RangeFest 2026 Brings the Shooting Community Together in Bakersfield

RangeFest 2026 brought shooters, manufacturers, families, first-time firearm owners, and industry enthusiasts together for a full day at 5 Dogs Range in Bakersfield, California, on September 19.

AR15Discounts.com was proud to help spread the word about an event that gave attendees something increasingly difficult to get online or through specifications: the chance to get behind the trigger, experience different firearms and products firsthand, and talk directly with people across the shooting industry.

From the opening of the gates through the final hours of the afternoon, RangeFest maintained steady attendance as guests moved between shooting stations, manufacturer displays, demonstrations, food, entertainment, and the event raffle.

A Chance to Try Before You Buy

One thing that makes an event like RangeFest different from a traditional trade show is that many products aren’t simply sitting behind a display table.

You can actually use them.

Throughout the range, attendees could experience firearms, optics, ammunition, accessories, and equipment from some of the industry’s most recognizable manufacturers.

That included brands such as Hornady, Vortex Optics, Breek Arms, EOTECH, Beretta, Benelli, Springfield Armory, Q, Walther, Smith & Wesson, Leupold, Savage, Trijicon, Daniel Defense, CMMG, HOLOSUN, Mantis, and others.

For shooters researching their next firearm, optic, or upgrade, that kind of hands-on experience can be valuable. Specifications can tell you a lot, but actually handling a product, looking through an optic, or firing a firearm gives you an entirely different perspective.

Experienced Shooters Weren’t the Only Ones on the Range

RangeFest welcomed more than longtime firearm enthusiasts.

One of the event’s highlights was watching new shooters experience the shooting sports for the first time.

Trained staff guided first-time shooters through the process in a controlled range environment. At each shooting station, guests could ask questions, receive instruction, learn proper firearm handling, and build confidence before getting behind the trigger.

That matters.

Growing the shooting community isn’t just about introducing people to new firearms or accessories. It’s also about giving new shooters a positive first experience centered around proper firearm handling, education, and range safety.

RangeFest created an environment where experienced shooters could have fun while someone completely new to firearms could participate alongside them.

One RangeFest Attraction Was Hard to Miss

Plenty of firearms were available to shoot throughout the property, but one attraction quickly became a crowd favorite.

The M240 at the Dirty Bird Guns & Ammo booth drew attention throughout the day and became one of the most talked-about shooting experiences at RangeFest 2026.

For most shooters, getting an opportunity to see an M240 up close is already unusual. The RangeFest experience around it made the Dirty Bird booth one of the busiest stops at the event.

It also captured what RangeFest is about: bringing out firearms and experiences attendees aren’t likely to encounter on an average trip to their local range.

More Than Just Shooting

Although firearms were obviously a major part of the event, there was plenty happening away from the shooting line.

Manufacturer booths gave attendees an opportunity to meet representatives, learn more about products, and ask questions directly. Vendors and local businesses were spread throughout the event, while entertainment, food, giveaways, and raffles kept things moving between trips to the firing line.

KUZZ 107.9 also joined the festivities, with one lucky attendee taking home $500 from the KUZZ Money Wheel.

RangeFest ultimately felt less like a typical range day and more like a gathering of the shooting community.

And that community traveled far to be there.

While Bakersfield and the greater Kern County area provided strong local support, RangeFest reported attendees from Utah, Delaware, North Carolina, Virginia, Arizona, and even Australia.

Supporting Operation Second Chance

Behind all the shooting, demonstrations, booths, and entertainment was an even more important purpose.

RangeFest 2026 helped raise more than $8,000 for Operation Second Chance, an organization supporting wounded, injured, and ill veterans and their families.

Attendees, sponsors, volunteers, raffle participants, and others contributed throughout the event.

That charitable component has become an important part of what RangeFest represents. The event gives the firearms community a chance to get together and enjoy a day at the range while also using that turnout to support veterans and their families.

Industry and Community Support Made It Possible

Events of this size don’t happen without many people working behind the scenes.

Dirty Bird Guns & Ammo served as the presenting sponsor, while 5 Dogs Range provided the venue and range facilities needed to accommodate the day’s shooting activities.

Support also came from national firearm, ammunition, and optics manufacturers alongside Bakersfield-area businesses, media partners, volunteers, instructors, and organizations including Ladies of Liberty and Operation Second Chance.

The result was an event that brought multiple parts of the firearms community together in one place rather than focusing exclusively on one type of shooter or product.

RangeFest Is Heading to North Carolina

Bakersfield may have wrapped up, but RangeFest isn’t finished.

The next RangeFest event is scheduled for April 10 at The Range @ True North in Oxford, North Carolina.

For shooters on the East Coast, it’ll be another opportunity to meet manufacturers, experience products firsthand, spend time on the range, and see what RangeFest is all about.

We’ll be keeping an eye on the details as the North Carolina event gets closer.

RangeFest 2026 FAQ

Have questions about RangeFest 2026? Here are a few quick answers covering the event, activities, participating brands, charity support, and what’s coming next.

Until the Next Range Day

RangeFest 2026 showed what can happen when manufacturers, retailers, ranges, experienced shooters, and newcomers all come together for the same event.

For some attendees, it was an opportunity to try products they’d been researching. For others, it was simply a chance to spend the day shooting. And for more than a few first-time shooters, it was their introduction to the shooting sports altogether.

Most importantly, everyone who participated supported Operation Second Chance and helped make an event that continues to bring the firearms community together.

A big thank you goes out to the RangeFest team, Dirty Bird Guns & Ammo, 5 Dogs Range, the manufacturers, sponsors, volunteers, instructors, Operation Second Chance, and everyone who made the trip to Bakersfield.

We’ll see you at the next one.