RangeFest 2026: A Huge Weekend for Dirty Bird Guns & Ammo

RangeFest 2026 brought a full day of shooting, industry brands, first-time shooters, giveaways, fundraising, and nonstop activity to 5 Dogs Range in Bakersfield, California.

As the presenting sponsor, Dirty Bird Guns & Ammo was proud to be at the center of it all.

From the time the gates opened until the final shooters wrapped up for the day, RangeFest saw steady traffic, packed shooting lanes, busy vendor booths, and thousands of conversations between attendees, manufacturers, volunteers, and members of the local shooting community.

More importantly, the event once again showed what can happen when the firearms community comes together for a good cause.

A Strong Turnout From Near and Far

RangeFest attendees started arriving early, and the flow of people stayed consistent throughout the day.

While Bakersfield and Kern County showed up in a big way, this year’s event also attracted visitors from well outside California.

Attendees traveled from places including Utah, Delaware, North Carolina, Virginia, and even Australia to experience RangeFest at 5 Dogs Range.

That kind of turnout made the day feel like much more than a local range event. It brought together shooters from different backgrounds, experience levels, and parts of the country for one shared experience.

The M240 Had Everyone Talking

One attraction stood out almost immediately.

The M240 at the Dirty Bird Guns & Ammo booth became one of RangeFest 2026’s biggest draws.

Throughout the day, shooters lined up for a chance to get behind the legendary platform and experience something they normally wouldn’t get at a typical range day.

For some attendees, it was the highlight of the entire event.

Seeing the reactions afterward made it easy to understand why.

Helping New Shooters Get Comfortable

RangeFest isn’t only about experienced shooters trying new firearms.

One of the most important parts of the event is giving people new to shooting a safe, welcoming place to learn.

Several attendees experienced shooting for the first time during RangeFest 2026.

With trained staff and knowledgeable industry representatives throughout the shooting areas, new shooters could ask questions, learn proper handling, understand range safety, and take their first shots with someone there to guide them through the process.

Creating positive first experiences like that is a major reason Dirty Bird continues to support events like RangeFest.

More Than $8,000 Raised for Operation Second Chance

RangeFest 2026 also delivered where it mattered most.

The event raised more than $8,000 for Operation Second Chance, helping support wounded, injured, and ill veterans and their families.

That total came from the combined support of attendees, sponsors, vendors, raffle participants, volunteers, and everyone else who contributed.

Dirty Bird Guns & Ammo is incredibly proud to have been part of an event that brought people together for a great day at the range while also supporting an organization doing important work for veterans.

A $500 Win at the KUZZ Money Wheel

The shooting lanes weren’t the only place where attendees were having fun.

KUZZ 107.9 was on site helping keep the energy up throughout the day, and one RangeFester walked away with $500 from the KUZZ Money Wheel.

Between shooting, vendors, giveaways, raffles, food, entertainment, and opportunities to talk directly with manufacturers, there was always something happening somewhere around the range.

A Chance to Meet the Brands Behind the Products

One of the best parts of RangeFest is giving attendees access to the people behind the products they already use or have been considering.

Shooters had the chance to speak directly with manufacturers, handle products, ask technical questions, and in many cases test firearms, optics, accessories, and other equipment on the range.

That hands-on environment is hard to replicate anywhere else.

Instead of simply seeing a product online or behind a display case, attendees could experience products in a real shooting environment and talk directly with knowledgeable representatives.

The Companies That Helped Make It Happen

Dirty Bird Guns & Ammo was proud to serve as the presenting sponsor, but RangeFest 2026 was made possible through the support of a long list of companies, organizations, and local businesses.

Sponsors and supporters included 5 Dogs Range, Hornady, Vortex Optics, Breek Arms, Haddad Dodge, EOTECH, Beretta, Benelli, Springfield Armory, Q, Walther, CMMG, HOLOSUN, ATC, PACT, Smith & Wesson, Leupold, Savage, Trijicon, Daniel Defense, Action Sports, KC’s Steakhouse, Powers Firearm Training, Mantis, Blue Collar Blade, Ladies of Liberty, Dionysus Brewing, Crusader Brewing, American Off-Road, Bakersfield Jeep, KUZZ 107.9, Anheuser-Busch, and the many other vendors and organizations that helped support the event.

Each one played a part in creating the experience attendees enjoyed throughout the day.

Behind the Scenes at 5 Dogs Range

A major event like RangeFest doesn’t happen without a huge amount of behind-the-scenes work.

The team at 5 Dogs Range played a massive role in preparing the property, managing the shooting areas, supporting event logistics, and helping the day run smoothly.

Their facility let RangeFest offer a wide mix of shooting experiences, from handguns and rifles to longer-range shooting and other specialized areas.

Dirty Bird Guns & Ammo would like to thank the entire 5 Dogs team for their hospitality, hard work, and support before, during, and after the event.

Our Team Put in the Work

RangeFest also required an enormous effort from the Dirty Bird team.

Members of Dirty Bird Guns & Ammo spent countless hours preparing for the event, coordinating manufacturers, moving equipment, promoting the event, setting up booths, assisting shooters, supporting vendors, and handling logistics throughout the weekend.

Those hours started long before the gates opened.

We’re proud of everyone on the team who helped turn months of preparation into a successful event.

Thank You, RangeFesters

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who came out.

Thank you to Ladies of Liberty, the volunteers from Operation Second Chance, all event volunteers, the participating manufacturers, the 5 Dogs staff, and everyone who helped keep things moving.

And thank you to all you RangeFesters who spent the day with us.

Whether you came to try a new firearm, meet a manufacturer, shoot the M240, support Operation Second Chance, bring out the family, or simply enjoy a day at the range, you helped make RangeFest 2026 what it was.

Frequently Asked Questions

RangeFest 2026 brought together shooters, manufacturers, families, and first-time attendees for a full day at 5 Dogs Range. Here are a few quick answers about this year’s event and what’s coming next.

Next Stop: North Carolina

RangeFest may be finished in Bakersfield, but another event is already on the calendar.

RangeFest is headed to The Range @ True North in Oxford, North Carolina, on April 10.

More details will be announced as the event gets closer, so keep an eye on Dirty Bird Guns & Ammo and RangeFest for updates.

Bakersfield set the bar high.

We’re looking forward to doing it all over again.