#RangeBag

Thanks for joining us on TFB’s Photo Of The Day, where we’re not above showing you our mistakes, whether they will buff out or not. In today’s edition, you’re looking at a recent mishap where I was more focused on looking through my optic than I was making sure my muzzle was still far enough forward on my bag. In this particular case, I was running out of range time, making haste… and waste. The good news is that the zipper runners were both on the other side of the pouch, so I’ll be sewing up the zipper and patching the hole. This will hopefully mean that I’m only missing a couple inches of usable zipper space, this will buff out right?

Welcome to TFB Weekly Web Deals 37. With the start of the new year, I had a little bit of precious downtime to take care of some administrative tasks with my gun gear. This meant cleaning out my range bag. The range bag I personally use the most is a 5.11’s Range Ready Bag 43L. This bag has been with me for a long time and has served me well, has a ton of space for a lot of guns, ammunition, and of course all the other random tools and gear that are almost always with me. If you’re looking for a fresh start to your range trips, you might want to consider picking one of these up – it will probably last you a lifetime. Today for TFB Weekly Web deals 37 we’re going to take a look at 5 items that are always in my range bag that go beyond the basics (eye pro, ear pro, IFAK, etc).

Welcome to TFB Weekly Amazon Deals 27. This week I wanted to talk to you guys about being prepared at the range. For some of you guys who have your own land or private shooting range this may be a bit of a non-issue, but for many of us who either have to drive dozens of minutes or maybe several hours to the range and back, forgetting something at home or not having a critical tool or accessory in your range bag and end the day prematurely and really put a damper on everyone’s mood when it was supposed to be an enjoyable range day. In that same vein, I’ve included several items on this list that would make excellent items to stuff into your range bag in case the need ever arises. Many of these items are derived from our valued Patreon and Subscribe Star members while others are ones that I’ve personally kept in my range bag and have saved my range session on more than a handful of occasions.

When packing for the range, it can oftentimes become a real pain trying to fit all your gear into one or two bags when you have to take out multiple guns for long term testing without packing everything but the kitchen sink. About six months ago I started looking for a new range bag that wouldn’t scream tactical but would be big enough to take a good amount of gear with the ability to stay relatively small.

In an age where everything has to be “Tactical”, GPS gets to the point (although the company does have some “tactical” themed lines”). The company was founded by a Trap and Skeet shooter who simply needed a better way to carry range equipment back and forth. What I’ve always liked about the company is their vision to make a shooting bag tailored for a shooters needs. Different pockets purely made for magazines, cleaning rod holders, separate ammunition storage compartments, etc… A range bag really needs this sort of design input because of the peculiar things needed during a training session. Such as the fact that the bag needs to support a large amount of weight (such as firearms and ammunition). But at the same time, you’re not going to be running through an obstacle course with the equipment.

Go Outdoors Products is a Chino, California-based gear company that focuses on the shooting accessories and gear that make range trips that much more enjoyable and hassle free. The company has been around for a little while now, and much of their line of products has been out on the market, online, and in numerous gun stores across the nation and possible internationally too. So although they aren’t the next new awesome device or brand, they make products that in my opinion are very well thought out at the budget price you are getting them at.

Hackett Equipment is now selling and shipping the Mini. The Mini is a smaller version of the company’s original range bag that I talked about in a previous article ( here.) In addition to simply being a smaller carry system, the new Hackett Equipment Mini also has some other differences.

Elite Survival Systems introduced a number of new products at the 2017 SHOT Show. Among them are three backpacks, each aimed at a different segment of the market. They are the ECHO, the Tenacity-72 and the Guardian.

I’ve never found any dedicated range bags that seem to really address my needs. All of the ones I’ve tried seem to be a variation on the gym bag style, and not offer a lot of additional functionality. Consequently, I wind up just using a large, heavy duty duffel rather than any of the special bags on the market.

Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy the “range bags” that are just now a dime a dozen. The single-strap “standard pattern” (my label, not industry’s) has performed and will continue to perform well. Unfortunately, when loaded down for the range, it becomes a real bear to lug around. The single strap just does not distribute weight well when loaded for a 3-gun match with 100+ shells, 200+ rounds of 9mm, extra pouches, tools, food, etc, etc.

For those who pack everything for the range including the kitchen sink comes what could be argued as a range “kitchen sink.” Battenfeld Technologies, Inc.,  a division of Smith and Wesson, has announced the release of their Tipton Transporter Range Vise. As its name implies it is a range vise; and more than it implies, a table-mountable range bag to handle any number of range necessities.

For many of us, getting some target practice more closely resembles a mass exodus of guns and gear than it does a simple trip to the local range. Even moreso when it comes to getting that target practice at a favored outdoor shooting spot, because then you’re even more compelled to pack every possible piece of gear just in case it’s needed. Of course, there’s a certain logic behind careful packing. There’s not much more infuriating than a range day ruined by a loose optic and no tools to tighten it or a worn-out magazine and no other magazine in sight to replace it. So for those interesting in orderly packing and the latest gear and gadgets, there’s the new range bag and vise combo from Battenfeld Technologies.

There are range “bags” that are designed to hold gear and then there are “range bags” that beg to be hauled and mauled. The 5.11 Range Ready Bag is the latter, now having stood up to my grueling usage for over six months with nary an issue. So what makes it so good?

First Spear has come out with a very interesting range bag. It seems rather discrete as it is not bedazzled with Molle. It would have helped if it came in other colors, rather than the common color palette of tactical equipment. Color aside, this pack can hold a decent amount of firearms. Three pistols and a broken down AR-15. On top of that, it has compartments for ammo, magazines, ear protection and shooting glasses. All of that in a decent sized backpack. Now comes the compromise, the price. $267.78. But when you start comparing that to other tactical back packs, like Kifaru, Mystery Ranch, or Triple Aught Design; $267.78 isn’t that bad.