What to Wear for at the Gun Range for Target Practice

The goal, for many, is when they practice shooting at the range they are preparing for real-life scenarios – drawing from a holstered position, taking aim, reloading, etc. For that approach, it makes sense to have your range scenario simulate just another day. That extends into what you are wearing since clothing bulkiness, inner-waist drawing or outer-waist drawing will all play a role in your shot accuracy and shot consistency.

“You play like you practice and practice how you play.”

– Marcus Luttrell

Things also get even more tricky when you’re shooting on public land or at an outdoor range since you are weathering a lot of elements – sun, wind, rain, you name it. In this guide are tips and suggestions for what to wear and not wear when practicing at the range.

General guidelines:

  • Feel comfortable shooting in what you’d normally wear
  • More coverage = less chances of getting burned from ejected spent cartridges

Tops: Protect yourself from flying brass

It is not a matter of if, but when you are going to get hit with the spent cartridges that are being ejected from your firearm. Depending on the material of the casing, temperatures can reach 240-310 degrees F. The last thing you want is a semi-permanent outline of a 9mm cartridge right on our chest. Guidelines for what to wear above the waist:

  • Cover your chest: That means a high-neck tank top and no v-necks or low-cut tee shirts
  • Depending on the weather: Cover your arms to also protect from hot brass
  • As with everyday life – pockets are your best friend. I always come from with random things in my pockets from a day of shooting – spent cartridges I collect for my neighbor who reloads, garbage, tape from paper targets, wrappers from boxes of ammo, cool rocks I found on the ground, who knows.

Bottoms: Dress for the elements

Depending on the type of shooting, you want to be comfortably covered. Based on the weather, pants are going to be recommended purely out of protection from hot brass. If you’re practicing with your rifle from a prone position, pants will also protect your legs too. Without a doubt, your pants will be dirty and (probably) stained so best to avoid your new favorite trendy pair. Out of an abundance of caution, many instructors and Range Safety Officers (RSO) will suggest pants that go over your shoes so you don’t end up with hot brass landing right in your boots.

Footwear for the gun range

Many ranges have a requirement on this rule – no open-toed shoes. Every hot brass that is ejected has to fall somewhere. You don’t want it falling between your toes while you’re holding a loaded firearm. Two other considerations:

  • Ankle-height shoes: Opting for a pair that comes higher up on your leg will be an extra barrier keeping hot brass out of your sneakers. For outdoor ranges or public land you’re also probably shooting on dust, dirt, walking through cheatgrass, or in snake country.
  • Stable footing: If you’re shooting outdoors, especially long-range, you might cover hundreds of yards on-foot between your shooting station and your target. That means walking on uneven ground so consider your footwear appropriately and choose a pair that can keep you from unwanted injury.

Accessories: Always bring your eye & ear protection – and a hat!

For any type of firearm shooting, you should always wear eye and ear protection – no exceptions. Do you want to burn your cornea, and do I need to say more? You should also plan to wear a hat with a brim, or at least bring one with you. Wearing a hat will keep your face out of the elements  – sun, wind, snow, rain. Also, if you read any forum you’ll find stories where hot brass hit them in the forehead and fell between their glasses – ouch. The brim is a nice barrier to prevent that from happening.

Summary: Gun range attire

  • Tops: No low-cut shirts
  • Bottoms: Comfortable and can get dirty
  • Footwear: No open-toed shoes
  • Accessories: Eye and ear protection always

If you are unsure what the range protocols are, you can always call ahead of time and see what they require. Here are a few brands that have spent years honing in on range gear for men and women. I’ve also listed out a few favorites too:

  • 5.11 Tactical Gear
  • First Lite (more for hunting but they’ve really thought through everything in terms of dressing for the elements):
  • Girls with Guns
    • Their Carbine pant is a 10/10. It has adjustable snap buttons on the bottom that extend the length between 28″ and 35″ inseam. The product also won the NRA Publications 2021 Distinguished Golden Bullseye Award.
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