We who engage in shooting sports seem to constantly be on the lookout for new doodads that we feel will improve our experience. I plead guilty to this, I admit. I’m always looking for things that will help me carry ammo, store things, be more organized when going to the range, etc. I have accumulated a lot of stuff over the years, even more after becoming an active gun writer.
So, I thought I might share some items with you. I will touch on a variety of equipment… gun bags and cases, ammo storage, targets, tools, and other items. I chose my favorites, things I own… that way, I’m familiar with them.
I typically will include a listing of links to items that I use in reviews, at the end of each review or article, but this time, since we’re going to be looking at a lot of things, I will list here, up front, the companies that make the items we’ll discuss. You can go to the site(s) and do a quick search for the particular item we’re looking at.
List Of Companies
Birchwood Casey – We think of BC as providers of bluing and cleaning solutions, but there is a world of things they make, as I discovered a while back. If you need anything from cold blue to steel (or paper) targets to complete shooting benches and rifle rests, BC will have you covered. If you haven’t been on their site for a while, you might want to check it out. It’s expanded a lot.
Bear Creek Arsenal – You may think, “Why list a gun manufacturer in an accessory article?” I do so for one product that fits here… paper targets. I use their large paper targets for sighting guns in – they work very well, and they are bright green, which is very visible.
Caldwell Shooting – We’ve all heard of the famous Lead Sled rifle rest. Caldwell makes a ton of things other than rifle rests. I love their chronographs, especially the Chirp-radar-powered Velociradar. I reviewed their shooting benches and steel targets before, and one of my favorite hearing protectors is made by them. Lastly, their Claycopter launches reusable plastic “clays” way out there, and it’s fun to use. They make many more products than I am able to list here.
MTM Case-Gard – Here we have the 800-pound gorilla of ammo storage and cases. They make cases for every caliber or gauge that can hold a tiny amount or mondo quantities. Need a box to store your powder in for reloading? They have their Powder Keg. How about a carry crate that holds five ammo boxes? No sweat. I could go on and on, but my MTM equipment has lasted for years, and I keep going back for more. From rifle and pistol rests to just about whatever you need at the range, they have you covered.
SME – Shooting Made Easy has a different take on some items. One of their best-sellers is a target camera that you can place “waaaay out there”, and it will transmit an image to your phone. I like one of their lesser-expensive items… an AR vertical hand grip with a flashlight built in. Genius! For items that you may not think are in in the mainstream of shooting accessories, SME is a company to consider.
Real Avid – I love Real Avid tools. From having literally everything an armorer might need to work on an AR to a magnetically-mounted bore sighter, this company makes way too many items to list here.
GPS Bags – If you need a bag for your long gun, handgun, or other items, GPS most likely has what you need. One of our sons is a shooter/competitor, and he had GPS bags before I’d ever heard of them. Quality construction and a variety of colors complete the enchilada.
Shooter’s Choice/Otis – Long known for top-quality cleaning kits and supplies, Otis has you covered for all your maintenance needs.
OK… we’ve looked at the companies. Now, let’s look at some products.
I’m going to split these up into categories. We’ll discuss:
- Ammo & gun storage
- Targets, both paper and steel
- Miscellaneous items
Ammo & Gun Storage
Properly storing your firearms is critical, not only for their upkeep but for safety. I won’t go into gun safes or similar items; instead, we’ll talk about cases that allow you to safely store ammo and guns while you transport these things to and from the range.
I’ll re-show the photo I placed at the top. Here we have MTM Case-Gard boxes. They include:
Also, we have their Tactical Magazine Can. It holds 10 each handgun and 30-round AR mags.
The MTM short-barrel rifle case is very practical.
MTM Case-Gard’s ammo crate utility box makes storing often-needed items easy to retrieve
MTM Case-Gard handgun storage cases make it easy to safely store your guns in your safe (clear box above) or transport it to the range (black box below).
Included in ammo and gun storage would be bags… range and otherwise, GPS makes a ton of them, and they are top quality. Here are a few that we find handy…
Their range bag has dump cups for ammo and holds about everything I need. It comes in different sizes… this one is the medium size. Here’s another view:
It looks kind of busy, doesn’t it… That’s me when I’m in the middle of shooting pistols for reviews! The bag helps.
Here is another of their shooting bags. You have storage for everything you need. (above and below)
(another view)
How about when you need to transport multiple handguns to the range? Here you go:
A GPS five-gun case. This thing is solid and holds the guns securely. It’s sitting next to an MTM Case-Gard ammo box.
