Shooting gifts for Dad: range gear upgrades he'll use every trip

Shooting gifts for Dad work best as upgrades: a better version of something he already carries to the range. That's good news if you don't shoot, because the gear worth upgrading is the same for most shooters: ear pro (hearing protection), glasses, the bag, the cleaning kit, a case and a magazine loader. If he's brand new, start with our gifts for new gun owners, or the full first range kit.

How we picked these gifts

We don't test gear, and we say so. Every pick is scored on its category rubric from published specs: the NRR (Noise Reduction Rating, the number on the package) for ear pro, the Z87+ marking (the high-impact mark on safety glasses) for eye pro, and capacities, caliber lists and lock details for the rest. The weights are on our how we pick page. For Dad, we looked for step-ups: each pick beats the basic version of its category on a published spec, and each has a check you can make without handling his guns.

Find out what he already has

You don't need to snoop. Most of what you need is on a label or one question away:

• His ear pro. The NRR is printed on a label that federal rules require on the device or its carrying case (40 CFR 211.204-3). If his muffs already read 30 or more, the upgrade is electronics, not a bigger number.
• His glasses. Does he wear prescription glasses at the range? Does his current pair show a Z87+ mark on the sidearm? If it's a pair of everyday sunglasses, glasses are the gift.
• His calibers. The loader and the lock box depend on them. Ask him, his shooting buddy, or check the box or manual his pistol came in. Don't pick up his firearm to find out.
• How he travels. Does he drive to a local range, or fly with a handgun? That decides the case.

The best shooting gifts for Dad, pick by pick

1. Howard Leight Impact Pro

Why it lands: it's the most protection of any electronic muff we cover. Howard Leight rates it NRR 30, 8 dB more than its own Impact Sport, with both AAA batteries in the box, about 350 hours of battery life (its estimate) and a 4-hour auto shut-off (Howard Leight Impact Pro page). Being electronic, it lets him hear range commands and conversation without lifting a cup.

Who it suits: a dad who shoots at an indoor range, or who still gets by with foam plugs or basic passive muffs.

Check before you buy: what he shoots. Howard Leight doesn't describe a slim cup for the Impact Pro. If he mostly shoots a rifle or shotgun, a compact cup may suit him better: Walker's says the Razor Pro Digital (NRR 23) has "compact ear cups that minimize interference when shouldering long guns" and an auto shut-off he can set to 2, 4 or 6 hours (Walker's).

If he already wears an Impact Sport, our Impact Sport vs Impact Pro comparison shows exactly what changes. The wider field is in our best electronic ear muffs.

2. Wiley X Saber Advanced

Why it lands: a clear step up in stated protection. Wiley X lists "ANSI Z87.1+ Optical clarity and high mass/high velocity impact standards" and "MIL-PRF-32432A Ballistic safety standards", with interchangeable lenses such as smoke gray and clear (Wiley X Saber Advanced page). Wiley X explains that its Z87.1+ spectacles must withstand a .25 inch steel ball traveling 150 fps (Wiley X).

Who it suits: a dad who shoots outdoors in bright sun and indoors too, or who has been wearing sunglasses to the range. One frame, two lens colors.

Check before you buy: prescription glasses. Wiley X doesn't mention an over-the-glasses fit, so for a dad who wears glasses, look at an OTG frame such as the Pyramex OTS, which Pyramex says fits over frames up to 5 3/8 x 1 3/4 inches (Pyramex). Wiley X also doesn't publish an anti-fog coating.

More pairs in our best shooting glasses, and what the ballistic rating adds in ballistic glasses vs safety glasses.

3. 5.11 Range Ready Bag 43L

Why it lands: it's for the dad whose gear has outgrown his bag. 5.11 lists 43 L (2,639 cu in), a main compartment of 9.5 x 17.5 x 10.5 inches, padded storage for more than one pistol, a drop-down rear compartment it says holds 8 magazines, and a removable tote and brass bag (5.11 product page).

Who it suits: a dad with two or more pistols who packs everything, every time.

Check before you buy: 5.11 doesn't say how many pistols fit, and lockable zippers aren't mentioned. If he wants a bag he can lock, the smaller 15 L Vertx COF Heavy lists "lockable zipper pulls (lock not included)" and a lock-down cable (Vertx). Both are ranked in our best range bags.

4. Real Avid Gun Boss Pro Universal Cleaning Kit

Why it lands: one kit for a house with handguns, rifles and shotguns. Real Avid lists handgun and rifle .22 to .45 caliber plus 12 and 20 gauge, with a brass rod to 32 inches, bronze brushes, jags, shotgun mops and 50 patches in a stand-up case (Real Avid product page).

Who it suits: a dad with several guns who cleans at a bench.

Check before you buy: his calibers, if any fall outside .22 to .45 or 12 and 20 gauge. Real Avid lists no solvent or lubricant, so add a bottle; our CLP vs gun oil page explains the choice. It's ranked in our best gun cleaning kits.

5. Vaultek LifePod 10

Why it lands: it replaces the box the pistol came in. Vaultek lists a built-in Smart Sense keypad with backup keys, a 48 in steel security cable, and a case it calls "water resistant, airtight, dust proof, and floats in water". Vaultek's own wording is that it "Meets TSA Guidelines" ( Vaultek LifePod 10 page). TSA itself warns that "the container the firearm was in when purchased may not adequately secure the firearm when it is transported in checked baggage" (TSA).

Who it suits: a dad who drives to the range with a handgun, or flies with one.

Check before you buy: size. Vaultek says it fits handguns up to 7.75 inches long, 6 inches wide and 1.75 inches tall. Look up his pistol's published dimensions on its maker's site, or ask him; don't measure the gun yourself. For a larger pistol, the Pelican Vault V100 has an 11 x 8 x 4.5 inch interior and takes a padlock (Pelican). Both are in our best lockable pistol cases, and the rules for the trip itself are in our guide to transporting a gun.

6. ETS Group GEN II C.A.M. Loader 9mm/.40

Why it lands: it saves his thumbs on every trip. ETS says it loads 9mm and .40 single- and double-stack magazines "in under 10 seconds" (its claim), and that it's "Made in the USA and comes with a LIFETIME WARRANTY" ( ETS product page).

Who it suits: a dad with 9mm or .40 pistols who still loads by hand.

Check before you buy: his pistol model. ETS lists STI 2011, Taurus PT709/G3c, Walther CCP and SIG P938 magazines as exceptions. If he shoots .380 or .45, the Maglula UpLULA is listed for 9mm through .45 ACP and most .380 mags (Maglula). Loaders are on our range bag checklist.

Match the gift to what he uses now

What to check before you buy for Dad

A higher NRR, and a good seal. Higher numbers mean more protection on paper; the label rule itself says "higher numbers denote greater effectiveness" (40 CFR Part 211). Fit still counts. 3M's earmuff data sheet notes that noise reduction "may be lower when eyeglasses, goggles or respirator straps are worn between the sealing surface of the earmuff cushions and the sides of the wearer's head" ( 3M Peltor X-Series data sheet). If Dad wears glasses, our guide to ear protection with glasses covers the fix.

The Z87+ mark. HexArmor, a safety-eyewear maker, explains that you'll see "a '+' next to the Z87" marking on the sidearm if the eyewear passed the high-impact standard (HexArmor). Every pair we rank carries a high-impact rating on the maker's page.

Calibers and models. The cleaning kit and the loader both list what they fit. Match his guns to the list before you buy, and ask rather than guess.

What TSA actually requires. A maker's "TSA" line is the maker's claim, not TSA approval of a trip. TSA says firearms must be "unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container and transported as checked baggage only", that "locked cases that can be easily opened are not permitted", and to "declare each firearm each time you present it for transport as checked baggage" ( TSA). If he flies, he should check with the airline too.

Gift mistakes to skip

• A downgrade in disguise. A new muff with a lower NRR than his current one isn't an upgrade. Read his label first.
• Doubling up. If he just bought a bag or a kit, a second one sits in the closet. A quick word with his shooting buddy saves a return.
• Guessing the caliber. A 9mm/.40 loader won't help a .45 shooter. When in doubt, pick a gift that isn't caliber-specific.
• Handling his guns to check. Ask instead. The model and caliber are on the box and in the manual.
• Buying ammunition. Leave it to him. The NRA's rules say to use only the correct ammunition for your gun, and he knows what that is. We don't recommend or link ammunition.