What filler to use....?

[Spike89]

My Fiancee's parents just bought me some shooting bags to take to the range. I have never used them before in the past and wondered what works best in them as a filler. The box recommends silica sand, or rice. My dad says to use some of those 6mm air soft gun rounds. Any thoughts?

 

[Rail Driver]

I'd go with rice or the sand, or better yet Crosman BBs. The BB's have the weight of the sand with the moldability of the rice, but the mess of neither. I'd think twice about using the airsoft bbs as they're too light.

 

[10pointman]

The sand seems steadier to me,it does'nt move in the bag as easily.Therefore giving you a better shooting platform.

 

[Asherdan]

Rice is great, unless you store your gear somewhere the varmints can creep about.

They'll nibble through your bags to get at it.

 

[DANNY243]

Wallnut Shell tumbling media might be a good choice.

 

[cleardiddion]

Avoid plastic beads.
I watched one guy at the range who wasn't paying attention and managed to meld bag, beads, and barrel.

Rice could work as the lightweight alternative but the concern would be moisture.
Not sure about anyone else but I don't think I'd enjoy lugging around a moldy bag of rice.

So, out of the three given options I'd have to go with the silica sand although I have to admit that the plated BB idea isn't a bad one at all.

 

[dagger dog]

Sand was my choice, I like the weight , it conforms to and keeps the shape of the stock especially in leather bags.

A tip on filling: get a long tube that will fit the opening in the bag and tape a small funnel to the other end, fill the bag from the bottom to the top.

 

[Spike89]

I like all the tips guys. Thanks for all the info.

 

[rcmodel]

Can't vote as the best choice isn't on the poll.

Clay type Kitty Litter is the best choice.

Cheap, widely available, light enough to be portable, heavy enough to stay put, and impervious to insects & rodents.

Plus, if by some chance it gets spilled at the range, it's just dirt, so no littering the landscape for years to come with orange plastic BB's.

rc

 

[375shooter]

I've not tried Kitty Litter yet, but sand has worked well for me. I find that the heavier the shooting bags are, the better.

 

[rcmodel]

I really like sand too.
I just don't like carrying it back and forth to the truck through the woods to where the 500 yard range is.

rc

 

[oneounceload]

Rice and sand absorb and hold moisture - rots the leather and rusts the gun. Something that doesn't would be best, like those tiny beads in the bean bag chairs, or styrofoam peanuts broken up.

Personally, mine have used 209 shotgun primers

 

[The Deer Hunter]

I would use sand.

 

[Geno]

The very best shooting bags I ever have used were lead shot bags filled with sand. They hold their shape through multiple firings. The difficult part is weight.

I do have two sets of shooting bags. The leather bags are filled with sand, and plastic bags are filled with plastic beads. The plastic ones are the most worthless crap I ever have used. The leather and sand works okay.

Geno