Help me find my ultimate range bag

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HKfanatic

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I'm looking for a great range bag. Amazon is been very little help as I keep getting the same crappy bags in search results. There's no place close to me where I can just go and see many brands of bags so I am limited at what I can see online. I'm not looking to save any money here, I'm looking to buy quality .

There's a few features that are absolute necessities for me. It will need to hold 4 handguns large and small, eyes ears, 8 boxes of ammo, a few rail accessories, leatherman, small tools , cleaning stuff, tape, etc. The bag should have sufficient padding that doesn't collapse and lose air and have a really good warranty if not lifetime.

It doesn't have to be made of Cordera in fact I wouldn't mind a canvas bag at all. I'm sort of old-school that way. If it is nylon I would rather have 1000 or 1200 denier than the cheaper 600.

MUST HAVES:

>The end pockets need to be big enough to hold full size ear protection.

>I don't want to waste any space with some stupid water bottle holder even if they do call it "hydration storage". That's an absurd feature.

>Needs to have at least eight sewn magazine pockets ( 16 better) that are not made of elastic. In fact I don't want any elastic in the bag because that's that always the first point of failure.

>The handles and the shoulder strap connections must be sewn all the way around the bag and not just sewn and riveted in at the sides. Any hooks or connectors need to be made of metal.

I was surprised at how many bags don't have the shoulder straps loops sewn all the way around the bag.

>Lockable zippers. And really good zippers. I'm OK with a bag that uses buckles to close.

>Feet or some sort of abrasion protection on the bottom

WANNA HAVES:

I would like the main compartment dividers to be horizontal and if there were two side pockets in the main compartment that would hold pistol rugs that would be great. So I could put four guns in the main compartment with boxes of ammo in the middle of them, and then use the side pockets for all my other stuff.

I was almost ready to buy the 5.11 Tactical range ready bag. The layout was right and the size was right but the shoulder strap connectors are plastic and use cheap wire spring carabiners and the D rings are plastic. Every bag I've ever had that uses those kind of carabiners has ended up breaking and they just had to hold a laptop.

So does anybody know a range bag that fits that bill?
 
I get a lot more than your list into my pistol range bags, and one has held up for about 15yrs, the second is about 10yrs old. Midway Competition Range Bags. I get three pairs of electronic muffs, eyes for my wife, son, and self tucked into one end pocket. It's made to get 4 full sized pistols into it (two pockets in the dump pouch and 2 sleeves), but I know I've loaded out 10 pistols in a single trip multiple times. It'll carry more pistols and ammo a guys shoulder really wants to carry. I keep an LRF, 100ft tape measure, roll of duct tape, a bale of string, bottle of foam plugs, spray can of Rem-oil, cleaning kit, multitool, reversible ratchet hex driver kit w/ torque limiter extensions, small bottle of sunscreen, chapstick, and probably a handful of other knicknacks I can't recall, and a BUNCH of shoot-n-c and stick-on targets (about 1.5-2" thick stack). I'd have to count the magazine slots in the mag pocket, but the web listing shows 14 mag pockets - seems right, I know it's more than 10. I REALLY like the net bottom brass dump bags they include as well, I use mine all of the time at PRS matches. The bottom is cordura, but I haven't managed to wear through mine, or even start to abrade the fabric - despite thousands on thousands of miles driven in my rhino-lined truck bed, being drug hundreds of miles on a 4 wheeler rack, thrown around on dirt, gravel, grass, pavement, you name it range surfaces. I treat them like hell, and they still look like new. Only complaint I have is they were only available in Black when I got mine, and I'd much rather have the new coyote color - just never have EVER cared for anything in black.

MidwayUSA Competition Range Bag
 
Check out the GPS bags
They are a bit pricy but super nice.
I have the large over the shoulder bag and it’s got pockets for everything. And I mean everything. In retrospect I’d go with their medium bag.
The cool thing is each pocket has a tag with an icon on it so you know where everything is.

Proper has a nice bag but I’m not sure it meets your needs. I have one and it’s about the size of the medium GPS. It use it as my light weight bag when I’m nit wanting to take everything and the kitchen sink.
 
Someone at my range had a GPS bag but it looks like the handles didn't go all the way around. But otherwise the bag did look pretty nice. And I'm not worried about the cost .

