First Range Kit: What to Bring to the Shooting Range (and What I Actually Use)

New students often ask what they should buy first. The honest answer is less than you think. A good first kit protects your eyes and ears, keeps your firearm secure and fits in one bag. Everything else can wait until you've had some training.

First range kit checklist

• Eye protection: impact-rated glasses, even at an indoor range
• Hearing protection: earmuffs, earplugs or both
• A locking case: for your firearm on the way there and back
• Correct ammunition: matched to your firearm, and allowed by the range
• Snap caps: inert rounds for dry practice at home
• A range bag: so everything stays together
• ID and any required paperwork: ask the range what it needs

If you don't own a firearm or gear yet, ask the range about rentals before you buy anything. Plenty of people start that way. Our short guide to buying and selling firearms is worth reading before you shop.

1. Eye protection

Ordinary glasses and sunglasses aren't the same as safety glasses. Look for eyewear marked to the ANSI Z87.1 impact standard, and check the mark on the frame itself rather than trusting the packaging.

What I use: a Field & Stream kit with different colored lenses that can be changed out. It's a cool setup, and it means one frame covers different conditions. A clear lens works indoors, and a tinted lens works in bright sun. I couldn't find that exact kit on Amazon. The closest match I found is Walker's Sport Glasses with 4 lenses, which come with clear, smoke gray, amber and yellow lenses. For a low-cost start, the Field & Stream Eye & Ear Protection Kit bundles glasses, earmuffs and foam plugs, though it isn't the kit I own and it doesn't have swappable lenses. Check for the Z87 rating before you buy either one.

2. Hearing protection

This is the item people underestimate. NIOSH reports that peak noise from gunfire at indoor ranges can exceed the 140 dB occupational limit. Wear protection the whole time you're on the range, including while someone else is shooting.

NIOSH recommends earplugs and earmuffs together for people who use ranges for work, such as law enforcement officers. Doubling up is a sensible habit for anyone at an indoor range. It also warns that glasses worn under earmuffs can break the seal, so look for thin temples and check the fit.

What I use: Walker's ear protection. A popular model to look at is the Walker's Razor Slim Electronic Muff.

3. A locking case

You need a secure way to get your firearm to the range, and it helps to have one at home and on the road too. A portable safe gives you a place to lock your firearm in a car, at a hotel or anywhere else you can't keep it on you.

What I use: a Vaultek portable safe that's waterproof and floats. The Vaultek LifePod 10 is listed as airtight and able to float, and it has a built-in lock.

A case doesn't settle the legal question by itself. Transport rules differ by state, so check them before you leave. Our Transporting a Firearm course covers vehicles, planes, state lines and hotels, and Firearm Security & Storage covers keeping it secure at home. If you travel with a firearm, our multi-state permit guide is the next step.

4. Snap caps

Snap caps are inert dummy rounds. They let you practice loading, unloading and your trigger press at home, without live ammunition. Some firearms shouldn't be dry-fired without them, so check your owner's manual.

What I use: honestly, whatever is handy. The brand doesn't matter much. Just buy the right caliber. If you shoot 9mm, these S.T. Action Pro 9mm snap caps are a 10-pack. If you're new to the fundamentals, Handgun Marksmanship Fundamentals shows what to work on.

5. A range bag

A dedicated bag keeps your eyes, ears, ammunition and accessories in one place, so nothing gets left at home on range day. It doesn't need to be a bag made for the range. It only needs to be big enough and easy to keep organized.

What I use: Vertx bags, whenever I can. For a smaller bag, look at the Vertx Urban Ghost 10L sling. If you carry more, there's the Vertx Gamut 22L sling.

What to wear to the range

• Closed-toe shoes, because hot brass lands on the floor
• A higher neckline, because hot brass can go down a low-cut shirt
• A hat with a brim, if you have one, to help deflect brass
• A sturdy belt, if you'll be using a holster. Our Holster Selection course can help you choose one

Before and after your range trip

1. 01Call the range. Ask about rentals, ammunition restrictions, holster rules and whether you need a safety briefing.
2. 02Learn the rules first. Our Range Safety & Etiquette course and Firearm Safety Rules cover what you'll be expected to know.
3. 03Tell the staff you're new. They would much rather answer a question than correct a mistake.
4. 04Wash up afterward. NIOSH advises washing your hands and face after shooting and before you eat, drink or smoke, because lead can transfer to your skin.
5. 05Clean and store your gear. Maintenance & Cleaning of Handguns covers the basics.

What to skip for now

Don't buy a pile of accessories before you've had some training. Lights, optics and upgrades can wait. Your first few lessons will show you what you actually need, and that can save you from buying the wrong thing. If you're choosing how to learn, here's how private training compares with a public CPL class.

Common questions about a first range kit