What to Bring

The most common question we are asked is “what to bring?” This page provides some guidelines that will ensure you have the best experience at one of our events. The specific products and vendors below are just suggestions or examples of a type of product that may work well for you. There are many other similar gear options.

All Events

• Our volunteers are neither gunsmiths nor armorers; please ensure your firearm is safe and functional!
• Eye and ear protection is required at all events.  We highly suggest electronic ear protection as it makes it easier to hear instruction and line commands.
• Use only the correct ammunition for your gun. Most guns have the proper ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Do not shoot without the proper ammunition. Revere’s Riders strongly suggests the use of factory ammunition. Handloads are generally not necessary at our service-rifle and pistol inspired events—originally these events were intended to be fired with bulk issue “ball” ammunition!
• Dress appropriately for a day outside at a firing range (closed-toe shoes, high neck shirts, long sleeves if weather allows, etc). Our events occur rain or shine. Dress for the weather!
• Avoid loose-fitting clothing, especially around the neck line. You don’t want hot brass going down your shirt!
• A hat with brim will keep the sun out of your eyes and deflect any hot brass headed towards your face.
• Bring a pad and paper for taking notes.
• Bring a pen or marker for taking notes and marking your targets.
• You may want to bring gloves. They protect your hands in inclement weather and also keep your hands from getting torn up working through drills.
• A towel or mat is useful for using in the prone position as well as covering your firearm in inclement or hot weather during breaks.
• A folding chair is nice to have during lunch and history presentations.
• For full day events, pack a lunch (note that a few events will provide lunch; the event listing will specify if lunch will be provided).
• Bring snacks and water. Proper hydration is essential—in the summer plan on one quart per hour as a rule of thumb and supplement your water with sports drinks, salty snacks, etc.

Recommended General Safety Equipment

Below is a list of equipment that our instructors have found to be functional, durable and useful:

Rifle 125 (Basic Rifle)

Most important is to bring a safe and functional rifle. If you haven’t cleaned your rifle, setting aside time before the event to clean it would be a good idea. If you have doubts about the safety of your rifle, now would be a good time to have it looked over by a qualified gunsmith or armorer.

• Rifle Type: Any action type will do, but a magazine-fed semiautomatic rifle will be least frustrating for most shooters.
• Caliber: Most basic rifle events are primarily conducted at reduced ranges from 25 to 100 yards. A .22 LR caliber rifle is ideal for these events as it is much less expensive to shoot.
• Magazines: If using a magazine-fed rifle, bring at least two magazines (four is suggested).
• Sights/Optics: Any sights will do, but a basic practical optic of ~4x power or aperture-style iron sights will optimize your experience. For iron sights, many students enjoy Tech Sights as a good upgrade to the basic Ruger 10/22.
• Slings: The rifle should have a sling; a USGI web sling is best but any two point sling is fine.
• Mat: Bring a mat or pad to lie on. We will spend a lot of time in the prone position.

Recommended Rifle 125 Equipment

Below is a list of equipment that our instructors have found to be functional, durable and useful:

Pistol 100 (Basic Pistol)

Most important is to bring a safe and functional pistol. If you haven’t cleaned your pistol, setting aside time before the event to clean it would be a good idea. If you have doubts about the safety of your pistol, now would be a good time to have it looked over by a qualified gunsmith or armorer. Please note that you should leave any pistol that is not “drop safe” at home (see below).

• Pistol Type: We suggest a full-size service or target pistol. Examples include a Ruger Mark IV target pistol, a S&W M&P full size, a Glock 17, a 1911, or a Ruger GP-100 model. There are many more service and target pistols available — the previous list is just a short set of common examples. That said, if you want to learn to shoot your compact pistol better then we will teach you on the platform you bring.
• Caliber: Any caliber (rimfire or centerfire, .22LR to .45 ACP) will do. However, those new to pistol shooting will likely benefit from beginning with a pistol chambered for .22LR due to the reduced recoil.
• Magazines: If you have a magazine fed pistol, at least two magazines will be helpful.
• Holsters: Basic pistol events will not require a holster. We run a cold range and will not be drawing from the holster in the basic class. Of course, you may bring a holster to use for wearing your sidearm before and after the event.
• Drop safe pistol: Older single-action pistols manufactured before the 1980s and lacking a transfer bar safety are the most common type of pistol that lack drop safe design features, as do some military surplus imports from Eastern bloc countries, Taurus PT-series pistols not fixed during an international safety recall in 2015, Walther CCP series pistols not fixed during a safety recall in 2017, Sig P320 pistols not fixed during a safety upgrade in 2017, and Canik pistols not fixed during a Severe Duty Upgrade in 2017. These pistols may discharge if dropped and pose a potential safety hazard to our volunteers and students and are not permitted. If you have concerns about the safety features of your pistol you should have it inspected by an armorer or gunsmith before the event.

Recommended Pistol 100 Equipment

Below is a list of equipment that our instructors have found to be functional, durable and useful:

Rifle 223 (Carbine)

Most important is to bring a safe and functional rifle. If you haven’t cleaned your rifle, setting aside time before the event to clean it would be a good idea. If you have doubts about the safety of your rifle, now would be a good time to have it looked over by a qualified gunsmith or armorer.

• AR-15: The default assumption is that students will bring an AR-15 style carbine. If you bring a different type of carbine or rifle please coordinate with the event director. If ammunition cost prohibits you from attending, most learning can be accomplished on a rimfire trainer but there may be some activities not well suited to rimfire.  A shorter, lighter barrel configuration is most suitable (such as a 16″ A2 or pencil profile barrel) but a wide variety of rifle configurations are viable.
• Sights/Optics: Ideal sights are GI-style iron aperture sights, a red dot optic (such as an AimPoint), a low-powered fixed optic of no more than 4X power (such as an ACOG), or a variable power optic of 1–4x or 1–6x power.
• Sling: The carbine should have a two point sling. A USGI web sling is ok, but you may prefer a sling with adjustable length such as the VTAC 2-Point adjustable sling.
• Magazines & Gear: Students should bring at least four magazines (six are preferred). Students should be able to carry at least one magazine in a quick, accessible manner: pants with an appropriate pocket on the support side, a magazine pouch, or a belt magazine carrier are fine. Additional magazines should be able to be carried in pockets or pouches. If you use duty gear (chest rig, load bearing belt, etc) for work or competition bring your normal gear. Instructors may have some loaner gear for carrying magazines.
• Be Ready to Move: The firing line will move back and forth as you shoot at different ranges from 7 to 100 yards.  We will revisit the gear line periodically between drills to grab fresh ammunition and hydrate but you may want to have a few comfort items in your pockets (snacks, chap stick, etc) in addition to your magazines and ammunition as described above.
• Mat or Knee/Elbow Pads: We may be spending some time in the prone position and you may want to bring a shooting mat or knee/elbow pads for comfort.

Recommended Rifle 223 Equipment

Below is a list of equipment that our instructors have found to be functional, durable and useful:

Pistol 145 (Intro to Defensive Pistol)

Most important is to bring a safe and functional pistol. If you haven’t cleaned your pistol, setting aside time before the event to clean it would be a good idea. If you have doubts about the safety of your pistol, now would be a good time to have it looked over by a qualified gunsmith or armorer. Please note that you should leave any pistol that is not “drop safe” at home (see below).

• Pistol Type: We suggest you bring the pistol you intend to conceal carry.
• Caliber: Since this course is geared towards those that will conceal carry their pistol, a pistol chambered in a center-fire caliber is highly recommended. Generally, this means 9x19mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP or similar; you can get by with .380 ACP but many consider this caliber to be borderline effective.
• Magazines: A minimum of two magazines are necessary to participate in our defensive pistol courses without having to resort to reloading of magazines during a drill. More magazines are better; especially if you have a “low capacity” pistol that utilizes magazines that hold less than 10 rounds.
• Holsters: You will need a quality holster (either IWB or OWB; appendix, small-of-the-back, shoulder and other holsters are not permitted) that FITS YOUR PISTOL. Your holster should completely cover the trigger guard to prevent an unintentional discharge while your pistol is holstered. Retention holsters are not recommended as they add extra complexity to the draw stroke that is really more appropriate in more advanced courses.
• Magazine Carriers: You will want a comfortable method of carrying extra magazines on your person. Generally, this means a carrier designed for 1-2 magazines that is positioned on your weak side opposite your holster. In a pinch, you can get by with carrying extra magazines in a pocket.
• Drop safe pistol: Older single-action pistols manufactured before the 1980s and lacking a transfer bar safety are the most common type of pistol that lack drop safe design features, as do some military surplus imports from Eastern bloc countries, Taurus PT-series pistols not fixed during an international safety recall in 2015, Walther CCP series pistols not fixed during a safety recall in 2017, Sig P320 pistols not fixed during a safety upgrade in 2017, and Canik pistols not fixed during a Severe Duty Upgrade in 2017. These pistols may discharge if dropped and pose a potential safety hazard to our volunteers and students and are not permitted. If you have concerns about the safety features of your pistol you should have it inspected by an armorer or gunsmith before the event.

Recommended Pistol 145 Equipment

Below is a list of equipment that our instructors have found to be functional, durable and useful:

Rifle 262 (Field Rifle)

Most important is to bring a safe and functional rifle. If you haven’t cleaned your rifle, setting aside time before the event to clean it would be a good idea. If you have doubts about the safety of your rifle, now would be a good time to have it looked over by a qualified gunsmith or armorer.

• Rifle: These events will require a centerfire rifle.
• Caliber: Your rifle will need to be chambered in a caliber capable of reaching targets at up to 400 yards downrange. In general, this includes just about any center-fire rifle caliber. Note that a “pistol caliber carbine” chambered in a pistol caliber such as 9x19mm, .40 S&W or .45 ACP will not be appropriate for this course.
• Sights/Optics: GI-style iron aperture sights with the ability to dial in elevation adjustments, a low-powered fixed optic of no more than 4.5X power (such as an ACOG), or a variable power optic of 1–4x or 1–6x power. Some shooters may prefer a little more magnification; something like a 2.5-10x is also fine.
• Outdoors: These events often require a full day or weekend outside in the elements. Some ranges are remote and the firing line may be a walk from the parking lot. Bring everything you need for a day outside.
• Be Ready to Move: At many ranges the firing line will move back and forth as you shoot at different ranges from 100 to 600 yards. Pack efficiently using a backpack, load bearing gear, etc so that you can move from place to place. Plan on having a method to keep magazines and other key gear close at hand while moving about the range.
• Day Hike Gear: A basic first aid kit to include moleskin for blisters, sunscreen/sunburn treatment, insect bite relief and other basic supplies that you might bring on a day hike is appropriate.

Recommended Rifle 262 Equipment

Below is a list of equipment that our instructors have found to be functional, durable and useful: