Do you know anyone who doesn’t own at least one five-gallon bucket from Lowe’s or Home Depot? Maybe you one left over from a painting job you did or some drywall work. If you own one, you have everything you need for a range “bag.” And if you don’t, you can pick one up at your local big box store for about $5.00.

The Survival Bucket Cover lets you convert that plastic bucket into a pretty handy and functional range “bag” that lets you tote a lot of gear. It was made by a guy named Jason Hanson (you may have seen him here), a former CIA agent, an author, and the proprietor of a couple of sights selling his books, gear and tactical advice for survival in a variety of scenarios.

His Survival Bucket Cover is simple, well-designed nylon canvas sleeve much like the one some carpenters and construction workers use. The insert is sized perfectly to slip into a five-gallon bucket with loads of pockets and MOLLE connection points to hold everything you want or need to take to the range.

The 600D nylon Survival Bucket Cover slips into the bucket and secures with two Velcro straps, one on each side.

On one side are four rifle-size magazine pockets with MOLLE attachments (because tactical).

On the other side are four pistol magazine-size pockets with the website subtly embroidered near the top.

Inside the bucket are 12 sewn-in pockets of various sizes.

They give you loads of options for carrying more mags, a bore snake, a flashlight, a knife, a multi-tool, cleaning gear…whatever. And the bottom is, well, a bucket. Load it up with ammo, eyes, ears, a cleaning kit, first aid kit, a mat, or as much other stuff as you can carry.

The Survival Bucket Cover is a well-made, functional way to load up your gear for the range in a handy, easily toted package.

It’s not fancy, it won’t wow your friends, and it’s not a ground-breaking design, though I haven’t seen another “tactical” design like it outside of sleeves designed to hold tools. It is, however, made in America of quality materials that are put together well with tough stitching that will hold up to a lot of use.

The downside is, at $59, it probably costs $15 or $20 more than you’d expect. You can get a decent range bag for that amount, though it won’t be as flexible or carry as much gear as this set-up does. The Survival Bucket Cover may not be ideal for every situation, but works really well for a lot of your range trips. It’s a good product that I like and will use. It’s quicker to pack up and unload gear and holds more than other range bags I own.

 

 

 

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36 COMMENTS

  1. thank you for this! as a new gun owner (Winchester bolt action) i have been looking for a good range bag

  2. Looks more like a Lowes bucket to me.

    Too much money on magazines and not enough on a range bag. Atleast get one of the white buckets from Home Depot with the Texas Flag. But calling it a ‘survival’ or a ‘spy’ bucket is just ridiculous.

    • I think you missed what this really is, it is the ultimate “spy bucket 🪣” disguised as a range bag! The fact that spy is plastered on the side makes it the ultimate covert pale to keep all of your super-secret CIA equipment. Nobody is going to believe that you carry spy tools inside of a 🪣 that is clearly marked, “spybucket.com!” It’s apparent that even Dan missed the point on this one! 🤣

      • I would rather spend my money on an actual range bag. This kinda thing would make my presence at the firing line seem more like I’m not very serious about what I’m doing. It looks more like something just thrown together at the last second. I don’t even use buckets for regular hand tools. That’s what tools boxes are for.

        That said, I do have a 5 gallon bucket that gets used for separating cases from cleaning media with my vibratory cleaner. Works quite well for that.

        The label of ‘spy’ just makes it over the top ridiculous. I’m not there for the opinions of others. My range time is about my skills.

  3. My 1st thoughts were “Hey that is a clever idea. Costs probably about $30-$35. Might just order 2. One for me and one for a son, or perhaps one each for all 3 sons.
    But $60 bucks! Holy Moly! That’s a bit rich for me so I’ve given up my thoughts of ordering 4 of these range kits and continue using one of my existing range bags.
    My boys can use their own range bags that I’ve given them over the years.

  4. Hi Dan,
    Great idea. I hope you get a big spiff from each sold from the TTAG website.
    I have a good idea, also. Tell http://www.spybucket.com that they should create a
    real range bag that doesn’t need the bucket. My favorite range wants all the
    firearms brought into their facility to be concealed completely. Love that TTAG!

      • You may not be paid, but come on….it’s a range bag that requires you to provide the material. It does it fact…SUCK! For that amount of money I could buy a top end bag that covers all of my needs.Stop shilling for cheap BS.

    • Engineer

      Bucket is good for the backyard range. Easy to carry, sits nice.

      The point you mention about the high-falutin’ uptown range is something that never crossed my backwoods mind.

      l will continue to avoid commercial ranges. But maybe someday I will try one of the cool paper targets with the circles.

      If it sounds like I am bragging, good catch, I am. My time is probably coming, tho.

      • Most people are not lucky enough to have a backyard range. If I had that I wouldn’t feel much need to go to commercial ranges either.

        • It ain’t that I am remote – it is just that assholes that live nearby shoot more than l do. Way more.

