What filling for rear bag?

I don't think there is a standard for rear bags. Soft or firm. Its user's preference.
This is the most important comment. I have several bags, not just different shapes and sizes, but different uses.

Heavy and dense ones that are hard to mold but therefore also hold their shape, for benchrest stuff like sighting (I am not a BR shooter otherwise). Sand, and the heavier the better. Sandblast media is both crazy heavy and doesn't flow like sandbox or concrete sharp sand, if you want to go all the way, that is a good solution. Do be aware the finest sands will leak through many fabric bag materials so you'll end up with grit/dirt. You can try to sift to get rid of the dust but it will come back over time; you can line the bag with a plastic bag as well. Leather may leak at the seams but usually so little you can not worry about it.

I mostly lay in the grass or gravel and the rear needs to squeeze cleanly for height adjustment. Beans and poly fill work great for this. I only have beans in the old-sock bags so I remember they should never, ever, ever be wet. I have had my dried bean bags for 20+ years, no problems. I think airsoft pellets (and I do airsoft for FOF and training, so have plenty) are a bit TOO slippery, didn't like them as much as I expected.

A friend in the past had a walnut media bag, and it was right in between by my recollection. Which doesn't fit my needs (not stiff enough for benches, tiring to sqeeze) so I don't have one now. YMMV, based on bag material, bag shape, needs, how meaty your hands are, etc.
 
If you have no weight problems and you want maximum stability, chromite sand is the best solution.
if you want a light thing to carry around without adding too much weight, fill the bag with the grit you use in the tumbler to clean the gun cases. They are small grains that adapt well and are stable because they do not flow much between them which happens if you use big material.
 
Poly-Pellets.

Hobby Lobby or JoAnn’s Fabric type outlets.
 

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Re: What filling for rear bag?

bjordan, i'm not sure how close you are to Spruce pine NC, but if you are in the area my company recycles plastic through a granulator. the granulated ABS makes great media for any type of front or rear bag, its weight is somewhere between sand and poly styrean beads and its waterproof. best of all is we produce about 2000 lbs a day, so an endless free supply.
I know this post is really old, but any chance that company is still around?