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Thread: Current Range Bag Options

  1. #1
    Site Supporter MGW's Avatar
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    Current Range Bag Options

    This topic comes up every so often but I haven’t found a bag that works for me yet. I’ve tried a few different options over the years including a small purpose built range bag (too small) and a standard backpack (difficult to keep organized). My current bag is from G.P.S. My problem with this bag is it’s big and heavy but doesn’t really hold much. The pockets are too small too hold a set of ear pro, the pistol storage underneath takes up way to much room in the bag. Additionally a pistol with an optic won’t fit in the foam rack.

    My ideal bag would hold two to three handguns plus typical range gear. Ammo, magazines, PPE, small med kit, timer, pasters, notebook, stapler, etc. A dedicated pouch for a small cleaning kit and an external water bottle pouch would be a bonus. I often switch from gamer gear to concealed gear at the range so a place for a holster and a couple mag pouches would be helpful. I don’t want it to be giant but easy to organize would be awesome. A Todd Green orange or other bright interior would be icing on the cake.

    Anyone have a range bag recommendation that comes close to this? Everything I’ve looked at has more compromises than actual usable features.
    “If you know the way broadly you will see it in everything." - Miyamoto Musashi

  2. #2
    Chasing the Horizon RJ's Avatar
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    Jan 2014
    I'm pretty sure I have this one:

    https://lapolicegear.com/jumbo-bailout-bag.html

    I bought it five or more years ago. Out of all the crap I've accumulated and then sold since learning about guns in 2014, I still have this bag. It seems to fit what I do pretty well. I'll grab a quick pic and describe the contents.

  3. #3
    Chasing the Horizon RJ's Avatar
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    Jan 2014
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    Ok, let's see. left to right, more or less:

    Left open end - Can Deep Woods OFF, bottle Grrrip Plus Enhancer.

    Upper side and pockets - MSA Sordins, many extra foam ear plugs

    Middle zipper compartment - Ammo, range hat, mags, gun or guns (I have transported maybe 3 no problems), IKEA 3" tray (reloading aid) and Maglula in a quart zip-lock, 2" blue painters tape (for mounting targets). My manila folder of target printouts goes in here, normally.

    Lower side, long zipper compartment - Sharpie, pens. a Chinese Takeout Chopstick

    Lower side, small zipper/open compartments - Boo Boo kit, D-Lead wipes, Glasses wipes, Lens cloth, pair Mechanix brand gloves (for taking the stage down after a match)

    Right open end - EyePro, C-A-T TQ, Israeli bandage, H&H, Celox, Hyfin Chest seal, disposable gloves inside a 30:2 CPR reminder

  4. #4
    Member feudist's Avatar
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    Jan 2012
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    I've got a 20 year old Dillon that I'll sell you for full current msrp.

  5. #5
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    I picked up one of these Beretta bags a couple of years ago for a shotgun bag, but have repurposed it into my pistol bag. It is sturdy and has held up well to being way overstuffed and weighed down with ammo. This plus a rifle bag that also carries my rifle mags is all I take to the range. https://www.berettausa.com/en-us/ber.../bs2620610832/

    Main pocket holds all 20+ Glock mags, mag pouches, a couple boxes of ammo, eye pro, sunscreen, bug spray, note pad/pens/markers, plugs, and lube. If you mostly take boxed ammo instead of loaded mags, I'm sure you could fit a couple pistols in there easy. As it is, I sometimes throw a holstered pistol on top if I plan to shoot anything other than my carry gun.
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    Left side holds ear pro.
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    Front pocket holds medical supplies.
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    Right pocket holds timer, tape, and batteries.
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    When all loaded up it also holds a target folder.
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    There is also a small pocket on the back where I store 150 emergency rounds and a pair of gloves.

  6. #6
    Member jd950's Avatar
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    Assuming we are talking about pistols, best ones I have found, depending on your needs and after much trial and error:

    https://www.amazon.com/Bagmaster-Sho...6255804&sr=8-5

    https://www.americanmountainsupply.c...ain-range-bags

    Both of the above made in USA if that matters to you.

    If price is too high, Midway USA bags are very good and much more economical.

    I am sure there are other good ones out there, but I like the ones I listed. I think Bagmaster is either out of business or not doing range bags anymore, so you get whatever you can find.

  7. #7
    banana republican blues's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jd950 View Post
    I think Bagmaster is either out of business or not doing range bags anymore, so you get whatever you can find.
    I still have a small Bagmaster for my pistols and magazines I've been using since the 80's.
    There's nothing civil about this war.

