Comments on: A Dozen Handy Items for Your Next Range Trip

By: The Long Shot

The Long Shot — Tue, 12 May 2015 17:12:05 +0000

I would say cleaning rod, lug cleaning tool, and surveyors tape.

You never know when you are going to have to clear an obstruction in the barrel or the lugs. I popped a primer at a match last weekend and luckily I had a lug cleaning tool in my kit.

The surveyors tape is a good way to roughly judge the wind. Tie it to a bush, twig, post or the target to get wind direction and speed.

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 12 May 2015 15:09:28 +0000

I left my chair @ Williamsport last match, I guess I’ll see if it is still there.

By: Westmann

Westmann — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 04:34:22 +0000

I liked the shell holder idea because it’s something one could get in the habit of checking quickly, especially when one doesn’t usually check at all.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:49:48 +0000

Some toilet paper from home. The range stuff isn’t far removed from being wood.

And a cleaning rod; Squibs happen.

By: Hank

Hank — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 18:20:49 +0000

Using a shell holder to judge case head expansion is truly dangerous. By the time you see trouble with this method you’re way over the line.

Editor: You miss the point here. Most shooters probably go to the range with no means of evaluating case head expansion at all. We suggest that bringing a shell-holder is certainly better than having no measuring tools at all. Yes, calipers would be more precise. But again, you will know nothing until the case is fired — and the SAME is true no matter what method you use! If you use the shell-holder after firing, and you get a difficult entry, you know immediately that you have a problem, and you know to stop shooting that load.

By: GSPV

GSPV — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:57:57 +0000

IMHO, the number one thing that we need to have when headed out to a match is a check list. I even left the bolt to my rifle home once.