Review of the 5.11 Tactical Range Ready Multiple Pistol & Ammo Bag, 43L, Style 59049
If you ever missed your shot (and we kind of think you did), take a good look at your shooting gear. You may have missed the shot from having an aching shoulder. Carrying the uncomfortable and heavy-weight range bag wasn’t easy, and your body did feel every single pound of it.
Having said that, next time you shop for your shooting gear, don’t forget that everything matters, including your range bag. It doesn’t matter how often you practice, or how great your gun is. When your range bag is uncomfortable, cumbersome, and unable to organize your shooting gear efficiently (rending you all stressed out), you may very well throw it away.
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How is 5.11 Tactical Range Ready Bag different from its opponents?
5.11 Tactical Range Ready Bag is made for the range instructors and professional shooters, but anyone dedicated to shooting and hunting can give it a try. The bag is designed to stand out as the best within its category, ticking most boxes when it comes to range ready bags.
No matter if you’re going alone or with your friends, the range bag is going to provide space for several pistols and the rounds you need for a practice session. It comes with a removable ammo tote and hydration pockets for better focusing. The brass tote is also easy to remove, easing out your cleaning-up efforts.
The zip down front organizer is big enough for you to store eight magazines, whereas the side pockets provide space for various shooting accessories (ear protection, or optics, for instance).
On top of everything else, 5.11 Tactical Range Ready Bag comes with a well-padded shoulder strap for comfortable carrying.
What’s to say about the technical details?
The range bag is made with sturdy and durable 600-denier polyester. Not only that the material takes the wear and tear for a fair amount of time, but it’s also lighter than you may think. This way, you can only focus on the shooting gear while packing.
One of the things we like the most about 5.11 Tactical Range Ready Bag is that it’s entirely padded, which means better protection for your shooting gear.
5.11 Tactical Range Ready Bag comes with a front drop-down flap which stores eight magazines and accessory pockets. The latter are specially designed for storing your optics and ear protection.
As we’ve already mentioned, the bag comes with removable ammo and brass totes, making the cleaning up a breeze.
Even if it’s large (which makes the risk for overloading is quite high!), the bag maintains its shape while opening and unloading it. It’s flexible and easy to use the bag, for sure. It’s lightweight when empty, and the embossed “5.11” logo is rather subtle (you cannot see it from a distance).
The zippers match the durability of the bag since they’re sturdy and don’t snag or tear from excess use. It’s easy to use the zippers since they come with pull strings. The downside is that you cannot lock the zippers, though (you’ll find it amongst the cons, for sure). The Velcro on the bag is also accurate and secures the compartments.
The two side pockets inside the bag are large enough for accommodating two full-size pistols, one butt-up, and one butt-down. If you’re removing the inner bag and place the guns in the pocket, you may carry a Caldwell Pistolero completely assembled, 500 rounds of ammo and even some other small shooting accessories.
The large outside pocket features a pistol pocket, eight “mag” pockets and some space for a couple of targets. The side pockets don’t lose their shape when they’re empty, nor encroach on interior bag space.
As for the double-zippered exterior pockets, we cannot get enough with them. Even if they’re not lockable, they’re big enough for storing your ammo boxes, no matter the size. The dedicated pockets for the ear muffs and eye protection are amazing, beyond a doubt!
The inner bag is also generous, and its compartments are Velcro-adjustable. It also features two zippered pockets that fit one full-size pistol. Every pocket comes with a single zipper, but no drawstrings.
Not only that the shoulder strap is well-padded and wide, but it also stays in place while you’re on the move. Attaching/detaching the shoulder strap is rather straightforward too. The grab-and-go handles allow fast movement when in a hurry, which any shooter or hunting appreciates.
The bag is very well made and 5.11 Tactical Range Ready Bag has a durability feel to it. It’s even tall enough for accommodating a standard notebook, which may count for some out there.
What can you put in the bag?
You’re only going to be able to tell that the bag is loaded after carrying it. It’s because the material of the bag is thick and the build maintains the shape, with no risk for sagging.
It’s a large range bag (probably one of the largest on the market), which is why an inexperienced shooter may find it overwhelming.
Here’s what you may be able to carry with 5.11 Tactical Range Ready Bag:
- Three handguns
- 200-300 rounds of ammo
- Protection for ear and eyes (earmuffs, spare earplugs, and eye protection)
- Two bore snakes
- Tape, targets
- Speed loader
- Sticky dots
- Various small shooting gear items
- Anything else that you may consider necessary for your shooting/hunting
What are the features that we like the most?
Since it’s loaded with good things, listing only the essential useful features doesn’t come easy for us. We tried our best for a list of pros:
- It’s one of the most massive range bags out there
- It has multiple compartments and pockets
- It lets you organize your shooting gear very well
- The bag is stiff and doesn’t sag
- It has removable ammo tote and brass tote
- The zippers are robust and come with pull strings
- The internal pull out bag is functional and features its own handles
- The shoulder strap is padded and takes the intense use
- The bag features carry handles too
What downsides bother us?
The inherent flaws aren’t deal-breakers, but it’s good to have the whole picture:
- You cannot lock the pouches
- It’s a massive bag, which is why some may overload it
- It may be too much for a newbie
Should you buy it or not?
If you’ve been shooting for a while now and know what you need for your hobby, or if you’re a professional shooter, 5.11 Tactical Range Ready Bag is a sure buy on any given day. It’s sturdy, durable, great at organizing your shooting gear, and has a smart design. When you don’t overload it, it’s comfortable to carry and, even if you do overload it, it still takes the heavy-weight very well. Take the leap of faith already!
