What material to use for filling rear bag?

I didn't mean to piss on your parade :redface:



... not one single solitary bead has found it's way into any of my 4 customs or into any of my off the shelf rifles.....
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and how can you be so sure?
(It's almost impossible to see one bead with the naked eye, but
you can easily see the effects on the said moving parts,
when it's too late).





do you not think that if I thought there was a chance of ruining any 1 of my guns that I would recommend the glass bead to other people, let alone use it myself?
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I don't know what you thought and I am not accusing anybody
of any intention to give bad advice on purpose.
I don't believe anybody in this thread wants to
ruin other people's rifles, let alone his own.
I simply stated what I know about the subject of this thread.






I've seen (first-hand) a lot of ranges in Europe
where sand-filled bags were banned (since forever).
Can you guess why?

2 yrs ago I heard of at least one range in BC with the same reg.





I have been using Glass bead in my protektor bag with my custom built Competition rifles for 3 yrs now...

Unless you have some personal experience with the materials that have been suggested by others, your point is moot.
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I have been using sand-blasting, bead-blasting, soda-blasting and
other machines with abrasive media for more than 25 years now.
I know how easy is to transfer non-desired abrasive particles.
You don't have to POUR sand in a gun's action.
It is enough to transfer (by touching with the hand)
only a couple of abrasive particles.
This forum is about Precision Rifles, not junkers, right?






CyaN1de said:
I could use a bit more as I ran out...
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How come you run out? Where did it go? ;)
 
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Dr.Lector said:
How come you run out? Where did it go?
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I only had just enough to fill the bag and was not quite enough....no it has not been getting out of the bag.

I guess then every F-Class and BR shooter have been using the wrong bag filler material for as long as the sports have been around.

What would you suggest as a bag filler instead of sand or glass bead? Take into account that it should be fine enough to not have bumps in the bag which deters the rifle from tracking the same way everytime.

Salt would be an option until it got wet....then you have a brick.

Lead shot may work in the main bag but the bunny ears would need something finer. Since I am a bag squeezer (no jokes pls) the shot may not work for my style of shooting. For a hunting rifle rest....perfect.....for an F-CLass rear bag.....doubtful.

I use the F-Class reference because I know that is the reason RP is asking this particular question.
 
I know of a lot of benchresters using other materials for the reasons above.

I use poly beads, as member chevy suggested. HDPE, to be exact.

Lead shot is awesome, but I don't need more lead exposure after a lifetime of shooting.
Steel shot is nice, but it rusts, and when it does, it sticks together.
I didn't hear of SS shot, it would be cool (if it's round and not sharp to cut the bag).
Tungsten shot is VERY heavy, but the one I've seen was sharp
and can cut the bag, and is too expensive for me.
 
I did check out the 6mmbr forum when I bought my rear bag, they do have a good article. I couldn't find the heavier zircon sand they recommended so I went with the riverbed sand from the pet shop, it weighs 150% as much as play sand. At $20 it works for me.
 
Dr.Lector said:
and how can you be so sure?
(It's almost impossible to see one bead with the naked eye, but
you can easily see the effects on the said moving parts,
when it's too late).

I have been using sand-blasting, bead-blasting, soda-blasting and
other machines with abrasive media for more than 25 years now.
I know how easy is to transfer non-desired abrasive particles.
You don't have to POUR sand in a gun's action.
It is enough to transfer (by touching with the hand)
only a couple of abrasive particles.
This forum is about Precision Rifles, not junkers, right?
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To play devil's advocate, have you personally seen blasting media coming out from a bag and ruining the accuracy/functionality of a firearm?

I appreciate your concern, and obviously you speak from experience with 25+ years of working with said media (that's how long I've been alive! :D).
 
The purpose of a rear bag when shooting off of is STABILITY. The only thing that makes a bag stable is using HEAVY sand as many have mentioned in there replies. It is not a case of wanting the rear bag light but how STABLE will it be while on the bench.

I can mention bags from a BR perspective.

If a free recoil shooter you want the rear bag filled very hard. So pack pack pack the sand into it. The front bag must be slightly softer then. I use a SEB rest so that works for me. My favorite bag at this time is a Protektor with short ears and a HARD leather bottom sitting atop a Skip Otto donut. Very stable platform.

Those that are bag squeezers keep the rear bag soft so they can adjust there aiming point on the target by squeezing the bag. These fellas are usually the ones who are GREAT at shooting rounds quickly downrange when a condition lends itself to that. With single shot bolt actions 5 shots on record in about 15 seconds. They still want the bags to be heavy.

It has been mentioned about the abrasiveness of some of the glass beads or sand. That is what lends those materials to be great bag fillers. They are sharp and jagged. When you pack it into bags the edges of the sand locks itself against the next to it and so on forming a tight solid mass.

Shot may be heavy but it is NOT STABLE in bags. It is round and rolls around.

Just my take on this.

CBY
 
WOW 5 pages! whoda thunk! filter sand! can you say" filter sand" if you want to get gouged go to the pool store, if you go to the local masonary yard its cheap like borsh. clean fine and ready to fill!
 
Well, filled my bag with those glass bead media from Machinist. Sure was a lot of work to push all those crap in there. My funnel was too big for the opening so I went all Macgyver on it and stuck a straw in the funnel so it'd go through... ;)

Thanks Chris! I'll see you tomorrow at Vokes, with my new bag :D
 
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