Hauling all Your Junk

I've accumulated a lot of parts, supplies and gee-gaws over the past 45 years. If I pack it all up to take along to the range, I'd need a helper to haul it from truck to shooting bench.
Long ago I decided to brekdown all that junk into groups by type of gune in use. I have bags (zipper nylon lunch bags are perfect) for muzzlelpoading rifle with flint, caps, powder measures, balls and patches. The nipple wrenches and other pistol accessories are in another bag, and the wads, TOW, musket flints, shot and bigger balls go into a smoothbore bag. My field bag contains only what is needed for the particular rifle or musket I'll be using, and contains only appropriate powder measures, materials and tools for the day.

I have a generic shooting bag. A haversack style bag that I keep cleaning and working tools. Except for a pair of small Vice grips the bags contents are pretty hc.
Then I have a bag for each gun, that will in general service the gun.
When I started I wanted a bag with all I needed. Walked a little lopsided but my bag could service for a two man tent in an emergency.
Now I’m down to a bag that not much bigger then a pants pocket.

i thought to have a bag for each rifle. said bag containing exactly what that rifle liked. lasted maybe a week, then they all revolted and mingled. I am the worlds champion dis organizer. just ask my Lass.

tenngun said:

small Vice grips

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I carry a very small channel lock pair of pliers. Have proven very useful many times over the years. It is a Craftsman and chromed. I have tried various ways, including acids, to remove the chrome and make it's appearance less offensive to the 'pc' eye. But it remains. Oh, well, I ain't been shot yet for using it.

I use a belt pouch for basics(patch/ball puller,nipple wrench, flints, etc.), and a shooting bag. One bag for rifle/pistols. One bag for the smoothbores.I keep balls ,patches,cleaning patches, alcohol , shot or powder cartriges which ever is appropiate for the gun in the bags.This way I just need to grab which ever bag is right for the gun and go.

Generic shooting bag has everything I need for any range trip no matter what we're shooting - targets, stapler, staples, markers, ear pro, extra eye pro, front and rear bags, lube, marker paint for the steel targets, etc. Also 'cause I'm a packrat and don't clean it out I probably have 2+ boxes of ammo for my commonly shot metallic cf rounds, 400-500 22lr of various types (mostly target stuff), and at least one magazine for every mag fed gun I've got.

Second box/tub has front rest, more targets, and whatever I need to actually shoot that trip - more ammo than what I have in range bag (range bag contents is for "oh manure, forgot the ammo" times, etc), etc. So when I shoot BP that is where all the extra stuff (wads, powder, ball, cleaning stuff, tools, etc) goes, in its own separate box (cheap plastic tackle box from walmart - sorry, I just like to shoot, I'm not a traditionalist...)

It all goes from truck to shooting bench in one of those $50 big box store folding canvas carts. Same cart does duty when I go fishing to handle bait bucket, cast net, bridge net, multiple rods, tackle box, cooler/drinks, and popup tent/shelter/cover. Best $50 I've spent.

new2bp said:

It all goes from truck to shooting bench in one of those $50 big box store folding canvas carts.

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Second that!. A great thing to have for hauling stuff from the truck to the range/bench.

I had so much shooting stuff I just installed a roll up garage door and keep everything in the shop …. Just roll the door up and go too shooting!

Seriously, when I shot a a public range I used a two wheel cart that would hold two Longrifles standing up.
A range box, sand bags for bench rest shooting.

Which at the time was all I could do, due too shoulder complications…..

I have two plastic tool boxes, one with black powder gun stuff and the other with modern gun stuff. Depending on what I'm shooting I grab one box or the other or sometimes both. Lead sled, spotting scope, folding chair, range rod, targets and staplers are things that just ride in the vehicle all the time.

When I go to a rendezvous, I carry all my junk in a 6x12 box trailer does that count..

When I hunted I carried very little into the woods. Usually everything I needed could fit in a couple of pockets. When I used a small shooting bag in the woods it carried scarcely any more than what fit in coat pockets, other than a day horn.

But the range was way different in what I took along. For the range I have a Sears tackle box that carries a few tools, stapler and what could be described as "needless junk". In addition I carry a large, worse for wear, Samsonite bag. It carries ear protectors, small spotting scope and the patches, powder and ammo. One trip to the bench carries it all. But I have to make a second car to shooting bench trip for the rifle and pack of targets.

