What to Pack in Your Range Bag – A Complete Checklist

Whether running drills with your pistol or heading out for suppressor training, the gear you bring makes a big difference. Packing smart saves time and frustration at the range. Here’s a simple, no-nonsense list of range bag essentials to help you stay organized and ready.

Core Range Bag Gear

Firearm and Magazines

1. Your primary firearm(s): Double-check that you bring the right one for your training session.
2. Loaded magazines: Bring several, plus a couple of backups. This will keep your time on the line smooth and uninterrupted.
3. Mag storage: Use something like the Cole-TAC Mag Bag. It keeps your mags secure and sorted, so you’re not fishing through loose gear during your range time.
4. No mags? No problem: If you’re shooting a bolt-action rifle, revolver, or anything that doesn’t take mags, an ammo novel is a smart way to pack boxed or loose rounds. It keeps everything flat, clean, and easy to access.

Eye and Ear Protection

1. Ear protection: Choose what works for you. Electronic muffs let you hear commands, while foam plugs are lightweight and disposable.
2. Eye protection: Wear ballistic-rated glasses that meet ANSI standards. Clear lenses work indoors, while tinted ones are good for outdoor glare.

Bonus tip: Pack spares. If a lens cracks or a plug goes missing, you’ll be glad you did.

Support Gear

These aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re the gear that helps you shoot better, train smarter, and get more out of every trip to the range.

Shooting Rest or Support Bags

Support matters if you’re working on long-range shooting or training for precision rifle shooting.

Use a solid base: A good support bag keeps your rifle steady and your groups tight. 

Why it helps: Whether you’re bench shooting or doing PRS-style drills, support bags reduce wobble and help you focus on your trigger work instead of fighting the rifle.

Check out our following guides for more information about shooting support bags:

• A Shooter’s Guide to the Best Support Bags
• Why Every Shooter Needs a Multi-Use Shooting Bag
• How Rear Support Bags Improve Your Shooting Stability
• Choosing the Best Lightweight Shooting Support Bag

Portable Shooting Targets

You can’t train without something to hit, and not all targets are created equal.

1. Bring the right type: Paper targets are great for checking shot placement. Steel targets give you instant feedback with a “ping.” Self-healing rubber targets last longer if your range allows them.
2. Keep it compact: Choose foldable or stackable targets that fit neatly in your tactical range bag. They’re easy to carry and quick to set up, so you spend more time shooting and less time fumbling with gear.

Cleaning and Maintenance Supplies

Shooting means carbon, grime, and gunk. A fast wipe-down between drills or before heading home can stop jams and extend the life of your gear. It’s especially smart if you’re training in dusty, wet, or humid conditions.

Pack the basics: 

1. Bore snake for quick barrel swipes
2. A small bottle of CLP (cleaner, lubricant, protectant)
3. A brush and a microfiber cloth

First Aid Kit

You hope you’ll never need it, but if you do, having a range first aid kit could save a life. These cover the basics for treating a gunshot wound or other serious injury until help arrives.

What to include: 

1. Tourniquet
2. Chest seals
3. Pressure bandages
4. Gauze
5. Gloves

Pro tip: Make this a permanent part of your range bag setup. Don’t borrow from it, don’t leave it behind, and check it regularly so supplies stay current and ready.

Utility Tools and Extras

These might seem small, but they’re the items you’ll miss the moment you don’t have them. Toss these into your range bag now, and thank yourself later.

1. Multitool or gun-specific kit: Whether you’re adjusting optics, tightening screws, or clearing a jam, a quality multitool or compact gun tool saves the day.
2. Shot timer: Speed training? Use a shot timer to track your split times and drills. A dedicated device is ideal, but a phone with a timer app works in a pinch.
3. Sharpie and tape: Mark your hits, patch holes, and label your gear. Keep both handy for targets and general use.
4. Notebook or range log: Jot down zeroing data, ammo performance, or notes from drills. A small logbook helps track progress over time, and it’s a simple way to train with more intention.

How to Pack a Range Bag

It’s not just what you bring. It’s how you pack it.

1. Sort by function: Use separate pouches for ammo, mags, tools, and cleaning gear. 
2. Think quick access: Put high-use items (like eye and ear protection or loaded mags) in outer pockets or top compartments so you’re not digging when the range goes hot.
3. Leave extra space: Always pack a small trash bag or use an open compartment for used targets, wrappers, or spent brass (or just use a dump pouch for these). Keeping your range clean is part of good range etiquette.

Tailoring Your Loadout for Different Range Days

Not every range day is the same, so your gear shouldn’t be either. Adjust what you pack based on what you’re training for. 

Pistol-only days: Keep it light. You’ll need your handgun, loaded mags, and maybe a mag loader. Focus on tools for speed drills, like a shot timer and tape for targets. You can skip the heavy gear and stick to the basics.

Rifle practice: Plan for a bigger setup. Bring your bipod, a spotting scope for checking targets at distance, and heavy support bags like the Cole-TAC Boss Bag for precision work. If you’re zeroing optics, don’t forget your cleaning kit and logbook.

Suppressor training: Running a can? Throw in a suppressor cover, like the Cole-TAC Python Suppressor Cover. It helps reduce mirage and manage heat, especially during long strings of fire. That means clearer optics and better shot consistency.

Pack Smart, Shoot Better

Showing up prepared means fewer interruptions, safer handling, and better training sessions. With the right setup, you can focus more on your shooting and less time searching for gear.

Cole-TAC’s range gear is built by shooters, for shooters. Every pouch, bag, and cover is designed to solve a real-world problem, so you can build a custom loadout that fits how you train.