I have read as much as possibly available, but still am looking for some realtime experience in regards to choosing a shooting bag, front and rear.don't want to have to buy all those lessons in comparing for myself, looking to learn from your findings. I know some of you may have one, yet possibly never used any others. Please don't tell me you "like" yours if you haven't had many to compare to. Caldwell tack driver? Bullbag? Just rice in a sock? Are these truly better than a bipod? Or have you tried them all and now you just use the bipod because it is more convenient? I have bought a new rifle(sig ssg3000), and am mounting nightforce 5.5-22x56 moar-t, want to practice out to 700 for fun, then possibly hunt with it (300 and less) .... Looking at atlas bipod and various bag systems.....thanks for any real time shared experience
Choosing a shooting bag.....
- Thread starter 66spitfire
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Myself and friends have had great success using a harris 6-9" swivel bipod (get the one with notches on the legs), and a rear bag. I have not used a fancy $100 leather rear bag, just the cheapo champion brand Wholesale sports special. If you install a pod-lock on your harris bidpod it make the cant very stable. Not sure if spending more than $40 on a rear bag would get you any further ahead.
I have been interested in using an adjustable front pedastal rest, just haven't forked out the @2-300 dollars for one.
Good luck in your search
Evan
I have been interested in using an adjustable front pedastal rest, just haven't forked out the @2-300 dollars for one.
Good luck in your search
Evan
The standard cylinder bag works very well. I used the ATRS one, but I have the old fill. I kinda like the new fill better for feel and weight, but I have yet to shoot with one.
Bang for buck, the Harris has it. As mentioned, notched, swivelled, and PODlock required.
I think they are 45$. Fill can be changed or added/removed to adjust how you like it.
Bang for buck, the Harris has it. As mentioned, notched, swivelled, and PODlock required.
I think they are 45$. Fill can be changed or added/removed to adjust how you like it.
I am assuming by your post that you are looking for a front bag. The most common way to shoot is with some type of rest in the front like a BR type rest, bipod or even just a sandbag and then using a rear bag of some type. The benchrest crowd would use something like a SEB, Baer, Bald eagle... The F-class crowd would use a bipod something like a Remple or MPOD and the tactical crowd would use something from a Harris or Atlas to a TRG or LRA bipod.
As for a rear bag, there are various routes to go as well. Something like a light weight canvas type tactical bag filled with air soft beads to a hard leather bag like a Protector or Edgewood.
I personally use a bipod and Protector rabbit ear bag that is packed full of sand and move it forward or rearward to fine tune my elevation when shooting in one location as the bag and all my gear would be heavy to move in a more dynamic shooting environment. Then I have a Badger dog bone that is smaller and lightweight that goes hunting with me or for a situation where I need to relocate. I have a Rockwell front rest and Caldwell rear bag but don't use them very often because I prefer to shoot in real life a field situation and quite honestly their quality sucks. I just replaced the bag on the front rest and the rear bag hasn't faired much better.
Whichever route you decide to go, much like your rifle and scope, buy quality right away instead of wasting your money on cheap crap that you'll have to replace down the road.
As for a rear bag, there are various routes to go as well. Something like a light weight canvas type tactical bag filled with air soft beads to a hard leather bag like a Protector or Edgewood.
I personally use a bipod and Protector rabbit ear bag that is packed full of sand and move it forward or rearward to fine tune my elevation when shooting in one location as the bag and all my gear would be heavy to move in a more dynamic shooting environment. Then I have a Badger dog bone that is smaller and lightweight that goes hunting with me or for a situation where I need to relocate. I have a Rockwell front rest and Caldwell rear bag but don't use them very often because I prefer to shoot in real life a field situation and quite honestly their quality sucks. I just replaced the bag on the front rest and the rear bag hasn't faired much better.
Whichever route you decide to go, much like your rifle and scope, buy quality right away instead of wasting your money on cheap crap that you'll have to replace down the road.
In my limited experience Tactical bipods are best on soft ground. THey may jump or hop on hard benchrests. You can load the bipod to minimize this but you still have to fight the hop. (I have to)
I have no opinion on benchrest bipods but I assume they are better at this. I also have a caldwell front rest, and find there is no hop, but the movement dampening of my atlas and harris bipods are superior. (I'm still playing with fill on the front pouch) I shoot mostly off concrete as my fudd range doesn't allow prone and I don't get away from the city enough anymore.
Rear bags anything equivalent to a sand sock is excellent. Spending more money might provide you with something you like better for weight, water repellency and the like, but you can't really improve on a sandsock. I've tried monopods, triad bags, and all sorts of nonsense. I then switched to a rice sock (arborio) until rain made it nasty and now I use a nylon rectangular bag I made myself and filled with coarse beach sand.
I have no opinion on benchrest bipods but I assume they are better at this. I also have a caldwell front rest, and find there is no hop, but the movement dampening of my atlas and harris bipods are superior. (I'm still playing with fill on the front pouch) I shoot mostly off concrete as my fudd range doesn't allow prone and I don't get away from the city enough anymore.
Rear bags anything equivalent to a sand sock is excellent. Spending more money might provide you with something you like better for weight, water repellency and the like, but you can't really improve on a sandsock. I've tried monopods, triad bags, and all sorts of nonsense. I then switched to a rice sock (arborio) until rain made it nasty and now I use a nylon rectangular bag I made myself and filled with coarse beach sand.
Thanks guys,mthat what I'm talking about ...real world experience, keep it coming.....anybody have thoughts about the differences between rabbit ears and bunny ears and various other bag shapes? Is there something that works better in a heavy squared off stock like my SSG? Or are certain shapes better fora long slender stock like rem police?
