As a newer shooter you may be asking yourself, “What should I bring to the range with me when I go to shoot?” The short answer is your firearm, magazines, ammunition, eye and ear protection and targets/backers (if you cannot purchase them at the range.) However, there are certain rules and procedures that apply to each individual range. For example, an outdoor range may have slight differences versus an indoor range. Please check with the range that you plan on shooting so that you have everything you need. Below I will break down what to bring with you so that you are prepared for a successful session at the range.
Range Bag
A range bag is an important piece of gear to start with. This bag will hold all of the gear that you need for your shooting session. Range bags vary in size and how they are carried. Some bags are small and only fit magazines and maybe a pistol with a few extra items. Some bags are much larger and can hold ammunition, multiple pistols, magazines, ear protection, safety glasses, and more. There are bags that can also be carried like a backpack. I personally use a smaller range bag that holds my ear and eye protection, ammunition, magazines, smaller paper targets and a small cleaning kit. I carry my pistol in a pistol case that I then put in a non-descript backpack that looks more like a school bag. I do this to draw less attention to myself when leaving my house or traveling other locations. Each person will have their own preference on range bag set up. Regardless of what setup you prefer, you need a range bag to keep everything orderly and ready to go.
Ear Protection
Ear protection is critical to have when you are shooting a firearm at a range. It is recommended that the decibel level not exceed 140 decibels to help preserve hearing. Through a study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for a SWAT team, they found that decibel levels at a range could be between 156-170 decibels.
This study concluded that with higher level ear protection provided by the SWAT team, ear plugs and ear muffs, noise levels were reduced by 25-35 decibels. Usage of average ear plugs and ear muffs reduced the decibel level by 15-20. Fortunately, even with the basic level of protection you can help mitigate hearing loss in most cases. Obviously, outdoor ranges will greatly help with the decibel levels reached compared to an indoor range.
I typically use the ear plugs that landscapers use. They are cheap and can be bought in bulk. If they have a string attached, I will rip them out so that they do not interfere with the ear muffs. For my main hearing protection, I use Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuffs. This type of earmuff not only allows for great hearing protection but also allows you to turn on an amplification speaker so that you can hear people talking. Having the ability to hear someone talking is especially beneficial when you are receiving training, talking with a Range Safety Officer or even just the person you may have gone to the range with.
If you do not have or do not want to buy earmuffs such as the ones mentioned above, that’s fine. Pretty much any type/brand you buy will work and will be beneficial for you. Make sure that your earmuffs are comfortable especially if you are taking longer training courses. Uncomfortable earmuffs can be an annoyance and, in some cases, will make it so that you don’t wear them regularly. If you’re not wearing them, they won’t work, so make sure they fit well.
Eye Protection
Eye protection is crucial to having a successful trip to the shooting range. If an ejected shell casing were to come up to your face or worse yet, a weapon was to catastrophically malfunction and explode, you need to protect your eyes. Those who already wear glasses for vision will simply wear them at the range in most cases. That’s fine, but remember, they could be damaged so make sure you have a backup pair ready.
When looking at glasses you can check the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) rating. ANSI does a variety of impact testing and sets a standard for protection. If the glasses have Z87 or Z87+ on the lense(s) or frames then they are rated and provide a high level of protection. For more information on safety glasses protection the following site provides a great article:
The brand doesn’t matter as much but comfort does. I highly recommend trying on your glasses to ensure that you will wear them the ENTIRE time you are at the range. Much like your earmuffs you need to wear them to keep yourself protected so do everything possible to make sure they fit comfortably.
Tape/Staple Gun
When you arrive at the range you will either need to buy a cardboard backer or they may provide one. When attaching your paper targets there may or may not be tape or a stapler provided. In my range bag I carry a roll of ½ inch masking tape and/or a staple gun. The staple gun I purchased from Home Depot. Either one will assist you with attaching your paper targets to the cardboard backer. The tape can also assist with covering holes in the paper after you shoot if you choose to do so.
Ammunition/Magazines
When arriving at the range, one of the fastest ways to start your shooting session is to utilize preloaded magazines. Make sure that you DO NOT travel with your magazine loaded and in the same container/compartment as your firearm while traveling. Each state has their own laws, but in most instances, you cannot have a loaded magazine being transported with a firearm. I typically travel with at least five loaded magazines in my bag ready to use at the range. I also, bring extra ammunition with me in the factory boxes to use while shooting. Some ranges do not allow you to use “outside” ammunition that was not purchased at their facility. Some people will buy one box of ammunition at the range and bring their own in their bag. It is up to you with how you would like to handle that situation ethically speaking. To each their own.
Backers/Targets
Depending upon which range you are going to they may or may not have backers and targets available to buy. Make sure you know this information before you arrive.
For the cardboard backers, there is no set standard to use. Some are rectangular, some are body shaped and others are used for competition. As for targets, once again there is no standard size, shape, or pattern. Some targets are “shoot and see” meaning when the bullet impacts, the target changes color so that it is more visible, particularly at distance. The vast majority are just paper that can be taped/stapled to the backer.
I personally prefer using smaller targets that make me focus my shooting. As the saying goes, “aim small, miss small.” I also like to use targets that have human patterns/shapes to help make training more realistic. Be aware, that not all ranges allow targets with people on them.
After going through the process of securing your range bag, eye and ear protection, stapler/tape, ammunition/magazines, backer and targets then you are ready to head to the range. Have fun and train intelligently!
Stay safe. Stay practical. Stay educated.
-Pat
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