Preparing Your Kit for the Range: An Essential Guide to Shooting Gear Storage

Posted by Edgar Brothers on 17th Jun 2025

A successful outing at the range begins long before you step onto the firing point. Being efficient and confident in the arrangement and deployment of your kit removes unnecessary stress and confusion, allowing you to focus entirely on your marksmanship.

In this guide, we highlight the essential preparations and equipment required to streamline your range day. We will focus heavily on premium storage solutions from Magpul, alongside relevant options from Bergara, to help you build a robust and logical transport system.

Assumption: For the purpose of this guide, we assume you have already set up your firearm’s ergonomics, attachments, and optics, and that they are torqued and zeroed ready for the range.

Firearm-Related Storage: Protecting Your Primary Asset

For convenience and efficiency, it is best to segregate your equipment into firearm-related and non-firearm-related categories. Firearm-related storage directly houses your rifle or shotgun, protecting it from physical impacts and the elements during transit.

The Uncompromising Protection of Hard Cases

Hard cases are the universal standard for safely and securely transporting precision instruments. A high-quality hard case will protect your firearm, mounted scope, reticle and other accessories from severe knocks, bumps, and harsh weather conditions. While they can be heavier and bulkier than soft alternatives, they offer the most stalwart protection available.

Expert Tip: Always be mindful of your firearm’s overall length and dimensions with accessories (such as sound moderators or large optics) affixed. It is often wise to invest in a larger case with a surplus of volume to comfortably fit everything without forcing the lid closed.

Example Hard Case	Feature / Purpose	Product Link
Magpul DAKA® Hard Case R44	Premium, robust protection for mid-sized rifles.	View Product
Magpul DAKA® Hard Case LR53	Extended length for long-barrel precision rifles.	View Product
Magpul DAKA® Hard Case C35	Compact protection for shorter firearms or carbines.	View Product

The Versatility of Soft Cases

Soft cases offer a highly versatile transport solution. They provide a good level of physical protection against daily bumps and weather, without being as cumbersome or weighty as a dedicated hard case. Typically featuring shoulder straps to reduce hand fatigue, soft cases allow for a more streamlined transport experience which is especially useful when boot space in your vehicle is limited.

Example Soft Case	Feature / Purpose	Product Link
Magpul DAKA® Soft Case SLR53	Lightweight protection for long precision rifles.	View Product
Magpul DAKA® Soft Case SR44	Streamlined transport for standard-length rifles.	View Product
Magpul DAKA® Soft Case SC35	Compact soft case for shorter firearms.	View Product
Bergara Guncase with Mat	Combined soft case and shooting mat for field practicality.	View Product
Bergara Double Guncase	Efficient transport for a two-gun setup.	View Product
Bergara Soft Basic Guncase (Small/Large)	Excellent entry-level protection in two sizes.	Small / Large

Non-Firearm-Related Storage: Organising Your Range Essentials

Non-firearm-related items include ammunition, range finders, chronographs, notebooks, ear protection, and rear bags. It pays dividends to have a robust, logically organised bag to carry these items. Minimising the time spent rummaging for equipment reduces stress and prevents a disorganised firing point from ruining your shooting experience.

Item	Purpose	Product Link
Magpul DAKA® Large Range Bag	Comprehensive equipment storage & transport.	View Product
Magpul DAKA® Small Range Bag	Compact, essential equipment storage.	View Product
Bergara Daypack 35L	Rucksack-style storage for field and range transport.	View Product
Magpul DAKA® Utility Organiser	Small equipment (tools, batteries, pens) storage.	View Product
Magpul DAKA® Ammo Sleeves	Secure, weatherproof ammunition storage.	View Product
Magpul DAKA® Storage Bins	Internal bag organisation (2x4 or 2x2 sizes).	View Product
Magpul DAKA® Suppressor Pouch	Heat-resistant sound moderator storage.	View Product

Practical Advice for a Seamless Range Day

Practice Your Setup: It is highly prudent to practice packing, organising, and deploying your equipment at home. Familiarising yourself with your layout ensures you can confidently and efficiently set up at the range without getting muddled.
Build in Redundancy: Having slightly more storage space than you strictly need is a tremendous advantage. It makes your setup flexible should you acquire new accessories or need to pack extra layers for unpredictable British weather.

