Advanced Marksmanship Buttstock squeeze bag materials

[Strykervet]

Hey, just wondering what you guys use? Sure some of you have probably come up with a good, long lasting combo that holds up well.

For me, the thing that works the absolute best is a doubled up pair of green boot socks, one in the other, and then filled about 1/2 or 2/3 of the way with dry white rice. Easy to manipulate, rests the stock well, etc.

I know a monopod is another alternative, and so is using a rest or even front and rear shooting bags, but I kind of like this old fashioned way of using a squeeze bag under the butt too.

So I was thinking of using polycarbonate pellets, the kind they use to make platics and CD's before they melt and mold 'em? Basically like little plastic beads. I'd like something that won't rot or get wet or expand over time and would be cheap to make.

Just curious if you guys found a better way to go. I've seen folks use gravel but it just doesn't squeeze or feel the same.

 

[treebasher]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I've been collecting dingle berries. Saves on toilet paper and puts those pellets to good use...

 

[RFtinkerer]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

As to the monopod alternative, a monopod is only really good for a hard surface, like a bench, preferably concrete, IMHO. It crushes into the ground during recoil in soft surfaces in my experience and may cause some vertical stringing. Lesson learned for me.

So a distributed loading rear bag is better. As to filler material, heavier the better for me. Heavy sand, zircon, etc.

 

[RFtinkerer]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I should amend that. The heavy materials should be when you can carefully set a good shooting position, adjusting your bipod legs when necessary. Plastic bead filling helps the squeezeability, or whatever, to adjust easily on the fly.

 

[stewfish]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

Get a small Klein bag from Home Depot, fill it with airsoft pellets, zip it up most of the way and fill the rest using a funnel. When it is packed full, put a glob of blue lock tite on the zipper and zip it up. Works good on a bench and prone. Really easy to squeeze and hold.

 

[Mister Ouchie]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I've tried airsoft pellets and polyfill, and I didn't really like the feel of either. What I really like is delrin shavings off of my mill.

Trick with a monopod is to use a small bag with them, keeps them from digging in and squeezing a bag is generally faster than micro-adjusting a monopod. Gives you the best of both I think.

 

[Killer Spade 13]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I use my soft, poly-mesh scuba weights.
Work just fine.

 

[Helter]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I've been using dried black beans. So far it works.

 

[rideHPD]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

BB's and rice weren't solid enough so I took some advice from 175G and stitched a bag up and filled it with aquarium gravel and it is the best thing after whatever's in my Triad bag. The trick is that it's irregularly shaped so there is a mechanical interlocking keeping the material from slipping, complemented by the friction between the pieces. Really solid, and still pretty easy to finely adjust.

 

[cstmwrks]

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[BattleAxe]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

Best Stuff I've found is to go to Wal-Mart and get one of their cheapo Winchester bags. They contain these black plastic pellets that are irregular in shape like aquarium gravel (but lighter) with rather sharp edge.

I found this out by accident but these pellets are less prone to moving around like round pellets are. The result is a bag that holds its shape better and doesn't require as much of a squeeze once in position. I simply buy these bags, drain them for the pellets, then build my own socks. The winchester bags suck...its the pellets inside them you want.

 

[quickdraw17]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I've used "seed beads" in my rear bag after it was suggested by my wife who makes jewelry with them. Seems to work really well, it's lightweight and I don't have to worry about them getting wet like I did with rice.

 

[locked&loaded]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

3mm faceted plastic beads.
Waterproof, light, and the flat surfaces of the facets help to "lock" the beads together and prevent shifting.

 

[Shoots 700's]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I used a 1.00 bag of Navy beans left in the plastic bag and slid it into a poly sock

 

[earthquake]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I use dried lentils in a sock, wrapped in duct tape.

 

[Strykervet]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

First off, thanks for the replies. It took a while to get some on here...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: locked&loaded</div><div class="ubbcode-body">3mm faceted plastic beads.
Waterproof, light, and the flat surfaces of the facets help to "lock" the beads together and prevent shifting.</div></div>

This is kind of what I had in mind. Kids used to wear "friendship bracelets" made of torus shaped plastic beads that sort of interlocked together on a string, back in the 80's. Those should be cheap in quantity at a little bead store around here. But your idea of faceted ones, like say octahedron maybe, that would seem ideal. I'll definitely look into those, thanks.

I'm also interested in the aquarium gravel. I'm thinking the small triangular pieces maybe? If beads don't work, I may try this as it seems the smooth side of pyramidal shaped stone would allow them to move smoothly, yet lock up when squeezed tight. But they may be heavy.

