durability, and reusability. They can also emulate more heavily armored targets to test the effectiveness of certain rounds (and they make a nice “ding” when you hit them).

4. Medical Kits

Any time you use a firearm, there is a real potential for medical emergencies. A day at the range can turn sour in an instant. For instance, a bullet could ricochet, shrapnel could get kicked up and blow back at someone, or worse. Of course, you always want to follow the key rules of firearm safety, but it’s best to be further prepared in case someone gets hurt.

You may not be able to perform surgery, but a first aid kit can help while you wait for the paramedics. You should never be without a first aid kit attached to or inside your range bag. Even if you get the infamous “Garand thumb” or something worse, you and your buddies will be ready.

The Rotcho MOLLE IFAK is an excellent professional-grade medical item for your range bag. The ready-to-rock Rothco medical kit has everything you need to initially address an errant bullet or shrapnel wound. The Rothco MOLLE IFAK comes with enough gauze and tape to help staunch both critical and minor wounds until medical professionals arrive. Don’t forget to augment this kit with at least ten pairs of additional gloves, trauma shears (the kind that can cut U.S. pennies), antibiotics, trauma tourniquets, eye wash, and other medical supplies.

5. Gun Cleaning Kits

Now that we’re all dirty from having fun, we need to clean up the mess — particularly with your gun. An all-in-one cleaning kit is one of the most practical things to pack in your range bag.

While not always necessary for every firearm, you might need to clean your weapon before or after a shooting session. You may even need to do some cleaning in the middle of a session. If your gun is jamming or something doesn’t feel right, you don’t want to be without your cleaning kit to help you get it back to good working order. That’s why your range bag should always carry a highly versatile and compact cleaning system and plenty of cleaning cloths.

There are tons of cleaning kits and brands to choose from. Many of the veterans at Pro Armory use Hoppe’s Number 9 gun oil. Hoppe’s enjoys a proven product history and large customer base that includes government suppliers. Without their cleaning kits and oils, a lot of us would be left with junk guns. Lucas also offers a great product with their Extreme Duty CLP (Clean, Lubricate, Protect) spray. It can even help loosen rusty parts from firearms that are in desperate need of a good cleaning.

Hoppe's Range Kit with Cleaning Mat offers a gorgeous blend of practicality and versatility. This kit is geared towards common pistol calibers; .22, 9mm, .40/10mm, .30, and .45, with brushes and mop heads to address each caliber. The kit also includes a convenient mat to lay your gun and parts on for a cleaning surface. Even better, the mat has a magnet embedded in the corner to help hold stray parts like springs and pins. Lightweight collapsible rods help you reach and clean the barrel from muzzle to breech no matter the firearm.

A lot of people customize their cleaning kits with dental picks, multitools, bore snakes, flashlights, and other niche tools associated with their personal firearms. A flashlight can also help identify issues inside your firearm.

6. Spare Ammo and Magazines

A cardinal sin at the range is not packing enough ammunition. As a rule, you should always bring more ammo than you plan to shoot. It’s like making dinner when expecting guests — make a little more in case they’re hungry. In this case, your gun is the guest and you're the chef. Keep that big boy fed and happy.

Having a more-than-ample supply of topped-off magazines can keep you shooting all day. Don’t get interrupted by tedious reloading or cut your trip short entirely. With pre-loaded magazines, you can quickly get back to shooting when one empties. If an ad hoc challenge arises between friends, or you plan on zeroing a firearm, a range bag stuffed with extra magazines makes for happy shooters.

Pro Armory offers an extensive selection of magazines. Whether you’re looking for standard or higher capacity magazines, Pro Armory’s got your six.

Luckily, many range bags include magazine pouches or MOLLE loops, making it easy to add them to your kit. However, you may need to strap some magazine pouches to your range bag or to your vest. Magazine pouches come in a wide variety of materials and camouflages, and some can be customized with your own patterns. Some folks like having hard shell/formed magazine pouches and others like using soft, malleable fabric pouches. It’s just a matter of preference.

Whatever you choose, remember to bring extra magazines and use the pouches that fit your shooting style and hardware.

Pro Tips From Range Experts

Whether you’re a seasoned marksman, newbie, or somewhere in between, having the right tools and materials can make or break your trip to the range. You won’t experience the true joy of being on the range and making progress without preparation. Luckily, you won’t have to worry as long as you bring:

• A good bag with all your ultimate range bag essentials
• Lots of ammunition and a cleaning kit
• Medical necessities and personal comfort items (sunglasses, cheek pad, proper clothing, etc.)
• Extra resources like batteries, charging cables, and food and drink

With these supplies, you can build the best range bag for your needs.

Build Your Range Bag at Pro Armory

Now that you’ve learned the necessity of a properly equipped range bag and what that entails, it’s time to start building your own. A range bag with all the essentials will enhance your shooting range experience and set you apart as an intelligently armed citizen.

But part of being an intelligently armed citizen is getting the most bang for your buck. Your range bag will become infinitely more valuable if you stock it with affordable ammo and gear from a reliable supplier. Let Pro Armory be your source for range bag essentials and save yourself some money (and a headache) on your next range trip.

At Pro Armory, our veteran staff is ready to serve you. With deep knowledge of firearms, ammunition, and related topics, we’ll give you all you need to make the most of your range time.

Browse our best deals on tactical gear and other range bag essentials today.