How much stuff do you take to the range?

[dangerranger]

 I was loading the truck and it took me at least 20 min to load up for a simple range day. I had four rifles and a slug gun I wanted to sight in. I had to find my spotting scope, sand bags , table , stool, rest, glasses, etc... I think I need to find and put together a range box that has all these things already in it. trouble is Im looking at something the size of a foot locker. what do you all use? DR

[Mac11700]

Since the public range I use most of the time already has targets and benches set up..I don't have to lug all of that around..but I do take a hard case for 2 rifles..and 2 large tool boxes..and a small cooler..1 has all of my reloading equipment in it and loaded ammo,so I can load at the range if I want..and the other has my all of my rest/chronograph/extra targets/ spotting scope/binocs/ tri-pod/stapler/hammer/cleaning supplies and my thermos..and the cooler has my lunch and extra refreshments in it..I usually don't need it all..and if I go any place new I trake along my B&D work mate to shoot off of and a 5 gallon bucket seat..and target frames..I keep all of this ready to go and it takes less than 5 minutes to load the car and what ever I decide to take for food..All will fit in my GT Mustangs trunk..I like it this way..

Mac

[Land_Owner]

good post danger...

Aisde from cased guns, I have a $1.00 garage sale suitcase with multiple pockets and slots that holds the following all in one easy to carry location:
8.5" x 11" and 11" x 17" paper targets
sand bags, filled (2)
front rest
shoulder strap/cushion
earmuffs (2)
eye protection (2)
stapler and extra staples
foam ear plugs (~20 pair)
range bench blanket
(2) 20' x 4' geotextile sheeting stapled nearby as a backstop for catching semi-auto brass

I also carry separately:
ammunition
a spotting scope on tri-pod
chronograph
a 2nd tri-pod
water
all purpose paper (always)
folding chair (2)
cardboard backing for the target holder
a plastic sheet to stop the wicking of moisture from exposed wooden topped shooting bench

You are right, gathering all of these items takes time and without a checklist (which I recommend), can be frustrating when reaching the range 1/2 hours drive from the house and finding something important missing.

[capt45]

Ok I have to ask....

How does this work?

(2) 20' x 4' geotextile sheeting stapled nearby as a backstop for catching semi-auto brass

Thanks,
Rob

[bikerbeans]

I stop when the trunk of my Grand Marq. looks completely full.  Usually I load

200 to 300 rds of ammo in a separate plastic box.
3 long gun cases with 4 or 5 guns
2 to 3 pistols in cases.
All cases are hard plastic so I can stack etc. w/o wrecking my guns.
Plastic milk crate with all the targets, ear/eye protection, sand bag and front tripod rest
(1) broken chronograph that I keep hoping will heal itself
Left over pizza boxes and election signs to stick my targets on
Cleaning kit
Tool box
Wife, but she usually wants to ride up front.
In the winter I put food coloring and water in 1 gal. milk jugs and freeze them solid.  Fun to watch the colored spray of pulverized ice crystal when you shoot one with a buckhammer slug. 
Boxes of clay pidgeons for the wife to put on the berm and shoot with her M4.

Club has covered benches so no chairs or tables.

List is a good idea but I would probably lose it.  Luckily I go by the code "if you don't have it, you don't need it".  Super WallyWorld 1/2 mile from club if I forget ammo.

BB

[skarke]

What fits in a good sized yellow tool box, if I'm shooting pistols.  Off the top of my head:

1.  Ammo, about 300 rounds
2.  Targets
3.  Cleaning and disassebmling stuff
4.  A couple of good rags
5.  Eye and ear protectin
6.  A small mat
7.  Moon clip tool and extra moon clips and mags
8.  Staple gun
9.  Freezer baggies for spent cartridges
10.  My membership tag
11.  a few gun parts
12.  White spray paint for the plates
13.  Small caldwell square sandbag
14.  Sharpies
15.  Target healer tape squares (saves replacing targets)

A bunch of other misc stuff depenging on what I am shooting, and of course, guns.

