sandbag for pistol rest

[jlh26oo]

WHat kind of sandbags do you guys use for a rest? Don't want some contraption, just a simple, well made, nice sand/bean bag.

At one range I go to they supply these homemade bean bags, which are ok, except that a few of them leak. And I need some for another range I go to who does not provide rests (or even staplers for that matter). Would prefer something factory fresh and clean. Not some thing I have to fill myslef, or thin material that will be dumping beads on me.

I have been "borrowing" from my hotel these AWESOME bags they use for doorstops. Really heavy fabric fortified with a rubber covering at the seams, kind of hard to explain. But they are nice. And heavy- really tiny beads inside. The perfect size and shape too.

They are a standard item all the ladies have on their carts, to stop the doors open while they clean. Can't find them on any online hotel cleaning supplies sites though. Might have to permanently "borrow" one.

 

[Canuck-IL]

Double wrap sand or some other media in plastic bread bags then use the cut-off legs of a pair of jeans...sew one end shut and put velcro on the inside faces of the other end.
/B

 

[EddieCoyle]

I use kitty litter in a heat-seal bag, inside of shot bags (cloth bags that held birdshot).

 

[P95Carry]

Small and maybe unnecessary point re bean bags/sand bags - do not let gun itself touch or rest on these when using for support - let them support hand or hands holding gun.

Generally if gun itself is touching then results will not match the sighting of normal offhand shooting.

Plus with revo's - if the gun rests such that it touches bag just below cyl gap - expect burns on or thru bag

 

[silverlance]

yuppers

excellent point, moderator.

i really need to make some kitty litter bags (esp now that i have tons of kitty litter left over from de-cosmoing). i'm thinking about using sand filled socks in old pillow cases tied off with cable ties. what do you guys think?

i bought these expensive suede rests that are POS.

 

[P95Carry]

Socks - pillow slips - about anything will do. Someone else referred to using old shot bags - they do well as long as lined with something.

I find it is good to have a bit of ''slack'' (bag not filled over tight) so that you can create a small depression by ''arranging'' it as you settle into a good shooting position.

 

[Rinspeed]

I have one of the plastic pistol rests made by MTM. Works real well but I can't seem to duplicate some of the groups I hear people claim they can shoot. I don't think it's the rest's fault though.

 

[P95Carry]

I have an MTM rest also - and would add that IMO same rule applies as with sandbags - do not let gun touch the rest - only the hand or hands holding the gun.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

For handguns, I take heavy twine and 36" dowels, preferrably 1/2" diameter. About 4" from the top of one dowel, tie a clove hitch. Then holding the dowels even, and about 2" apart, loop the twine around them several times. Then wrap the twine tightly about the connecting loops -- you're making something that looks like a hangman's noose. Finish off with a clove hitch on the second dowel.

Sit flat and rest the frame or barrel in the "hammock" formed by the wrapped twine. Shoots as steady as a bench rest.

 

[Lucky 7]

um am i the only one who doesnt shoot from sandbags (or other type of rest)? I put one mag through from the bench then its all standing, crouching and kneeling.

 

[AirForceShooter]

for me an old sweat sock filled with sand on top of an ammo box.
I'm in florida we have lots of sand and we usually don't wear socks.

AFS

 

[Vern Humphrey]

um am i the only one who doesnt shoot from sandbags (or other type of rest)? I put one mag through from the bench then its all standing, crouching and kneeling.

There are at least two of us who don't do a lot of shooting from sandbags or rests. I use a rest and sandbags when developing a new load, and zeroing a rifle. I use crossed sticks when doing the same for a handgun -- and in the case of handguns, I always verify the zero from the standing, unsupported position.

I practice mostly from the standing position with the rifle, and shoot the pistol from a variety of positions.

 

[Kamicosmos]

Me three on not using sandbags.

I'll bag my target rifle on occasion. Very rarely I've bagged my Contender. Sometimes after swapping sights on a handgun I might bag or rest it for the first couple of shots, but I still have to sight it in for me and how I hold it.

I figure outside of the target rifle, all my shooting is offhand anyways, so I prefer to learn the proper positions and techniques to make sure I can shoot where and when ever.

 

[EddieCoyle]

um am i the only one who doesnt shoot from sandbags (or other type of rest)? I put one mag through from the bench then its all standing, crouching and kneeling.

Yeah, thanks for the obvious. Most of us probably do actually practice the way we'll shoot, but the poster asked about sandbags. More specifically, for a "simple, well made, nice sand/bean bag."

When trying out a new load or sighting in a gun for the first time, using sandbags (or some other rest) can be helpful. If you're trying to determine which of 5 rounds of several different loads is the most accurate, then "standing, crouching and kneeling" isn't going to give you the best representation. You need a benchmark.

For those times when you need a rest:

Sand is heavy. Unless you appreciate the workout, you might want to find a material lighter than sand. I've found through personal experience, that all you really need is a stable but flexible rest to shoot from - something that doesn't mark up the gun. Sand isn't necessary. Too light and "shifty" is also bad though; for that reason I don't like bean bags.

At work, we use heat seal machines to seal bags of parts. I seal kitty litter (cheap but lighter than sand) into plastic bags and then shove those into shot bags (cloth bags that were used to hold birdshot). They are light, durable, and they "fit in" at the range.