We need a new PRS/NRL backpack.

Dude, you're not the only one! First time I had the Shmedium I laid down and shot a 1" group at 100, I thought my load had gone to shit. Switched over to my WC OG GC as a rear bag and back to 3/8" groups. I still haven't practiced with it as a rear bag since then. But on barricades and props the Shmedium is amazing...


what the f is a WC OG GC..... DRIVES me nuts when people abbreviate...seriously that hard to type of the words...OMG!! WTF, RYFKM, ROFLOL!!!!!!
 
I am trying this pack out now. I saw one at a match not long ago and I think it may work. Need a way to attach tripod but hopefully i can come up with something for that. Gonna keep binos in back pocket and ammo in middle pocket and bags on the bottom.
I’ve been using that pack for over a year. I’m going to finally spend the money on a decent hunting pack and stop buying $1-200 packs that just don’t work well (for me). The best feature is it has a hard bottom/frame so it stands up when you put it on the ground. The thing I hate the most is it has NO freaking waterbottle (or tripod) pockets! WTF, do companies think when you use a pack for 10 hours you don’t need water? So I end up keeping water inside the pack, which takes up space, then when I need room for an article of clothing or something it’s a cluster to pack it.

The front pockets are so shallow that they’re pretty useless for anything other than pens, keys, wallet, etc.
 
I’ve been using that pack for over a year. I’m going to finally spend the money on a decent hunting pack and stop buying $1-200 packs that just don’t work well (for me). The best feature is it has a hard bottom/frame so it stands up when you put it on the ground. The thing I hate the most is it has NO freaking waterbottle (or tripod) pockets! WTF, do companies think when you use a pack for 10 hours you don’t need water? So I end up keeping water inside the pack, which takes up space, then when I need room for an article of clothing or something it’s a cluster to pack it.

The front pockets are so shallow that they’re pretty useless for anything other than pens, keys, wallet, etc.

Thats the exact two things I noticed on it. I have an Eberlestock now and its just kind of a pain and not perfect for what we do.
 
I just got the low drag II to try as a bag. I feel like I am going to like it for PRS. I use the bottom part of the main compartment for mini GC and that crazy heavy 16 lb fortune cookie and on the shelf above it is where i put my ammo.
Been using one for a couple of years now, super top quality. Big enough, you can definitely pack too much shit in this bag. Only had one occasion it made sense to use the rifle scabbard (for the rifle) but that deep space comes in handy for many other things.
 
I hate that it wont stand up among other things...LOL

I find myself aggravated at it each and every match but it may be the best one out there now. I am going to try the GPS one, if I don’t like it, I will send it back to amazon.
 
Did you mention food, water, extra socks, undergarments? You said 2 day match, so I'm assuming you're prepping to do some real movement. And do you really really need to carry everything around, all the time, forever?

I used these for many years for work:

I present to you the USMC Individual Load Bearing Equipment Main Pack:

For you Gucci gear people ... it was designed by Arc'teryx, manufactured by Propper.


View attachment 7448951

Has MOLLE webbing to attach all your pockets/pouches you want, each side has straps and a elastic pockets on the bottom originally designed to hold a mortar tube on one side and sleeping bag pad on the other. You could put a rifle on one side and a tripod on the other.

Not so much design going on here - looks exactly like my old Arc' Teryx Bora in camo with some MOLLE sewn on. Same harness, same detachable lid, side pockets and main/compression straps. I bought mine in 1994. Not sure which predated which ... Don't get me wrong , it was a fantastic piece of kit and got all of my stuff out of the central Andes on a single 30 hour tab. I had a day pack lashed to the top and all manner of shit on the outside (tent, ice axe, snow picket, mountaineering boots, rope etc.). Super heavy but comfortable - not kind on the knees mind :)
 
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Funny. I built one from scratch exactly for this after hearing from several of the major manufacturers at SHOT that there wasn’t enough market in PRS for them to even mess with it. I explained that you have competitors who have invested tens of thousands of dollars in world-class optics, LRFs, tripods, rifles, and gear that needs to be protected and there aren’t a lot of solutions out there that do this well.

I had been wanting to make a Sniper-specific ruck for a long time anyway, where ease of access to all the common equipment is similar.