[lee1954]

Our range is just over a mile from the house so if we forget something we can always go home and get it. But we take 1 or 2 guns maybe a pistol sometimes. Ammo. ear protection, safety glasses, targets (sometimes they have targets provided). We bring those peel off bright stickies to put on targets to mark the shot spots. It is nice to have a cool drink like ice tea on warm days. We sometimes bring our camera and take pictures. thumb tacks as sometimes the range stapler doesn't work. The range has pieces of carpet to lay on the shooting benchs and sandbags or gun rests.

[BUGEYE]

I carry so much stuff that I use a little red wagon to get it all from the truck to the firing line.

[wreckhog]

I leave a bug spray, glasses, screwdriver set, ear plugs and muffs in the glove compartment. And a couple of old pizza boxes and stick on orange dots in the trunk. I am a plinker. Grab a couple rifles, appropriate ammo and Bore Snakes and I am G2G. Grab a Reuben sandwich, 3 cookies and some Diet Cokes on the way, and I am good for the afternoon. And a zip loc for range brass.

The range has staplers, targets, and a stand to work on the gun.

If anyone else is there , I normally just say hi and go on a tour of local gun stores. Like to shoot alone. So I need to bring cash too.....lol

[necchi]

A small suitcase. Now that's a good idea! I'll hafta keep an eye out for one.
 I've always kept a shooting box (18x8x10 deep w/trays) for all the ML gear but those things need a bunch of little gadgets.
Trouble is they can get darn heavy and ya need ta beef up the handle!
 I try to keep the CF stuff to a minimum; guns, ammo, cleaning rod, but there's always the bags, muff's, stapler, targets, spotting scope,,

a checklist (which I recommend), can be frustrating when reaching the range 1/2 hours drive from the house and finding something important missing.

 Boy you got that right too! How about forgeting the ammo! 
  Loaded everything one time, a couple trips in and out of the house,, got to the range and found I forgot the Rifle! ( After I hung the targets at 200!) 

[DickelDawg]

I used to do the same durn thing! I mean haul everything but the kitchen sink to the range. Fortunately I happen to have some acreage out back of the house that made a nice 100 yd. shooting range. Now I just take the guns and ammo out back. Everything else I need is in a metal cabinet next the shooting bench. Even have a roof.........which creates somewhat of a problem with the gun report BUT at least I shoot in the shade with adequate ear protection.

[Chas.]

The range I frequent supplies targets, stands, and staplers.  It also has concrete benchs and adjustable stools and spotting scopes (if I need one).  All I have to take is my guns, ammo, and range bag.  As far as spotting scopes, I normally am shooting .44 or .45 so I can see the holes with only my binoculars.

In my range bag I keep hearing and eye protection, gloves, stick-on spots, screw-driver set, clean towel, leatherman, pen and paper, and small binoculars.

The range is only about 10 min. from my house and 5 min. from all the fast-food joints so I don't take food or drinks.

Ammo - I throttle my shooting with the ammount of ammo I take, because I'll shoot every thing I take with me.  If I take 1000 rounds, I'll shoot 1000 rounds.  That's why I only take 100-200 with me.

[Old Fart]

Kind of depends on my mission for that trip.
Most times I take my range box with has all the normal stuff you might need.
But if I'm just going plinking paper I don't drag along  as much stuff.
Sometimes I bring even more.

[AtlLaw]

Looks like I'm not alone in carrying bunches of stuff to the range!  So much stuff it almost takes the fun outa it.  But I tell ya what.  This thread has made me make a decision!  Ima gonna build a range cart to carry all this crap!   

Lessee here...    It'll have to be suiable for everyday range trips, BPCR shooting, Hi-Pwr shooting, what else... 

