In today’s podcast, we discuss all the essentials Varg and I have with us when we're at the range. Our minimum equipment preferences allow us to be safe, prepared, and proactive. Although the contents and brands may vary, we're going to highlight some of our favorite equipment and brands. Hopefully, this will help you prepare for your next training session or range day. And as always, feel free to share your preferred kit in the comments below — and definitely sound off if you think we've missed something!

https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/s/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/163-Range_Bag_Essentials.mp3

Podcast Host: Daniel Shaw

Co-Host: Varg Freeborn

Producer and Transcriptionist: Leah Ramsden

The following timestamps showcase some, but not all, of the essential topics we cover in Range Bag Essentials: Gunfighter Cast episode 163. Range Bag Essentials

1:40   Bag preference  3:00  5.11 Range Ready -Daniel’s everyday bag3:51   Trauma kit9:25   magazine brands11:45  Vortex impact 1000 range finder12:00  two sets of eyes and ears (eye protection and hearing protection)12:30  Outdoor range preparation14:20  high dexterity and thick gloves16:00  fix-it-sticks17:30  cleaning kit, lube & rag18:26  flashlight18:47  duct tape20:30  shot timers23:37  sharpie24:45  ear protection26:40  notebook28:57  water and protein snacks29:00  Targets29:49  backup gun32:50  D-Lead wipes35:00  staplers

3:05 For his everyday range bag, DS suggests,  

“I use the 511 Range Ready 43L. It’s got great compartments. I don’t use every compartment in it [due to] the way they’re designed, but I’ve always found it to be a very good range-bag. It’s taken a beating throughout the years and it’s held together and hasn’t fallen apart, so I’ve been really impressed with it for a very long time  

Ok so you have your favorite bag, maybe you have a more than one... next step:  

 Your Range Bag: how to beef it upIf you’re going to the range and you don’t have a trauma kit and at least two tourniquets, I’m not so sure that you’re prepared to be on the range -VF3:52 DS Says, “For a trauma kit, [I have] one on my gear, one on my body, one on my belt and one in my bag that comes out and stays near us wherever were doing training at that time. I usually have one on me, maybe two [at all times]. If I’m in my car I have a trauma kit, If I’m at home we have three kits placed in three different locations throughout the house… So, we do like our trauma kits in the Shaw family.”

In an emergency situation, seconds matter. You want to be prepared to help yourself and those around you with a fully equipped trauma kit. Here is an example of Varg's Emergency Bleed Compact kit equipped with a CAT7 TQ that fits into the bicycle frame bag perfectly.

6:14 DS Consensus says, “The most likely people to save lives in a mass casualty event are the on-scene responders, the people who’re right there, fumbling through the medical kits and [using the lessons] they’ve done [through] a basic stop the bleeding course… Keep your skills up and practice it, [because this is what will save lives].”  Magazines   9:20 DS Says, “If I’m training with myself, I am not very picky about what magazines I use… if I’m shooting a Glock for example, I’m using Glock factory mags, BUT, if I’m going to the range, I have no problem with running some KCI, some ETS, even some SGM tactical, pro mag, some magazines we know are not the highest in quality…there are some magazines that just work better than others. Encountering a problem with your gun that you didn’t create, that you didn’t know was coming, is definitely a training opportunity.”  Range Finder: Vortex Impact 1000I was using for a long time – a vortex impact, under $300 bucks, great little range finder, accurate up to 1000 yards, I had good success with that. -DS Snivel GearPrepare for the Weather