What do you carry extra mags to the range in?

Tactical Gear Tactical Gear
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What do you carry extra mags to the range in?

This might sound like a lame question but here goes ….

I used to use one of the MidWay USA competition range bags. It was a great bag but I found once I loaded it all down it was simply too heavy to be practical. I carried way more in it than I really needed just because I could. I ended up with actual range stuff, tools, cleaning gear, target stuff, etc. It was just too much. I couldn’t get to the stuff I needed when I needed it because there was too much to sort through.

I simplified my setup by going to a couple of smaller bags dedicated to one thing each. Here’s what I did;

A small bail out bag from LAPG that carries my actual range stuff (e.g. eyes, ears, knee pads, really basic tools, lube, & cleaning gear, etc.). If I’m only taking a couple of pistols they get thrown in this bag unloaded, inside a holster. If I’m taking more than a couple of pistols they go in a zippered rug my Ed Brown came in.

I put all of my actual tools and extra parts in a separate small bag as they don’t generally have to come out of the truck on a range/class trip unless something goes South. This bag is actually a cooler bag I received as a door prize at a golf tournament years ago but never used. It lays flat and the entire side zips and folds open. It has a very heavy duty handle but no shoulder stap.

All my targets, pasters, stapler, extra staples, etc. go in a separate tote type bag (sort of like my teacher wife carries … relatively flat with carry straps and outer zippered pocket and a zipper on top) as these items go to the range, but not classes or matches. The targets generally don’t fit well into regular range bags either without getting folded up. This method has worked well for me as I can have different type targets I have printed off in separate folders in the bag.

My “rifle only” gear goes in a separate rifle case from VooDoo Tactical. I don’t shoot rifles very much so this bag doesn’t get toted around much.

Ammo gets carried in ammo cans.

Yes, this seems like a lot of different things to carry but I’ve found it MUCH easier as I can only take what I need for each outing.

Now, here’s the question …

What is missing is a good way to carry my extra mags. Specifically, I’m talking about approx 20 GLOCK mags used only for training. There are too many to throw in the range bag loose. It doesn’t seem practical to get a whole separate bag just for the mags either. I know you can get pouches that hold 4-6 mags and have a flap that folds over but I would need 3-4 of them at minimum. That WOULD require a separate bag to carry them in. The mags are currently in one of those small canvas toiletry bags you get when you buy cologne. It holds them all just fine but has no kind of carry handle/strap. I can throw it in the top of the range bag but it pretty much fills it up to the point it will barely zip. I also like to pre-load mags before outings so it gets pretty heavy and I don’t like throwing it on top of the rest of my stuff in the range bag (i.e. eyes, electronic ears, etc.).

Suggestions? There has to be a better way.

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I’ve managed pretty well for any of my range trips recently with the SOTech extended go bag. It’s versatile enough where if I’m just running handgun classes or whatnot i can fit all of my stuff in one bag. If I have my carbine broken down I can usually get it and everything, but ammo inside. For that you can always get an ammo can to carry in. Not sure if this helps, but for me it’s been pretty versatile.

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The Range bag I had Robert make for me. From USGG. Has a total of 12 mag slots build in. Plus it holds 2 pistols. Give him a call.

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Link? I am not familiar with this company/person.

Pretty ghetto but I used to have them thrown in a purple Crown Royal bag inside my range bag.

I kind of want to avoid getting a whole new range bag setup if I can avoid it as I like what I have going … except for the one missing piece.

Are there mag carriers like I mentioned that hold more than 6 or so double pouches? Ideally someone would make one with 10 slots on each side that folds open flat and has a carry handle. That would be great. You could carry it alone or throw it in a range bag.

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Eagle Gadget Bags (Small Size) from SKD: http://www.skdtac.com/Eagle_Gadget_Bag_p/eag.503.htm

The small ones hold about a dozen PMAGs, to give you an idea for internal volume.

Not as neat as Robert’s USGG bags, but a little cheaper and they can be used for anything (pistol mags, subgun mags).

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That would be US Grunt Gear. There is a thread here where a guy had Robert make a Mag bag that held 10 or 12 P Mags.

