Need help choosing a rear bag please!

[bozo699]

Hey Fellas,
I need some help choosing a new rear bag. I have a 6*284 16.86 lbs. 28.5" #17 hv barrel with vias brake, MBR tracker fiber glass stock. I am currently using a Caldwell rock creek front rest and a protektor (13B) Custom Rabbit Ear Rear Bag, I plan on up grading both the rest and the bag but the bag first, the problem I am having right now is it is not tracking obviously with this poor setup, I was leaning towards the protektor Custom Bumble Bee Dr Bag and a (3) No. 3 Wide Owl Ear Front Bag. Then got thinking maybe I better ask someone who has already went through this, any advice or suggestions will be appreciated.
Wayne.

 

[alf]

First, is your stock a Tooley MBR, or a Shehane Tracker?

The MBR has a 3 degree angle in the butt, and the Tracker runs level with the forend. The Doctor Bumble Bee bag is perfect for the rear, but he'll build them with a flat top, rectangle base for the Tracker, or an angled top on the base section for the angled MBR butt.

I run the Edgewood top, which I feel is the best one going.

 

[hawghunter]

+ 1 on the Edgewood front bag, as Alf said the back bag depends on which stock.
Mark

 

[deadlyswift]

Wayne
+2 on the Edgewood front bag! I'm sturggling with my rear bag as well. My 6br/6brx switch barrel savage.... Is in a Shehane MBR Indain obeche stock. I'm starting to think I need 3 rear bags. One for the shehane stock, one for my Lowboy Ballard FTR stock, and one for my factory varmint hunting stocks. The $$$ piles up doesn't it! If I just didn't love all shooting displines I could save a lot of money! ;D ;D For your current stock you are asking about. I agree with Alf 100%!!!!!
Mark

 

[FergusBailey]

First, is your stock a Tooley MBR, or a Shehane Tracker?

Actually, Bill does make an "MBR Tracker" model which he describes as “the Tooley MBR but with the features of the Tracker on the forend and under the buttstock. For the shooter who likes a more vertical -Tactical pistol grip". You can find a picture on his page at http://www.scopeusout.com/target-stocks.htm

I had a regular Tooley MBR and in my opinion, the butt will track best in a bag with rabbit ears and no space. The brand is less important as long as the fit is right, but there is no doubt the Edgewood bags are nice.

 

[FergusBailey]

^^^^^ I should also add that I know it is possible to get the Tooley MBR in fibreglass, and also the Shehane Tracker in Fibreglass, but so far as I know, the MBR Tracker is only available in laminate. So I guess some clarification is required for us to make the best recommendation.

 

[artbosco]

I need some help choosing a new rear bag. I have a 6*284 16.86 lbs. 28.5" #17 hv barrel with vias brake, MBR tracker fiber glass stock. I better ask someone who has already went through this, any advice or suggestions will be appreciated.

Want the very best advice? Call Bill Shehane at http://scopeusout.com/custom-rifle-stocks/target-stocks/ and ask him what he recommends for his MBR Tracker stock. Call D&B Supply 704-824-7511 8am to 5pm EST.

 

[bozo699]

Thanks guys for all the advice, I bought the rifle complete from my gunsmith earlier this year, he told me it was a Shehane MBR fiberglass stock I couldn't get a hold of him this evening to verify, I know if you are looking at the bottom of the stock it is about 5/8 wide at the rear, where the butt plate fastens on and about 3/8" at the front of the butt stock ( just behind the pistol grip ) this is a steady taper from the 5/8" to 3/8". The butt is parallel with the fore end so if I get the right setup it should track I would think. It looks identical as near as I can tell from memory ( my rifle isn't here ) to the MBR Tracker Indian Paint Obeche except it isn't wood.
Wayne.

 

[ridgeway]

Bill has Protektor make custom bags for his stocks. I would suggest taking a look at one. You can also call Protektor and they will make a bag to your specs and a Shehane version.

I have a ST-1000 stock and had Protektor make me a bag based off the bumblebee bag. I shortened the ears and moved them all the way forward on the bag. I just didn't care for the super long ears on the Dr bag. I can take a pic of my rifle in the bag if anyone wants to see it. The way I have it set up works well for me.

If I was doing it again, I would order another custom bag, but make the overall length shorter, similar to the Shehane version. I have a pic of his bag as well. The reason is, the filled Dr bag with heavy sand is so darn heavy and is an overkill. I'm getting tired of lugging it around!

As for a front bag, hands down, Edgewood

 

[ridgeway]

First pic is my custom Protektor and the second and third is a Shehane bag.

 

[bozo699]

Thanks ridgeway for the pics, why is the edgewood front bag so much better then the protektor front bag? what is the difference between the two? Is there anything wrong with the edgewood rear bags?
Wayne.

 

[ridgeway]

I like the edgewood front because of the way its stitched and holds it form.

As for Edgewood rear, I personally don't care for them. Lots of people use them though. I don't like the thin leather donut on them. Over time being filled, the donut seems to roll up and the bag has a tough time sitting flat. The Protektor bags have a thick donut that is very stable. Not sure why Protektor does not make a front bag similar to the Edgewood.

 

[ridgeway]

Oops, duplicated the Shehane bag pics.

