The short answer: Wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, and a shirt with a high neckline, and add a hat with a brim. At Shoot Indoors KOP, a shirt, pants, and closed-toe shoes are required. Open-toed shoes, low-cut shirts, shorts, and baggy clothing are not permitted. Eye and ear protection is required at all times on the range, and you can buy both at check-in if you don’t own them.
Almost every dress code question we get at the counter comes back to one thing: hot brass. Every time a gun cycles, it throws a spent casing out of the ejection port, and that casing is hot enough to burn skin. Our dress code exists so that brass bounces off fabric instead of landing on you, and so that nobody flinches with a loaded firearm in their hands. Below is the rule exactly as we enforce it, the reason behind each piece, and what to wear for different kinds of visits to our indoor range in King of Prussia, about 20 minutes from Center City Philadelphia.
Gun Range Dress Code at a Glance
| Item | Our rule | Why it matters |
| Shirt | Required. No low-cut shirts. | A high neckline keeps hot brass from dropping down your shirt. |
| Pants | Required. No shorts. | Covers your legs from brass that bounces off the stall and floor. |
| Shoes | Closed-toe required. No open-toed shoes. | Hot brass lands on the floor and rolls. Sandals give it nowhere to go but your skin. |
| Fit | No baggy clothing. | Loose fabric can get in the way of safe firearm operation. |
| Hat | Recommended. | A brim helps keep brass from dropping between your glasses and your face. |
| Eye protection | Required at all times. | Protects against brass, debris, and fragments. |
| Ear protection | Required at all times. | Indoor gunfire is loud. We recommend plugs and muffs together. |
Our Dress Code, Word for Word
This is the clothing rule from our Range Rules and Policies, which every shooter reviews and agrees to as part of our electronic waiver:
| “Shirt, pants and shoes are required. Due to hot brass, we suggest using a hat. Open-toed shoes, low-cut shirts and shorts or baggy clothing that could hamper safe operation of the firearm are prohibited.” |
The same rule appears on our range FAQ. Our Range Safety Officers supervise every session on the line, and range rules, including this one, are part of what they enforce. If you aren’t sure whether an outfit works, call us at (484) 965-9638 before you drive over.
Why Each Rule Exists
Hot brass is the reason for most of it
When you or the shooter in the next lane fires a semi-automatic handgun or rifle, the empty casing ejects to the side and often bounces off the stall divider. It can come back at you at head, chest, or foot level. The burn itself is minor. The danger is the reaction. A casing that drops down a shirt collar makes people jump, swat, and turn, and if that happens with a loaded gun in hand, the muzzle can swing away from the target. Every clothing rule below is really about keeping you calm and your muzzle pointed downrange.
Why low-cut shirts aren’t allowed
A V-neck, scoop neck, or tank top with a low neckline is the most common landing spot for hot brass. Pick a crew neck, a T-shirt, or a button-up buttoned to the top. Sleeves are a smart choice for the same reason.
Why you need closed-toe shoes
Brass ends up on the floor, and it stays hot for a moment after it lands. Flip-flops, slides, and open-toed sandals leave skin exposed right where casings pile up. Sneakers, boots, or any closed-toe shoe solve the problem completely.
Why shorts aren’t allowed
Long pants protect your legs from brass bouncing off the bench and floor. Jeans, work pants, chinos, and fitted athletic pants all cover you. Skirts and dresses don’t meet the pants requirement, so plan around them.
Why baggy clothing is a problem
Our rule specifically calls out baggy clothing “that could hamper safe operation of the firearm.” Oversized sleeves, loose hoodies, dangling drawstrings, and untucked flowing shirts can get between your hands and the gun, catch on gear, or make it harder for you to hold a stable, controlled grip. Fitted clothing lets you and, if you’re in a lesson, your instructor see that your stance and grip are right.
Why we suggest a hat
A ball cap is the one item regulars tend to swear by. The brim helps stop brass that arcs upward from dropping onto your face or wedging between your eye protection and your skin. It’s not required, but on a busy night with every lane firing, you’ll be glad you wore one.
Eye and Ear Protection Are Part of the Outfit
Eye and ear protection is required at all times while you’re on the range, not just while you’re shooting. Our range rules strongly recommend wearing both ear plugs and ear muffs together, because indoor gunfire is loud and the sound reflects off the walls.
• Already own gear? Bring it.
• Don’t own gear? You can buy eye and ear protection, targets, and ammunition at the check-in counter.
• Wear glasses? Ask the counter staff which eye protection works best with your frames before you head to your lane.