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I sort of recall that thread but didn’t know the co name. Got it.

Something like this is what I would like … but to hold twice that many mags.
http://www.usgruntgear.com/dscn014.html

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http://m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=58603

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I actually have a design in mind that I’ve sort of sketched out on a notepad. I will call Robert and see if he is interested in the idea. Thanks for the heads up. Keep the ideas coming.

EDIT: I have sketched a design idea, scanned it, and e-mailed it to USGG. I will give them a chance to look it over and will call them to follow-up. Once I hear back from them I might post it in this thread. I don’t want to spill my beans yet as it might be something Robert wants to start producing and selling (hopefully).

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i use a small EMDOM Ammo SAC for pistol ammo/mags and a large one for rifle; both inside a larger gear bag:
http://prostores2.carrierzone.com/servlet/emdomusa/Detail?no=55

disclaimer: i designed these for EMDOM, so i’m biased and also earn royalties from their sales.

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Very nice. I like that a lot. I might have to order one of those once they are available again.

That would be a sweet deal … design and earn royalties. Maybe USGG will like what I drew out enough to offer something like that.

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just make sure that you have an understanding with the manufacturer that you are looking to receive royalties from the use of your idea and have a contract agreement in writing spelling out all the details before anything is actually put into production.

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I’ve got one of the large EMDOM Ammo SAC, which is great for carrying loose ammo and makes a USGI 7.62 ammo can far easier to handle than the handle on the can itself, if that’s ever a concern. I think I’ve crammed 15 PMags into it before; certainly more than I could in the 7.62 can.

I don’t get a damned thing from them except a lighter wallet. All the stuff I’ve gotten from them has been uniformly excellent.

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When I moved from PRK to Florida, and was able to shoot relatively often, I started using what was handy - a Targus laptop bag.
So far, it has actually worked for me. I carry my ear pro, a small Surefire light, as many as 10 loaded Pmags, as many as 3 mags for my FNP45 plus 1-3 50rnd boxes of 45ACP, and even occasionally a BladeTech holster for the FNP. The few times I didn’t take the AR it even held the pistol (since the Pmags weren’t in it).
The velcro flapped side pocket holds a few small tools, rag, a LensPen, some wipes. The other side pocket holds TFM’s for my firearms and ACOG, plus any Shoot-n-Sees or pie plates I might be carrying.

It CAN get heavy with all the ammo in there, but it has a nice shoulder strap and has worked for me so far, so I haven’t gotten around to replacing it.

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I sent a sketch to USGG. Robert is going to do a drawing including some mods he recommends and will get back to me with a cost estimate before approving the project. I will keep you guys posted. The lead time is 4-5 weeks for a finished product though.

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That’s me, and that design is available from USGG as a production item now I believe. and in more tactical colors for those that objected to the blue.

For handgun I have two iShot bags that someone sewed back-to-back for me and installed a handle. Holds, IIRC, 20 mags total give or take. Don’t think iShot makes the donor bags I used anymore though.

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I saw Midway has a 8 mag pouch that could probably be sewn back-to-back like Rob did if one were that adventurous. Someone linked it to me today. I had previously only seen them in 4-6 mags.

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I have a North Face Mini Base Camp Duffle that will hold a half dozen AR mags. Does a nice job and the handles on the end are a really nice feature but I think the long strap handles are anoying enough that I might cut them off.
http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=10518&storeId=207&catalogId=10201&langId=-1&from=subCat&parent_category_rn=24453&variationId=70J

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For pistol I have an Eagle Industries range bag I bought in 1998. It’s great. Depending on which rifle I’m shooting, I Have a Tactical Tailor carbine case and some random no name rifle case I bought at Bass Pro; both have large accessory pockets that hold everything I need. At a course last year that required a whole bunch of pistol rounds, I just carried them loose in a plastic storage box like Cabelas gives away with bulk ammo purchases.

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Any chance you could post some pictures of yours with the AR mags? Any guesstimate as to how many 9mm loose rounds it would hold? Would it bear the weight?