I started by specifying all the essential items that would be carried, how I wanted to be able to have quick access to them, and how it all would work together from a functional standpoint. Then to the drawing board.

20190731_172501_zpsprxomc8l.jpg


20190805_191827_zpsiamawqio.jpg


20190806_131807_zpscflczybe.jpg


20190723_154402_zpsjagjtf0f.jpg



All of the pouches have 3 layers. Outer is Cordura, middle is padding to prevent any damage to optics, radios, ammunition, LRFs, etc. Inner layer is 400D pack cloth. Even the zipper flats aside each zipper have these 3 layers.
20190726_175808_zpswug4jhmc.jpg


20190802_195406_zpsreqwjb6g.jpg


20190804_152012_zps0j1njopk.jpg


20190726_175944_zpsiungkynk.jpg


Detachable top flap turns into a mini E&E bag that can also integrate into a chest kit or stand alone as a mini pack.

20190804_165000_zpsophk8zda.jpg


20190804_164935_zpsmxghhhfe.jpg


20190819_105249_zpsnsanbjny.jpg


20190802_155835_zpsci1jhibi.jpg


20190802_195335_zpsx7shqvgp.jpg


20190726_175850_zps13gx6io0.jpg


20190730_171258_zps7ychbugq.jpg


20190802_195327_zpsl4t5cbny.jpg


20190726_175757_zpsnylb9nk7.jpg


20190802_201336_zpsznunihjs.jpg


20190804_185715_zpspmqju2fg.jpg


20190803_103936_zpspxyfin4a.jpg


20190812_170415_zpsnvjyeoue.jpg


Camelbak pouch is integrated into the back pad above the padded waist belt. Camelbak hose routes through the shoulder straps so there are no/minimal snag hazards and headaches normally associated with Camelbaks.


20190827_162107_zpsr4btfzxv.jpg


20190828_172829_zpsibkhkiyy.jpg



To say that this was labor-intensive would be an understatement. For a lot of the more field-oriented matches that I’ve RO’d, I think a minimalist chest kit with your ammo, smaller optics, Kestrel, and LRF makes a lot of sense.
 
My question is why TF are you putting your rifle in a scabbard after a stage to walk a 20 yards to the next one or maybe a couple hundred yards to the other side of the facility? That sounds like an absolute PITA and you're putting a dirty possibly muddy gun in and out of a compartment plus the time it takes to do it ten times a day. Not to mention the additional weight of the pack to get on your shoulders, additional weight on your back, and balance.

Just get a high quality pack like a Mystery Ranch and carry your rifle in your hand, slung across the front (way better balance), or on your shoulder like normal people.
 
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My question is why TF are you putting your rifle in a scabbard after a stage to walk a 20 yards to the next one or maybe a couple hundred yards to the other side of the facility? That sounds like an absolute PITA and you're putting a dirty possibly muddy gun in and out of a compartment plus the time it takes to do it ten times a day. Not to mention the additional weight of the pack to get on your shoulders, additional weight on your back, and balance.

Just get a high quality pack like a Mystery Ranch and carry your rifle in your hand, slung across the front (way better balance), or on your shoulder like normal people.
That’s a good point, but this thread is supposed to be about coming up with something that is more efficient. I already have three packs and if I buy another one I want it to be the last one. Perhaps there is a better way. It’s not that I can’t make what I have work for me. It’s that I think someone can make a better mousetrap.
If you can come up with something that is better than what you have been doing... excellent. That’s the point. If you have something that makes all of this less of a pain in the ass... perfect. That’s the point. When you have two hands but you need three... that’s the point.
 
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Funny. I built one from scratch exactly for this after hearing from several of the major manufacturers at SHOT that there wasn’t enough market in PRS for them to even mess with it. I explained that you have competitors who have invested tens of thousands of dollars in world-class optics, LRFs, tripods, rifles, and gear that needs to be protected and there aren’t a lot of solutions out there that do this well.

I had been wanting to make a Sniper-specific ruck for a long time anyway, where ease of access to all the common equipment is similar.

I started by specifying all the essential items that would be carried, how I wanted to be able to have quick access to them, and how it all would work together from a functional standpoint. Then to the drawing board.