          Yes, it is nice. Makes reloading enjoyable 10x. If/when gentrification occurs, I will build a static silencer to shoot thru, to reduce the war zone vibe.

  5. My latest range bag came from my local Goodwill for 5 bucks. I think it was a camcorder bag in a previous life…

    • I just use a walmart plastic tool box that I’ve had for years. I have one set up for the range and one that I set up for different hunting seasons.

    • Similar. I bought a Husky tool bag at Home Depot for $12. Hit it with some spray paint and glued a Gadsden flag patch to it. That thing carries a LOT of ammo.

    • I was given a nice waxed canvas Midway brand range bag for Christmas last time around. The one I was using was a birthday gift almost five years ago. Enjoy them both and are thankful for having such thoughtful people in my life.

  6. Hmmmm…I have A LOT of hand tools….really…a lot. I have four buckets outfitted with similar tool pockets. That is in addition to my tool bag for electrical work, and a too-large tool box for drills and drill accessories. A couple of other tool boxes around the house so the most commonly need implements are always close to hand. Then, more for larger power tools like circular saws and a hammer chisel.

    Had not thought about a bucket for the range. Now, I will. Guessing the bucket outfit from Home Depot will do just fine. It is only $17. Thank you for the great suggestion!

    • It may be ¼ the price at Home Depot but it says “Husky” instead of “Spybucket”.
      You’re paying for the prestige of a genuine Spybucket.

  7. I don’t get it.

    If you fill the middle (Will you ever? That would be thousands of rounds!) you’re covering and/or squeezing the inside pockets.

    If you don’t, you’re carrying about a gallon of capacity in a six-gallon volume (more like eight, because round), and the dead weight of a bucket that isn’t adding any value.

  8. Until I saw the pic, I couldn’t imagine what the jumble of words “Survival Bucket Cover Range ‘Bag’ even meant. Now I know. It’s basically the Bucket tool organizer I got at Home Depot for $15, but 4x that price because it hold magazines instead of wrenches.

    • Thanks! Gotta a Home Depot a mile from us. I usually throw stuff into a canvas bag. And I carry my rifle in a nifty case. Ditto shotgun & handguns. I’m old and don’t care if I’m cool…

  9. A Kobalt branded bucket tool carrier from Lowes is about $15. Add a new $5 bucket and it is still half the price. Spend the difference on some ammo.

  11. Hanson goes to Lowe’s, sees five gallon buckets and decides he has too much time on his hands and invents a 5 gallon bucket cozy with pockets for the OCD in you.

  13. Overall, I like the general idea, but I see a few problems.

    Everybody’s magazine pouch needs are going to be different, at different times and days. I don’t follow the same script for each range session. One day I might do mostly rifles, and few if no handguns. Or *whatever*. With that design, you have only so may of this, and so many of that. It could be improved with velcro ammo pouches to fit your needs of the day, but at a price-point as high as this one already is, it’s not gonna be selling.

    I with the company well, but I’ll be surprised if it does well…

  14. Confessions of a confirmed “Brass Rat”.

    The sheer amount of people who “fire once and forget” their brass is a boon for those of us who reload. I have a set of the plastic brass sorter trays and an old 5 gal bucket that go to the range with me. Both ranges (private clubs) that I frequent don’t care if you scrounge brass from the ground or from the brass can / trash can. The sorters and zip-lock bags allow me to segregate the brass by cartridge and the bucket allows me to carry it all home for cleaning. Hand wipes to de-lead my hands after picking and screening complete the process.

    Back to the subject at hand…guns, ammo and accessories are transported by genuine “Box Store” tool bags that zip closed for the safety and security of the contents.

    • “he sheer amount of people who “fire once and forget” their brass is a boon for those of us who reload

      I bring a push broom to the range for just such an occasion.

      I gather it *all*, and sort it later…

      • Good morning Geoff,

        There are many ways to skin a Brass.

        I preemptively screen out all the .22, steel cased, and odd cartridges that neither I, nor my buddies, use at the range leaving them for someone who might have a use for them (a local knifemaker occasionally collects .22 brass and leftover, stray brass to melt down and make brass forgings for his custom knives)…every year, he makes a few, small, brass “monkey balls” castings as a novelty gift for jokers complaining about our cold winters!

  15. It’s missing something crucial: A lid. Range bags typically have zip closures so that if things go topsy-turvy, stuff doesn’t go flying about. Even a top drawstring closure would be a big improvement.

  16. This kind of thing has been common on sport fishing boats around here for years. It works. My son uses something similar to carry a lot of his tools at work. Stands to reason that someone would think to take one to the range.

  17. The best use for this is to take a bucketful of new Yeet Cannons around for the ultimate New York reload.

  20. y’all lookin’ at the difference between american labor and materials and uyghur sewers and cutters.
    what if it was made in turkiye?

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