 

[bozo699]

I need some help choosing a new rear bag. I have a 6*284 16.86 lbs. 28.5" #17 hv barrel with vias brake, MBR tracker fiber glass stock. I better ask someone who has already went through this, any advice or suggestions will be appreciated.

Want the very best advice? Call Bill Shehane at http://scopeusout.com/custom-rifle-stocks/target-stocks/ and ask him what he recommends for his MBR Tracker stock. Call D&B Supply 704-824-7511 8am to 5pm EST.

Outdoorsman,
I think my stock must be a McMillian, my stock is exactly like the top ugly orange and white one on this page http://scopeusout.com/custom-rifle-stocks/mcmillan-fiberglass/
Wayne.

 

[bozo699]

I need some help choosing a new rear bag. I have a 6*284 16.86 lbs. 28.5" #17 hv barrel with vias brake, MBR tracker fiber glass stock. I better ask someone who has already went through this, any advice or suggestions will be appreciated.

Want the very best advice? Call Bill Shehane at http://scopeusout.com/custom-rifle-stocks/target-stocks/ and ask him what he recommends for his MBR Tracker stock. Call D&B Supply 704-824-7511 8am to 5pm EST.

I would like to thank you all for your help in helping me choose a rear bag for my MBR, I especially thank you Outdoorsman as your advice to call Bill Shehane was excellent advice
What a swell guy to talk to, just for your information Bill told me he is currently making two fiberglass stocks, the st-1000 and the MBR tracker, he has the proper rear bag in stock $145 and a front bag as well, I didn't ask for price on that, but there both on there way ;D I have no idea why I didn't think to call the man and shooter that invented the stock but it was very sound advice thanks again Outdoorsman.
Wayne.

 

[nhm16]

I have a PR&T low-boy F-class stock. The bottom of the buttstock is parallel with the fore end, and is 3/4" wide. I called Protektor and they made me a custom bag that was flat, had 5/8" spacing between the cordura ears, was higher than normal with a carry handle, and filled with heavy sand, for the same price shipped as an off the shelf Edgewood that would not work as well with my stock. It tracks like a dream.

 

[FergusBailey]

Just to add a couple of comments on bags, I am not a fan of the integral leather donut of the Edgewood or the Protektor bags as I find they dont grip the bench as well as a bag with a separate Skip Otto style donut bag. Since Edgewood introduced their Dead Bottom which is essentially the same thing, I have found an Edgewood bag with the separate donut works very well for me as a rear bag.

As for the front bags, I am not so sure the Edgewood is the answer. It certainly holds its shape well as others have stated, but just be aware that moving vertically from the sigher to the record may cause variations in point of impact. This depends on the range set-up and the discipline you are shooting, and also on the bag itself, but generally I prefer a front bag that has less rigid sides than the Edgewood front bag. I am not saying the Edgewood front bag will not work, just that you need to look at bags and rests as a system and validate all the components for the rifle and discipline you are using. I don’t like a really hard packed front bag of any kind for the same reason. If you find you get variations in point of impact when moving from the sighter to the record, or other problems with vertical, take a look at the front bag as it may be the cause.

 

[bozo699]

Thanks fellas for the advice, keep it coming as I am always open to learning something new.
As I said I called Bill Shehane and talked to him, told him the whole rifle setup and the discipline being used (1K br ) he said he could ship me the setup he uses for the same setup, I figured that would be good enough for me. The rear bag is made for him by protektor I could probably buy the bag filled from protektor for around $120 Bill wants $145, it is filled with heavy sand and the modified ears are filled with regular sand, its a turn key system, I am a turn key kind of guy Bill told me how to set it up and it would take a couple of weeks of use to break it in, I didn't talk with him much about the front bag, but it will be filled and ready to use when it arrives. I also took the advice of many of you and talked with Paul @ edgewood and ordered a front bag from them as well $55 so I will play around with the two front ones to see which one works best. just a foot note Paul said they have had the best luck with pool sand and to add about 2 or 3 tablespoons full of talcum powder. I may also order the DR bag with the ears moved forward, I have had several pm's and one or two on here that said they liked that setup, John @ 21st century shooting said he liked the extra long ears on the DR bag so I guess I may order it as well as my son needs a better bag then the one he is using as well. Next I will have to start a new thread on which front rest to buy, I have used the Caldwell for several years with no complaints but it is obvious to me if I want to advance my skills and group sizes anymore I need a better setup thanks to everyone again for helping me with this.
Sincerely Wayne.

 

[nhm16]

Next I will have to start a new thread on which front rest to buy, I have used the Caldwell for several years with no complaints but it is obvious to me if I want to advance my skills and group sizes anymore I need a better setup thanks to everyone again for helping me with this.

Wayne,

I didn't want to spend the $$$ for a Farley or a Seb so I bought a Shadetree top for my Caldwell base. Well worth the money in my opinion. Along with the DR bag and my new stock, I'm finding my gun handling much more consistent than with my previous setup. The Caldwell/Shadetree setup is the perfect height for F-class for me but a little high on the bench. I just received a Cowan rest that I had ordered a while ago, and will use that on the bench instead for load development, etc. That way I also don't have to change out the leg screws/feet from my Caldwell each time I want to shoot off a bench.

 

[21shooter]

Hey guys,

I prefer the DR Bag.
Mine weights 15.5 pounds loaded with my garnet and pack it as tight as you want with this new tool.

Thanks,
John

www.21stcenturyshooting.com