GPS Competition Range Bag Tour and Review

Welcome back! I'm Sofia, and today I'm thrilled to give you a tour of my GPS range bag, breaking down the essentials for a typical range day and what I carry for a USPSA match. Whether you're a beginner firearms owner or a seasoned practitioner, this guide will help you prioritize your gear for your next day at the range. If you are a visual learner, check out the YouTube Video version of this blog post here.

My Journey to the Range

I started as an average range-goer, visiting the range to get comfortable with my firearm, connect with friends and family, and simply have fun. As I progressed, I realized the need to collect more materials to make my training and competition journey more efficient.

The Bare Minimum: Essential Gear Categories

Starting out, you only need gear in a few essential categories. Here are the basics:

• Safety: Ear Protection and Eye Protection

• Indoor: Use ear plugs combined with over-the-ear electronic headphones to protect your hearing while allowing you to hear voices. Pair these with clear glasses for indoor lighting conditions.

  • Walker’s FireMax Electronic Muff

  • Walker's Razor Slim Electronic Ear Muff

  • Walker's Foam Ear Plugs

  • Walker’s Eye Protection Teal Impact Resistant Glasses

• Outdoor: You can use the same ear protection as indoors, or opt for Walker's Silencers combined with sunglasses for bright conditions.

  • Walker's Silencers

  • Walker’s Disruptors

• - First Aid:

  • Tourniquet

  • Chest seal

  • Quick clot

  • Shears

  • Gauze

  Loading/Shooting:

  • Firearm

  • Magazines (the more, the better, to avoid constant reloading) - shout out to Springer Precision mag extensions for allowing me to carry more and reload less!

  • Target ammo of the appropriate caliber

  • 1-2 targets to diagnose your shots and set training goals. Types vary from bull’s eye to silhouettes to splatter targets.

Advanced Gear for Enhanced Range Experience

As you progress, certain pieces of gear will make your life much easier on the range:

• Speed Loader: Essential for matches where time is critical.

• Pasters: Help maintain a clean target for better diagnostics without needing to change it constantly.

• Pact Timer: Useful for timing drills, target transitions, and preparation for competitions.

• Extra Batteries: Keep several AAA batteries handy, stored in an old plastic pill container for convenience.

• Cold Weather Gear: Includes a football hand warmer, gloves, ear covers, and an electronic hand warmer.

• Dry Grip: Liquid chalk helps keep your hands dry, ensuring good traction.

• Warm Weather Gear: Items like portable fans, sunscreen, sweat cloths, and a lunch box with ice and water to stay cool and hydrated.

• Snacks and Hydration: Bring nuts, protein bars, raisins, and water with electrolytes to stay fueled.

• Good Shoes: Solomons are popular for their traction.Firearms and Holsters

Your belt and holster setup will vary depending on your training:

• OWB: Black Scorpion Gear

• IWB: Phlster Enigma, Standard Co. USA, Tier1, KSG Holsters

• Blue Guns and SIRT Pistols: these tools are excellent for training without using live ammo, allowing you to preserve ammunition and safely practice techniques like weapons-based entanglement. They can also be modified for added safety, such as sawing off the trigger guard.

The Heart of the Setup: GPS Tactical Range Backpack

Finally, a reliable range bag is essential to carry all this gear efficiently. I use the GPS Tactical Range Backpack by GSM Outdoors, which is designed to keep everything organized and easily accessible.

Having a designated range bag is crucial for organizing all of your gear, ensuring that everything you need for a successful range day is in one place. This level of organization not only makes your trips to the range more efficient but also enhances safety by keeping live ammunition and other range-specific items separate from your everyday belongings. By designating a specific bag for range activities, you reduce the risk of accidentally transporting live ammo or firearms to places where they don't belong, thus maintaining both convenience and compliance with safety regulations.

Use code "sheshield20 for a discount on your order from GSM Outdoors. Many of the items I mentioned, such as first aid kits and the Pact Timer, are linked in my Amazon storefront for your convenience. Full transparency: I earn a commission from these purchases, which helps support my page. However, do not buy CAT tourniquets from Amazon.

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Thank you for joining me on this tour of my range bag. With the right gear, your range days will be more efficient and enjoyable. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel for more self-defense and firearms content. Stay safe and happy shooting!

Stay Safe and Stay Vigilant