just reading VD's post on sandbags - another way to make some is rather than using sand, use some of the styrafoam beads. not as stable as sand, but sometimes the light weight is helpful

Nice tip butchloc, sometimes lightweight is a plus.

I'll add that I have often used blue jean pantlegs as sandbags. Less sewing to do and I seem to have a lot of jeans with blown out crotches

butchloc
Good suggestion but it won't work for me, I guess I'm such a bad shot I need every benefit from rock solid sand that I can get!
I've tried bags filled with grain/ rice and corn cob media but nothing stabilizes my groups like a heavy sandbag. I use a Caldwell shooting front bag and same brand but smaller rear bag which they recommend you fill with tumbling media, I fill mine with sand.
I'm no target shooter but I do spend some time punching paper when I'm working up loads for my hunting rifles.
I've even used the dreaded "sled" for extensive work ups on my harder kicking rifles ( lightweight .375 H&H mag ).

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
just reading VD's post on sandbags - another way to make some is rather than using sand, use some of the styrafoam beads. not as stable as sand, but sometimes the light weight is helpful

But then hey wouldn't be sand bags would they?.....LOL
Actually I've put a lot of things in those bags but have never found anything but a somewhat course grade of sand to be the right stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
...Actually I've put a lot of things in those bags but have never found anything but a somewhat course grade of sand to be the right stuff.

Used to use cut off Blue Jeans legs and Shot Bags. Finally found some nice Leather Bags at a reasonable price and wanted to put something special in them.

Went out to one of the South Carolina fields where I've been blessed with the opportunity to hunt. There were spots of what seem to be pure sand and in the sand was - Deer Tracks. So, I scooped up the Deer Tracks and loaded them into the Leather Bags. Everytime I use those Bags I remember just how special (to me) they are.

Leather Bags filled with Deer Tracks, it is the way to go.

If you like the smell what the hell Eh ?.

If any of you have access to either a plastics supplier or manufacturer of plastics products .

Try this ; Ultra high molecular wighted polyethylene or polypropylene even urethanes work. Delrin , Nylon almost any plastics will work .
They are not near as heavy as sand or shot but far superior to styrafoam . They settle better far more durable come in rounds beads of varying Dia's. squares triangles or ground chunks .

They will not " Break Down " like foam does .

I've use UHMW spheres for years it works great . ...

If you have a foundry near by there is nothing like foundry sand. It is black sand and black sand is the heaviest.

I was informed by an "old timer" one time about the styrafoam peanuts (for packing things) and I got an old back-pack and filled a plastic bag with peanuts & put it inside the back-pack. It is golden when you are walking thru farmers fields hunting groundhogs as it's light and works well as a rest!

We used to use old cotton shotgun shot bags for sand bags.

What a shame all the new plastic bags

GSP7

That's what I used for may years old shot bags)

Isn't technology grant.

Well ; One could fill them with Lead or White metal or ?. I thought the point was to have stability as well as a " Fair " weight . Not so dam heavy one needs two bearers and a boy to carry the thing .

If it's on your own shooting bench or one you can drive up to the shooting area then it becomes of little concern how heavy it is . ...

Let me clarify; we would fill old cotton shot bags with sand (not completely full so you can make a depression in it) and use for a rest. I used these bags at a bench, not in the field.
In the field would be sticks or the backpack full of styrofoam peanuts...

The corn cob media like you can buy at pet stores or Walmart is usually too coarse for your tumbler, but is a great compromise between weight and stability for "portable" "sand" bags. I use them when prairie dog hunting and they are almost as good as sand and much better than styro peanuts.

I am frugal, I use old media that is no longer functional and old shot bags.

Sinclair sells a abrasive tape product that goes on your firearm to stop it from sliding around. Or you can just use skateboard tape if you prefer.

Best wishes, Bill

I use the old standby mentioned here - sand & old blue Jean legs - the perfect combination. Have a bunch in differnet sizes that work for about every imaginable type rest shooting, pistols, revolvers (beware of the cylinder gap blast, too!) & rifles, Also included are some smaller pads for elbow rests on the odd old hardwood and cement benches - they come in handy for those long SD Varmint sessions, too.

I also have my orginal feather weight versions where tranportability & weight are a factor - split peas & beans straight from the supermarket in Blue Jean legs. They're light, keep good shape and as an added plus can eventually be used for a survival soup - I'll use the ones with the big revolver cylinder gap black blast marks to reduce simmering time.....then again, if I'm that hungry I may just throw the whole bag in the pot!

All good ideas but I just went the course of least expense & effort... I used play sand from a neighbor's playpen. Before filling I spread it out in my wife's favorite cookie pan (yep, caught hell for that!) and baked it in the oven for 15 min or so. That drove any water out and killed anything that took up residence in the sand.

Bud W

Just plain old corn, cracked or otherwise, works very well. When your shoulder gets sore, you can put them in the freezer or microwave and they will retain the heat or cold as well. Use them as a heat pad.