What to Wear for Your Type of Visit
| Visit | What to wear | Good to know |
| First visit or walk-in | T-shirt or crew neck, jeans, sneakers, ball cap. | A one-hour range session is $29; add a second or third shooter for $19 each. Complete the online waiver before you arrive and bring a valid photo ID. First-time visitors complete a safety assessment ($19, includes the Safe Shooter Card). |
| Date night or group outing (The Royal Package) | Dress up on top if you want, but keep the neckline high and the shoes closed. | Skip dresses, skirts, and strappy sandals. Groups of 5 or more should call ahead to confirm lanes. |
| Private instruction | Fitted clothing you can move in. | Your instructor needs to see your grip and stance. Loose sleeves get in the way of both. |
| Straight from work | Slacks and closed-toe shoes usually work. | Button your collar up, and take off loose ties, scarves, or lanyards before you step onto the line. |
| Youth shooters (10 and up) | Same dress code as adults. | No one under 10 is permitted in the range. Shooters under 21 need a parent or guardian over 21 present unless they’re in our training. |
Before You Leave the House: A 7-Step Checklist
1. Sign the waiver online. It includes our range rules, so read them. Complete the waiver here.
2. Get dressed for brass: high-neck shirt, long pants, closed-toe shoes, and a hat.
3. Grab a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver’s license or passport works. We hold it at the counter while you’re on the range.
4. Pack eye and ear protection, or plan to buy them at check-in.
5. Plan to wash your hands on the way out. More on that below.
Our team walks through the whole check-in process in our first-time visitor guide, and our pistol range etiquette post covers cease-fires and what to bring.
Lead Exposure: The Part of Range Hygiene People Forget
Shooting releases small amounts of lead. Our range is built with an advanced HEPA-filtered ventilation system, and we also ask shooters to do their part:
• Wash your hands when you leave the range, before you eat, drink, or touch your face. Our range rules recommend it to reduce lead exposure.
• Pregnant or nursing? Our range policy allows entry only with a doctor’s permission, due to the risk of lead exposure.
• Collect only your own brass. You may pick up your own shell casings in your stall area. If anything falls forward of the firing line, leave it there.
What Not to Wear to a Gun Range
Quick reference for the items that don’t make it past our dress code:
| Leave at home | Wear instead |
| Shorts, skirts, dresses | Jeans, work pants, chinos, fitted athletic pants |
| Flip-flops, slides, open-toed sandals | Sneakers, boots, closed-toe flats |
| V-necks, scoop necks, low-cut tops | Crew neck T-shirt, button-up buttoned high |
| Oversized hoodies, loose flowing sleeves | Fitted top or a fitted jacket |
| Dangling scarves, ties, drawstrings | Remove them or tuck them in |
Gun Range Dress Code FAQ
Can I wear shorts to a gun range?
Not at Shoot Indoors KOP. Pants are required and shorts are not permitted, because hot brass bounces off the stall and floor at leg level.
Can I wear sandals or flip-flops to a shooting range?
No. Closed-toe shoes are required. Spent casings land on the floor while they’re still hot, so any shoe that leaves your toes or the top of your foot exposed isn’t allowed.
Can I wear a dress or a skirt?
Our dress code requires pants, so plan on wearing them for your visit. If you’re booking a date night, dress up on top and keep the pants and closed-toe shoes.
Is a tank top okay?
Low-cut shirts are not permitted. Many tank tops have low necklines and open sides where brass can drop in. A shirt with sleeves and a high neckline is the safest choice.
Do I need to bring my own eye and ear protection?
No. Eye and ear protection is required at all times on the range, and both are available to buy at the check-in counter. You’re welcome to bring your own.
Why do gun ranges recommend wearing a hat?
A brim helps keep ejected brass from landing on your face or getting caught between your eye protection and your skin. At our range a hat is recommended, not required.
Ready to Shoot? Here’s Where to Start
Now that your outfit is sorted, the next step depends on your experience:
- Never fired a gun before? Book private instruction, $99 for a one-hour session. A certified instructor helps you choose a firearm, walks you through the range rules, and stays with you on the lane. One recent shooter wrote that she left her session “feeling safer and more educated.”
- Coming in for the first time? Read what to expect on your first visit so check-in goes quickly.
- Shooting regularly? An Annual Membership is $449 and includes unlimited 100-level classes(1 booking fee per seat), plus one guest per class for $1.
- Free on a weekday morning? Non-members get 50% off lane fees from 9 AM to noon, Monday through Friday. See the morning special.
Shoot Indoors KOP is open daily from 9 AM to 9 PM (last lane at 8 PM) at 514 Shoemaker Rd, King of Prussia, PA 19406. Walk-ins are welcome. Questions about what to wear? Call (484) 965-9638 or visit our homepage.
“The personnel are outstanding. I would recommend anybody to start shooting here.” Stacey C., Philadelphia, PA