Getting ready for a day of training at the range?  Packing essential items for a range visit may be as hard as deciding what to pack for a weekend trip to Aunt Minnie’s house!!  Every shooter has items that they think are a necessity based on the type of training they plan on doing.  Here are a couple of Range Must-Haves that PSA thinks every range bag should contain….

Although not a exhausted list, PSA considers the following items as those that every shooter needs for a day at the range:

1. Safety Equipment – First and foremost all range bags should have safety equipment.  Eye and ear protection are mandatory at mostly all commercial ranges and they should be an automatic choice for shooters wanting to preserve their hearing and protect their eyes!  Safety equipment doesn’t end there.  If you plan on doing shooting from unconventional positions you may need to include elbow and knee pads as well.  Some shooters may want to also add a soft, cushioned shooting pad for prone position shooting as well.  Remember guys…there’s NO compromise for safety.
2. Adequate Ammunition – As so frequently inculcated within PSA safety courses, having the correct ammunition is essential.  What’s more, it’s also important that shooters have varying types of ammunition for training situations as well.  Having ammunition that varies in bullet type and weight may prove beneficial for those of you testing a new firearm.  Some guns like to chew specific types of ammunition more than other types.  Having different types of ammo at the range will aid you in narrowing down the perfect load for your gun.
3. Maintenance Gear – My dear old granny used to tell us….  It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.  Your day will go a lot smoother if you have a handy tool/maintenance kit packed in your range bag.  These items will ensure that your firearm runs all-the-live -long-day.  Remember guys….firearms are machines and they may have issues.  A smart fella named Murphy once said:  Whatever may go wrong, will….  Having your maintenance gear on hand will undoubtedly help you in tough situations.
4. Shooting Accessories – It’s always a smart thing to pack your own targets when heading off to the range.  Some ranges my not have your preferred targets (or even none at all depending on where you’re shooting).  When you’re packing be sure to include all target hanging materials as well (target stands, steel, staplers, markers, etc.).  Range finders, spotting scopes, and quality pieces of glass are also essential for some types of training and are recommended as well.

Now that you have your bag packed, it’s time to hit the range for some training!  Be safe and enjoy!!!

***  If you are unfamiliar with firearms and/or their accessories, and want to learn more, PSA strongly suggests that you find, enroll, and attend a comprehensive and reputable firearms safety course. Firearms safety is all of OUR responsibility.  

We want to thank you for taking out the time to stop by our lane at the shooting range!!  We hope that you enjoyed your stay and hope that you stop back by early and often to catch up on all PSA updates!  We truly hope that we were able to hit the target, and if you ever have any questions please don’t hesitate to shoot them our way!!  We look forward to shooting the breeze with you soon again!!

And as always….remember to watch your six and stay low!!!