Rear bag suggestions?

[Spats McGee]

Welcome to this week's meeting of Overthinkers Anonymous.

Frankly, even asking this seems a little silly, but here goes... I have a couple of rifles I shoot off a bipod. A Ruger American Rimfire and a Howa Mini. I use a Harris bipod that I like pretty well, but I don't have a rear bag. The range where I shoot has come carpet-covered blocks of wood, and I have used them, but let's just say they're not ideal. A rear shooting back seems like something I could make, or maybe use old bags of lead shot, or something. But does anyone have any recommendations for a rear bag? Is there anything, any characteristic or feature, that I should be looking at? Either as a bonus or to rule out a given bag?

 

[powermad]

I used an old sock filled with beans for a while.
Got one with a scope and use it now.

 

[entropy]

I bring shot bags filled with spent primers to the club as I fill them.

 

[Spats McGee]

So I guess I need to ask: Is there any real need to spend money on a bag? Or is fiddle-farting around with repurposed bags and fillers good enough?

 

[entropy]

If you're using a Lead Sled or similar rest, purpose made bags are good to have. Otherwise, Shot bags filled with sand (or spent primers, which I have a good supply of) work fine. I use two on the front, I usually don't use a rear bag, that's what my off hand is for.

 

[Walkalong]

Protektor Rabbit Ear Rear Shooting Rest Bag Leather Tan Filled

The original #13 Rabbit Ear Rear Bag was invented by Protektor Model founder Basil Tuller in 1938. It is 2-5/8" H to the bottom of the ears...

www.midwayusa.com

Protektor Bunny Ear Rear Shooting Rest Bag Heavy Bottom Leather Tan

This Protektor Bunny Ear Rear Shooting Rest Bag with Heavy Bottom is a leather shooting rest bag has a heavy leather bottom and is designed to be stable...

www.midwayusa.com

Shmedium Mid-Size Game Changer® Shooting Bag - Armageddon Gear

This shooting bag is so good that the only excuse you’re going to have for a miss is a bad wind call. Just when you thought the Game Changer couldn’t get any better we have gone and done it with the new Shmedium model. It earns its name because the size is right between our legendary Pint-sized...

armageddongear.com

Pint-Sized Game Changer® Shooting Bag - Armageddon Gear

Not just a scaled down version of Reasor Precision’s iconic shooting bag. The perfect blend of size and weight tested to deliver more hits on target.

armageddongear.com

Bipod and game changer after barrel cleaning

 

[Chuck R.]

For the rifles I shoot off a bipod about 90% of the time I use my Game Changer bag:

Game Changer® Shooting Bag - Armageddon Gear

The Patented Game Changer shooting bag provides the ultimate in versatility and stability when shooting from barricades, fenceposts, window openings, and just about any other irregular surface.

armageddongear.com

When shooting from a bench with a bench rest, I usually use a Protector rear bag:

Deluxe Bumble-Bee Rear Bags

The Deluxe BB Rear Bags are great for shooting ranges of 200-1,000 yards. Most liked for its smaller footprint and stiffer Bumble-Bee Leather, making it a versatile rear bag for many types of long range shooting. **The Deluxe Bumble bee rear bags are one of our most popular rear bags and may...

protektormodel.com

I've been very happy with both.

 

[Walkalong]

The hard bottom rear bags like the second link are more stable on the bench, tend not to rock like some can

 

[PWC]

I went to the bank and asked for a small cloth money bag. 10 lbs of pinto beans later I had my bag.

 

[taliv]

So I guess I need to ask: Is there any real need to spend money on a bag? Or is fiddle-farting around with repurposed bags and fillers good enough?

I made my own from two layers of spandex filled with play sand. Nothing I’ve ever found has been quite as good at that for shooting off the ground on bipod.

But it got dust and sand everywhere and was heavy. I switched to a str8 laced bag with poly fill which is super light and 90% as good and easily flushed copped to rear of stock.

However when the game changer came out (last two links in walkalongs post) it changed the game. They are NOT quite as good for prone off a bipod BUT they’re 1000% better shooting off props.

 

[taliv]

I went to the bank and asked for a small cloth money bag. 10 lbs of pinto beans later I had my bag.