So you don’t need five guns to be moved, just two? Also need mag storage for that Steel Challenge competition you’re attending? Need quick access to those five mags for that 25-shot station? Here you go… GPS two-gun case with mag storage. It comes in different colors … I like the FDE:
I really like this thing. I figured I’d better photograph it while it was still clean…
I could spend an hour showing cases and crates. Suffice it to say that MTM Case-Gard and GPS have you covered. Let’s move on.
Targets
I won’t bore you by showing you tons of targets. I will divide them into two groups – paper and steel. In terms of steel targets, I recently did a review on this website for a few Caldwell selected targets… You can read it here.
As for paper targets, they are readily available from Caldwell, Bear Creek Arsenal, and others.
Let’s look at a few more steel targets…
To start with, here’s a 66%-size Caldwell silhouette target. It started out yellow, but it’s white now after getting smacked many times with a .308. This is one tough target! (I had white paint, no yellow). The hangers are tough, as well.
I recently received a few other steels that I haven’t had a chance to shoot yet… I’ll show you images from both my garage and their websites.
Here, we have a steel popper from Birchwood Casey (I told you they made more than bluing solution!) that I can’t wait to splatter with lead… and it doesn’t have to be a rimfire. It’s made of ⅜” AR500 steel, and the spring pops it back up after you hit it. Fun!
Also from Birchwood Casey is a range kit that provides everything you need to place a round, steel AR500 target, except for a 2×4. This makes it easy to add steel to your range.
Caldwell, SME, and Birchwood Casey make T-post hangers for steel targets. These allow you to hang your target. Here they are, in that order…
The SME hangers are seven bucks for the pair. Sometimes the minimalist approach works well!
Above images from birchwoodcasey.com, shootingmadeeasy.com, and caldwellshooting.com
Here’s something a bit different from SME… a 9.5” gong target that isn’t exactly round or rectangular:
Image from shootingmadeeasy.com
I can’t wait to get this one going!
These are the tip of the steel target iceberg. I wanted to show you some of my targets… as I said, some are so new I haven’t gotten them out of the box yet, but between my shooter sons and I, we have many steel targets set up and enjoy whacking them. One of our sons has really taken to the 308… he loves dinging that Caldwell target at 80+ yards. He also is really looking forward to whacking it with the Springfield Armory M1A I just got in for a review, as well… Me, too!
Miscellaneous Items
Here are just a few things to consider when you are looking for smaller items to add to your shooting bag… remember, Christmas is coming up!
I’ll start with this image from MTM Case-Gard. (mine isn’t this pretty). This is a table that they sell for shooting, but they also list it for use at barbecues and other uses where you might need a portable, lightweight personal table. It’s great for holding ammo or hearing protectors and other small items. (Also notice the can indents… adult beverages can’t be ruled out!)
Here are two Real Avid tools that I really like. They are tools, built like a Leatherman, with handy tools that you can use on pistols or long guns… they make one for each usage.
In terms of cleaning kits, I could do a dissertation on them… There are a ton out there. Here’s one from Birchwood Casey…
But my favorite kit is another Birchwood Casey offering. I use it all the time… it comes in an FDE-flavored, ballistic nylon zip pouch and fits easily into whatever range bag I’m using at the time. I love this thing!
I stick a small bottle of CLP and a rag in it, and since it isn’t a rigid case, it zips up and I have all I need. Very handy.
Speaking of cleaning kits, Otis makes a bunch. Here’s one of my favorites…
This is a comprehensive kit for both handguns and long guns. They make a bunch of different kits, for all shooters. If you need something small that will fit in your pocket, they’ve got them… like to use a pull-through cleaning cable? They have you covered. They even have special kits for law enforcement. Notice the CLP is provided!
You 10/22 shooters know how time-consuming it is to load your magazine(s). Here’s something from Caldwell that makes it an easy proposition.
How about you AR shooters who like to use a vertical foregrip? I found something that I have decided I really like. I’ve had it on various guns, but I have one coming in that I believe it will live on. It’s a grip with a built-in light from SME. Also from them is a case catcher for that AR that’s pretty easy to mount. Just do that before you mount your scope… you might have to fit it. The reloader in me loves catching cases… it saves a lot of time.
And, lastly, here’s a stocking stuffer idea for that reloader on your list… nothing fancy, but it beats using Post-Its!
There you have my eclectic mix of some very useful accessories that will enhance your shooting experience. As you might surmise, I could write a book on everything out there, so I limited it to what I actually have.
In terms of the steel targets still in their boxes, that will be remedied soon… I have very definite uses for them.
I understand that everyone has their favorite doo-dads… these are some of mine. Let’s hear from you below about your favorites!
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