PRS gear, tac pad vs pump pillow?
- Thread starter bsand
- Start date
I have both and I have never used the tac pad. Most people tend to use it as a front support bag in place of the bipod. Usually if you need support, you need a good amount of it. And if you don't need as much lift, you can put the pump pillow under your arm instead of resting your elbow on it. The technique of resting the arm on the knee doesn't work really well for me. I prefer to be square to the target or I get a lot of side-to-side movement. I usually end up putting the pump pillow on my heels and sitting on it to take all of the movement out of my torso. The pump pillow also works well for supporting the rifle. This is often useful when shooting off something like a pile of pipes. Bipods work terrible on these. Better to just throw down the pump pillow between the pipes and lay the rifle across it like the USMC used to do with with their packs. The tac pad doesn't give enough clearance on some things with a 10 round mag.
I used the pump pillow on the downward slopping rooftop at one match. Extended my bipod legs all the way and put it underneath.
You might also want to look at the Armageddon fat bags. I picked up one of these at LRSE before the match because I've crushed my pump pillow from sitting on it so much. The wedge shape was pretty advantageous in a few stages since I could control elevation by pushing it in and out. We had to shoot over a culver and a big wire spool in a couple stages.
[youtube]iMyZ5iKgPgo[/youtube]
I used the pump pillow on the downward slopping rooftop at one match. Extended my bipod legs all the way and put it underneath.
You might also want to look at the Armageddon fat bags. I picked up one of these at LRSE before the match because I've crushed my pump pillow from sitting on it so much. The wedge shape was pretty advantageous in a few stages since I could control elevation by pushing it in and out. We had to shoot over a culver and a big wire spool in a couple stages.
[youtube]iMyZ5iKgPgo[/youtube]
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I looked at both as well and think the Fat Bag is a much better deal for the price than the Pump Pillow. The only problem is getting them up here. 693 Precision is out of stock for the PP and spoke to Armageddon gear and the shipping costs more than the cost of the bag. Too bad there was not more places up to buy such items. I recently spent 1.5 months at my residence in the Phoenix area but wasn't looking at the time. It was until I got back and after doing some research that I decided to look into getting some bags for positional shooting. I will wait till I go back before paying more for shipping than what the bag costs.
Find out if someone from Armageddon is going to the match you want to attend. They will usually have gear there to sell if they do. At least they do at the east coast matches.
You could also have it shipped to the match location. Many people ship their ammo to matches due to the airline weight restrictions, so matches always have a place for the competitors to ship stuff to.
Also, if you want a pump pillow, get the new "modular" one that you can adjust the fill on with internal bags.
You could also have it shipped to the match location. Many people ship their ammo to matches due to the airline weight restrictions, so matches always have a place for the competitors to ship stuff to.
Also, if you want a pump pillow, get the new "modular" one that you can adjust the fill on with internal bags.
Hm, the armageddon is much more reasonably priced, I basically can get both sizes for cost of the modular pump w/ 5 fill bags. Now I'm even more confused, it seems the wedge shape would be useful.
If you had to pick between the fat bags or pump pillow modular, which one? I don't care about shipping costs, as it'll be going to my US house.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Don't we have someone on this board making bags and such?
Maybe a Cdn option to be considered?
Jerry
Maybe a Cdn option to be considered?
Jerry
Skullboy, JSA tactical. THey don't make pump pillows, or atleast I haven't heard of them yet. I have the 3 set of bags already, they aren't really pump pillow material. The large size one is too heavy to have hanging from your belt, and there isn't really a way to tighten the strap so it can't stay where you place it (arm or rifle). It seems to be more of a front support bag, than a pump pillow.
The large fat bag is more versatile. You can get more height out of it or less, depending on how you orient it. The way they do the straps make it easier to get it over the rifle if you want to do that. And, the wedge shape is really useful on in a lot of ways. I used it as rear support on rounded things and as front support on a couple stages.
