Bench Shooting Bag

Ozalid

Well-Known Member
I wanted to try a bench bag, so started looking to buy one, but they are a ridiculous price for what is essentially a heavy nylon bag, so being a tight bastard, I decided to try one of the Chinese ones on ebay and paid about £11 including postage! It came quite quickly and looked just like the expensive branded ones, I filled it with cat litter, which had I read was good to use, but which was a mistake because its so frigging heavy, I should have used rice, its actually well made for the price, is absolutely solid on the bench and works much better than a bipod with my 30-06. I haven't quite filled it up enough, I ran out of cat litter, so it need 'plumping up' now and then, if it is fully filled it keeps its shape much better.


Here is the ebay link: Unfilled Gun Rest Shooting Rest Bag Outdoor Hunting Shooting Gun Access 6954207222748 | eBay
 
I'd avoid rice as well, in fact avoid any filling that absorbs moisture or is a food source, look at airsoft ammo or similar
 
I filled one, that I don't use munch, with corn. About a year later, I heard a funny sound. It was weevils!!!! 'Nough said capt david:old:
 
I hadn’t considered the problems associated with organic fillings, so maybe the cat litter was a good idea after all! LOL Pro
 
+1 to COTTIS.

Don't use rice. Nor cat litter as it absorbs moisture. Use either the small polystyrene balls that come in old fashioned bean bag type things, or plastic chips from a place that does plastic mouldings. Other people use the stuff that you get in aquarium shops for fish tanks. Which isn't that heavy, nor absorbs moisture, elsewise the fish tank would be too heavy for its table or stand. I started with the aquarium stuff until I managed to find a plastic moulders local. Cash for the tea fund works wonders in getting a bag full of plastic chips.
 
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My bag was filled with wheat about ten years ago its sprouted , mounded and all sorts over years ....
Guess I should empty it and attempt bit of disinfection on it then refill ... if doesn’t fall to bits

Paul
 
Ozilad, you’ve obviously started a buying frenzy on the gun rest bags as there are none left!
Willie
 
Ozilad, you’ve obviously started a buying frenzy on the gun rest bags as there are none left!
Willie

Can’t believe it! There will be other suppliers though I guess. I’ll get my commission claim in! LOL

I’m guessing loads of guys want one of these but are put off by the price and after you have used one you will not go back to a bipod, at the range anyway.
I looked at one of those dog-gone-good bags and thought people must be completely insane to pay 100 quid. Pro
 
Foundry sand or silica sand are best.Something which will not attract/absorb moisture.

Yep. Best at ruining the paintwork if you shoot off your car bonnet. I once filled mine with sand. It left my bonnet looking as though it had been washed with 180 grit sandpaper :mad:

I use rice now, but it's far from ideal. The plastic granules are a good idea
 
I tried sand from Weymouth beach, but it escapes through the smallest hole, even stitching. Next, I tried grit from West Bay beach, but it doesn't run into the small spaces, like the ears, very well. The small pebbles from Abbotsbury beach are OK for the bigger bags. I recently got a more professional rear bag, but the only thing I had that would do was, don't laugh, lead shot from some shooting friends who had a scrapyard. I think it came from a local MoD establishment about 30 years ago. It's not a big bag, but it's now very stable!
I wonder if tumbling media could be used.
Anything must be cheaper than the heavy sand that is sold for the purpose.
 
A tip. - Go to an injection molding company & ask if they have any "out of spec" material. -- If they are doing high spec forming, they often have material that they can't use & it just goes to waste, costing them a bomb for disposal. So they are happy to give it away free!
I make my own rest bags (like Bulls Bags) from cordura & furnishing leather which can easily be cut from old sofas etc. Alternatively faux leather PVC cloth works ok too. Filled with the plastic they are about the right weight for zeroing and load development on the range. Although a bit heavy for field work. The Bulls Bags turn out a bit low so I make raiser block bags to stand them on. For these I like to use expanded polythene foam packaging blocks. These can be lighter for easy handling.
 
Agree with all said above, somebody posted a while ago that bench rest bags sold for air gunners are a fraction of the price. I use aquarium gravel in mine. The best stuff to use would be glass shot blasting media if you can get hold of it.

D
 
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