20190731_172501_zpsprxomc8l.jpg


20190805_191827_zpsiamawqio.jpg


20190806_131807_zpscflczybe.jpg


20190723_154402_zpsjagjtf0f.jpg



All of the pouches have 3 layers. Outer is Cordura, middle is padding to prevent any damage to optics, radios, ammunition, LRFs, etc. Inner layer is 400D pack cloth. Even the zipper flats aside each zipper have these 3 layers.
20190726_175808_zpswug4jhmc.jpg


20190802_195406_zpsreqwjb6g.jpg


20190804_152012_zps0j1njopk.jpg


20190726_175944_zpsiungkynk.jpg


Detachable top flap turns into a mini E&E bag that can also integrate into a chest kit or stand alone as a mini pack.

20190804_165000_zpsophk8zda.jpg


20190804_164935_zpsmxghhhfe.jpg


20190819_105249_zpsnsanbjny.jpg


20190802_155835_zpsci1jhibi.jpg


20190802_195335_zpsx7shqvgp.jpg


20190726_175850_zps13gx6io0.jpg


20190730_171258_zps7ychbugq.jpg


20190802_195327_zpsl4t5cbny.jpg


20190726_175757_zpsnylb9nk7.jpg


20190802_201336_zpsznunihjs.jpg


20190804_185715_zpspmqju2fg.jpg


20190803_103936_zpspxyfin4a.jpg


20190812_170415_zpsnvjyeoue.jpg


Camelbak pouch is integrated into the back pad above the padded waist belt. Camelbak hose routes through the shoulder straps so there are no/minimal snag hazards and headaches normally associated with Camelbaks.


20190827_162107_zpsr4btfzxv.jpg


20190828_172829_zpsibkhkiyy.jpg



To say that this was labor-intensive would be an understatement. For a lot of the more field-oriented matches that I’ve RO’d, I think a minimalist chest kit with your ammo, smaller optics, Kestrel, and LRF makes a lot of sense.



really bro? just whipped some shit up like this? making us all look like HACKS!


that has to be some of the most impressive DIY shit ive ever seen. unreal!
 
really bro? just whipped some shit up like this? making us all look like HACKS!


that has to be some of the most impressive DIY shit ive ever seen. unreal!
It was a lot more than whipping it up. I think I spent at least 2 weeks on that, very labor-intensive.

I’ve been sewing since the 1980s, made or modified a lot of my gear when I was in.

I need to make an MC version of this for myself. I’ve been wanting to make a grab-and-go LR shooting and range pack for a while now that carries all the essentials, with my approach to padded pouches.

Here’s a minimalist chest kit I made for PRS/Hunting for a forum member here:

fe0f4ba4-7f47-454a-9c0c-a3e005e8883c_zpscxfqyhjd.jpg


20180212_130631_zps0nazij6p.jpg


20180212_130617_zpsambeyvt9.jpg


20180212_124228_zpsjspvz6q4.jpg
 
@LRRPF52 Super impressive. Really clean work. Both of those look great. Care to start a PM and I can pick your brain about some of your stitching and technique? I am always looking to learn so I can make my gear better.
 
@LRRPF52 Super impressive. Really clean work. Both of those look great. Care to start a PM and I can pick your brain about some of your stitching and technique? I am always looking to learn so I can make my gear better.
I use a lot of clamps to hold pieces together for final assembly when binding.

I do a lot of flat work with a lighter duty machine, then step up to the Juki 1541S for the multi-layered heavy work on final.

A lot of the flat work is assembling layers of the 3 together, whereas this would be a final assembly in most companies with just a single layer. Too much labor from a mass-production standpoint.

I’ve done consulting with some other shops, and they would bottle-neck big time. One way to address the approach I use with pouches is to source material with the 3 layers already fused together, but it doesn’t work the same for pouch folds on the flap and floor, and is 2-3x the price per foot as Cordura is per yard.

I do all my mag and SAW pouches with the padding because I prefer to protect feed lips and electronics from dings or impacts as best as possible. These usually happen when loading or off-loading military vehicles in my experience, followed by normal field wear and tear.

From a manufacturing standpoint, companies need to generate product on a schedule, so excess attention-to-detail products have to be justified from an ROI perspective.

I think the ROI is there for the PRS/NRL/LR crowd because we’ve already invested tens of thousands in gear that isn’t exactly cheap or even mid-range. Sure, electronics and optics manufacturers might cover damage under warranty, but I’d prefer to prevent the damage in the first place.
 