Crown royal purple bags used to be popular too

 

[doubleh]

Protektor. I fiddled around with other options for years. Lots of wasted time. These are made of top quality leather and with just ordinary care can last your lifetime. Buy the filled ones. They are too hard as delivered so just just empty a slight amount of sand and try. Keep doing this and you will know when it's right. I made some shim plates from scrap thin plywood with no-slip material glued on the bottom so mine works with different rifles.

 

[Varminterror]

From a front bipod, non-joystick, it’s really, REALLY hard to beat a Cheney Airfoil rear bag.



I used homemade “bags” for a lot of years, whether it was socks, part of a leg of a pair of jeans, crown Royal bags, etc… I eventually didn’t like any of them and then MADE my own bags from leather and from cordura, most of which are clones of various production models. I’ve settled in these days that I would rather spend my time making more money instead of making less value in bags for the same time.

So then we’re deliberating really on whether we just want a rear “cube” like the Wiebad cube, a more versatile squeeze bag like an Armageddon Gear Game Changer or Wiebad Fortune Cookie (dissected range cube), or a bunny ear bag like the Edgewood or Protektors. Horses for courses, in those choices. I do most of my prone and bench shooting in the context of PRS matches and practice, so I usually use my Fortune Cookies or Game Changers, but for ELR I use my Airfoil bag. I HAVE a bunny ear Protektor, but I don’t use it much any more, because I just don’t shoot from an adjustable front rest often enough.

 

[jmorris]

So I guess I need to ask: Is there any real need to spend money on a bag?

That depends on your wants. You know carpet covered wood blocks are not ideal for your needs, now you can try all sorts of other stuff. If you are wanting to shoot through the same hole, I think a good bag is a great investment. If your just having fun, I don't even think they are needed.

 

[12Bravo20]

I have used polyester weighted stuffing beads to fill bags. They work well for my purposes and are fairly inexpensive on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0077AQ0W8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[Nature Boy]

So I guess I need to ask: Is there any real need to spend money on a bag? Or is fiddle-farting around with repurposed bags and fillers good enough?

If shooting small is your objective then spend the money on a good rear bag. They make a bigger difference than you may realize.

Protektor and Edgewood are my favorites.

$150-$200 is a pittance in this ridiculous hobby of ours

 

[lightman]

Any of the above mentioned factory made bags should work well for you. Like Nature Boy mentioned, Protektor and Edgewood make nice bags. Bags made from shot bags and bluejeans legs are probably better that wooden blocks. Treat yourself to a nice bag.

 

[Walkalong]

I wish you were closer, I could lend you bags to try out and see what you like. You could probably talk me out of one of them.

 

[Walkalong]

If shooting small is your objective then spend the money on a good rear bag. They make a bigger difference than you may realize

Yep, tracking straight back is important, and bags with ears or bags that surround help with that.

The Benchrest crowd all use good solid rear bags.

Protektor and Edgewood are my favorites.

Hard to beat the Protektor for value, and the Edgewood for quality.

 

[JFrank]

I’ve had Protektor, then went to Edgewood and now I’m back to Protektor. I like the full leather top and slick ears with zero lateral movement at the base of the ears.

 

[Nature Boy]

Fact: The more time you spend shooting precision rifles the more rear bags you’ll accumulate

 

[Hillbilly Hydrographics]

I've got a few sets of the nylon/leather 8 dollar shooting bags off the ol Amazon. They come empty. First set I filled with cat litter cause I had it on hand and they still work fine after several years. But the cat litter like play sand gets a little messy with the dust coming out of the nylon. The second set I filled with the plastic beads like in stuffed animals and they work great. They come with the bigger front bag and contured smaller rear bag for 8 bucks.

 

[American_Fusilier]

I use a big old sock filled with airsoft BBs. Works very well.

 

[Nature Boy]

I’m favoring the Edgewood for this rifle.



Others, I like the Protektor

 

[GoldieMI]

Like many others here,
I use Edgewood for Bench on some rifles if I'm using a true front rest, but 90% of the time it's a Schmedium Waxed Game Changer paired with the bipods.