Review of the RangeRunner XL Gun Cart

Back in 2016, I wrote an article entitled Build Your Own Gun Cart For 3-Gun Competition.  I used that cart for three seasons shooting not only 3-Gun, but also USPSA and Steel Challenge.  The baby-stroller-turned-gun-cart solution is a common one in the practical shooting sports, but it’s less than ideal.  I could detail a litany of issues I’ve experienced using a “tactical baby stroller” gun cart.  But all the problems one can experience with this solution come down to the fact that you’re using something designed to do one specific thing in a way it was never designed.  The ideal solution is to have a gun cart that was designed from the beginning to carry all the guns and related gear that a competitive shooter could require.  The fine folks at Range Tactical Gear have designed just such a cart – the RangeRunner Gun Cart.

As I’ve progressed in the competitive practical shooting sports, the value I place on all the non-shooting aspects of a match which can directly impact (both positively and negatively) the actual shooting has greatly increased.  The goal is to have the non-shooting factors enhance both my shooting success as well as the overall match experience.  Sure – I could “get by” without a gun cart at all.  I could lug all my guns, gear, and drinks from stage to stage.  But that would added fatigue that would no doubt detract from my match performance, and I’d probably pretty darn annoyed by the end of the match which is no fun.  Experience has taught me that a gun cart is the foundation on which success for all the non-shooting match factors is built.  The 1st piece of equipment any cart for nearly any match must transport is the range bag.  I’ve actually done a video on my choice of range bags, and how I have it set up.  The folks who are single-pistol match competitors might be thinking “why do I need a cart to carry my range bag, a pistol, and some ammo?  Because a good competitor will also be bringing at least a bottle of water per stage, as well as some food/snacks to make sure peak performance is never impacted by hunger or low blood sugar.  Add some video gear into the mix for getting great post-match video analysis of your performance (and for the ‘Grams) and even a single gun shooter really has more to haul around with them than would be advisable to carry on their person.

Range Tactical Gear makes several different models of carts which can be customized to individual preferences and needs.  For this review, I’ll be looking at the RangeRunner XL, as well as some of the optional accessories.  This cart has a 16″ wide base and is pre-loaded with 2 gun brackets (allowing for one long gun to be stored on each side of the cart) and 12” pneumatic (air inflated) wheels.  When the cart arrived to my home, next to no assembly was required – essentially I just had to attach the long gun mounts to either side of the cart, and the accessory items I purchased.  I had anticipated receiving a completely disassembled product that would take a couple of hours of putting on tiny bolts and screws – thankfully this was not the case.  In attaching the long gun mounts to the cart, one of the huge advantages of the cart became readily apparent – mounting holes (which appear to be much like Keymod rail mounting holes) on the black aluminum structural portions of the cart.  This mounting system provides the opportunity for lots of customization and add-on accessories to the cart, as well as an easy on/off for any attachments and accessories made for the RangeRunner XL.

Breaking down the RangeRunner XL for transport to and from a match is a breeze.  Remove one pin on the handle, pull up, and lay down – the cart folds up in a very neat, flat package:

If you make use of the long gun brackets, the upper two brackets will have to be removed to allow it the Range Runner to fold up properly – doing so only adds about a minute to the process, so no big deal.

One of my biggest complaints with using my “tactical baby cart” is that when you break it down, it’s like a big blob in the back of the SUV that takes up usable space.  With the RangeRunner XL, you can easily stack other stuff around and on top of the cart when it’s broken down for transport.  If you carpool to a match with buddies, you’ll appreciate the extra cargo space this cart gives you in your vehicle as compared with other solutions.  At just 35 lbs. in weight, you won’t break your back getting in and out of your vehicle either.

Notice that I have a LOT of extra room available in my SUV – room I never had using a baby stroller:

In terms of loading the RangeRunner XL with gear, here’s a couple of photos of how I set the cart up for a 3-Gun match:

In the first photo, you can see I have my large 3-Gun range bag sitting in the bottom of the cart.  I also have a cooler where I keep drinks and snacks – a critical part of my match gear.  Next to the cooler I have a large ammo can which can easily hold all the ammunition I need to make it through a match.  The cart is rated for carrying up to 160 lbs. – certainly more than what most baby carts are designed to carry.  I could, for example, but an entire case of water underneath the large range bag.  The long gun brackets on the RangeRunner XL have elastic bands which can be used to ensure the guns they hold don’t bounce out – the Keymod like mounting holes make them infinitely adjustable to accommodate the size of whatever long gun they hold.  Your long guns will be far more securely held than the Kolpin style mounts that most guys put on a baby stroller.

In the above photos, you can see I have both the optional accessory umbrella bracket (a $50.00), and drink holder attached.  I took the the cart out onto my deck and snapped a couple of photos with my umbrella:

If you like my star-spangled umbrella, you can order one from Amazon by clicking here.

The drink/cup holder pack (a $35.00 optional accessory) actually comes with two bottle holders and two white plastic water bottles which can be mounted on the back of the cart:

I only needed to mount one of them for my purposes, so I opted to mount it directly to the cart handle – again, the system is almost infinitely configurable to the user’s preferences which is a huge plus over other carts.  You’ll also find the drink holders themselves will be compatible with a variety of other bottles and containers of similar size.

Both the umbrella backet and the drink holders are must-have accessories.  You might be thinking that the umbrella is just a nice-to-have accessory to keep your guns and equipment dry during a pop-up rain shower – but that’s only a small part of the utility.  We’ve all been to those matches in the middle of July with double-digit humidity and high temperatures approaching 100 degrees or more.  In these conditions, staying properly hydrated is critical, as well as trying to stay cool.  An umbrella to stand under to block the sun beating down on you makes all the difference in maintaining your peak performance.  Similarly, having a good container that can keep liquids cool during an entire match is key. Having a good, secure spot to keep that drink container means you won’t leave it on a table somewhere or have it fall out of the cart while moving between stages.  Any temperatures over about 75 degrees and I bring along the umbrella bracket.  Less than that, and it stays in the car.  Options are good.

I was super impressed with the RangeRunner XL during the very first match where I used it.  It was easy to push and maneuver over the variety of terrain you encounter at most ranges – lots of gravel and dirt paths.  More importantly, all the items in my cart were secure while the cart was moving and bouncing.  Other make-shift solutions I’ve used were nowhere close to being this easy and comfortable to use.  The Kolpin mounts I used on my tactical baby cart were never completely secure, and I actually had longs fall off the cart on more than one occasion – something I just don’t see happening with the RangeRunner XL.  Above and beyond the performance, the cart itself drew lots of attention and compliments.  The cart looks more attractive and purpose-built than the baby-cart-turned-gun-cart I was using, which to be honest was a little embarrassing at times.  The Range Runner looks exactly like what it is – a professional gun cart.

Below is a photo of how I come equipped to a Summer match – umbrella bracket attached, and my “diva fan” – a Ryobi ONE+ Portable Fan, which you can read about by clicking here.  The fold out table on the RangeRunner XL has plenty of room for my ammo can, my fan, and space left over for me to use when reloading magazines.  It functions perfectly for my needs, makes every match more enjoyable, and more importantly helps ensure I’m performing optimally on each stage.

I think that anyone involved in any of the practical shooting sports would benefit greatly from one of the various Range Runner carts manufactured by Range Tactical Gear.    The Range Runner is a much better option than virtually any other solution out there, whether it be a homemade cart or one of the handful of carts designed specifically to haul guns and gear.

As a supplement to my written photo review, I’ve also recorded a video review of the RangeRunner XL: