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One of THOSE Days

I have two boxes I bring to the range. One is cleaning, maintenance, and repair type stuff and stays in the truck unless needed. The other is range essentials.

I also have an art portfolio that contains targets.

Those three are always packed and ready to go.

If I have those three items in the truck I have less other things to worry about.

I need firearms, ammo, magazines, and my badge for the club.

I might need steel targets if I am using them.

The range go boxes and target bag make things a lot easier.

I am leaving on a Canadian ice fishing trip on Friday morning. I have a list I have used for years. I just update it. Hope I do not forget anything.
 
Make yourself an inventory list (checklist) for the range, and check things off as they are loaded into your vehicle. I did this and assigned the responsibility of completion to an instructor each time. We went to multiple training areas and ranges daily and things were always getting left behind prior to doing that…used to really p!$$ me off!😂
Yes. As an old Army aviator, check lists were always mandatory. Even before my stint in the mil and as a kid, I learned this from my dad who served in the Navy during WW II and Korea. Fortunately, I have never left ammo or other important things behind due to this practice. Similarly we make lists before any vacation trip.

When leaving for a hunting trip, I always make sure to pack at least 5 rounds in the gun case with each firearm. This way if I ever do forget an ammo box, I have enough ammo to hunt with.
 
Headed to my club range around noon today to test some 196 HH in my 300WM and 195 Bergers in my 280 Ackley. After a scenic 20 mile drive on a warm afternoon, I got everything set up when I realized I forgot to bring paper targets. After a search of the trash receptacles failed to turn up anything useable, I packed up the truck and made the 5 mile drive to the nearest hardware store. Happy that I had salvaged my day, I unloaded all the gear and hung targets only to discover I had forgotten my 300WM ammo. Expletives spewed forth but not one to be denied, I pulled out the 280AI only to find the bolt missing. You guessed correctly if you guessed It was sitting 20 miles away on my bench alongside the targets and 300WM ammo. Admitting defeat and having nothing else to shoot, I drove t9 the nearest bar and commenced turning my frown upside down. There's always tomorrow.
THANK YOU! You brought a smile sharing MISERY! My son and DIL bought us new recliners and were delivered Sat. Monday morn, I took old ones to local landfill. Paid then found out they closed the drop off behind scale house and now have to drive up onto trash mountain to unload for dozer! Are you kidding me?! Driving up to top, crappy rutted so called road dodging trash trucks coming down my wife says " wow what a savings paying $25 to do this"! Sometimes you just say "you are right"! Got to the "summit" of trash mountain and backing up short tongue box trailer on really soft rutted deep compacted trash was epic. Got to spot, dumped recliners and drove off the new ski resort in future. On way home, wife says be miracle if we didn't get flat. Couple minutes later TPS warning dings and yep low tire warning! Pulled over off should, got out to look and didn't have to go a step . I could see a large nail buried in sidewall of my Firestone Transforce AT2 10 ply tire. Expletives then prayed enough air to get home about 5 miles. Got home, called AAA since bad back and tires weigh prob 75#'s. Said 45 min! Cool beans! 3 hours later get call from AAA saying on the way. This kind knowledgeable lady then asked me if I had a floor jack and tools for the service truck to use. 🤬😱🤬😱👀 I jumped down her throat somewhat politely asking what am I paying AAA for? I pay AAA to send qualified mechanic with their own tools. She then told me you can't expect them to have everything. Seriously are you kidding me?! I told her if I give them tools I am liable for any injury! She DIDN'T care! Not done with them yet. So truck shows up with 2 guys, one older than me which was scary. They got tire changed and left. Their flatbed left two large oil pools on my concrete driveway as parting gift. As result, tires that have enough tread to go to fall are now being replaced, $1215 unplanned. 🤬. So now the savings to get rid of old recliners versus paying someone to pick up was wonderful savings.

So how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?
 
Headed to my club range around noon today to test some 196 HH in my 300WM and 195 Bergers in my 280 Ackley. After a scenic 20 mile drive on a warm afternoon, I got everything set up when I realized I forgot to bring paper targets. After a search of the trash receptacles failed to turn up anything useable, I packed up the truck and made the 5 mile drive to the nearest hardware store. Happy that I had salvaged my day, I unloaded all the gear and hung targets only to discover I had forgotten my 300WM ammo. Expletives spewed forth but not one to be denied, I pulled out the 280AI only to find the bolt missing. You guessed correctly if you guessed It was sitting 20 miles away on my bench alongside the targets and 300WM ammo. Admitting defeat and having nothing else to shoot, I drove t9 the nearest bar and commenced turning my frown upside down. There's always tomorrow.
The older I get, the more I rely on lists...scribble down what needs to be in the truck before I leave over my last cup of coffee...

Of course the list is meaningless as I look through the window of my locked back door at my keys sitting next to my cell phone on top of the washing machine with my truck remotely started, running and locked behind me.
 
I have list and make copies and etc.But one year archery, I tuned my bow, then I pulled my spare bow out from back of truck and waxed string.In my hustle to get out early to Idaho. I forgot both bows.Realized this when I got to camp, I did have my recurve though, but that limited me to about 20 yrds.I did have a great call in with a 6by, just not close enough.
 
Or you can get to spot with your hunting bud, gearing up in dark, I hear him cuss up a storm looking over his gun case. First thought no ammo. Nope, empty gun case. He removed slug gun night before to dry out and did not replace it in morn. Never realized weight difference and I am like HOW!? He said 4AM pickup he is lucky to function! Of course I laughed not very well this morn! It was 11/2 hr drive to his house so he just sat next to me with binos. The conversation we had was priceless and we still laugh our butts off talking about it. He tells me Thank You Lord I didn't shoot big buck sitting next to me! Knowing the future recap hunting story would be even more brutal!
 
Headed to my club range around noon today to test some 196 HH in my 300WM and 195 Bergers in my 280 Ackley. After a scenic 20 mile drive on a warm afternoon, I got everything set up when I realized I forgot to bring paper targets. After a search of the trash receptacles failed to turn up anything useable, I packed up the truck and made the 5 mile drive to the nearest hardware store. Happy that I had salvaged my day, I unloaded all the gear and hung targets only to discover I had forgotten my 300WM ammo. Expletives spewed forth but not one to be denied, I pulled out the 280AI only to find the bolt missing. You guessed correctly if you guessed It was sitting 20 miles away on my bench alongside the targets and 300WM ammo. Admitting defeat and having nothing else to shoot, I drove t9 the nearest bar and commenced turning my frown upside down. There's always tomorrow.
You been hangin out with Biden???? 🤣
 
Here's the flip side. I was coming home from the range one day about to pull in my driveway and realized I left my Cooper Jackson Squirrel rifle AT The freakin' Range!! You want to talk panic attack!? Luckily it had been a weekday and there had been only a few people there who hadn't noticed I left it. Most of the guys know me there anyway but I cringe thinking about what could have happened!
 
Spur of the moment range trips are fraught with peril for me. I always take too much stuff, but also always seem to forget something I need. I'm envious of those with a range close to home. 45 minute drive for me.
 
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