Range Bag: Ideal Contents?

[AZRedhawk44]

Seems I tend to forget "stuff" when I go to the range.  So far it hasn't been ammo, mags, eyes, ears or guns.

I'll forget a pen to mark my targets between strings of fire.

I'll forget a staple gun and wind up using the range's masking tape to attach my targets.

I'll forget a front sight adjustment tool and wind up using the point of a .223 cartridge.

I'll forget binoculars to be able to see the .22 holes in my sight-in target at 25 yards, and I'll rent a spotting scope from the range for $2 instead.

I've got the Midway shooting bag with the removable inner-carrier.  I tend to only take that inner-carrier to the range and leave the big part of the bag behind.  That works well for focused shooting involving 1-2 firearms in 1-2 calibers, and for matches/coursework/competitions.  Once I start fussing with 3-gun/multigun stuff that isn't going to work as well and I'll have to start carting the full Midway bag, especially with the bulk of 12ga shot shells added to .223 and 9mm ammo.

What "secondary" stuff do you tend to forget when going to the range, that doesn't end up ruining your range trip but you end up saying "gosh it'd be nice if I had X with me?"  Thinking of re-building/re-organizing my shooting bag and gear, and it'd be nice to know what else I might want to toss in there.

[Boomhauer]

Where is your blow out kit?

I keep a cheap set of eyepro and earpro (both plugs and muffs) in the car in case I forget my main set or I need some for a guest.

The front sight adjustment tool and sharpie live in my chest rig which goes wherever the AR goes. Other than that, I have a small bag for clothespins (my targets go on a chicken wire covered PVC frame), some rags, and a very basic cleaning setup (cheap rod, 9mm, .22LR, .30 cal brushes, patch loops and patches, and a can of CLP) JIC

[AZRedhawk44]

Where is your blow out kit?

I keep a cheap set of eyepro and earpro (both plugs and muffs) in the car in case I forget my main set or I need some for a guest.

The front sight adjustment tool and sharpie live in my chest rig which goes wherever the AR goes. Other than that, I have a small bag for clothespins (my targets go on a chicken wire covered PVC frame), some rags, and a very basic cleaning setup (cheap rod, 9mm, .22LR, .30 cal brushes, patch loops and patches, and a can of CLP) JIC

Blow out kit is with the FAK in the car.  Both the FAK and BOK come out when I'm shooting in the desert on an improvised range, or I'm the RSO or at an Appleseed, or shooting at a stationary match like High Power.  When shooting, I have a very good personal FAK that borders on BOK capability that I keep on my person in a cargo pocket of my pants.  Smaller than the larger retail BOK I purchased.

Ditto on eye/ear dupes in the truck.

I don't wear a chest rig out shooting.  I may start when I get into 3-gun/tactical shooting sports, so the FST needs to reside in the range bag.  I've got a "GI" cleaning kit with a sectional cleaning rod and some rudimentary cleaning gear that tends to stay in the truck unless needed out away from home.

[Scout26]

A couple of bucks/change for the pop/snack machine or lunch on the way home.

[French G.]

I wish I had an organized bag. I just ransack the bag before I leave. Experienced enough now that I usually have everything. I need to get a cart done, something that can do IPSC, 3-gun, and Highpower. Full course highpower with no cart is a bit brutal.

[AJ Dual]

Multi-tool dedicated to the bag so you're never without.

Squib dowel and a hammer in addition to other cleaning rods etc. that you've already got with you.

You've got "oil" covered with CLP, but you might want to consider a thinner solvent, and a thicker grease too.

Target pasties/cover tape.

Small flashlight, and one of those $.50 bore light plastic light-pipe right angle things.

Along with extra eye/ear protection, bring extra chamber flags for people who forget.

Band-aids etc. for when a slide or whatever bites your hand. (independent of the BOK/FAK)

Stuck case extractors for common calibers.

Snacks/water in case the range does not have any. (TP too..)

Spare parts kit, bolt, firing pin, springs etc.

I'm actually kind of amazed at how many much more advanced and experienced shooters than I (more of a collector/weekend duffer) don't bring anything but eye/ear pro, targets, gun, and ammo to the range. And then when something happens, something is needed, I look like the weirdo/boyscout because I do happen to have XYZ in my range tote.

(I use a Craftsman rolling toolbox that has an extendable handle that fits pistols, ammo, and all the above.)

