First Tactical Recoil Range Bag

Too many range bags seem to be tailored around AR-15 users and pistol shooters, yet we riflemen sometimes need a little more space for our physically larger guns and associated equipment. First Tactical’s Recoil range bag is made from 600D polyester and available in Coyote or the Black seen here. Although I have the black one on test, my immediate choice would be to go for the coyote model, as other than likelihood of showing muck and stains a bit more easily, it is much easier to find small items like Allen keys against a lighter coloured background. That may sound like personal taste but trust me, I have new bags full of kit here, there and everywhere and finding one that really suits me then holds a special place in my heart.

Two grasp handles wrap the bag with a padded non-slip shoulder strap for extended carrying. There is a large centre pocket that is longer than most range bags and therefore ideal for items like spotting scope, a chronograph or even a small tripod. Rather cleverly, there is a secondary padded crate/ carry compartment with two removable dividers that fits inside this ‘well’, ideal for ammunition, magazines and smaller objects you might want directly at the firing position rather than behind you. There are secondary, partly elasticated loops on here for pistol magazines, which will nicely slot 10-22 mags into, even a tagged on well for a water bottle. This main compartment has a full-width flap that has twin zips to close it and they fold under a Velcro tab when closed to add security when carrying and protecting items that could easily fall out of the open lid. I liked it, because I do tend to drop things like lens caps and used ammo boxes in carelessly and worry about finding them later.

End to end

Both ends of the bag have pockets that will fit a couple of pairs of ear defenders, eye protection or binoculars etc. A long ‘admin’ pocket runs full-length of the bag, ideal to open up with clear visual access to select your required paper or stick on targets. Twin medium sized pockets are on the opposite face with surrounding YKK zippers and internal dividers for pens, tools, cleaning fluids or small items. I was pleased to see First Tactical have not tried to cram too many individual compartments into it that always allow things to get lost. The lining is also oil resistant to avoid soaking these easily spilled but generally foul-smelling solutions. Molle webbing appears around the bag with Velcro patches on the face for ID or morale patches but otherwise, the bag looks discreet and very tidy with no loose stitches anywhere, or excessive straps to catch on everything you walk past. The base is reinforced with moulded feet and all internal grip and carry handles on the separate lift out ‘crate’ are padded to avoid cutting into your hands with what might be a heavy bag full of lead ammunition. Forty litre overall volume is the right balance for me to fill with all I need but show some caution to avoid overloading and six major pockets with 13 internal sections is quite enough to segregate accessories into generalised groups for memorable storage locations.

Conclusion

I’m a real bag lover and very critical over what suits me but this one really does cut the mustard for a rifle shooter’s range bag.