I think the Midway was the one of the ones I was looking at too. That one is gigantic if I recall correctly. I look further into these two, thank you.

Still open to other suggestions .

Thanks
 
HKfanatic said:
Someone at my range had a GPS bag but it looks like the handles didn't go all the way around. But otherwise the bag did look pretty nice. And I'm not worried about the cost .

I think the Midway was the one of the ones I was looking at too. That one is gigantic if I recall correctly. I look further into these two, thank you.

Still open to other suggestions .

Thanks
Click to expand...

I chose the GPS because I got to see one in a local store. I hear nice things about the Midway but the thing that sold me on the GPS was the layout and the way everything had a place and they all had the icons to help organize things. The only thing I wish was that the icons were put on with velcro instead of sewed on this way I could move them around.

I suspect unless you get something cheap that you'll be happy.

I also have one of the free NRA bags you get for joining it's cheap and not worth what I paid for it as a range bag. So I just use it to store things in that I'm not taking to the range.
 
I don’t think the Midway bag is “gigantic,” it’s about 2/3 the size of my carry-on week-trip travel bag. It’s smaller than my normal rifle match packs by a good bit. But I did neglect above - I can drop a Sinclair heavy benchrest rifle rest, a rear bag , and spotting scope into it with multiple boxes of ammo, and all of my other range gear, so it’s not only useful for handgunning.
 
This is the one I went with... I definitely have not run out of room!

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...oodoo-tactical-scorpion-xl-range-bag/p/p37563

I keep my handguns in soft cases and 4 hand guns easily fit inside the main compartment along with a couple pairs of hearing protection. Pleanty of room for ammo but I like to carry my ammo in a 50 cal ammo box... easier to get to and balances the weight of the ammo in one hand against the weight of the guns and gear in the other hand... but I usually carry a lot of ammo.
 
X4 on the Midway bag, sorta...I got mine at Academy, same design $50. These are the same design as the 5.11 Tactical range ready bag, but the Academy one does have metal D rings which I replaced. It meets most of your requirements OP, but it does have a "hydration" pocket, which is where I keep my bags for brass. Not sure about lockable zippers. It is indeed a big bag and loaded up with 400 rounds and 4 handguns and all the rest, it is a handful. Doable, but you won't be sprinting to the shooting bench.
 
Big Bertha Range Backpack!
Features and Benefits:
  • Heavy Duty Construction
  • 900D Polyester Material
  • Urban Backpack Design with Padded Straps
  • Holds four full-size hand guns, pouches for 12 boxes of Ammo, 15 elastic magazine holders, storage divider for Standard Competition Pistol Targets, and Lockable Compartments
  • Large Front Compartments for Extra Storage
  • Zipper Pouch for Safety Glasses
  • Water Bottle Holder
04_1024x1024@2x.jpg

https://hackettequipment.com/collec.../heavy-duty-range-bag-large-tactical-backpack
 
The Midway bag is hard to beat when on sale. I have a 5.11 bag just like it I bought before Midway made theirs and it is still in great shape after a great many range trips. Holds my chrono, gun oil, brass rod, allen wrenches, small screwdrivers, batteries, earmuffs in a side pouch, temp/humidity gauge and staple gun in another side pocket, plenty of room inside for extra muffs, pistols, etc. If I really load it up with pistols (more than 4 or 5), I carry the ammo in another small bag.
 
As many trips I make to the range, A big bag like the Midway is way too big. I have one very similar. I go to the range about twice a week. I have mini bags for all my guns, Each bag has one gun and Mags and necessary items. I do have A Bag the size of the Midway, but that stays in my Suv. Used for all day range trips. I also keep a locker in the car. Range targets, wrench, steel plates, shooting jacket, gloves, spare muffs etc. The Mini bags are great for those days when I find spare time and can quickly head to one of three ranges I belong to. I do not like bulk.
Thinking of a range/back pack type bag. Can throw a couple of the mini's in it and book out to to the range.
 
X?? on the Midway, it IS the ultimate
Bought one when they 1st came out, the aircraft carrier of range bags.
I find the bigness an asset because you can store everything in one place and beats out having smaller bags for each gun requiring the common stuff in everyone.
I'd need a stapler, pasters, screwdrivers, lube, cleaning stuff, muffs, glasses, etc in every small bag.

