Quick poll - what do you use to fill your shooting bag?

385 Views 14 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Belial, 6 d ago

AustinWiseguy

Discussion Starter · 9 d ago

I want to take my Winchester model 70 out soon to the range and will be sighting in an old scope from the 1960s. The thing is, I've never attempted to seriously sight in a scope by myself before and am looking forward to some fun range time with this old gun.

I'm not interested in a shooting bench or anything like that. I want to use these rest bags that I bought. But I'm reading everything from dirt, play-ground sand, rice, and all the way to fairly expensive man-made pellets designed for this use. I'm also reading that sand is heavy, rice seems to be affordable but what if the bag gets wet? Beans?

So, I thought I'd ask the experts. What do you all consider to be the best fill for your shooting bags?

Moderators - I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this question. Please move it to the correct one if I guessed wrong. Thank you.

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

CWO

· #2 · 9 d ago

Shotgun lead shot works like a dream. It glides on the bag. Most benchrest clubs won't allow it as it allows a smooth transition back into battery. CWO

Reactions: 1

Trooper894

· #3 · 9 d ago

Poly-fil / Poly Pellets. They don't draw moisture, they are small enough to fill out the bags nicely. They are not heavy making them great for transport back and forth the range.

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Reactions: 3

kws2306

· #4 · 9 d ago (Edited)

I went with tumbling media, ground walnut shells from Harbor Freight, $29, so maybe thats your expensive stuff category. I like the Idea of Poly pellets though, I was not aware of them at that time. Rice, probably not bad option ether, sand, dirt, too messy around guns and oil for me.

58COOP

· #5 · 9 d ago

Gotta couple of different bags with different filling. Some with playground sand and 1 with lead shot on a rear bag.

1100mike

· #6 · 9 d ago

If you can find some, acetal plastic pellets are a wonderful bag filler. It's a very dense, heavy plastic. Delrin is a brand name..

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Reactions: 2

nf1e

· #7 · 9 d ago

Mostly shooting stuff, but on occasion other bits seem to find there way. Oh, you must mean shooting support bags. Anything that shouldn't accept moisture and is not too heavy to lug around.

Reactions: 2

AustinWiseguy

Discussion Starter · #8 · 8 d ago

I agree I don't really want to get dirt/sand around any of my guns. Plastic weighted fill seems to be general consensus so far.

What about pea gravel? Seems like it'd be cheap, no issue with moisture, etc.

Reactions: 1

hjh45acp

· #9 · 8 d ago

I used rice then sealed up with duct tape watertight they are light have done 2 this way had them for 8 years.

Reactions: 1

rickgman

· #10 · 8 d ago

Over the years, I have tried sand, ground walnut shells and weights poly beads. Weighted poly beads are definitely superior.

Reactions: 1

blackdiamond

· #11 · 8 d ago

I use my empty shot bags, line them with a heavy duty plastic bag, fill them with construction sand, seal the plastic bag and reinforce with duct tape. I then tuck the plastic into the shot bag and then seal it by stitching in wire through the bag opening and wrap around tight several times to completely seal it. I keep a weather proof tote at my shooting bench to store all the bags, I keep a lot around because everyone uses them a lot.

electricnic

· #12 · 8 d ago

I still had a ton of airsoft bbs laying around from almost 20 years ago and I used those.

Reactions: 1

Grizzman

· #13 · 7 d ago

I have some bags for many years with sand in them, and they work as well now as ever. I have a newer rear bag that came filled with some other material, which is probably some kind of Poly. It works as well as sand, and weighs less.

Sniper_M-14

· #14 · 7 d ago

Sand has always been available so I've always used it. I like the weight of the bags too.

Belial

· #15 · 6 d ago

The smallest aquarium gravel I could find...

Reactions: 1

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