What are you looking for when purchasing a rear bag?

[manabeknives]

When I purchase my 1st rear bag, i just choose a popular brand that seemed like it was high enough work with my rest. I really didn't know what to expect.
Found out that the height was too low, so i made a block of wood as a riser and got a dead bottom. Everything seems to be working just fine. I did the testing on placement and reset to that spot. But i still wonder if this is the right set up.
My questions are; What are you looking for when purchasing a rear bag for BR?
It just seems to be hit/miss if you are getting one that works with your set up, did you also see it this way?
Do you fill the bag as tight as possible? Do you fill the ears the same?
How do you know if you have the right one? What are indications that you have the wrong one?
How many did you have to try to find the one that worked?

Thanks
Mike

 

[Ranchibi]

Mike, will the bag fit on your mechanical rest, the one with the large red elevation knob? Maybe you could tie it or velcro it to it? That way you would have control over height....

 

[manabeknives]

Mike, will the bag fit on your mechanical rest, the one with the large red elevation knob? Maybe you could tie it or velcro it to it? That way you would have control over height....

It will, but there is the slight wiggle in it that will affect the accuracy

 

[Ranchibi]

It will, but there is the slight wiggle in it that will affect the accuracy

Bummer....the bag must be overlapping the platform...darn! Well...back to the old drawing board....

 

[thomasair]

It's all trial and error. Firmness, placement, ear spacing are all subjective to the particular gun, rest, and even bench.

You will know it's right because it will give you the best results.

If your barrel is the cause of flyers....you won't be able to fix it with anything else. If your rest is the cause of flyers, you won't be able to fix it with anything else. If your pellets are the cause of flyers.....you see where I'm going here?

Once you have it all going great, all you will need to do is go shoot on a more or less rigid bench and everything may change.

You are starting to see how complicated the simple looking game can be if you want to do well.

Mike

 

[dgeesaman]

When I purchase my 1st rear bag, i just choose a popular brand that seemed like it was high enough work with my rest. I really didn't know what to expect.
Found out that the height was too low, so i made a block of wood as a riser and got a dead bottom. Everything seems to be working just fine. I did the testing on placement and reset to that spot. But i still wonder if this is the right set up.
My questions are; What are you looking for when purchasing a rear bag for BR?
It just seems to be hit/miss if you are getting one that works with your set up, did you also see it this way?
Do you fill the bag as tight as possible? Do you fill the ears the same?
How do you know if you have the right one? What are indications that you have the wrong one?
How many did you have to try to find the one that worked?

Thanks
Mike

Unfortunately I don't have a prescription other than to say all of those things can matter and ultimately there isn't one bag that can do it all.
- Every rifle has a different height
- Every range has a different elevation requirement
- Some rifles like wide ears some like narrow, some tall 'rabbit', some short 'bunny'
- Fill amount and weight can matter
- Fabric type can matter. I don't think having zero friction is the goal as much as having consistent friction and recoil.
- Ideally you'll see the POI hold through the shot cycle. Currently I'm having my best with a small amount of recoil movement.
- If you're lucky you have access to try other people bags and save a lot of time and money.

So far my experience has been the same as bicycle saddles or hiking boots - you won't know anything until you buy it and put a few hours of real miles on it and making adjustments. I will be reading this thread for any ideas for shortcuts. Maybe we should set up a service where you can rent various bags and return them for a modest cost if they don't work for you.