I have a dolly like this to wheel it around at matches and to/from the truck:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NIXNUL...colid=6T86R8UM8FZ3&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
There are others, but I'm thinking with the Midway bag on the platform, the included bag can be turned around and installed behind the handle to carry more stuff, might drag on the ground like that though.:uhoh:
Also what works for me is carrying ammo in small tool bags, one for each caliber.
jmo
:D
 
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In my experience, there's never an ultimate bag, only a series of penultimate ones.

Now, I've never found a "purpose built" (e.g. "gun") bag that I actually liked. So, I have always just reporposed multi-use bags to my needs. Since those bags are not made for "our" market, they tend to be cheaper, too. And are usually better built, too, since they have to appeal to a larger audience.

Now, in full disclosure, I never use range bags as gun transport, so I've never searched them out to have lockable features. The bags I use are for ammo, magazines, tools, hearing & eye pro, a med kit, and perhaps some snivel gear like a poncho or ground cloth (you can fold a poncho skinny and it will wrap around a shoulder strap for padding)..
 
I have a rolling toolbox for my handgun classes. I punched together a bunch of foam and kydex dividers inside, it works well, but that's when I'm hauling a TON of crap to the range to service 5-10 shooters. Far more often I simply use the Midway bags.

It does have a round "bottle pouch," which I guess I never considered to be a bottle pouch until just now. It holds a spray can of CLP/RemOil or bug spray very nicely though, so I've been glad to have it on the bag.

You couldn't pay me to make multiple trips back and forth with smaller, single firearm bags.
 
I am already using a generic tactical backpack (approx $40) from Amazon for my range bag. After looking through these suggestions I simply added a few soft handgun cases from Amazon at $10 each and I feel I get the features of the Midway bag at a much lower cost. I love Midway but if I can save $50 I love that even more :)

As an added benefit I got the soft bags in different colors so I can tell which pistols are there at a glance, each soft case holds six mags and a pistol (could hold two). In my range bag, I can hold at least 6 soft cases but I'll limit to 3. In my large Eberlestock, I'm sure 8 would not be a problem. I have 3 of the cases on hand and I just ordered 5 more. In this way, I can use my hunting backpack for dual use as a range bag.
 
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Got one of these. Big wheels so it rolls over most surfaces. Holds more than I would want to carry or sling over my shoulder.

Can't remember where I got it but it was on sale for$90
 

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I have 2 smaller Blackhawk bags that I love, and I do indeed to use them for quick range trips when I can grab a few minutes. I keep my target pistols in one and my 9 mm's in the other. But I'm still looking for a big bag that a hold everything especially as I acquire more accessories. And use the smaller bags as shuttles.

I tried that Explorer bag because it used 1200 D and it was an amazingly well built bag but it was just too small I couldn't fit my ears in anything but the main compartment. The larger explorer bag seems to be made with much thinner material. And again the shoulder strap it doesn't go all the way around the bottom of the bag.

Link to the scorpion bag is down so I can't really check that one out at the moment , I can only see smaller versions of the bag.

For some reason I still want to duffel type bag, not a backpack and certainly not a hard roller. I think because it's more flexible and I can always use it for other things like a back up flight bag. Backpacks are great if you're carrying in a long way, but if you're just walking short distances there are harder to maneuver and less practical. I'm only going to be going to and from my car, the house, and the range.

I'm starting to have some doubts about Midways customer service as I've emailed them several times and have not heard back. Seems the black version of the bag is out of stock and I don't know when it may be back in, and they're not talking. The other bag I'm looking at is also out of stock which is the Blackhawk pro training bag.

At the moment those two are at the top of my list. I already have good experiences with Blackhawk. Great construction and awesome zippers. I wish my small one had magazine pockets tho.
 
My needs aren't near as much as yours, but I just bought the middle size bag from Bass pro and I really like it. They have a bigger one (the 3000) that may fit your needs. They have a video of it too. You might want to check it out.
 
Looks like I was getting the 5.11 and Midway bags mixed up. Sorted out now.

What about the Smith & Wesson MP Officer bag. It looks like a 5.11 clone with some heavy duty hardware and well padded. It looks good.

also,

Has anyone had experience with MidwayUSA support?
 
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