I have this, the gun cleaning box

https://possibleshop.com/merc-range-box.html
As my 'shooting at range box'. Otherwise I shoot/hunt from a pouch. We as shooters tend to take to much 'manure' with us. I a few years back cut down on the superfluous.

I will say that the box I mentioned needed serious reinforcing before suitable for actual use.

Since I only shoot flint lock rifles , and muskets , my range equipment is limited. One wooden loading ramrod , one metal range rod w/accouterments ,to pull stuck balls. A small 8" by 12" steel Army tool box 6" deep , with ball peen hammer , sight drift, screwdriver , pliers , cleaning patches, bronze bore brush , balls ,patches, lubricant (liquid , and grease types), touch hole pick , short starter, priming powder dispenser. I carry the correct fffg , or fg black powder in a horn with brass thumb activated dispenser valve , for safety , and powder measure. I don't use a shot pouch much , at the range. This equipment goes to the shooting bench , along with spotting scope , extra targets , and gun Any extra stuff stays in the car.
When on a mission ,hunting or just shooting from the pouch , all the shooting range stuff is deleted to pouch , gun , and , horn. Luck to ya...

I use G.I. ammo cans for each calibre. All my flinters are .50 calibre, some caplocks are .45 calibre, so, depending on what I choose to shoot on a particular day, grab a can and rifle and head for the shooting range.

I too use ammo cans for the range. 1 can for .50-.54 cal percussion, 1 can for .32-.36 cal, 1 can for .45 cal, 1 can for the flinters, one can for the pistols. Everything is in the can except gun and range rod if needed and powder. I do take a folding chair and spotting scope.

One bag and horn for flint and one for percussion. The shooting box with spare parts is in the truck should I need it.

VA Hawken said:

Second that!. A great thing to have for hauling stuff from the truck to the range/bench.

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I'll third that ----- I use mine for muzzle loading guns and also my centerfire guns. At the house I have a central place to keep all my range/gun stuff and when I decide what I am going to shoot I pack up a "kit" for that gun/guns and put it in the car along with the cart. When I get home, I put all the stuff back where I found it so the next time all I have to do is pick and pack then I am ready to go to the range.

AZbpBurner said:

I've accumulated a lot of parts, supplies and gee-gaws over the past 45 years. If I pack it all up to take along to the range, I'd need a helper to haul it from truck to shooting bench.
Long ago I decided to brekdown all that junk into groups by type of gune in use. I have bags (zipper nylon lunch bags are perfect) for muzzlelpoading rifle with flint, caps, powder measures, balls and patches. The nipple wrenches and other pistol accessories are in another bag, and the wads, TOW, musket flints, shot and bigger balls go into a smoothbore bag. My field bag contains only what is needed for the particular rifle or musket I'll be using, and contains only appropriate powder measures, materials and tools for the day.

Click to expand...

I have a separate bag for each long gun.
A large plastic “ ammo can “ for percussion revolver bullets, wads, powder and cleaning accessories, etc.
Medium sized tool box for long guns with extra powder, flints, cleaning supplies and bullets, oil, etc.

Rifleman1776 said:

I carry a very small channel lock pair of pliers. Have proven very useful many times over the years. It is a Craftsman and chromed. I have tried various ways, including acids, to remove the chrome and make it's appearance less offensive to the 'pc' eye. But it remains. Oh, well, I ain't been shot yet for using it.

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Pardon my ignorance but what are the vice grips or channel locks used for.
I shoot revolver, pistol or breech loaders and can’t come up with a reason for them.
Of course there’s one of each in the vans tool bag, that bag being a permanent piece of equipment in the van.

Whughett said:

Pardon my ignorance but what are the vice grips or channel locks used for.
I shoot revolver, pistol or breech loaders and can’t come up with a reason for them.
Of course there’s one of each in the vans tool bag, that bag being a permanent piece of equipment in the van.

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The channel lock comes in handy for a lot of chores. e.g. pulling a slightly stuck ramrod out when using the guns own rod with no handle; some spent caps don't split or come off easily, etc. Just like a pocket knife, it is a tool used almost instinctively when needed.