On one stage at LRSE, we had to shoot off a railing, then off an open barrel at an ~MOA target that was at 340 yards. So, you just had the rim to support the rifle on. I put the strap of the fat bag over the bipod legs (folded up) and sat it on the front part of the rim, and sat the buttstock on the back part of the rim. Then I just moved the rifle forward until I got the elevation I wanted. Was like shooting off a bench.
Ryan shooting that stage. You can see the blue barrel at the bottom of the stairs.
On another stage, we had to shoot off an a-frame at 390 and 790 yards. Everyone went to the top. I used the fat bag again on the front of my rifle and put the rifle across the second highest trusses and again just adjusted elevation using the wedge shape. Wouldn't have tried it without the wedge since I didn't know how much front height I needed before going up there.
Ken shooting the a-frame.
I used it as rear support on this stage and supported the front with the bipod. Wedge shape was perfect for this.
Ryan shooting the wire spool stage with the pump pillow on the front.
Wedge adds a lot of versatility.
On one stage at LRSE, we had to shoot off a railing, then off an open barrel at an ~MOA target that was at 340 yards. So, you just had the rim to support the rifle on. I put the strap of the fat bag over the bipod legs (folded up) and sat it on the front part of the rim, and sat the buttstock on the back part of the rim. Then I just moved the rifle forward until I got the elevation I wanted. Was like shooting off a bench.
Ryan shooting that stage. You can see the blue barrel at the bottom of the stairs.
On another stage, we had to shoot off an a-frame at 390 and 790 yards. Everyone went to the top. I used the fat bag again on the front of my rifle and put the rifle across the second highest trusses and again just adjusted elevation using the wedge shape. Wouldn't have tried it without the wedge since I didn't know how much front height I needed before going up there.
Ken shooting the a-frame.
I used it as rear support on this stage and supported the front with the bipod. Wedge shape was perfect for this.
Ryan shooting the wire spool stage with the pump pillow on the front.
Wedge adds a lot of versatility.
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Finally went and got my fatbags and carbine case. The large bag is pretty damn large, already just sitting around the house and using the bags my aim was much much more steady. I can really see the benefits of having large bags like this for barricades and such. My first match can't come quick enough!!
Personally I like the pump pillow, when you come by for practice one day you will see what you will prefer as between a few of us we have all the options.... And it is in the works to have them availible up here, should be hearing something shortly, I will keep you informed.
Fyi, the fill is similar to the styrofoam pellet bean bag chair filling they sell at Walmart. Similar, but different and more durable. You would probably have to order it. The Pump pillow also has some kind of internal structure. It isn't just a big bag.
A way of topping up the bag would be beneficial as the bags get flat after some use. I bought the Fat Bag because my Pump Pillow was squashed from sitting on it a lot.
A way of topping up the bag would be beneficial as the bags get flat after some use. I bought the Fat Bag because my Pump Pillow was squashed from sitting on it a lot.
Thx for the info on the fill.
We would probably look at making our own version of the modular pump pillow with a zippered opening. Pricing will be the key issue on whether it is worth it for us to pursue this project.
It may be in the $50.00 to $60.00 range with no fill. Just for the bag and the buyer supplies his own fill material.
Once we start to make one we will know better what it will cost us and what the retail will be.
We aren't a mass production sweat shop.We are a 2 man operation (who do this on the side) so it has to be worth it for us to make certain items.
Most of the supplies for making these items come from the U.S. and we currently get killed on the exchange rate.
Also certain materials are getting more expensive. Example, Crye is looking at raising the royalties on Multicam by as much as 25%. So we may be dropping Multicam altogether.......along with a lot of other manufacturers.
I would happily pay a little more than $50 for a Canadian made product. Considering it costs $60us for the fat bag plus shipping exchange and whatever else we get charged when we buy something out of the states. You guys should also look at making some sort of wrist coach. Something adjustable so it can be worn on your bare arm or with a shirt or jacket.
We looked at the wrist coach.......not enough return for the effort for us to make.Same with the stock pack cheek-rests.
We can make most things, but a lot of the gear is made off shore or massed produced to bring costs down.
We have been asked to make drag bags, but for the time and effort required (not to mention specialized sewing machines), we would have to sell them for probably $600.00+ to make it worth our while.
