10 Must Have Range Bag Accessories

A well-packed and stocked range bag is a beautiful thing. For years, I just kind of hobbled together what I needed in whatever bag I had on hand when I headed to the range. This practice ultimately left me often missing key pieces of gear I needed. When I finally broke down and got a range bag, my life improved almost instantaneously. I had a dedicated bag I could load with the gear I always seemed to need when it came time to throw a little lead and turn money into noise. Today, we will tackle why you need a range bag and why it should be properly stocked for your next adventure at the range.

Invest in a Good Range Bag

There are tons of different options for range bags out there, including tote-style bags, backpacks, rolling bags, and more. If you have a bag you like, it can probably act as a range bag. A big reason why I tend to stick with purpose-built options is that they were built with guns in mind. Many of them have lockable zippers, are weather-resistant, and come with plenty of pockets to keep your gear stored for easy access.

A good range bag can be a great investment in convenience. Most of us are busy people, and a well-sorted range bag saves us time and frustration at the gun range. My personal advice is to go big. I shoot a lot of different guns, and having a bigger range bag leaves room for all sorts of accessories and gear. Bags like the GPS Rolling Range Bag are huge and easy to shove tons of gear into.

One of the nicest range bags comes from Savior Equipment Specialist Range Bag 2.0. It’s slightly more expensive than other bags, but also extremely well made and well designed. It’s probably my top pick, especially if you’re a dedicated shooter looking for a tough-as-nails, easy-to-organize bag. This is it.

Must-Have Range Bag Goodies

My goal with this article isn’t to give you a bunch of crap to buy. Instead, my goal is to help you succeed at the range. You’ve taken time out of your day, likely paid a range free, purchased ammo, and have dealt with the 40-minute-long safety video the range makes you watch. You just want to shoot and accomplish whatever goal you’ve come to accomplish.

The gear I’ve packed ensures you don’t show up and waste your time or walk away frustrated. It will help guarantee your success and make sure you have a productive range trip.

Spare Ears and Eyes

My preferred setup for the eyes and ears is kind of expensive. When I’m done shooting, I put the ears in their hard-sided carry case, and the eyes take their palace as sunglasses. If I’ve spent upwards of a hundred dollars on safety glasses, then they are going to pull double duty as sunglasses. More than once, I’ve left the properly cased ear protection at home and the sunglasses in the car. For this reason, I always keep a spare set of eyes and ears in my range bag. Namely, a cheap set.

For my spare ear protection, I just use the standard orange plushy ones. For 99 cents, I can get five pairs of eye protection that nestle well in my bag. These are also great to have if you bring a friend shooting and they need to borrow some PPE. The big downside is they suck when it comes to indoor rifle shooting. If that’s a concern, get a cheap pair of muffs like the Pyramex Venture Gear V80s.

I keep it simple when it comes to eye protection and get the cheapest pair of ballistically rated clear eye protection. Having clear eye protection is vital. Clear eye pro works anywhere, from brightly lit outdoor ranges to dimly lit indoor dinge next. Pyramex makes a pair of clear eye pro for two bucks.

A Hand Stapler

I get positively enraged when I don’t have a stapler to hang up targets in my bag. I throw a little mental fit. Instead of running to my toolbox and grabbing it, I broke it down and purchased a cheap little hand stapler, and it’s been a godsend. It makes it easy to hand up paper targets and staple all four corners down. On windy days, the stapler is superior to all other target adhesive options.

Fix It Sticks Kit

You can bring many tools to the range, but I suggest Fix It Sticks because they’re made for firearms and come in numerous sizes and designs. There are full-on armorer kits, kits dedicated to specific guns, kits for optics, and so on. These are high-quality tool kits that can be a lifesaver.

These adaptable and customizable kits are well-made and perfect for both casual and hardcore gun owners. The optics kit has saved my life more than once. I’ve used them to fix optics mounts, put walking pins back in a lower receiver, and torque M-LOK accessories back into place.

They are customizable, and you can purchase tons of add-ons to supplement a basic kit. Before you know it, you can have a toolbox full.

A Cleaning Kit

Most of us don’t go to the range to keep our guns, but sometimes you’ve neglected maintenance so long you don’t find out until you’re at the range. When the revolver trigger starts to get sluggish, or the magazine isn’t feeding reliably after all those reload drills. A basic cleaning kit with some gun oil is a great way to rid yourself of carbon foulness on the fly.

In the gun industry, cleaning kits are everywhere. You won’t have trouble finding one. There are weapon-specific kits from companies like Real Avid, and we even make GunMag Warehouse kits for specific calibers. For quick cleans at the range, an AP brush, some oil, and wipes will work most of the time. Cleaning rods are handy for knocking out stuck casings, and having those with a T-handle is smart.

Spare Targets

Most of us probably bring targets to the range, or we might buy them, but when all else fails, having some small, simple targets will still allow you to train and shoot. I like something simple that fits into my bag. Some simple twelve-inch bull’s eye style targets can do practically anything you need for range work. The adhesive ones are even better because of how easy they are to attach to your target backer. Allen makes some high-visibility EZ Aim adhesive targets that are super easy to see and fit in the bag in a drama-free way.

Small Flashlight

If you shoot indoors, a small flashlight is always handy. Identifying malfunctions, finding dropped parts, and making sure you don’t mix your 5.56 magazines up and your .300 Blackout magazines. The Fix it Sticks systems have a flashlight attachment, so if you’re going that route, it’s an easy upgrade.

Another option is just a cheap and simple flashlight. A Streamlight Pocket Microsteam is super small and bright enough to identify things in the dimly lit indoor ranges that pockmark this country.

Spare Batteries

I always have a little box of AAs, AAAs, and the various coin-type batteries I need for various optics. Going to the range with a dead optic or shot timer will always be one of the most frustrating things. Just a couple of spare batteries will save you so much frustration.

An IFAK

Crap happens, and at a gun range, you are always in danger of injury. This could include gunshot wounds, as well as disastrous malfunctions, ricochets, and burns. Most of the ranges in my area are in very rural areas, which equates to a long trip to the hospital. A well-stocked trauma IFAK will help ensure you keep blood inside the body rather than outside of the body. There are lots out there, but the Live the Creed Responder IFAK is my favorite range bag option. Not only does it have everything I want in an IFAK, but the TQ is quick to access, and the pouch is flat and easy to squeeze into a range bag.

D-Lead Wipes

It turns out lead exposure is pretty bad for you. Shooting and handling ammo puts lead on your hands and on your face. It’s just waiting for a chance to invade your body. This heavy metal isn’t Dio and “Holy Diver.” It’s toxic chemicals that will affect your body forever. D-Lead wipes are the safe, nontoxic cleaning option that makes it easy for you to wipe all that off after the range. It might seem silly, but you will certainly be appreciative in the future.

Notebook and Pen

Last but not least, bring a notebook and pen. I record my efforts and drill times and write down when certain mags or ammo types give me trouble. I’ve found keeping notes invaluable to my shooting experience. Also, when you get to the range and realize you forgot something, jot it down so you remember next time.

Pack It Up

A well-stocked range bag is an unappreciated hero. Proper preparation prevents piss-poor performance, and a well-stocked range bag allows you to have that proper preparation. It cuts down on frustration and wasted time and ultimately ensures you’ll be successful in your next range adventure.

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