My Range Bag sucks!

[hufnagel]

Ok, that's being harsh. I actually like it, but lately i've gotten to the point of bringing so much "needed materials" I'm having to hit the gym 5 days a week just to bulk up to carry the damn thing the 10' from my car to the front door of my local club. ;)

The bag in question:
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/259/259680.jpg (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/259680/midwayusa-competition-range-bag-system)

I've had it for a number of years now, and it's served me well. However when I decide to bring (as a guest once said to me) "everything including the kitchen sink" it gets a bit heavy and floppy; ok a LOT heavy and floppy. Lots of ammo of various flavors and calibers, targets, gun rugs, ear muffs, hats, bandage kit, magazines, loaders, some tools, etc. That doesn't even include the weapons of choice for that day; those get carried in a dedicated gun case....
http://www.caseclub.com/products/6-revolver-case-main.jpg (http://www.caseclub.com/6-revolver-case.htm)

If i'm on one of my "focus" days, I'll frequently only bring this...
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/648/648356.jpg (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/160870/midwayusa-tactical-pistol-case)

Loaded with one gun, rug, targets, minimal tools, ear plugs, ear muffs through the straps, mags already loaded, and a box or 2 of extra ammo. That would be the other extreme.

I've been giving some serious consideration to maybe getting a suitcase and "adapting" it to range bag duties. At the very least it'll have a nice handle and wheels to drag it around with. :D So to the P-F Collective, what do you do when you feel liking bringing out lots of toys to play?

[NETim]

Works for me:

http://www.amazon.com/G-P-S-602556-P-Handgunner-Backpack/dp/B00DECL0P0/ref=pd_sim_200_4?ie=UTF8&dpID=41HY-9Q3VEL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=16ESCAE5K30032EJ1CB5

[PPGMD]

I keep two bags.

One is a 5.11 Rush 72 back pack, that is my range bag. In contains all my tools, and misc stuff that doesn't require charging. That stays in the car unless I need it for the range.

And then I have a Countycomm XL EOD bag which is what I use to get guns, ammo, and things that need to be charged from the house to the car.

[JHC]

I've been using one small to medium backpack or another for a few years. I prefer to baby my wrists and elbows and I don't dig the hike with carrying guns and ammo from a carry handle.

[MichaelD]

I use a 12" Craftsman tool bag from this combo: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-10-in-and-12-in-tool-bag/p-00940558000P?prdNo=25&blockNo=25&blockType=G25

I've put several layers of cardboard in the bottom so it stays stiff and can handle about 20 pounds of weight without sagging. It will hold about 300 rounds of ammo (packed in small S&B 9mm boxes), my massive collection of magazines, a pair of collapsible muffs, shooting glasses, some lube, wet wipes, band-aids, and a multitool. If I need to take more than one pistol to the range, for instance when I take my M&P22 along, it will fit in the bag with a couple hundred .22 rounds and its four mags added to the previously-mentioned items.

I used to have a large bag similar to the black one in the original post, but got sick of lugging it around when I went to the range. If I am taking more equipment than just my carry gun and the .22, I simply carry an additional bag.

[Peally]

Does your bag have a removable core? My fat old 5.11 bag's center part comes out which is handy for quick pistol work where I don't need the kitchen sink.

[WOLFIE]

I have seen competitive shooters dragging a wheelbarrow at a shooting match. They have a long handle, cloth walls and floor, and nice wheels. It does not look manly but it works; easy to take things in and out, you can carry (drag) a lot of weight, and put small, easy to carry bags inside it.

[UNK]

5556 http://www.shootersconnectionstore.com/Shooters-Connection-Tournament-Series-Shooting-Bag-PRO-Blue-P557.aspx

5559 http://www.lowes.com/pd_475925-929-73777___?productId=50373316&pl=1&Ntt=milwaukee+cart

5557 http://www.shootersconnectionstore.com/CED-DAA-RangePack-Pro-Backpack-P2227.aspx

5558 http://www.shootersconnectionstore.com/CEDDAA-RangeCart-Pro-P2487.aspx

[StraitR]

C'mon now, hauling around heavy range bags is what keeps you young. ;)

But more seriously, the first time my range trip was cut short because I left something at home in the spirit of minimalism, was the last time I didn't bring "the kitchen sink" with me to the range.

I eventually adopted the following...

1- One bag that contains the bare essentials of shooting plus IFAK and basic tool kit. This bag is what I carry to the firing line.

2- A totally separate bag containing everything else I could possibly need, but may not actually use. This bag is left in my trunk.

That being said, I belong to an outdoor club and my vehicle is never more than 100' away. When we change bays/ranges (we have 9), we drive.

[JohnO]

I keep two bags.


Yeah. I'm in the multi bag crowd. I have the same Midway bag and really like it. I keep the Midway bag loaded with everything I need for a class/clinic.

My second bag has my timer, stapler, multiple rolls of tape (different colors), 100 ft. measuring tape, spare staples, various size orange sticky dots, 3x5 index cards and probably some other stuff. This is all stuff I don't need or want to drag along if I'm in a class where all that is provided.

A third bag has hats, ear pro, eye protection and some additional stuff for my kids or a guest shooter/s.

Then I have cardboard tubes for targets and a small FedEx Express box I use to keep a range supply of NRA B-8 repair centers.

[Gray222]

I use the same bag as my duty bag, 5.11 patrol bag http://goo.gl/MtbMrr (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AL9CUI/). Its big, roomy and you probably cant fill it even if you tried. Ohh and it has a shoulder sling.

[Peally]

Can't fill them? I have a similar one and that thing is crammed to the brim with ammo, magazines, brass, candy, jerky, etc. Basically every single thing I'll ever not need for a pistol match ;)

[Up1911Fan]

I use the Midway bag's. I have one as a GP bag for stuff I use every range session, one set up for pistols and one for rifles. Works out pretty good.

[JAD]

The giant midway bag lives in my trunk with all the odds and ends. A maxped compact (http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/Compact-Range-Bag-p1583.htm) goes to the line with me, with the basics.

[Lomshek]

I use the MTM 2 pistol case (http://www.amazon.com/MTM-Pistol-Handgun-8-5-Inch-Revolver/dp/B0013RD6OG/ref=pd_sim_200_6?ie=UTF8&dpID=51uHxe0leaL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR146%2C160_&refRID=117BQNM2GBC0MNH2Z3K4) as a dedicated gun case. It's big enough for a M&P FS with holster 2 double mag pouches and 5 mags (one in the gun). Cutting the foam is a PITA but can be done.

I use the same cases as "squad boxes" for the USPSA matches I run. They're barely big enough for four boxes of pasters (2 brown, 1 white, 1 black) stapler, timer, spare staples and a 2 way radio for squads to communicate. One of the squad boxes travels with me to the range.

I reserve the range bag for eye and ear pro, speed loader, ammo boxes and other gear.

[Casey]

Vertx A-Range Bag (http://www.amazon.com/Vertx-A-Range-Bag/dp/B00LWZW6WW) if all I'm doing is shooting pistol from concealment. Plenty of room in the top compartment for medical, tape, staples and stapler, timer, spare batteries, etc. Training pistol goes in the slot pocket. The trays in the garage are used for my training mags and loose ammo.

If I'm shooting my duty rig, that gets transported in an ASO Bag (http://www.refactortactical.com/advanced-special-operations-bag/) from RE Factor Tactical. If I'm shooting rifle, the long guns are in a Tactical Tailor Covert Carry Case (http://www.tacticaltailor.com/covertcarrycasedoublerifle.aspx) and loaded mags in an MTM Mag Can (http://www.amazon.com/MTM-Tactical-Magazine-Storage-TMC15/dp/B00HVDFSQ0/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1453880130&sr=8-8&keywords=mtm+ammo+can).

Yeah, that escalated quickly. I've thought about putting together one massive range bag based out of something like an LBT deployment bag, but I like being able to scale up and down based on what I'm shooting, even if that means loading the car takes a little longer. If all you're doing is shooting from concealment, you can't go wrong with the Vertx bag.

Before upgrading to the A-Range, I got several years of good service from Larue's Range Bag (http://www.larue.com/larue-range-bag). It's a good option, and I didn't come close to wearing it out, but it doesn't have quite as much built-in organization as the Vertx product.