Rear Bag Ear Spacing

[jepp2]

When I select the ear spacing on a rear bag, do I want:

1. The stock to rest on the ears of the bag

2. The stock to rest on the top of the bag with the ears supporting

Was just reading another thread, and based on the responses, seems I have been doing it wrong.
My setup is either a Bald Eagle with a Shadetree joystick, or a Sinclair Competition rest where I adjust elevation and windage with the front rest.

 

[Olde Man]

If you have a straight flat bottom LR type of stock with no taper in the butt the ears supporting the bag is ok. If you have a tapered stock when you move it back and forth the ears will flex slightly and allow the stock to settle with each shot. I fit mine so it is supported by the ears but just touching the stiches so it cant settle. It comes back to battery very well. JMO

 

[LHSmith]

I believe it depends on what discipline (stock design related) For SR BR with either standard Rem 700 hunting pattern or the custom BR stocks- McMillan, Kelbly, Robertson, Leonard, etc. ( those that by rule must have an angle from the stocks toe towards the action) you do NOT want the stock to bottom on the bag- i.e ears only contact. IIRC LR BR is the opposite as their stocks do not have that incline built in.
If you don't shoot competition then use what works best.

 

[Bill Norris]

If you have a straight flat bottom LR type of stock with no taper in the butt the ears supporting the bag is ok. If you have a tapered stock when you move it back and forth the ears will flex slightly and allow the stock to settle with each shot. I fit mine so it is supported by the ears but just touching the stiches so it cant settle. It comes back to battery very well. JMO

What can be done to stop the rear bag from settling with each shot ? The stock is flat bottom. Seems I'm constantly lowering the front rest more than I think I should.

 

[Olde Man]

In my case it was the stock setteling into the ears. The solution is to let the stock ride gently on the stiching. You definitly do not want the lower part of the bag to move around.

 

[tikkaman308]

I have a Edgewood gater rear bag,and I'm constantly having to re-adjust it. I bought this bag on this sight used and just realized yesterday that the ears are twisted. Is this a common issue or do they make them like that?

 

[LHSmith]

What can be done to stop the rear bag from settling with each shot ? The stock is flat bottom. Seems I'm constantly lowering the front rest more than I think I should.

I pound the butt with my fist before the first shot. It tracks fine for me after that.

 

[Bill Norris]

I pound the butt with my fist before the first shot. It tracks fine for me after that.

Are you saying you pound the rear bag ?

 

[LHSmith]

I have a Edgewood gater rear bag,and I'm constantly having to re-adjust it. I bought this bag on this sight used and just realized yesterday that the ears are twisted. Is this a common issue or do they make them like that?

The twisted ears allow one to use the bag as solid platform for the shooting hand and also gives more room to operate a joystick rest and may benefit those with a drop port.

 

[LHSmith]

Are you saying you pound the rear bag ?

Yup, just initially. Don't do it every shot. Actually when I first set-up at the beginning of a relay, I do slam the the entire bag down on the bench top. I also wipe the top with a damp rag to remove fine dust that may allow the bag to slide.

 

[Bill Norris]

Yup, just initially. Don't do it every shot. Actually when I first set-up at the beginning of a relay, I do slam the the entire bag down on the bench top. I also wipe the top with a damp rag to remove fine dust that may allow the bag to slide.

Thanks Bro.

 

[Fast14riot]

I hammer the butt of the stock into my rear bag with my fist when in prep period. Not like it said something about my momma, but more like an angry liberal banging on your car window because of a Trump sticker. Firm, but no real strength behind it.

 

[JFrank]

What can be done to stop the rear bag from settling with each shot ? The stock is flat bottom. Seems I'm constantly lowering the front rest more than I think I should.

I had a bag that ( displayed those symptoms) the bottom center could no longer support pounding down while using the stabilizer ring. Moving forward I replaced the bag and used a flat solid spacer.

 

[Lkwebb]

What can be done to stop the rear bag from settling with each shot ? The stock is flat bottom. Seems I'm constantly lowering the front rest more than I think I should.

put some hard felt in the bottom between the ears

 

[seb]

When I select the ear spacing on a rear bag, do I want:

1. The stock to rest on the ears of the bag

2. The stock to rest on the top of the bag with the ears supporting

Was just reading another thread, and based on the responses, seems I have been doing it wrong.
My setup is either a Bald Eagle with a Shadetree joystick, or a Sinclair Competition rest where I adjust elevation and windage with the front rest.

First, rear bag to be used along with conventional type front rest and joystick rest is different. Probably not everyone know or aware about this. With joystick rest, you would need a rear bag that is more solid/stable (the bigger-heavier is more ideal), not the type that can be squeezed easily to compensate for height such as used along with the conventional rests. It's just about physic, you don't want the front fulcrum/rest and the rear bag to move in the same time. This will also determine whether the bottom stock should sit on the body of the bag (=stitching), or on the ears.
Stocks for point blank BR are also different with stocks for long range BR regarding the angle of the bottom of the buttstock and on the forearm. You would prefer angled top rear bag for the point blank BR and would prefer flat top bag for long range BR or FClass.
Can we use one for the other or vice versa? I do not know the answer as I don't shoot much, however physic is physic.
Hope this help. Just my opinion.

 

[paperpuncher]

Go to about the 14 min mark they discuss ear spacing and bag set up. Good Stuff!

 

[JFrank]

That’s the way my friend suggested I set up my rear bag, it works quite well.

 

[SSchnd]

As FNG to F TR coming from a XTC sling competitor this thread has me reading intently. I keep having to rebuild the rifle position do to a left shift after shot firing. Now I know it may be my handling of the rifle as this needs to be the same way every time and I seem to be trying to learn but hoping not a bad habit showing in the long team. I will say I had loose tension on the bipod laver and the rifle was torquing for lack of a better term. I have adjusted the lever on hte Duplin to get proper tension and will make sure to level the rifle before I fire a test lot this weekend. Tapered rear stock and a Protector back, The stock may be riding the ears the little. The bag is rock solid hard.
Thank you all for sharing

 

[JFrank]

As FNG to F TR coming from a XTC sling competitor this thread has me reading intently. I keep having to rebuild the rifle position do to a left shift after shot firing. Now I know it may be my handling of the rifle as this needs to be the same way every time and I seem to be trying to learn but hoping not a bad habit showing in the long team. I will say I had loose tension on the bipod laver and the rifle was torquing for lack of a better term. I have adjusted the lever on hte Duplin to get proper tension and will make sure to level the rifle before I fire a test lot this weekend. Tapered rear stock and a Protector back, The stock may be riding the ears the little. The bag is rock solid hard.
Thank you all for sharing

I recently went back to a Proteker rear bag, they definitely ship them full.
On the previously mentioned advice from a friend, I reduced the sand level in the bag from rounded to more flat with no lateral movement, than took quite a bit out of the ears to soft yet once the rifle is in the bags and tapped down the ears form to support the stock without pushing back. At the 14 min mark of the posted video Speedy touches on that near exact advice.