Favorite Front Bags for Load Dev./Accurracy Test

[Dutch260]

I realize there is a recent/current thread regarding Bi-Pods vs Front rests but I didn't want to hijack the OP's thread and was hoping to focus on just bags for a front rest.

What sort of bags are you guys finding the most useful when doing load development?

The dog-gone-good bags look awesome but the website states to expect 3 weeks or more to ship. Not that that's a deal breaker I was just hoping to have something sooner for a trip I have coming up. Also, wanted to see what other options are out there. Unless my Google Fu is just that weak there doesn't seem to be a lot of options for benchrest type bags. Nothing like the assortment of bags offered for PRS type shooting.

Thanks Fellas!

 

[Sogan]

I’m actually looking at the dog gone good bags now. Interested if anyone has any feedbacks or a more stable front rest option?

 

[Heretoimproveforhunting]

jus for bench shooting - get three or four bags of the small poly beads at joannes or hobby lobby etc and duct tape them together. has worked great for me. theyre solid so they dont soak up moisture

 

[Geno C.]

I used a fortune cookie bag most recently and it worked really well. I put a small bag underneath it to raise it up when I needed it also

 

[Dutch260]

I'm waiting on an order I placed with dog gone good bags myself. Spoke with Don (owner) and he was awesome. The order process on his website is a bit long winded but if you call him it's a lot more straight forward. You can just email him exactly what you want and he'll mail it to you with an invoice. He told me that if I like em then mail him a check, if not just send em back lol. Hoping to have them in hand sometime this week.

 

[hlee]

For purely bench shooting and load dev I like the Caldwell tack driver bag. It is big and heavy, with an "x" cross section. Once you snug the fore end of the rifle down into it, the bag sort of grips around it, making a super steady front rest. Today, that and a Weiand fortune cookie for a rear bag made some load dev shooting very enjoyable.

 

[308pirate]

I use a bipod and do it from prone

 

[black5.3]

I do all my load development from a bipod as well. I use to shoot from a front bag and didn’t like how i had to constantly adjust the rifle and find the sweet spot on the bag. So now i do all of my shooting from bipod and rear bag, i got used to it and prefer it now.

 

[Mr.BR]

Pump pillow , have shot a full BR target numerous times with BR rifle of one. But it you are going to shoot of bipod then use bipod.

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

I do load development the same way I shoot, so prone with a bipod up front and a bag in the rear.

 

[Geno C.]

The op is asking about bags, not bipods. He didn’t want to detract from a bipod thread

 

[powerspc]

If I’m shooting off bags, Warhorse Development. Awesome bags, I use the Saracen up front and Comanche in the rear. Although I’m usually using a bipod so I’ll just use the Comanche as a rear bag. These are the best bags I’ve ever used, sturdy but light and exceptionally well made. They are a Veteran owned company in Montana and you will deal directly with the owner who is active in the shooting sports and knows what works. Check them out.

https://www.warhorsedevelopment.com/

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

The op is asking about bags, not bipods. He didn’t want to detract from a bipod thread

Yep, - OP - sorry about that.

If your going to use bags for load development, it would be great to understand how your using them? Are you building up a position on a bench for the front/rear and doing your testing from there? If so, you want a bag that is stable under recoil. A lot of ranges have a wood block which you can use to raise the height of the front of your rifle, then put a bag on that structure. Something simple can work well in that circumstance like a simple sand bag, or a sand sock type bag with synthetic fill like the Tab Gear rear bag.

Then your going to need some rear bag as well, and something again simple will work quite well.

Though I make and sell the Tactical Udder (made in Colorado USA), you don't need anything that fancy for shooting off the bench. A couple of inexpensive and simple Tab Gear Rear bags will work just as well, and cost significantly less.

 

[kabarNC]

When using a front bag for load development, I love the Bulls Bag designed for the AR15. Just the right height, and also has the Xwing design to lock the rifle in. It's dead solid and reduces alot of recoil by gripping the sides of the forend.

 

[memilanuk]

What sort of bags are you guys finding the most useful when doing load development?

One of these... accessorized with all the goodies from this place...

 

[flyright]

A few years ago, I saw a guy using a bean bag, like the 8 ball bean bag chair from my old dorm room, with some of the stuffing obviously missing. He placed a plastic tray on the side to clear the ejection port when he switched to a semi auto. Shooting from a concrete bench, he shot some ragged hole groups using that thing. The original game changer?

 

[Dutch260]

Yep, - OP - sorry about that.

If your going to use bags for load development, it would be great to understand how your using them? Are you building up a position on a bench for the front/rear and doing your testing from there? If so, you want a bag that is stable under recoil. A lot of ranges have a wood block which you can use to raise the height of the front of your rifle, then put a bag on that structure. Something simple can work well in that circumstance like a simple sand bag, or a sand sock type bag with synthetic fill like the Tab Gear rear bag.

Then your going to need some rear bag as well, and something again simple will work quite well.

Though I make and sell the Tactical Udder (made in Colorado USA), you don't need anything that fancy for shooting off the bench. A couple of inexpensive and simple Tab Gear Rear bags will work just as well, and cost significantly less.

I'm building a position on a bench with a front bag/bags and a rear bag. I've been using a Wiebad Pump Pillow and some Triad Tactical wedge bags but it just wasn't giving me the stability I was looking for when trying to do load development. The Pump Pillow seems to flatten out after a couple of shots and I find myself constantly having to rebuild my position from scratch. I'd love to go prone off a bi-pod but my range doesn't accommodate prone shooting.

@kabarNC - Thanks, I'll check out the Bulls Bags. They look similar in design to the Dog Gone Good bags.

 

[kabarNC]

I'm building a position on a bench with a front bag/bags and a rear bag. I've been using a Wiebad Pump Pillow and some Triad Tactical wedge bags but it just wasn't giving me the stability I was looking for when trying to do load development. The Pump Pillow seems to flatten out after a couple of shots and I find myself constantly having to rebuild my position from scratch. I'd love to go prone off a bi-pod but my range doesn't accommodate prone shooting.

@kabarNC - Thanks, I'll check out the Bulls Bags. They look similar in design to the Dog Gone Good bags.

http://www.bullsbag.com/category_s/29.htm

This is the specific one that I find to work great.

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

A few years ago, I saw a guy using a bean bag, like the 8 ball bean bag chair from my old dorm room, with some of the stuffing obviously missing. He placed a plastic tray on the side to clear the ejection port when he switched to a semi auto. Shooting from a concrete bench, he shot some ragged hole groups using that thing. The original game changer?

Sounds like the Original "Numero Uno"



Years later and its still funny

 

[black5.3]

Lol first time seeing that video