[gcrank1]

Get a cheap 'two wheeler' from Harbor Freight, etc. and bungee a plastic milk crate on the bottom. You can stick two gun cases in, one on either side and strap them up top with various shooting boxes stacked up the middle.
I usually only take one CF to work out and always a .22LR.

[JerryKo]

I like the larger Rubbermaid containers about 14x36x14 work great.  Everything but the rifles fit and can fit in the narrow confines of my expedition without removing the 3rd row seat.  My range has covered benches and tables so those items are not necessary.  Thanks club also allows hunting in another area so one of those bucket/seat /coolers work for a nice seat and lunch looking for groundhogs.  I can only visit range during lunchbreaks so I really enjoy my one hour lunch.  Mornings are crazy getting two rambunctious boys ready for school, so it helps that it only takes a minute to load up the XP and go.  In my box is two sand bags front rest thumb tacks stapler tripod chrony file folders with assorted targets, tape, large box 22 ammo, spinner targets, safety items, extra orange ball cap, and a penciled bag with small screwdriver set, pliers, sidecuts, and pencil pen Sharpie.  Also have the tipton cleaning range kit that gets put in the XP.  DANG! !  I guess we do pack a lot, I just never realized it.

[gendoc]

i don't take anythang !!!... its right outside my shop door. 

[spikehorn]

I have a 100 yard shooting lane right off my back deck probly could get it out to 150 if I wanted to, but everything I need is a 15 foot walk inside my back door. The only time i don't shoot alone is when the kid is shooting with me or one of my buddies needs to sight something in.

[gcrank1]

My home 50yd is like that too. It spoils a guy, but aint it great! I'll do it as long as I can, though things are getting built up around me.
The two-wheeler is for away from home, but if my wife wants to play we need two of them, or two trips.
Remember when it was as simple as, grap a gun and a pocketful of ammo & go?......oh, yeah, thats out my back door...

[yukondog]

When I lived up in TN. I could sit at my reloading bench work up loads turn my chair around and open the door and shoot from there. Now the range is 18 mi. frm. the house and the older I get the more crap I seem to take, and as for a list that would be the first thing I would lose.

[bilmac]

I have a homemade box about a 20" cube. I made 3 partitions in it. One skinny to hold notebook paper I use with targ dots for targets. A holder for small screwdrivers and pencils. A film canister for thumbtacks. Three shotbags filled with sawdust so they don't weigh a ton. A small spotting scope, earmuffs, and a military cleaning kit in case I have to knock out a stuck case.

[mcwoodduck]

I have a range bag that has the simple things in it.
Staplers, staples, markers, leather man tool,ear plugs, spare eyes, things like that (oh and a 1/2 roll of toilet paper and hand and toosh wipes) a small 1st aid kit, bug spray, sun tan lotion, target dots, small cleaing kit (screw together cleaning rods) empty chamber flags, and other small items I have thought I need like a spare cigar cutter and zippo fuel or matches.
other than that I have stuff divided up into tool and boxes.  OH and a ditty bag with about 500 loose 22LR rounds in it.

All my optics stuff is in one tool box.  Binos, spotting scope, stands, range finder, spare eyes, also sapre batteries, lens cleaner and papers, visine, and anything else I can thing that has to do with seeing.

there is a gun tool box- screw drivers and torque wrenches lubes, and some grease.  Anything I can think I may need to take apart a gun or get it back working again.  Head flash light as well as a hand held one, Rags and a small matt.

Then ther is the ammo bag- I have a heavy duty canvas bag that I will load the ammo in.  Another one that is smaller for any magizines or holsters.  And the larger 1st aid kit.  Empty case bag - Canvas with a divider and a zipper.

Then I have the Shooting matt, the sand bags, skeet/trap vests, and the folding chair and towel I use when shooting High power in the sun.

