If you’re anything like me, you love handguns. It's typically all I really like to buy, shoot, and write about. This usually results in trips to the range with a handful of guns stuffed into my small 5.11 bag. It can be a bit overwhelming with all the extra magazines and ammo, not to mention heavy to carry with the single strap.

With my particular needs, I went in search of a range bag that could help me with my handgun addiction while still being comfortable and convenient to carry around. What I found was the G*Outdoors Handgunner bags. These are perfect for you if you’re a handgunner or looking for a gift for the one you know. Let’s dive into why.

Called the Handgunner for a Reason

This is a specially designed bag for handguns and has a unique foam cutout that is inserted into the front pocket of the bag. This gives you the ability to hold four guns in one place that protects them all. The compartment seems to favor full-size guns, but more on that in a minute. You could certainly store guns in other pockets in this backpack, but this is the compartment purpose-built for handguns.

I had one range trip where we had many guns to test, and I ended up needing to take seven handguns to the range. This fit them all very comfortably, with the extra three finding a home in the side pockets and top pocket. Speaking of which…

Large Pockets With Labels

G*Outdoors Handgunner backpack pockets
The labelled pockets for ear and eye protection are a nice touch. (Photo: Seth Rogers/Guns.com)
G*Outdoors Handgunner backpack pockets
The top pocket is especially spacious. (Photo: Seth Rogers/Guns.com)

One thing I really like about the Handgunner, besides the specialty compartment, is how large and accommodating all the other pockets are. Each of the side pockets have room for six magazines. So that makes 12 magazines in total plus the guns. I was able to not only fill them with mags but also fit another couple micro-compact pistols in each of the side pockets.

In addition to the two side pockets with plenty of space, there is also a very spacious top pocket, which easily fit the final micro-compact that couldn’t fit into the front compartment. What I really like about this top pocket, besides how big it is, is that there are smaller pockets with easy-to-identify labels for things like ear pro and eye pro. In fact, there are a couple of places for different types of ear pro.

Whether you want to pack plugs, muffs, or both, you have the room. All in all, there is plenty of room for anything you need to pack, including ammo.

There are also pockets for a stapler and bands to attach some rolled-up targets. They really thought of everything you need to bring to the range and then added a space for it in this bag.

G*Outdoors Handgunner backpack magazine pockets
Two side pockets have space for six mags each, but you can stuff a few more in if you want. (Photo: Seth Rogers/Guns.com)

Comfort, Sturdy Construction, and Variations

A shooter carries the G*Outdoors Handgunner backpack
The Handgunner carries comfortably. (Photo: Paul Peterson/Guns.com)

Let me start by saying I haven’t taken the Handgunner on any 3-mile hikes. In fact, I’ve only taken it out to the range a handful of times. So I can’t speak to the long-term durability of the bag, but it also wasn’t intended for long hikes into the wilderness either. Overall, the bag wears very comfortably and, even if I did feel like hiking with it, I wouldn’t think it would be an issue.

The straps are nicely padded and adjustable. The back of the bag is also padded and adds to the comfort when carrying it. Overall, the bag seems to be of very solid construction. There is one area that draws a bit of concern, and we’ll touch on that in a minute. 

I opted for the backpack-style bag, but there are also versions that feature wheels with a retractable handle that allows you to roll into the range like you would an airport terminal. It didn’t really seem to be a feature I would ever use, and I prefer to carry it on my back. Further, there are plenty of color variations as well. I went for the basic black with orange accents, but if you like camo patterns or more of an FDE color, then G*Outdoors has you covered. 

Areas of Concern

G*Outdoors Handgunner backpack at a range
Full-size guns sit just fine, but some micro-compact pistols tend to move around. I also wish the zippers were just a bit sturdier. (Photo: Seth Rogers/Guns.com)

There are really only two main areas of concern for me when using the Handgunner bag or telling someone to buy it. Let’s start with the least concerning one first.

I mentioned that the front compartment seemed to like full-size guns better. That’s because the micro-compact pistols I stashed in there seemed to move around a bit more. Namely, they have the room to tip forward in transit. This isn’t a dealbreaker by any means, as they are still in their designated slot, but they do jumble a bit more than the full-size guns, which stayed in place nicely. 

It would be cool if G*Outdoors offered different-sized inserts. So if you were a guy who loved pocket pistols or had a collection of Bond Arms derringers, you could swap out foam blocks and be set for the next range-time adventure without having to worry about the guns moving around.

The second area of concern for me is the zippers. I haven’t had any issues with any of the zippers so far, but I feel like I’ve had zippers that look like this in the past that malfunctioned. I guess only time will tell, and perhaps I’m judging a book by the cover here, but for how nice the rest of the bag is, I wish they had used better zippers.

Range gear
Despite my few concerns, the bag has held up so far, and it carries everything I've needed for a solid range trip with multiple handguns. (Photo: Seth Rogers/Guns.com)

Conclusion


Overall, I’ve been very impressed by the Hangunner bag from G*Outdoors and look forward to the many years of convenient service it’s bound to provide. If you’re a fan of handguns or looking for the perfect gift for someone who is, then look no further than the Handgunner bag from G*Outdoors. 

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