I know lead pellets, small bird shot or maybe something similar would be ideal as far as stability is concerned, but I'm trying to keep it light too.

I guess I'll take some of your suggestions and then try 'em out in a sock... Whatever doesn't rot or take on water, yet feels like Jasmine white rice, is what I'll use.

I really need it light, if weight weren't an issue, I'd just use the shooting rests my buddy got me. Which I do use from time to time at the range, but when I'm out in the sticks shooting I like to go minimal.

Thanks again for all the suggestions, if anyone else has anything to add about what they use or used in their squeeze bags, I'd be grateful.

 

[Topstrap]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I've been making my rear bags out of suede leather filled with the small plastic pellets that are used to make plastic bottles. The pellets are a kinda oval flat shape and I fill my bags up pretty firm so the gun is settled in instead of having to constantly squeeze to keep it in position. Got it narrowed down to two sizes that cover nearly all our needs for various positions. Smaller one is 3" x 4 3/4" x 5 1/2" wide, larger is 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" wide. Not a big difference and the larger one is the ones used most. Rotating it to the needed heights and settling the gun in has been working really well.

I have made quite a few and done a lot of experimenting with shapes

Tried lots of squeeze bags but just never got the consistency that a firmer bag gives once the gun is settled in. Everyone finds they like one style bag but you need to experiment and see what works best for your application and also gives you the feel and best accuracy shooting in the position you prefer.

I know, why red bags? This chunk of leather was given to me by a friend that used to have a shoe repair shop and he did a lot of repairs for boots for the local "strippers" and had a good bit of this left over when he closed.

Good luck, hope this helps some.

Topstrap

 

[Mdan]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

Polly pellets are the most desirable for a long lasting fill material. Organics can and will collect moisture and eventually rot and smell.
Many plastics will harden and have a different density depending on the temperatures.
For squeeze bags the shape of the pellets are important as well. Any "large" portion of the pellets that are not round will effect the consistent rise of the bag itself. A good manufacturer will have the quality control to offer a consistent pellet.
We use a vendor that has the higher grades available at a good price for small quantities which is difficult to get.

 

[downhill]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

25lb shotgun shot sack, filled with used corncob media. Trim the cotton sack to desired size and fill to desired firmness, sew end closed. Ask a shotgunner about the shot sack and just use the media in your tumbler(probably needs to be changed anyway!). Next thing you know you've got a basically free bag made to your specs.

 

[Rover31]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

Poly pellets from the craft store. Sewed into a old goggle bag, the material is kinda stretchy and non h2o absorbent. Perfect size for me.

 

[Strykervet]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I ended up using the same plastic pellets here as Topstrap has, but in a more traditional squeeze bag setup. Works a lot like the rice did, but it moves easier, smoother, and locks up pretty good when squeezed. I like it.

I'll experiment with other stuff besides the sock later, different types of sock-like bags, but the fill is just right. Even better than Jasmine rice, which I thought was just about perfect except for the moisture thing. So I'm probably good now.

For my shooting bags, I have some my buddy got me that are sewn in with leather and nylon and have padded slots... Those are great for the range, but nothing beats a good old squeeze bag for just any old setting or application. Thanks again!

 

[rmfield]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I've experimented with a lot of different fill materials in rear bags. I've tried everything mentioned here as well as a bunch of others. I even tried some volcanic sand from Iwo Jima. The lightest fill material material that I've found that still performs correctly is small wood craft beads. I've used both 3x4mm (perform better)and 4x5mm (slightly lighter). They are a little pricey, but I got a bunch directly from China on Ebay for a good price.

Edit:
BTW, 1000 3x4mm beads = about 3 cubic inches +/-

 

[asmith5144]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

Small craft beads from the local craft store and a heavy duty wool sock. Works great, cheap, and will last forever. Mine has been soaking wet several times from shooting prone in the snow but it always seems to dry out quickly.

 

[chase16]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I use just a plain old tube sock filled with airsoft BB's in it.

 

[Casey Simpson]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials


Dead grass/hay. I discovered this by accident - got down prone - not fn pinch bag, but I had a flannel bag that zipped closed on one end and was sewn on the the other three sides, that was a silver ware bag I'd found without the silver but I was using it to carry my S&W mod 36. Looking for something to stuff it with, like a hunter / gatherer I am in a primal state, I used the only thing around. Dead grass on the 1000 y range. Make it as dense as you wish. Cost nothing. Organic. If it gets wet, well how far do you need to go for grass clippings? The best thing I liked was its light weight.