[Hawkmoon]

I try not to forget, so any time I DO forget something, I add that to the bag as soon as I get home. In addition to earmuffs, foam plugs, and eye protection, my range back includes:

• Compact, multi-caliber cleaning kit (handguns only)
• Caspian/M1911.org 1911 Multi-Tool
• Reversible, 4-bit screwdriver
• (3) 8" lengths of brass rod in various diameters for punching out squibs
• Mag loaders for single- and double-stack 1911s
• (2) Pen oilers of "Gun Butter" lubricant
• Extractor tension gauge tool for 1911s
• Several supermarket grocery bags (for policing up my brass)
• Disposable exam gloves for handling quantities of fired brass
• (1) Pair of padded-palm shooting gloves

I'm sure I've missed a few things, but that probably covers the bulk of it.

I should note that I shoot at an indoor range so I typically have no need for target staples. But ... I have a staple shooter kit dedicated to range use, that I keep with my ammo cans for those occasions when I visit a friend out of state and we'll be shooting at the outdoor range at his club.

[Devonai]

Bug spray and sunscreen are two essentials I try never to forget.

[vaskidmark]

Multi-tool.  1911 tool.  Tiny LED flashlight.  Roll of quarters.  4xAA & 4XAAA batteries.  LED headlight w/ red + white bulbs.  Old cellphone f/ 9-1-1 calls.  Cellphone crank charger thingy.  Spiral notepad & stubby pencil (swiped from the Lotto bubblecard stand).  Spare set of eyeglasses.  Credit-card sized roll of Gorilla Tape.  6X#4 (medium size) bulldog clips.  Fresnel magnifier lens.  Itty-bitty bottle of blue lok-tite.  2 bandanas.  2 shop rags in 1-quart ziplock bag.  1 gallon-size zip-lock bag (w/ 2 pair nitrile gloves) rolled up & secured w/ 3 rubber bands.  1 or 2 plastic shopping bags (thin, cheap) rolled up & stuffed into a corner.  2xemery boards.  2xbutane lighters (how else are you going to blacken your front sight? ).  Tin of aspirin & acitominophen.

Plus almost all of the stuff already mentioned.  Boonie hat, poncho & light nylon jacket are tied to the outside of the range bag, along with 2 bottles of water.  I used to have a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer in there somewhere but after it leaked I gave up on it, figuring I would either use the water to flush out a wound or get to medical care within 4 hours and let them load me up with antibiotics.  FAK w/ BOK strapped to the side of the range bag opposite the boonie hat/poncho/jacket.

All goes into a 5.11 10-6 pouch http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/Bags-Backpacks/Pouches/106-Pouch-Horizontal.html .

stay safe.

[Phantom Warrior]

For everyone that said "a cheap sectional rod for cleaning" I have two words for you: Bore Snake.  (Or is that one?)  Smaller, lighter, less bulky, and it does a better job cleaning.  Can't use it to knock out squib loads though.

A Boresnake, a little bottle of CLP, some shotgun size patches to wipe out the receiver, and a shaving brush for cleaning off dust makes a great pocket cleaning kit.  I carry mine in my calf pocket in the field.

[Boomhauer]

For everyone that said "a cheap sectional rod for cleaning" I have two words for you: Bore Snake.  (Or is that one?)  Smaller, lighter, less bulky, and it does a better job cleaning.  Can't use it to knock out squib loads though.

That's the WHY of the sectional rod instead of a snake, to knock out obstructions.

I don't clean on/at the range like some do. I use a bore snake at home, so I'm well familar with the product itself.

I tend to favor a very minimalist range kit and I try to restrict my sessions to 1-2 firearms per session (and 1 firearm provides the most quality range time). Blow out kit, sharpie, front sight adjustment tool, maybe a multitool, and either binoculars or a monocular, and my target holder system/clothespins.

[Fly320s]

If just going to the range for two or three hours, I don't carry much. I'll take what I know I need for that period and little else.  If I'm going to a class or plan to spend many hours at the range, then I take the big range bag, backup guns, parts, cleaning gear, lunch, etc. When I go with my shooting buddy, we have to make several trips to the car to move all the gear.

[BridgeRunner]

Staples.

Extra staples.

More extra staples.

Tape.  Because staples spontaneously teleport to another dimension after they've had enough of the range bag.  And they like to travel in groups.

