Caldwell Shooting Bags Filler

Smith and Wesson · August 12, 2014, 09:24 PM

I bought a Caldwell Rear Shooting Bag and I don't know what to fill it with. I'm thinking rice or maybe beans, but I was wondering what you filled yours with?

FrankenMauser · August 12, 2014, 11:37 PM

That depends on how malleable you want it, and how heavy you want it.

I use corn cob tumbler media (just ground corn cobs). It makes for easily manipulated and fairly light bags.

But, I know several shooters that prefer filling their bags with lead shot.
Their bags can be difficult to form to the shape you desire, when overpacked, and, of course, they're quite heavy (15-25 lbs just for a rear bag).

Jim243 · August 13, 2014, 01:28 AM

I have the front and rear bags and filled them with sand. Much too heavy to carry around, but they do stay in place. I have to try the corn cobb in them and see how that works.

Jim

wogpotter · August 13, 2014, 07:17 AM

I tried both heavier & lighter fillers than sand. I ended up going back to sand. The lighter ones didn't "stay put" & the heavier options were a huge pain to drag found the range.
Now I just get "play sand" from Toys R Us.

Panfisher · August 13, 2014, 07:40 AM

I filled my Bulls Bag with tumbler media, works well enough for me. Plus I have hauled it out into a prairie dog down a couple times, I ain't gonna do that with a lead or sand filled one.

madmo44mag · August 13, 2014, 09:11 AM

I have mixed sand with tumbler media.
The sand settles to the bottom of the bag and helps keep it in place and the media is easy to form to fit.
Cuts the weight way down.

TATER · August 13, 2014, 09:41 AM

I like rice.

Pahoo · August 13, 2014, 01:24 PM

To keep from going organic or abrasive, I went to Polyethylene High Density pellets. They handle well and are not too heavy. Each pellet is about 1/8" X 1/8" and disc shaped. ....

Be Safe !!!

hoghunting · August 13, 2014, 10:21 PM

Quote:

I like rice

Obviously you only use your bag at the range. If you use it in the field and it gets wet, you'll have a nasty mess.

CowTowner · August 14, 2014, 08:23 AM

Quote:

If you use it in the field and it gets wet, you'll have a nasty mess.

Or dinner?

nate_g_2003 · August 14, 2014, 08:26 AM

Sand works well for my dad and I. Firm enough to hold it's shape, but not too heavy.

TATER · August 14, 2014, 09:56 AM

Yep, too heavy and impractical, I have never even considered taking one in the field..
I have always used a Bipod and or BackPack in the field….A Tree in a pinch

Smith and Wesson · August 14, 2014, 11:14 AM

I'm just going to be using it at the range, so I'm not worried about the filler getting wet.

wheelgunfan · August 18, 2014, 08:37 AM

Quote:
I like rice
Obviously you only use your bag at the range. If you use it in the field and it gets wet, you'll have a nasty mess.

Left mine out in the rain one night with no adverse effects. Have several that stay in my truck 24/7 for at least 4 years now. I live in a high humidity environment but have yet to notice any adverse effects. As a side plus, if you ever get lost you'll have an instant source of food

August 12, 2014, 09:24 PM	#1
Smith and Wesson Member Join Date: March 29, 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 55	Caldwell Shooting Bags Filler I bought a Caldwell Rear Shooting Bag and I don't know what to fill it with. I'm thinking rice or maybe beans, but I was wondering what you filled yours with?

August 12, 2014, 11:37 PM	#2
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,427	That depends on how malleable you want it, and how heavy you want it. I use corn cob tumbler media (just ground corn cobs). It makes for easily manipulated and fairly light bags. But, I know several shooters that prefer filling their bags with lead shot. Their bags can be difficult to form to the shape you desire, when overpacked, and, of course, they're quite heavy (15-25 lbs just for a rear bag). __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

August 13, 2014, 01:28 AM	#3
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	I have the front and rear bags and filled them with sand. Much too heavy to carry around, but they do stay in place. I have to try the corn cobb in them and see how that works. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

August 13, 2014, 07:17 AM	#4
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	I tried both heavier & lighter fillers than sand. I ended up going back to sand. The lighter ones didn't "stay put" & the heavier options were a huge pain to drag found the range. Now I just get "play sand" from Toys R Us. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

August 13, 2014, 09:11 AM	#6
madmo44mag Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: Ft.Worth, Texas Posts: 1,522	I have mixed sand with tumbler media. The sand settles to the bottom of the bag and helps keep it in place and the media is easy to form to fit. Cuts the weight way down. __________________ Texas - Not just a state but an attitude! For monthly shooting events in DFW visit http://www.meetup.com/TexasGunOwner-DFW

August 13, 2014, 07:40 AM	#5
Panfisher Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,337	I filled my Bulls Bag with tumbler media, works well enough for me. Plus I have hauled it out into a prairie dog down a couple times, I ain't gonna do that with a lead or sand filled one.

August 13, 2014, 09:41 AM	#7
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	I like rice.

August 13, 2014, 01:24 PM	#8
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Poly pellets To keep from going organic or abrasive, I went to Polyethylene High Density pellets. They handle well and are not too heavy. Each pellet is about 1/8" X 1/8" and disc shaped. .... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

August 14, 2014, 08:26 AM	#11
nate_g_2003 Member Join Date: July 3, 2013 Location: Atascocita, TX Posts: 78	Sand works well for my dad and I. Firm enough to hold it's shape, but not too heavy. __________________ -Nathan- Remington 1911R1 .45ACP ~ Remington 870 Express SuperMag 12G ~ Smith & Wesson 629 Classic DX .44 Mag ~ Parker-Hale Model 1200 .30-06 CMP M1 Garand Special .30-06 ~ Tula '39 Mosin-Nagant M91/30 7.62x54R ~ Romanian M1969 Trainer .22LR

August 14, 2014, 09:56 AM	#12
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	Yep, too heavy and impractical, I have never even considered taking one in the field.. I have always used a Bipod and or BackPack in the field….A Tree in a pinch

August 14, 2014, 11:14 AM	#13
Smith and Wesson Member Join Date: March 29, 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 55	I'm just going to be using it at the range, so I'm not worried about the filler getting wet.

August 18, 2014, 08:37 AM	#14
wheelgunfan Member Join Date: May 30, 2014 Posts: 17	Quote: I like rice Obviously you only use your bag at the range. If you use it in the field and it gets wet, you'll have a nasty mess. Left mine out in the rain one night with no adverse effects. Have several that stay in my truck 24/7 for at least 4 years now. I live in a high humidity environment but have yet to notice any adverse effects. As a side plus, if you ever get lost you'll have an instant source of food