Need Homemade Sandbag advice

C

CITADELGRAD87

New member
I have reviewed past threads, and rather than buy leather bags, and as my wife put out several pairs of my old jeans which somehow don't fit, I've decided to make my own.

I have sewed "pillowcases" out of portions of the legs, leaving about 2" unsewn to let me turn it inside out and fill it. They look pretty good, but I have not filled them.

My question is, assuming I fill them with filtered playground sand, and I live in Ka where I don't ever have to shoot in the rain, 10% humidity, should I put plastic ziplocks inside the sacks, or just fill them?

Also, how much sand, ie I know sausage-plump is too full, and 1/2 is not enough, but I want to be able to squeeze them and have them "adjustible," right?

As I need this to sight in my Tasco before it blows up, I'm in a hurry.

Thanks.
 
Ziplocks will likely end up breaking anyway, or coming unzipped. Dispense w/'em. You'll get some very fine sand particles sift through the weave but won't be all that much & just part of the deal.

Stuff 'em pretty full but you do want some bit of extra space so they'll allow your rifle to fit into its contours.
If the bags aren't filled enough, you can always tuck the extra end under the bag when on the bench - or even stand the bag upright for a bit more height.

Worse case = use two for under the forend, tuck the bottom one for more firmness/height build-up & use the top one for actually resting your rifle on. Usually only takes one for the butt.

I used shotshell shot bags (filled w/sand) for a number of years. Works but is a pain sometimes readjusting.
 
I've made some before out of a sturdy canvas purchased at the fabric store. Sewed them with a tight stitch on machine and then filled them and used a zip tie to close them. Don't worry about the fine stuff that filters thru, buy a clean coarse grain sand and just use 'em.
 
I like to use crushed walnut shells or corncob, the same stuff used in a vibratory case cleaners. It packs well and is lighter than sand. It also wouldn't hold as much water as sand and woudl dry out faster.
 
I made some out of old 25 pound shot sacks. I did use the ziplocks though and had no problem with them. I filled the ziplocks and put em in the sacks and the wife sewed em up for me.
 
Your local pool supply store will have 50 lb bags of sand. I use two of those on the tailgate of the truck. If wrapped in duct tape, they will last years. They are cheap, easy to acquire, and work perfectly. A little heavy for some I guess, but it depends on where you shoot.
 
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