There are many reasons for gun ownership, from self-defense to hunting. Many people invest in guns as a hobby; they like shooting. Shooting firearms is a huge challenge for many. After all, you have to hold your gun, shoot, and hopefully hit your target. In order to be accurate, you'll need to practice — a lot. Therefore, you'll need to find a place to shoot. Many people love to shoot at the gun range. But what should you bring?
RailScales is the industry leader in AR-15 rail grips, hand stops, and other AR accessories. We are passionate about helping people shoot comfortably and enjoy their time on the shooting range rather than worrying about the heat from the firing of the gun or struggling to get a good grip, especially in the summer when it's hot out. With our G10 fiberglass laminate composite material, our AR-15 foregrips and rail covers will help make shooting easy. Below, we'll go over some must-haves for the shooting range. Browse all of our AR-15 accessories online today!
WHAT TO BRING TO THE SHOOTING RANGE
Safety Gear
It goes without saying that guns are dangerous. Thus, it's paramount to be safe, both in attitude and in gear. Thus, you'll need to ensure you bring essential safety gear with you to the range. This includes ear and eye protection. RailScales recommends that you choose a pair of earmuffs over ear plugs so you don't have to constantly reposition them all day long. Sunglasses are a great option for eye protection if you are at an outdoor gun range. Clear safety glasses work for both indoor or outdoor firing scenarios.
In addition to ear and eye protection, having the right clothing is important for comfort and for safety. You'll want to wear long pants and closed-toe shoes since shell casings can fly in every which direction. Trust us when we say you don't want to get burned every time one hits you. You may need bug spray and sunscreen if you are at an outdoor range during the summer. Dress in layers if you think you may be cold and/or get hot. Finally, a gun vest is a great item of clothing to have as well so you can easily have all of your necessities nearby.
Your Firearm
Of course, you'll need your firearm, which should be tucked away in a gun case for safe transport and for safety. While many ranges have firearm rentals (and this is a great option if you just want to try shooting other guns), it's always best to practice with your gun so you can get to know how it works, get used to its draw if it's a handgun, and gain accuracy. This is especially important with your concealed carry firearm so that in the heat of the moment, muscle memory will take over.
Extra Ammunition
While you may plan to just shoot for an hour or so, you may spend longer at the gun range, or you may just shoot more. Sometimes, too, you'll end up sharing ammunition (just make sure it's the right caliber!) with your friends who came with you. In any case, it's always best to bring extra ammunition with you, so you don't run out. You can purchase ammunition at the gun range, but it is usually pricier than you'd find elsewhere. Plus, then you can purchase the exact brand and type of ammunition you like to shoot rather than whatever is at-hand.
Targets
You'll most definitely need targets while at the gun range. Odds are, there will be some already at the range. However, the quality of these targets may be poor, or it may not be exactly what you are looking for or need. If you like shooting at round targets and the range is using outlines of figures instead, you'll have a different shooting experience, and it may not be exactly what you need in order to gain accuracy and skill with your chosen firearm. If you are looking to gain a particular shooting skill, having the best target for that skill is imperative to success.
Friends and Family
Shooting is a great family activity as well as one you can do with friends. While you most certainly can go to the range by yourself, it's much more enjoyable to share the time with those you know and love. If you are taking your children, this is a great time to teach them about firearms and gun safety, get them comfortable around guns, and ensure they have no fear of guns. Many people don't try shooting because they are afraid of guns. Guns are only dangerous in the hands of those inexperienced or looking to do harm with them. Otherwise, guns are a tool like any other tool to accomplish certain tasks.
Magazine Speed Loader
If you are shooting your AR-15 at the range, having a magazine speed loader will save you time, effort, and your thumbs from constantly reloading. Many people end up spending more time at the gun range loading their firearm than actually shooting because of the time involved in loading your magazine. It is also a big reason why people leave the range early; they just get tired of loading their firearm. A magazine speed loader is fairly lightweight and can be used whether you are standing, kneeling, or lying prone, so it's great for helping you increase your accuracy and skills. Most can withstand any weather as well.
