Nothing ends a range day faster than driving 40 minutes and realizing the ammo is still on the kitchen counter. A well-packed range bag fixes that. Pack it once, restock it after every trip, and you can grab it and go.
Here is a complete range bag checklist, from the essentials you cannot shoot without to the extras that make a long day easier.
The essentials
If any of these is missing, you are not shooting today.
- Firearms, unloaded and cased.
- Ammunition in the right caliber. Check the box against the gun before you leave. A box of 9mm and a .380 pistol look a lot alike at 6 a.m.
- Magazines, all of them, plus a spare.
- Eye protection: wraparound safety glasses rated ANSI Z87.1.
- Hearing protection: foam plugs, earmuffs or both. Our hearing protection guide explains NRR ratings and when to double up.
- Your ID, carry permit if you have one, and range membership card.
- Cash or card for lane fees and targets.
Targets and target tools
- Paper targets, or steel if your range allows it.
- A stapler or staple gun, and masking or painter's tape for outdoor target frames.
- Target pasters to cover holes so you can reuse targets.
- A marker to label groups and distances.
- A spotting scope or binoculars for rifle distances.
Tools and small parts
- A multi-tool with a flat and Phillips screwdriver.
- The Allen and Torx keys that fit your optics mounts and sights.
- Spare batteries for red dots, scopes, lights and electronic earmuffs.
- A magazine loader. Your thumbs will thank you by the third box.
- Chamber flags, which many ranges require during cease fires.
- A cable or trigger lock.
Basic cleaning kit
You do not need a full bench kit at the range, just enough to keep a gun running:
- A bore snake or pull-through cleaner in each caliber you shoot.
- A small bottle of lubricant.
- A rag or a few cleaning patches.
- A small brush for the action.
First aid and safety
Ranges are safe places, but accidents happen far from a hospital. Carry a real first aid kit:
- Bandages, gauze and medical tape for cuts and pinches.
- Burn gel for hot brass and barrels.
- A tourniquet and pressure bandage, and training on how to use them.
- Any personal medication you might need.
Comfort and weather
- Water and a snack, eaten away from the line after you wash your hands.
- Sunscreen and bug spray for outdoor ranges.
- A brimmed hat. A cap with no top button, like the MultiCam Draw The Pew Snapback, fits cleanly under earmuffs.
- A warm layer for cold mornings, and a rain shell.
- Shooting gloves if you shoot a lot of rounds or handle hot steel.
- Lead-removal wipes for your hands and face before you eat or drive home.
Record keeping
- A notebook or data book and a pen to log groups, loads and zero changes.
- A shot timer if you practice drills.
- Your phone for target photos, kept off the line while you shoot.
Make the bag yours
Range bags all look alike on a crowded bench, especially the black ones. A morale patch or a few stickers make yours easy to spot and harder to walk off with by mistake.
If your bag has a loop panel, our PVC morale patch sticks right on with its hook back and shrugs off rain and range grime. For hard cases, ammo cans and toolboxes, the Draw The Pew sticker pack gives you three weatherproof vinyl die-cuts.
Restock after every trip
The best habit is a two-minute restock as soon as you get home: refill ammo, swap dead batteries, replace used targets and first aid supplies, and wipe down anything that got dirty. Then your bag is ready the next time a free afternoon opens up.
One more rule: a range bag is never a carry-on. If you fly, empty every pocket before that bag goes anywhere near an airport. Loose rounds and empty magazines are one of the most common reasons travelers get stopped at security. Our guide on how to fly with a gun covers the rest.
Printable range bag checklist
- Firearms, cased and unloaded
- Ammunition (caliber checked)
- Magazines and a magazine loader
- Safety glasses
- Earplugs and earmuffs
- ID, permit and membership card
- Targets, stapler, tape and pasters
- Multi-tool, Allen and Torx keys
- Spare batteries
- Chamber flags and a cable lock
- Bore snake, lube and a rag
- First aid kit with a tourniquet
- Water, sunscreen and bug spray
- Hat, warm layer and rain shell
- Lead-removal wipes
- Notebook and pen
Heading out for the first time? Read our gun range etiquette guide and what to wear to the shooting range before you go. And every Draw The Pew order earns bonus entries in our live firearm prize drops whenever a drop is open.