[Boomhauer]

When I go with my shooting buddy, we have to make several trips to the car to move all the gear.

You see, I used to do that. Me and my shooting buddy would each take 5 or 6 guns, a few ammo cans worth of ammo, etc for a 3-4 hour trip at the range.

And then we found ourselves shooting/favoring only a couple of the guns and for the rest only firing a couple or three mags through. Spending 20 minutes unloading/unpacking and 20 minutes loading/packing at the beginning and end and having so much crap scattered everywhere was also rather annoying.

[Perd Hapley]

What is meant by "blow out kit" and FAK?

[Boomhauer]

What is meant by "blow out kit" and FAK?

Alright, Blow Out Kits, Trauma kits, and Improved First Aid Kits (IFAKs) are kits designed to keep you alive after suffering traumatic injury (gunshot wounds, IEDs blowing body parts off, and other gruesome things encountered by shooters, LE, and members in the military. Most applicable to our situation as civilian shooters are gunshot wounds, such as if you get shot by some 'tard on the range with atrocious gun handling skills (if you've ever been to a public, non RO'd range, you know the breed of dumbass I am referring to) or by that armed robber who busted a cap in you right before you shot him in the face. You thought you won the gunfight but do you win if you bleed out? No! You don't get the glory and chicks if you're dead, and that's what's important!

Most IFAKs include a tourniquet that can be applied one handed to control heavy bleeding on the limbs, quality bandages (such as the Isreali bandage), again to control bleeding and put pressure on a wound, guaze to pack wounds, and maybe a hemostatic agent (such as Quickclot or Celox...the Quickclot used to have issues with bad burning but the new dressings and sponges are good to go). Some include needles for chest decompression, chest seals, or nasal airways and the like in their kits. It's a personal decision as to what you want to put together in your kit.

You can put together a good kit for around $50-60, easy. It's something everyone should have just in case something happens, be it accident or malicious action directed against them.

Note that the Trauma/BOK/IFAK does NOT include boo-boo items such as bandaids, splints, cheap gauze, and so on that you get in the standard storebrought first aid kit. Don't load your kit down with such items, you want it in a good pouch, well organized so that everything is easy to get to.

http://www.itstactical.com/medcom/medical/developing-a-blow-out-kit/

[AZRedhawk44]

Sweet.  New acronym for me to use.  IFAK.

Yep, I keep an IFAK in my cargo pocket of my pants, and a good home-built FAK (not a Johnson and Johnson POS with 4 bandaids and that crappy 1/4" wide athletic tape... one for dealing with problems more varied than an 8 year old with a skateboarding boo-boo) in my truck.  BOK is variable in location, which probably isn't a good thing.  It's with "my gear pile," wherever that may be.  But I don't bring it to the public range.  I leave it in the truck and rely upon the IFAK.

It's a small kit for immediately beginning to treat an injury typically involving major blood loss.

Any other type of injury can usually await the arrival of a relatively close full FAK (shock, broken bone, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, insect or snake bite, blisters, etc).

BSI - nitrile gloves
ACE-wrap compression bandage - tourniquet/pressure tool and also useful for joint injuries
Celox-treated trauma bandage - soak blood, induce clotting
triangle bandage - soak blood or tie down an extremity for a sling or brace
4 inch gauze pads - soak blood, induce clotting
2" gauze roll - soak blood, secure a bandage
4" gauze roll - soak blood, secure a bandage
Toilet paper - it can be used as a last resort as a blood-soaking bandage, but it has other mundane uses and this is a handy place to stow it.

All this fits in a zip-lock sandwich bag with a heavy duty plastic zipper doo-dad on it for easy access and re-sealing.

[seeker_two]

A couple of bucks/change for the pop/snack machine or lunch on the way home.

I'll pack a small cooler to take with me of water & snacks....always comes in handy....

[Perd Hapley]

Alright, Blow Out Kits, Trauma kits, and Improved First Aid Kits (IFAKs) are kits designed to keep you alive after suffering traumatic injury (gunshot wounds, IEDs blowing body parts off, and other gruesome things encountered by shooters, LE, and members in the military. Most applicable to our situation as civilian shooters are gunshot wounds, such as if you get shot by some 'tard on the range with atrocious gun handling skills

Oh, OK. I don't have one. I just always plan on being the 'tard. It's easier that way.

[Jamisjockey]

Chapstick, and disinfecting wipes.