As highlighted above, a considered approach to the selection and preparation of your range equipment transforms your shooting experience. Take the time to assess what you truly require and invest in storage solutions that inspire confidence.

While the market is flooded with accessories that can quickly turn into unnecessary clutter, a curated, well-organised kit built around premium solutions from Magpul and Bergara ensures you spend less time searching through bags and more time putting rounds on target.

What Ammunition & Projectiles Does Hornady Offer?

The two main bullets on offer in Hornady’s factory-loaded ammunition and as standalone projectiles for hunting big game are the Extreme Copper Alloy Expanding or ECX™ and Copper Alloy Expanding or CX®. These projectiles are the most ‘standard’ from a traditional rifle projectile aspect and will be compatible with the respective firearm in the given cartridge and calibre.

The lead-based equivalent of these projectiles would be the InterLock® and Extremely Low Drag-Expanding (ELD-X®) respectively.

The CX® projectile is an aerodynamically efficient monolithic copper alloy projectile that boasts a high ballistic coefficient allowing for superior and more predictable flight characteristics across longer distances and in inclement weather; effectively increasing one’s effective range for taking game.

The CX® projectile is available in a range of calibres and grain weights for reloading and is predominantly available in assorted cartridges in Hornady’s Outfitter® line of ammunition.

Some Points to Consider With a Non-Lead Projectile

Projectile Length: Assuming the same weight, geometry and calibre, a copper alloy, monolithic projectile will be longer than a lead-based counterpart. Consequently, you may require a faster twist rate barrel in order to achieve full stabilisation of the projectile. This requirement will be exacerbated if the projectile features aggressive geometry and increased weight and length designed to enhance ballistic coefficient and flight characteristics.

Projectile Terminal Performance: A common trait of monolithic projectiles like the Hornady CX® and other like products is the capacity for significant weight retention of the projectile as it deploys and expands passing through the target. Hornady (2026) points out that the CX® projectile won’t deconstruct and retains 95% of its weight whilst passing through the target; resulting in deep penetration and impressive terminal performance on quarry.

Such impressive performance metrics are to be applauded and on paper make the projectile seem like an excellent option for ethically taking deer. However, there are a couple of aspects of a monolithic projectile like the CX® that it pays to be mindful of especially when planning to use such bullets in the field.

As the projectile retains near to all of its original weight whilst deploying and passing through the target, the amount of penetration should be considerably more than an equivalent lead-based projectile; likely leading to a pass through and the projectile coming to a rest in the safe backstop behind the quarry. One could argue that this means that there is energy wasted as the projectile has left the quarry, however, if the projectile has done the required damage to humanely dispatch the quarry then I personally don’t see this being a point of concern. The presence of an entrance and exit wound allows for greater capacity for haemorrhaging and following the subsequent blood trail if required.

View Lead To Lead-Free Conversion Chart

Lead-Free Facts

Although it may seem like these new non-lead big game-focused hunting projectiles boast impressive performance, there is reticence to using such projectiles as lead-based projectiles have worked for many years.

However, given the legal requirement, we must embrace this change. This presents an opportunity to push the boundaries of hunting projectiles and confidently use non-lead options in the field.

Conclusion

Start your lead-free journey today and explore modern ammunition innovations designed for performance and sustainability.

When will the lead ban come into force?

If there are no changes, the ban will come into force in 2029, following legislation in 2026 and a three-year transition period.

Can I stock up and use later?

No, the planned ban covers both sale and use of lead ammunition.

Does this affect clay shooting?

Yes, lead ammunition will be banned across clay shooting environments, with limited exemptions under discussion.

Does this affect air guns?

No, airguns are currently not included in the restriction based on initial government statements.

Is the whole UK affected?

Details are still evolving, but the legislation is expected to apply broadly across the UK.