What to Wear to a Shooting Range

If you’re heading to a shooting range for the first time, or even if you’re a regular shooter who’s never given it much thought, you’ve probably asked yourself: What to wear to a shooting range?

The honest answer? It’s simpler than most people think. You don’t need tactical gear or a special wardrobe. But there are a few practical guidelines that will protect you from the range’s biggest nuisance: hot brass. We’ve put together this guide, drawing on advice from experienced shooters and what we see every day here at Strip Gun Club in Las Vegas.

The Short Answer: Wear Normal Clothes With a Few Rules

The most common advice from experienced shooters is refreshingly simple: just wear clothes. Don’t overthink it. That said, a few specific things can make your experience at the local range significantly more comfortable and safe, and a couple of items can cause real problems if you get them wrong.

Here’s the non-negotiable shortlist:

• Closed-toe shoes
• A crew neck or high-neckline shirt (no V-necks or low cuts)
• Long pants or jeans are recommended
• A baseball cap
• Eye and ear protection (provided at Strip Gun Club)

What to Wear to a Gun Range: Breaking It Down

When planning what to wear, it’s important to understand that most ranges follow a specific dress code designed for safety and comfort. Many indoor facilities recommend long sleeves to help protect your skin from hot brass ejected during firing, as well as potential contact with surfaces exposed to frequent shooting.

This dress code can differ slightly from an outdoor range, where airflow and open space may reduce some of these concerns, but protection is still key. Regardless of the setting, proper clothing helps minimize risks associated with flying casings and close proximity to active ammunition. General suggestions are as follows:

Shoes: Closed-Toe, Always

This is the one rule that the majority of gun ranges enforce, and the one most likely to catch first-timers off guard when they show up in flip-flops. Hot brass casings eject unpredictably from semi-automatic firearms and can land directly on your feet.

Sneakers, boots, or any sturdy closed-toe shoe works perfectly. Steel toes aren’t necessary, since you just need coverage.

At Strip Gun Club, closed-toe shoes are strongly recommended for every guest. Sandals and open-toed footwear are not appropriate for the range.

Shirt: Crew Neck or Higher

This is where many first-timers get an unpleasant surprise. If you wear a low-cut top, V-neck, shirts with spaghetti straps, or anything that creates an opening at your chest or neckline, a flying brass casing will eventually find its way in. And when it gets stuck against your skin, it’s going to burn.

“I have a lovely scar that makes me encourage NOT wearing a V-neck t-shirt.”

“I don’t think I would handle a shell down my shirt well. Crewneck shirt and a large bandana tied around my neck when it’s warm and turtlenecks when it’s cold.”

Crew-neck t-shirts are the gold standard. Long-sleeved shirts add extra coverage, but short sleeves are fine as long as the neckline stays closed. Avoid anything strapless, sleeveless, or with a plunging neckline. One more fabric note: avoid polyester. Hot brass can melt synthetic fabric onto skin. Cotton is your friend.

We suggest avoiding low-cut shirts due to the risk of hot casing ejection. Comfortable, fitted clothing is what we recommend.

Pants: Long Pants Are Best, Shorts Are Manageable

Long pants, jeans, cargo pants, and chinos give your legs protection from bouncing brass and debris. Many experienced shooters simply wear whatever they have on.

Can you wear shorts? Yes. Many indoor shooting ranges allow it, and plenty of shooters do it, especially in hot weather. If you’re at a gun range in Las Vegas in July, shorts are understandable. Just know what you’re signing up for.

One situation where pants are essential: if you’re shooting from a prone position. Long pants are a must.

The Baseball Cap: Underrated and Essential

This one surprises most people. A baseball cap seems like optional casual wear, but range veterans swear by it, and for one specific reason: keeping hot casings out of the gap between your safety glasses and your face.

A cap with a firm brim deflects casings before they have a chance to lodge behind your eyewear. Baseball caps, boonie hats, visors, anything with a brim works. This is one piece of range gear that earns its keep every single session.

Jewelry: Leave It at Home

Large earrings, dangling necklaces, and chunky bracelets can catch on firearms and equipment. Rings that don’t fit well can affect your grip. Keep it minimal. A watch is generally fine, but everything else is best left at home.

Fit Matters: Avoid Baggy or Loose Clothing

Loose, flowing, or overly baggy clothing can snag on a firearm’s action, get caught on range equipment, or trap hot casings against your skin rather than letting them fall away. Well-fitting clothes, not tight, just non-billowing, keep you focused and comfortable.

Eye and Ear Protection: Required at Strip Gun Club

Eye and ear protection aren’t optional. They’re mandatory on our firing line, and for good reason.

Eye protection guards against ejected brass, airborne particles, and unburned powder. Wrap-around safety glasses offer the best coverage. We provide loaner eye protection at Strip Gun Club.

For hearing, the options range from simple foam earplugs to electronic earmuffs that amplify normal conversation while cutting out gunfire instantly. Many experienced shooters double up, foam plugs under earmuffs, for maximum protection.

One hat-and-earmuff note: if your hat has a thick crown or you pull a hoodie up, it can break the seal on your earmuffs and reduce their effectiveness. Wear your muffs first, then adjust your hat.

What Not to Wear to an Indoor Shooting Range

• Sandals, flip-flops, slides, open-toed shoes, or high heels
• Low-cut tops, V-necks, scoop necks, strapless, or sleeveless shirts
• Baggy, loose, or flowing clothing
• Large dangling earrings, chunky necklaces, or bangles
• Polyester fabrics (hot brass can melt them onto skin)
• Hoodies worn up on the range (breaks earmuff seal)
• Clothes you genuinely care about. Gun oil, solvent, and powder residue will stain

What About Lead Contamination?

If you’ve done any reading before your range visit, you may have come across concerns about lead exposure. Here’s the practical reality.

Lead enters the air from primer ignition, which is the main exposure pathway at an indoor shooting range, not the brass casings or your clothing. Modern indoor ranges use HVAC systems that significantly reduce airborne lead. The trace amounts that settle on your clothes represent a very low exposure risk for occasional shooters.

That said, a few simple habits go a long way:

• Wash your hands thoroughly as soon as you leave the range, before touching your face or eating
• Shower when you get home if you want an extra layer of precaution
• Toss your range clothes in the wash when you get home
• If you shoot frequently or have young children at home, consider D-Lead laundry detergent and hand soap for added peace of mind
• Keep a dedicated pair of range shoes and take them off at the door

The community’s consensus is clear: basic hand-washing after every session covers the vast majority of your risk. Separate range clothes are a nice-to-have for frequent shooters, not a necessity for occasional visitors.

Dressing for Your Visit to Strip Gun Club Las Vegas

Most of our guests are tourists, people in town for a few days who want a memorable Las Vegas experience. You’re not expected to show up in tactical gear. Here’s what works:

• The outfit you wore to walk the Strip: Wear comfortable jeans and a t-shirt combo. Just swap sandals for sneakers
• Comfortable athletic or casual clothing
• Closed-toe shoes from your hotel room, not the sandals from the pool
• A baseball cap, if you have one, grab a souvenir one on the Strip if not

We provide all safety equipment. Our Range Safety Officers will walk you through everything before you step onto the firing line.

Ready to Visit Strip Gun Club?

Now you know exactly what to wear. The rest is on us. At Strip Gun Club Las Vegas, we welcome first-timers and experienced shooters alike, right here on the Strip. Our Range Safety Officers handle the briefing, the gear, and the instruction; you just show up in your sneakers and a t-shirt.