    Read: Harrison Bergeron

  8. #8
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    I have a small plastic "footlocker" that is packed out with everything imaginable for range trips - I keep it in the garage and put in my truck every range trip. All admin, tools, etc. in one place. I have a soft tool bag from Home Depot that i put stuff to take to the line for rifle work. I have a MIDWAY large range bag for pistol work - it has mag holders in one side pocket and I keep holsters and mag pouches in the other side pocket.

  9. #9
    Rectangular range bags all pretty much suck. Not good to carry, require you to dig through everything, tend to run heavy. I have had so many damn range bags that have let me down in one way or another for the past 30 years. (At least they allow good storage for all those holsters...)

    This past spring, I got my hands on a DAA medium size RangePack, which easily holds three pistols, soft cased Sordin ear pro, hardcased Smith eye pro, med kit (including Israeli bandage, CAT tourniquet, and a million Bandaids) , 10 boxes of ammo or more, 15 mags or more, writing implements and notepads, target pasters or tape rolls, tool kit, cleaning kit, 8-1/2 x 11 zeroing targets, PACT timer, spare batteries, and anything else you need for range work. And it all is easily carried on your back, in a well balanced package.

    (They make a bigger model that is simply huge and too much for my needs. The medium is great, for what I need).

    The top compartment is deceptively cavernous and the walls have a velcroed 7-mag holder, and multiple elastic-topped pockets for all manner of items.

    It has good quality shoulder straps, puts the heavy stuff at the bottom for good balance, is self-supporting (doubles as a reasonably good shooting rest for zeroing) and still easily fits in the trunks of my sports cars.

    The bottom compartment holds ammo and pistols in a hard-side plastic compartment, it can hold two VP9 long slide with SRO pistols in padded sleeves (it comes with one) a strip of 6 mags in a DAA mag pouch, 10 boxes of ammo, and a stack of zeroing targets.

    The two external lower side pockets hold regular length P30’s or VP9’s with RMR’s. The two upper padded side pockets are almost a custom fit for a PACT club timer in its case.

    I had some trouble with a couple of the front pocket cover seams, and after a quickly processed return from DAA in July, got a second one... which did the exact same thing. Sewed up the weak seams by hand with Spectra fiber, and it has been rock solid ever since. Not bothering with another return.

    The most important thing is how it keeps everything organized- there’s a directly accessible place for everything you need with no digging around. It comes with a rain cover, a “rolly-poly” type drop pouch, a large, well padded pistol case, a cable combination lock, and a rig strap. Add a Petzl carabiner to hang your three-leg chair, and it’s just the bomb for the range.

    https://www.doublealpha.biz/us/ced-d...-ipsc-backpack

    Wait for one of their frequent sales.

  10. #10
    Member DMF13's Avatar
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    Nomad
    Quote Originally Posted by MGW View Post
    My current bag is from G.P.S. My problem with this bag is it’s big and heavy but doesn’t really hold much. The pockets are too small too hold a set of ear pro, the pistol storage underneath takes up way to much room in the bag. Additionally a pistol with an optic won’t fit in the foam rack.
    I would simply chuck the foam rack, and use all that space to store everything.

    I'm a cheapskate, so I use cheap packing cubes to organize my stuff:
    https://www.amazon.com/TravelWise-Pa...dDbGljaz10cnVl

    If you want PT/PF orange you always get one of these:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B087B...TF8&psc=1&th=1

    Again, being cheap, I'd probably just get one of these:
    https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass...pack-or-system

    Its got a light blue lining like the exterior.

    If you shoot at an outdoor range, and deal with bad weather, I'd also consider this:
    https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass...reme-boat-bags

    I just use one of these: https://www.amazon.com/OGIO-108091-M.../dp/B00PCMWSTW

    It was free to me, as it belonged to a buddy who used it as med sales rep. So its got his old company logo on it. However, its a nice size, has white lining so I don't lose all the dark gun gear inside.
    My ideal bag would hold two to three handguns plus typical range gear. Ammo, magazines, PPE, small med kit, timer, pasters, notebook, stapler, etc. A dedicated pouch for a small cleaning kit and an external water bottle pouch would be a bonus. I often switch from gamer gear to concealed gear at the range so a place for a holster and a couple mag pouches would be helpful.
    I carry that much stuff, along with a large storage clipboard, with forms, and courses of fire, for running qualifications at work. Although I do carry my ammo in a cheap plastic "ammo can," that I got at Harbor Freight. https://www.harborfreight.com/030-ca...box-63135.html
    _______________
    "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am. Send me." - Isaiah 6:8

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