I was taking customers shooting for a while and found the different shoots from High power rifle, target pistol, action pistol, three gun, and shotgun it was easier to walk into the garage go to the shelves and pull out what I needed based on the shoot.
then we get into the Duck bag- the dove bag, upland game vests, the big game packs, and the camping gear.  May garage looks like a mini sporting good store

[JerryKo]

I have a homemade box about a 20" cube. I made 3 partitions in it. One skinny to hold notebook paper I use with targ dots for targets. A holder for small screwdrivers and pencils. A film canister for thumbtacks. Three shotbags filled with sawdust so they don't weigh a ton. A small spotting scope, earmuffs, and a military cleaning kit in case I have to knock out a stuck case.

For sand bags I use the legs cut out of old blue jeans and sew the ends.  For stuffing I found the best in between weight wise is bird seed.  Not too heavy not too light.

Jerry

[gcrank1]

You might have sprouts if it gets wet.......
I use cheap generic cat litter. Its mixed with clay, and unlike the sharp edges of sand particles (as in 'sand paper') the clay is rounded and much less abrasive. I double bag in bread bags before the jeans leg and horse blanket pin the flap over.

[mechanic]

I decided I was working too hard when I go to shoot, so now I take one gun only.  I only live 5 miles away, so it's no big deal.  That way I get that gun where I want it, or my load settled, etc.   Next trip, I'll take another.  I still have target stand, targets, range box, shooting rest, cleaning material and trash bags.  Ear and eye protection......list goes on.  And usually several hundred rounds of ammo.  What fun!

[Land_Owner]

Ok I have to ask....

How does this work?

(2) 20' x 4' geotextile sheeting stapled nearby as a backstop for catching semi-auto brass

Thanks,
Rob

The range is rural, not a dedicated range, just my west road with bench, seat, and woods.  350 yards if needed that far.  200 yards easy.

I staple the lower segment between two trees ~20' apart and drape the lower 1/3 on the ground toward the range bench.  I staple the top segment above the lower segment with about 1' of overlap.  Then I stand in front of the bench and shoot away.  The cases are ejected, 223, 380 auto, 45 auto, into the geotextile and onto the ground where they can be easily gathered up.  Pretty simple.

[Land_Owner]

For sand bags I use the legs cut out of old blue jeans and sew the ends.  For stuffing I found the best in between weight wise is bird seed.  Not too heavy not too light.

Jerry

Similar here although I use 20# rice bags bought from Winn Dixie.  I have used the same rice bags in cut off jean pant legs for 15 years.  works GREAT.

[LaOtto222]

My range is in the back yard, but that does not mean I don't carry a bunch of stuff there. I have a big box, that I carry ammo, shooting muffs, pens, note book, targets, staple gun, cleaning supplies and other miscellaneous things. In my shed I have a shooting table, chair, a box with chronograph, shooting bags. It takes 20 minutes or so to get every thing out and set up. It is not that far, but it still takes time to get every thing out and set up. I usually set up for two rifles. If I shoot more, then I exchange rifles and ammo and reset. It takes another 20 minutes or so to put it away. A short session will last 2+ hours and a long one lasts all afternoon. I have been thinking about putting wheels on my shooting table and making a shelf under it to carry shooting bags, chronograph, tripod; so I can just pick up the end and wheel it all out at once.

[Ranger J]

Too dang much!  People crossed the Great Plains with less plunder than I usually slep  along.   Then as likely as not I forget the one thing that I really need that day.   I have a separate tackle box for modern guns and black powder.  Then there are shooting bags, blocks of wood to regulate the heights of the bags on,  spotting scope or binoculars, targets just in case the range is out, blanket (range stands are cement), assortment of guns and if I am lucky the right bullets for the latter.  Yes I have been known to bring the wrong ones, that's why I always include one 22 in the gun assortment and a couple of boxes of 22s is always in my tackle box.  I won't even start to list the other necessities I pack in the range box.  We have just moved to land in the country and I am hoping to build at least a 50 yard range in the back 40, which unfortunately isn't 40 but will do.

RJ

[gcrank1]

Aint we a hoot!......good thing he didnt ask what we take camping (where we can shoot too).