Shooting Range Fashion - What to wear (and what not)
When I go shooting, I often see novice shooters wearing inappropriate attire for shooting, so I put together this short and sweet guide on what to wear when heading to the range. Usually shooting ranges do not have a dress code, however when going to the range, safety and comfort should come first, therefore they might require you to follow certain dressing rules. Whether you are male or female, make sure to wear clothes and footwear that is comfortable and keeps you safe from hot brass or any other accidents. By following the recommendations below, you ensure a safer environment for yourself and everybody else at the range.
General dress code rules at the gun range
Tops
Long sleeved, high-necked protect yout from hot brass casings.
As top, choose a long sleeved, high-necked shirt to protect yourself from hot brass casings. Almost all firearms eject brass on the right side of the gun, yet at varying angles. Casings can bounce off walls in indoor shooting ranges or you might get hit by the casings from the person shooting next to you. Brass casings can reach temperatures of 90° C or more as they absorb heat from the explosion of the cartridge firing. Hot casings landing on bare skin can be quite painful, causing a startled reaction from inexperienced shooters, leading to loss of muzzle disicpline, dropping the firearm or - worst case - a negligent discharge.
Wear a shirt that allows you to move your arms and shoulders freely. Too loose clothing can snag on equipment or - depending on what firearm you are shooting - the stock might get caught in your clothing. On the other hand, if you catch hot brass, the casing might tumble down through the shirt, if it is not too tight fitting
The burning gunpowder leaves behind carbon and other particles, that might get on the outside of the firearm or your hands. Therefore, I would opt for clothes that you do not mind getting dirty.
Ladies, please take this advice from a seasoned female shooter: I know you want to look good on the range, you want to take some sexy pictures shooting your first time, but please, leave that cleavage shirt at home and wear something high-necked. Hot brass loves cleavages and will jump directly into it.
Closed-toed sturdy shoes not only protect your feet from hot brass casings but also from other potential items falling, such as magazines. Non-slip, comfortable, flat shoes provide a stable stance.
Bottoms
Same as for tops goes for bottoms: Wear long and comfortable pants that you do not mind getting dirty. While novice shooter will only shoot standing up, some drills require to go on the floor and gun range floors are usually dirty from the burning gun powder and casing flying around. Wear comfortable pants that allow you to move freely while fully covering your legs. Wide legs that cover your shoes prevent hot casings flying into your shoes. This seriously happened to me one time and gladly I wore thick socks that prevented my foot from getting burn marks.
Footwear
Appropriate footwear is also very important. Closed-toed shoes are a must to prevent brass from landing on your feet, but not only: Sturdy closed shoes, such as boots or durable sneakers, protect your feet from any dropped items. Fully loaded magazines are quite heavy and you do not want them to fall on your naked toes. Non-slip shoes provide a stable stance. Again, depending on what gun you are shooting, the recoile can be quite heavy and you want to stand stable and comfortable. There will be many casings on the floor that you can step on and might slip. As said, gun ranges’ floors are dirty and you better leave the stylish white sneakers at home, otherwise they ain’t gonna be white anymore after your range day.
Headwear
A baseball cap protects your head as well as your eyes from hot brass casing. Leave the dangling earrings at home so that your ear muffs fit well and move your hair out of your face.
A baseball cap or hat helps to keep hot brass falling behind your shooting glasses or hitting your face. Especially when shooting clay targets, a hat or cap is indispensable to protect your head and face of potential splinters flying in your direction. Be aware that you usually must fit earmuffs over your headware if you are not wearing ear plugs.
If you are rocking long hair, keep it out of your face. Wear it in a bun, ponytail or a nice braid. Shooting requires your full attention, and that may be hard to give if you hair keeps falling in your face.
Last but not least
Jewellery: Since you have to wear ear protection for shooting, and it mostly will be wearing ear muffs, do not wear big dangling earrings. Large bracelets or rings might interfere with your shooting. Large and thick rings affect grip that affects control of the gun and aim. Take the dangling jewellery and loose accessoires off before shooting.
Long nails: There is no specific length of nails considered too long for shooting. However, long nails can become a safety hazard. They can negatively affect the shooter’s grip on the firearm, therefore affecting control of the gun. Nails that are too long hinder the shooter from gaining access to the trigger and make it more difficult removing the trigger finger from the trigger guard easily and rapidly. Nails that inhibit the ability to index the trigger finger straight along the frame are no longer range-safe. Long nails can make reaching and operating the mag release, slide lever, mechanical safety, or decocker difficult.
Protective Gear
This is a given: Always wear your ear and eye protection. Normally, first-time shooters do not have their own ear protection and shooting glasses, therefore most gun ranges usually will provide you these items for free or for a little fee. Usually, you will wear ear muffs, so leave the big loop earrings at home. Always, always, always wear your ear and eye protection the moment you walk into the range. There are usually signs to remind you of gearing up. Never ever take them off while you are in the range where people shoot.
Shooting glasses are crucial for preventing eye injuries caused by projectiles, ricochets, and debris. If you wear glasses, you might consider switching to contacts on your range day so that you can comfortably wear shooting glasses. Shooting glasses have shatterproof lenses that can withstand high-velocity impacts with rounded edges for side protection. The frames sit closer to the face to prevent the hot casing falling inside the glasses.
Consider where you are shooting
Are you shooting at an outdoor or an indoor shooting range? When shooting outdoors consider the season and the weather. Even if it is hot outside, cover up. Wear light-weigth clothes made of breathable fabrics. Make sure that our winter wear is not too bulky, as it can restrict your movement and interfere with your shooting.
Special case: Clay target shooting
Clay pigeon shooting usually takes place outdoors, so first and foremost, dress for the season and the weather. Clay pigeons are shot with over and under shotguns and birdshot cartridges. There won’t be any brass casings flying around while you shoot. Therefore focus on tops that allow you to comfortable mount the shotgun in your shoulder. Short sleeves and a cleavage are totally fine when shooting clay pigeons. However, absolutely wear a hat and shooting glasses (besides ear protection). Splinters of the shattering clays might come flying your way, therefore you really want to protect your head and eyes. Wear sturdy shoes with a good sole. The recoil of a shotgun can be quite heavy so you want to have a good stance.
When shooting clays, a shooting vest is worn. As a novice shooter you most probably will not have your own shooting vest and not every venue will provide you one. Just bring a funny pack to store your cartridges or wear a jacket with big pockets.
Another item worth considering is gloves. With the increased activity, the barrel of your gun is likely to get extremely hot. In order to break open your shotgun, you most likely will touch the barrels. Gloves will protect your hands from the heat of your barrels. Wear tight fitting non-slip gloves. Gardening gloves will do the job.