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These are my personal opinions/recommendations (no one is paying me, sad I know). They are only meant to be a guideline so feel free to use equivalent brands or colors. I’ve added links to Amazon or other vendors as a convenience certainly price shop around as specials happen all the time.
Below are direct links to the products but here are other places to purchase all this Brownells, MidwayUSA, and Bass Pro.
Check back here if you’re curious about other things like what ammunition to buy or maybe avoid, the best gun cleaners for beginners, and much more.
First up is hearing protection, because firearms are loud and we must protect our hearing. When I first started I didn’t know which brand to choose so I choose what I saw the pros wear. Today pros are sponsored so they wear a lot, but I still use Howard Leight brand (as that’s what most pros bought).
For indoor ranges, noise is amplified because you’re in an enclosed environment. I recommend a more protective earmuff. The Howard Leight Impact Pro provides 30 NRR (Noise Reduction Rating, higher is better). At under $60 on Amazon, they are a great value with a performance history.
Howard Leight also makes the Impact Sport earmuffs. These are less expensive, great for outdoor/general use, and less bulky for long gun shooting.
Available in many different colors and most retail locations carry them.
They still offer good electronic hearing protection at 22 NRR pretty much an industry standard (I don’t recommend less). Priced anywhere from $40 to $29.
** Ken’s Tip:
The Howard Leight pads are upgradeable, you can increase your protection by changing the standard pads with PROHEAR GEP02 pads for about $18
You should replace worn pads or upgrade them if you wear glasses. Not all brands of hearing protection have easily replaceable pads.
Non-Electronic Earmuffs
You don’t need expensive or even electronic hearing protection. A good basic noise-reducing safety earmuff will do.
There are many options from $12 and up..
Ear Buds or Inside Ear Hearing Protection
There are lots of options for inside the ear hearing protection for those who prefer them. Please note most standard music listening ear buds are NOT acceptable for range use as they do not offer the required level of protection. Always be sure your hearing protection is certified for range use.
You can find many options including ear plugs (you can wear under earmuffs for double protection).
Also if you shoot outdoors in the winter your ears won’t be as warm with ear plugs.
Eye Protection is just as important as hearing protection. Plastic lenses that do not shatter are standard for most eyewear. There are many good options some have changeable lenses for different lighting conditions. I recommend getting basic clear lens eyewear for a start and upgrading once you know your shooting environment.
There are lots of choices here from $10 and up..
Caution:
Glasses should wrap around to prevent injury from spent casing hitting your eyes.
** Ken’s Tip:
I usually wear a ball cap to add to eye safety.
Gun Belt can mean many things and there are lots of varieties but in its simplest form, it’s just a regular belt 1.5″ thick that could support the weight of a gun in a holster. Pants, shorts or a kilt with belt loops would work, but standard gym sweats won’t.
You probably have one but here are examples from $14 and up.
While good hearing and eye protection are essential. These things in this section just make life easier.
Range Bag
Getting your stuff to the range? A range bag keeps your stuff easy to carry and organized. How nice a bag or what size should you get is mostly a practical and personal choice.
I recommend considering how much you want to carry and start inexpensively. My first bag was only $20 from Walmart.
** Ken’s Tip:
I would carry some hand cleaner wipes, sharpie pen (to mark paper targets) and maybe a clean hand towel (to dry your hands).
Food and drinks are not allowed on the range.
Magazine Loader
Loading your handgun’s magazine can be a difficult task for newcomers and pure drudgery for others.
Save the finger stress and frustration with a magazine loader.
I recommend the Maglula UpLULA universal pistol mag loader handle most common handgun ammunition 9mm to 45ACP.
Get it at lots of places even Bass Pro.
For 380 ammo use the Baby UpLULA also available here.
Ball Cap
A cap with a brim can help deflect brass away from you. The brass is usually hot. Not serious if you wear sufficient eye protection.
The choice is yours…
Ammunition
Finally, ammunition at a gun range is like popcorn at a movie theater, so if you bring your own gun it’s cheaper to bring your own ammo. (ranges do have rules about what ammo is allowed so always check first).
At A1 we have both the ammunition and the firearm available for classes at a reasonable cost.
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