Competitive Shooting Gear and Essentials Checklist

When you are getting into competition shooting, there can be a lot of things to get together before your first competition. After you have already made the tough decision of picking the right firearm(s) for your competition, and also picked up the best ammo possible, you then have a few other things to get before you are competition ready. Here, I have made a short list of the essentials that every shooter needs to compete. As long as you have all of these things you will be prepared for nearly anything in the field.

Firearms & Ammo

The first thing you want to get is your firearm. It can be tedious to pick the perfect one for you but there are plenty of great guides out there. Once you have your firearm of choice, you need to get a holster that is comfortable for you if you will be in a pistol competition. Other than a holster, you need a sturdy case for every firearm you plan on competing with. This is especially true if you are using rifles.

As for ammo, you are going to need a lot of it. Plenty of competitions will have you shoot over 50 rounds. A common rule of thumb is to figure out the minimum amount of ammo your competition requires and then double it. So if there is a 50 target competition, you should plan on having 100 rounds.

While on the topic of firearms, you are going to need an empty chamber indicator. In most competitions, they are required. Even if your particular competition does not require it, they are a good way to keep your firearms safe and to know that they will not be an issue. Firearm safety is extremely important during these competitions.

Lastly, if you want to be super prepared you can bring a back up pistol. Things happen at competitions and if you have a major malfunction, a backup gun can be the difference between being out of a stage and being out of the entire competition.

Safety Gear

The most important gear you can bring is your safety gear. The first thing you are going to need is a pair of safety glasses and a good set of ear plugs or muffs. I recommend you invest in some nice ear muffs because this sport is extremely loud and if you plan on being around it for a while, wearing these muffs will save your hearing.

It is also a great idea to bring a first aid kit. A trauma kit is preferred. Since there will be a lot of shooting, it is always ideal to be prepared to deal with a gunshot wound. While gunshot wounds are not at all common at these competitions, it is very possible. It is better to have and not need than need and not have.

Lastly, for an added layer of protection you can bring some shooting gloves. Many shooters prefer to use their bare hands and that is fine, but if there is a malfunction, wearing gloves will protect your hands. Plus you can easily pull out hot brass if it is required. 

A Basic Gunsmithing Kit

I mentioned earlier that it would be a good idea to bring a backup gun to your competition. That is still true, but if you are brand new you likely just purchased your first competition pistol. Later down the road when you purchase a new one, you can bring the old one as a backup.

Right now, though, you should have a basic gunsmithing kit to fix anything you need on your firearm. Most of the time our firearms are going to work just fine, but if there is an issue, having this kit can keep you in the competition.

This also includes a basic cleaning kit for your firearm. Most of the issues that come up can be solved with a good cleaning. Make sure you have the right cleaning kit for your type of firearm and just double check you have everything you need.

A Range Bag

Just like shooting at a gun range, you will  need a bag with all the little accessories that come with the sport. This is where you are going to house things like extra magazines, duct tape, holsters, timers, a cleaning kit, and targets if need be.

All in all, your range bag is going to be the home of all your gear and ammo. I recommend getting one that is a good size that can accommodate everything you need now and everything you may want in the future as you mature as a competition shooter.

Conclusion

To wrap it all up, you just need a few things to be a competition shooter. The most obvious is a firearm and ammo. Make sure you have plenty of ammo. Then you want to make sure you have all the safety gear you are going to need or could need. It is also a good idea to have a cleaning kit and gunsmithing kit just in case you need to work on your firearm. Lastly, you need a range bag for all the miscellaneous items we need in competitions.

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