It was a lot more than whipping it up. I think I spent at least 2 weeks on that, very labor-intensive.

I’ve been sewing since the 1980s, made or modified a lot of my gear when I was in.

I need to make an MC version of this for myself. I’ve been wanting to make a grab-and-go LR shooting and range pack for a while now that carries all the essentials, with my approach to padded pouches.

Here’s a minimalist chest kit I made for PRS/Hunting for a forum member here:

fe0f4ba4-7f47-454a-9c0c-a3e005e8883c_zpscxfqyhjd.jpg


20180212_130631_zps0nazij6p.jpg


20180212_130617_zpsambeyvt9.jpg


20180212_124228_zpsjspvz6q4.jpg


in no way was I downplaying your effort or attention to detail. just by the looks of that bag it appears to be nothing but top notch. very impressive sir.
 
So, I got my GPS pack today and played around with loading it up. I think it will work pretty good. I’m gonna come up with something for the tripod and just molle in a drink holder. I will post some pics when i figure out what I am gonna do but right now I think I am pleased with it. I got the tall one that has the pistol sleeve in the back also and its perfect for my 15x56 Swaros inside the pistol case.
 
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So, I got my GPS pack today and played around with loading it up. I think it will work pretty good. I’m gonna come up with something for the tripod and just molle in a drink holder. I will post some pics when i figure out what I am gonna do but right now I think I am pleased with it. I got the tall one that has the pistol sleeve in the back also and its perfect for my 15x56 Swaros inside the pistol case.
Let me know what you come up with. Unfortunately since the side pockets zip open, putting a tripod or bottle holder there will limit access.
 
Funny. I built one from scratch exactly for this after hearing from several of the major manufacturers at SHOT that there wasn’t enough market in PRS for them to even mess with it. I explained that you have competitors who have invested tens of thousands of dollars in world-class optics, LRFs, tripods, rifles, and gear that needs to be protected and there aren’t a lot of solutions out there that do this well.

I had been wanting to make a Sniper-specific ruck for a long time anyway, where ease of access to all the common equipment is similar.

I started by specifying all the essential items that would be carried, how I wanted to be able to have quick access to them, and how it all would work together from a functional standpoint. Then to the drawing board.

20190731_172501_zpsprxomc8l.jpg


20190805_191827_zpsiamawqio.jpg


20190806_131807_zpscflczybe.jpg


20190723_154402_zpsjagjtf0f.jpg



All of the pouches have 3 layers. Outer is Cordura, middle is padding to prevent any damage to optics, radios, ammunition, LRFs, etc. Inner layer is 400D pack cloth. Even the zipper flats aside each zipper have these 3 layers.
20190726_175808_zpswug4jhmc.jpg


20190802_195406_zpsreqwjb6g.jpg


20190804_152012_zps0j1njopk.jpg


20190726_175944_zpsiungkynk.jpg


Detachable top flap turns into a mini E&E bag that can also integrate into a chest kit or stand alone as a mini pack.

20190804_165000_zpsophk8zda.jpg


20190804_164935_zpsmxghhhfe.jpg


20190819_105249_zpsnsanbjny.jpg


20190802_155835_zpsci1jhibi.jpg


20190802_195335_zpsx7shqvgp.jpg


20190726_175850_zps13gx6io0.jpg


20190730_171258_zps7ychbugq.jpg


20190802_195327_zpsl4t5cbny.jpg


20190726_175757_zpsnylb9nk7.jpg


20190802_201336_zpsznunihjs.jpg


20190804_185715_zpspmqju2fg.jpg


20190803_103936_zpspxyfin4a.jpg


20190812_170415_zpsnvjyeoue.jpg


Camelbak pouch is integrated into the back pad above the padded waist belt. Camelbak hose routes through the shoulder straps so there are no/minimal snag hazards and headaches normally associated with Camelbaks.


20190827_162107_zpsr4btfzxv.jpg


20190828_172829_zpsibkhkiyy.jpg



To say that this was labor-intensive would be an understatement. For a lot of the more field-oriented matches that I’ve RO’d, I think a minimalist chest kit with your ammo, smaller optics, Kestrel, and LRF makes a lot of sense.


People flexing their big skills to let people like me know I suck.