Best small bore ground pad

[Victor N TN]

Hey guys. For a while I used a club owned ground pad. For practice I have been using a "self inflating" back pack sleeping pad or air mattress. My air mattress on concrete / asphalt has developed some wear / scratches. At 5'9" and 190 pounds I'm not exactly light. And at 60+ years old I DO NEED some padding. The more padding the better. Well to an extent anyway.

My question for you competitors shooting 4 position on hard surfaces is this, What pad do you use and what would you recommend for an old f*rt with arthritis? I've seen on the internet pads priced between $29 and $250. Living on disability I can't lay out $250 for a pad. I would like to stay under $100 if I could.

So tell me. What do you use? And what would you rather use? And where would you get it? Do you have any links to where it is?

Thanks in advance for the help guys.

 

[TravisM1]

Re: Best small bore ground pad

I dont use anything like that, but how about mil-surp sleeping pads? Theyre about 1/2" or maybe 5/8" thick. Theyre pretty cheap, too, so if you needex to you could glue them up with carpet tape or something to get a custom size.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Best small bore ground pad

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TravisM1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I dont use anything like that, but how about mil-surp sleeping pads? Theyre about 1/2" or maybe 5/8" thick. Theyre pretty cheap, too, so if you needex to you could glue them up with carpet tape or something to get a custom size. </div></div>

For several years I used a canvas rifle case for paratroopers. It's made of heavy material and has wool felt padding and some pretty heavy straps ans buckles.

I took the stitching apart in a few places and it worked fine. But you have to put it on a tarp. It draws moisture like a piece of chalk. Anyway I quit using it because it became too much like work.

But you're right, it was cheap. Like $12 from an online service.

 

[ivanthesane]

Re: Best small bore ground pad

Got some square squishy closed cell foam pads to keep my kids from skinning their knees on our concrete porch. Works great for garage work too, they are chemical resistant. And cheap. Got 'em at Toys R Us for $10 each, they are 4x4 squares.

 

[2guard]

Re: Best small bore ground pad

I have one of the midway mats and it has been durable and fairly comfortable, but it will get hot in the summer sun. Mine is the pro series, think I gave $49.99 on sale (can't remember exactly, bought it when midway first brought them out and had them on introductory sale).
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/276544/...ster-olive-drab

Champions Choice also has some mats under $100, but I think the midway pro mat is probably the best buy (especially on sale). If you find you need more padding, you could always place a couple of the sleeping pads under the mat.
Are you shooting in a prone coat with elbow pads? If so, I would say you would not need any extra.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Best small bore ground pad

I've bought a lot of stuff from these people and their brand of equipment has always been better than the price indicated. It has everything I think I need. Right now we're shooting in the indoor range. But most of our firing points have shed roofs. The big range where the high power & F Class is fired is an open field with a line of markers. I can always cover it in the heat. I ordered it this afternoon.


http://www.champchoice.com/prod-CC_GRAY_RIFLEMAN_SHOOTING_MAT__DOUBLE_-1010.aspx