CHOOSE RAILSCALES TODAY
When it comes to comfort while shooting, RailScales has got you covered. Our industry-leading rail covers take the cake when it comes to performance, aesthetics, and value. When you invest in our angled foregrips, you'll experience the best that technology can bring. They are super thin and textured, yielding the perfect heat protection and textured grip. Our direct attachment method is solid, not moving or vibrating when the firearm is fired. And our customer service is through the roof.
In addition, RailScales offers our Karve® hand stops. These bi-directional stops are reversible, allowing you to use them in a push or pull-style grip. They take up minimal space on your rail and are machined from 6061 Billet aluminum. Need a vertical grip? We've got you covered there, too. Try our RSB® Vertical Grip that is designed with ergonomics in mind. These are XOS-H scale compatible.
RailScales offers a limited lifetime warranty on all of our products. If you have an issue, reach out and let us know so we can help. If you are in need of the best AR accessories, shop online, and order today!
New offerings to consider:
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The Anchor-P® Multi-Angle Grip: Expanding on forward control setups, the Anchor-P® takes the dual-angle design of the original metal Anchor® and translates it into a high-temperature, glass-filled polymer structure. Featuring reversible 90-degree and 70-degree faces, it provides ideal rearward driving leverage to pull the rifle tightly into your shoulder pocket without adding heavy mass to your handguard.
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HalfTrack™ & HardTrack™ Picatinny Sections: Range days often involve mounting specialized accessories like bipods or target-designation lasers. The HalfTrack™ and HardTrack™ M-LOK rail adapters use aggressive internal pocketing to strip away excess material, offering the lightest Picatinny mounting sections available while preserving zero for optics and laser modules like the PEQ-15.
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XOS-H™ 3-Sided Scale Matrix: High-volume firing sessions rapidly heat up slim handguards. The XOS-H™ wraps three sides of the rail in a seamless piece of G10 or HTP® polymer, providing complete 180-degree thermal shielding. Its built-in accessory cutout allows handstops like the Karve®, Karve-P®, or Anchor® to nest completely flush within the texture matrix.
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QDX™ Low-Profile Sling Mount: Managing your rifle comfortably between range drills requires a reliable sling interface. The QDX™ is a single-piece 7075-T6 aluminum mount that sits nearly flush within a single M-LOK slot, eliminating heavy mounting brackets and keeping your sling configuration completely snag-free.
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CSMR® Concentric Spring Magazine Release: Smooth control manipulation makes long range days significantly more enjoyable. Machined from 6061-T6 aluminum, the CSMR® updates standard mil-spec magazine buttons with a deeply textured, enlarged surface area for effortless magazine drops during rapid reload drills.
FAQ:
Q: Why do my hands get so hot during high-volume range sessions with an AR-15?
A: Modern slim aluminum handguards sit very close to the barrel and gas block. Rapid fire transfers intense thermal energy into the handguard material. Adding G10 or HTP® RailScales creates an insulating thermal barrier that protects your support hand and maintains grip friction even when the rail becomes hot.
Q: Is it better to load all my magazines before heading to the shooting range?
A: Yes. Pre-loading your magazines at home saves valuable range time and reduces physical hand fatigue at the bench. Utilizing a magazine speed loader alongside pre-loaded mags ensures you spend your paid range time focused on marksmanship and mechanics rather than thumbing individual rounds.
Q: What is the primary benefit of a bi-directional handstop like the Karve® or Karve-P® for range drills?
A: Bi-directional handstops can be mounted to support both "push" and "pull" gripping techniques. Pulling rearward locks the rifle stock firmly into your shoulder pocket to dampen felt recoil, while pushing forward allows you to brace the handstop against barricades or bench edges for added shooting stability.
Q: Does using G10 material make a big difference compared to standard plastic rail covers?
A: Absolutely. G10 is a high-pressure fiberglass laminate with extremely low thermal conductivity. Unlike cheap injection-molded plastic covers that can soften, warp, or become slick from sweat and oil, G10 maintains its structural rigidity, crisp texture, and heat-shielding properties under heavy range use.
Disclaimer:
This blog content was generated by a human and with the aid of artificial intelligence. It may contain errors or inaccuracies and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. This content is for SEO/entertainment purposes only and the views expressed in this content does not necessarily reflect the views of RailScales LLC. For more information, please refer to bullet point #14 on our FAQ.