This article first appeared on AmmoLand News on July 26, 2025, and appears here now with fresh updates.
When it comes to getting reps with your everyday carry pistol, simplicity wins. I’ve been through my share of range bags—backpacks, duffels, tactical briefcases—you name it. For a while, it felt like every trip to the range started with moving gear from one bag to another. It was inefficient, time-consuming, and frankly, I was hauling too much stuff I never actually used.
That’s when I decided to go scorched earth. The mission: identify only what I needed for a productive session with my carry gun—and leave all the “what-ifs” back at the house.
After watching countless YouTube videos on range bags for pistols, I found myself shaking my head. Let’s be real—most people carry way too much crap to the range. But there was one video on minimalist go bags that finally got me thinking in the right direction.
My Range Bag of Choice: The Propper Bail Out Bag
This thing is the Goldilocks of range bags for pistols. Not too big, not too small—just right. And it has just enough organization to keep the essentials situated without becoming a bottomless pit.
Here’s what I keep in mine when I head to the range to practice with my CCW setup.
Outside AR-Style Mag Pouches
- Spare Pistol Magazines (Loaded):
Pre-loading your mags before hitting the range saves time and keeps your focus where it should be—on shooting, not stuffing rounds. - Two 20-Round AR Mags:
I’ll keep these in the center pouch just in case I bring a rifle along. They don’t take up much space, and it’s nice to have the option. - Basic Trauma Kit:
This rides in one of the mag pouches as well. If something catastrophic happens, I want the tools to stabilize it until help arrives. My kit includes:- CAT7 Tourniquet
- SWAT-T Tourniquet (works well as a pressure bandage)
- Combat Gauze
- Pair of Chest Seals
This setup keeps lifesaving gear accessible, not buried at the bottom of the bag. If you carry a gun, you should carry the means to deal with what happens if things go wrong.
End Pocket: Eye & Ear Pro
- Clear Eye Pro: For indoor ranges or low-light practice. I usually just roll with the sunnies I’m wearing that day since I shoot at an outdoor range.
- Surefire In-Ear Earplugs: 99% of the time, these are my go-to. Compact and effective. Thanks to the Marine Corps, I’ve got natural hearing protection….lol (moderate to severe hearing loss), so these work great for me.
Main Compartment: Core Gear
- Maintenance Kit: A small pouch with a punch, optic adjustment tools, a boresnake, multi-tool, and a can of Ballistol CLP. Not planning to do a full teardown at the range, but if something goes sideways, I’ve got what I need. If it’s something serious, my day is done.
- Electronic Over-the-Ear Muffs: Sometimes I double up on hearing protection or offer these to someone I’m training with.
- Small Cleaning Towel: Handy for quick wipe-downs or as a maintenance mat on the tailgate or table
- Spare Pistol or Two (Optional): If I’m testing something new or helping someone else train, I’ll toss in another handgun. The pistol I’m training with is always on me; not in the bag.
Front Pocket: Range Essentials
- Shot Timer: Hands-down the most important training tool outside of ammo and your gun. If you’re not using a timer, you’re not measuring performance.
- Target Pasters & Masking Tape: for plugging all those a-zone hits.
- Sharpie Markers: For scoring hits, marking targets, or writing notes.
- Extra Foam Earplugs: Spares are always a good idea, especially if someone forgets theirs.
- 8.5 x 11 Printer Paper: The most underrated target. If you can land all your shots on an 8.5×11 sheet of paper from 5 to 25 yards, you’re good to go from a competency standpoint (most of the time).
What About Ammo?
That doesn’t go in the range bag.
I keep my ammo in a separate can. It keeps the pistol range bag manageable and prevents it from turning into a 40-pound medicine ball.
Live Inventory Price Checker
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AAC 9mm Ammo 115 Grain FMJ 100rd Box | Palmetto State Armory | $ 24.99 |
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AAC 9mm Ammo 115 Grain FMJ 500rd With AAC Blue 30 Cal Ammo Can | Palmetto State Armory | $ 149.99 |
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AAC 9mm Ammo 115 Grain FMJ 500rd With AAC Blue 30 Cal Ammo Can | Palmetto State Armory | $ 149.99 |
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AAC 9mm Ammo 115 Grain FMJ 500rd With AAC Blue 30 Cal Ammo Can | Palmetto State Armory | $ 149.99 |
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Final Thoughts
That’s my handgun range bag—everything I need and nothing I don’t. No dead weight. No “maybe I’ll use this” gear. It’s a focused, practical setup designed around CCW training.
If you’re constantly swapping bags, loading and unloading gear, and dragging half your garage to the range, take a step back and simplify your approach.
About Scott Witner
Scott Witner is a former Marine Corps Infantryman with 2ndBn/8th Marines. He completed training in desert warfare at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Mountain Warfare and survival at the Mountain Warfare Training Center, the South Korean Mountain Warfare School in Pohang, and the Jungle Warfare school in the jungles of Okinawa, Japan. He now enjoys recreational shooting, trail running, hiking, functional fitness, and working on his truck. Scott resides in Northeastern Ohio.
Why ear protection is such a hard thing I’ll never understand. Even this last week I went shooting with some friends and their friends and none of them brought ear protection. I had extra and one refused to wear them. He was whining later. We only get ones set of ears and eyes.
Sure would be nice to be back in the pre obummer days when a trip to the range meant about 300 5.56 rounds and 100 40 cal. once a month or 25 pistol and 50 rifle once a week when powder and then primers started getting tough to find. Seems like powder is back and primers are there but you need to have a second job to afford to shoot like I did. Oh, and I reload.
Make OreGONEistan OreGUN again.
I have a range finder to confirm the target distance in my bag too. I also practice range estimation around the house by guessing the distance and then check with range finder, helps to determine ranges while out hunting too.
Have a plan before you go. Know what you want to work on, and run drills that address that technique or result. Train for what you DON’T do well, like shooting and other skills with the non-dominant hand
The US military means something overseas. But at home as veterans we’re just “guys that might be planning something”.
As a pistol shooter for ever 60 years, I get good laugh from the mental masturbation of the younger crowd today. Burn powder.
good list. I also bring a canvas bag with various targets. 4×6 index cards mimic A zone on an IPSC target. fold then tear one in half for a 3×4 target for additional challenge. I also use paper plates for targets since they can be cheap. I also put a three ring binder in my target bag that contains tons of down loaded drills. I modify the drill to suit my range rules. Even if I get 70-80% out of a drill that is still better than skipping the drill altogether. Dot Torture is a good drill touch on a… Read more »
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I received:” They’re Trying to Silence Us After 17 Years. Will You Stand With Us?”
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