Rear bag ear spacing

[Eraser]

I'm in the market for a rear bag that is solid on the bench. The stock I have is flat on the bottom and 1/2" wide. I'm looking at a 'Protector Doctor Bag' with mid ears and 1/2" spacing. Is the 1/2" ear spacing what I need for the stock I have ?

 

[kcjim]

You do not want the rifle stock to rest on the main bag between the ears. You want the bottom of the stock to rest and slide on the inside of the ears above the main part of the bag. I have a flat bottom stock on my benchrest gun that is also 1/2" wide. I use a Protector 14B bag that has a single row of stitching. The gun rides on the rear bag just right.

 

[JimPag]

You do not want the rifle stock to rest on the main bag between the ears. You want the bottom of the stock to rest and slide on the inside of the ears above the main part of the bag. I have a flat bottom stock on my benchrest gun that is also 1/2" wide. I use a Protector 14B bag that has a single row of stitching. The gun rides on the rear bag just right.

There are 2 thoughts and answers on that one. Some guy's say don't let the stock ride on the stitching and there are guy's like kcjim who say it should ride on the inside or the ears just above the stitching. I remember the first year that I was shooting score at the Nationals in Weikert, PA in 2013. Harley Baker came up to Randy Jarvais and told him that the stock should never ride on the stitching. Harley is one of the best group shooter's on this planet, Jarvais is one of the best score shooters on this planet. I asked my friend Dean Breeden who has won the IBS SR Score Shooter of the year 5 times what he does and the said he lets it ride on the stitching, GO FIGURE. I always heard that there should see daylight between the stock and the bag because if I remember correctly Harley said that you can get fliers if it sits on the stitching, but I bought a new DR bag last year with 1/2" spacing and have been shooting with my stock sitting on the stitching since the 2015 season and I have done better the last 2 years than in 2013 & 2014 when I was using a Edgewood Mini Gator with 3/8" spacing and having the gap under the stock. Like I said this is my personal experience with short range score. I don't know squat about long range shooting and I really don't know what those guy's do as far as where their stock sits. Most of my stocks are Terry Leonard's, but I also use a Scoville, 2 R&M's, a Speedy, a Kelbly, a McMillian, and am having Roy Hunter make me one of his stocks.

 

[Shynloco]

.... I bought a new DR bag last year with 1/2" spacing and have been shooting with my stock sitting on the stitching since the 2015 season and I have done better the last 2 years than in 2013 & 2014 when I was using a Edgewood Mini Gator with 3/8" spacing and having the gap under the stock. Like I said this is my personal experience with short range score.....

I also bought and am using the DR bag after having used the Edgewood Gator bag for several years in 100 yd shooting and competition. I am not a fan of allowing my stocks to ride on any stitching regardless of brand of bag. But I like the taller ears on the DR that I believe provides a more consistent recoil ride on some of my thicker based stocks. I even use a 3" half cut PVC piece (used as a channel between the ears) for my PRS stock on a new custom STTAR15.

Alex

 

[Alex Wheeler]

There isnt a guy on our 1000 yard line with the butt riding on the ears. 1/2" flat = 1/2" spacing.

 

[Endyo]

I've heard it both ways. Can you share why you don't rest stock on ears?

I use 3M slick ears and they seem to be easier influenced by handling errors, bumping the stock, working the bolt, etc. I am assuming some of the above posters are using leather ears which are more rigid and may allow for a stock to rest in them with minimal disturbance. I'm also assuming they are shooting free recoil thus reducing the chance of handling errors.

FWIW I rest my stock on the stitching and most guy's I've observed seem to do the same. I'm not going to say my method is the best. I'm just interested in hearing supporting reasons for or against any particular method.

 

[LHSmith]

In short range BR we have taper in the stock heel by rule which changes dynamics. If you are in the ride the stitch school then it apparently works for some because they have the bag fill and ear fill at optimum hardness that allows for the 3 points of contact to be uniform shot to shot. If any settling of the bag or ear(s) fill occurs, the weight exerted from the butt can be redistributed with 2 points or possibly just 1 point bearing most of the contact. With the "ride the base of the ears" thinking, you have two points of contact which is easier to maintain IMHO, i.e. more forgiving. That said ,it takes experimentation to find the optimum fill media and hardness that yields the best tracking for either school of thought.

 

[DHD]

There isnt a guy on our 1000 yard line with the butt riding on the ears. 1/2" flat = 1/2" spacing.

Alex,
Do you mean that you have the stock riding on the stitching with no space between the stock and bag?

I've switched to a mini gator with handle with 5/8"" spacing where my stock sits on the stitches and have had better experiences with it than letting my stocks ride the ears. That said, it takes some shots before the stock is "set". I try not to move much of anything with that rifle until I'm done shooting it for the day. My rifles with flat heels (Manners T5A or McM A5) shoot better than they ever had before with this bag, and they shot well before. Maybe call it more consistent not more accurate. I only shoot to 600 though.

 

[Eraser]

Thank you all for your advice. I have decided to go with a Protector BB Deluxe, mid ear, 1/2" spacing.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Alex,
Do you mean that you have the stock riding on the stitching with no space between the stock and bag?

I've switched to a mini gator with handle with 5/8"" spacing where my stock sits on the stitches and have had better experiences with it than letting my stocks ride the ears. That said, it takes some shots before the stock is "set". I try not to move much of anything with that rifle until I'm done shooting it for the day. My rifles with flat heels (Manners T5A or McM A5) shoot better than they ever had before with this bag, and they shot well before. Maybe call it more consistent not more accurate. I only shoot to 600 though.

Yes, most all 1k bench guns ride the stitches.

 

[DHD]

Yes, most all 1k bench guns ride the stitches.

I assumed that is what you meant. Thanks.

 

[johara1]

Alex is right we ride on the corners at the bottom to get rid of vertical and they track better. I also have a light varmint Leonard stock PPC. and i have it on the corners and it seems to shoot pretty good there. and it tracks great and it shoots nice little groups. so don't be afraid to try it, it may work for you. jim