 

[Anvil_X]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: COfox</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use dried lentils in a sock, wrapped in duct tape. </div></div>


Same here, except I don't duct tape over it. I just pull the sock back over itself and it makes for a smooth exterior. Cool thing about using split peas/lentils is that they're 50 cents a bag, and come with a little ham flavoring packet. I throw the ham flavoring packet in with the peas, because it turns out that split peas or lentils make for a pretty good field chow when you haven't anything else. But do be advised- if you are in a pinch and plan on eating your pinch bag contents, rinse the dust and grime out before you cook and eat, otherwise it has a really funky taste.

 

[Strykervet]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chase Williams</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use just a plain old tube sock filled with airsoft BB's in it. </div></div>

Should've thought of that, I bet that works well too. I just don't ever think of airsoft... I bet it would have been good for some training, though we went straight to Simmunitions back then so I've never touched it. When I read your post, I even though real BB's for a second, and how heavy that would be!

These raw PET pellets I have now are irregular in shape, in a sock I just put 'em in, they "lock" up just a little when under force and don't try to slip back down. Makes for a good, fairly solid butt support.

But even better, if one could score them, would be the HDPE pellets used to make milk jugs. I bet they are the same size and shape as the PET pellets, probably identical, but the HDPE pellets will float, even when sunk under water they'll float back up. PET will initially float, but won't come back up. Because PET is denser than water and HDPE less so, I bet HDPE would be lighter too.

That would be a nice little feature, though not necessary for my uses --I just need waterproof and functional. But from what I've learned recently looking this up again and talking to you guys trying to upgrade this basic rice-in-a-sock scheme, I'm stumbling on better and better ideas.

Big thanks to Topstrap for his idea using PET pellets! I'm coming up with a long lasting, light and slightly stretchable bag made from Underarmor shirts and nylon caps --certainly better than a sock.

Thanks again for all the ideas, anyone using a squeeze bag will find this thread useful. For anyone making one for the first time, there are lots of good ideas here, likely they'll be able to score some or all of this stuff either locally or online.

 

[jpistolero02]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I save crown royal bags and fill them with rice. They are nice and soft and work great.

 

[oglejust]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

any of the ways listed are good for a rear bag, ive got a shot bag filled with used primers i use for a front bag occasionally, works great and is good and heavy.

 

[wmhutchison]

Re: Buttstock squeeze bag materials

I use the poly beads from a craft shop inside an old GI boot sock. Works good for me, and don't have to worry about it getting wet.

 

[creids98292]

Get ahold of Erik miller of sage flat shooters, he makes all the bags we use and they rock! Plus the price is right.
Chris
Benchmark

 

[Win_94]

I use a money bag with Great Northern beans inside.

 

[TOPGuN050]

small aquarium stone works wonders for me. cut up an old heavy pillow case, filled it up and had the wife sew it together.

 

[M40_A1]

2 OD military wool socks, one inside the other like you do, filled with poly beads and the sock ends tied shut in a overhand knot. Cheap, water resistant, camouflaged, lightweight, and easy to adjust the amount or density of the fill.

 

[armydog]

I had used an old lead shot bag filled with plastic beads for a long time but just picked up one of Midways on sale and like it very much, its green and has velcro to put a name tag on.

 

[lkessler]

Love the Crown Royal bag idea,I do think I have a few around

 

[jonesturf]

What's the lightweight fill in some of these bags now? I have seen some at matches that are huge but weigh nothing. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[ArmyJerry]

I just ordered 2, what front bag are you guys using?

Get ahold of Erik miller of sage flat shooters, he makes all the bags we use and they rock! Plus the price is right.
Chris
Benchmark

 

[walley2960]

What's the lightweight fill in some of these bags now? I have seen some at matches that are huge but weigh nothing. Anybody have any ideas?

If HDPE? Possible source

 

[Delta4-3]

What's the lightweight fill in some of these bags now? I have seen some at matches that are huge but weigh nothing. Anybody have any ideas?

Airsoft bb's. That's how I go about it anyway.

 

[TheGerman]

Go to any fabrics/craft store. Look for poly pellets.

 

[Easy_E]

Go to any fabrics/craft store. Look for poly pellets.

And while your there look at the Duckcloth selection. They have it in od tan black etc along with camo. Although thinner than Cordoba its tuff. My daughter and I sewed some bags for ballistic vests and it worked great.

 

[walley2960]

Thank guys. I found some hdpe pellets on ebay. $12 for 4lbs delivered.

 

[Ring]

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