Rear bag help

[ShaunW]

I have a newer Dima high + rear bag. Ears are 19mm wide. My stock is a Cerus. Neo x in the front.
My match last Saturday was a mess as I fought my rear bag the whole time. I think the ears might be too full because the rear height didn’t ever feel the same causing me constantly adjust the Neo x or push down/up on the rear bag.

Can someone give me some tips on what I should be looking for when setting up my bag? Do I want my stock to reach the bottom between the ears?

Between my B&A trigger and my rear bag it was frustrating.

 

[Fast14riot]

I like my stocks to be about 1/16"-1/8" wider on the bottom than the stitching. My current stock is 0.800" and I shoot a 3/4" spaced bag. This allows it to bottom out but be in contact with the ears for tracking.

When setting up, I will hammer the butt with my fist into the bag to get it to settle most of the way. It might settle a little more during my string, but not a whole lot.

Something else to watch out for, if the rear bag is contacting your chest/shoulder and moving it around can cause alignment issues. Good grippy stuff on the bottom helps.

 

[ShaunW]

I like my stocks to be about 1/16"-1/8" wider on the bottom than the stitching. My current stock is 0.800" and I shoot a 3/4" spaced bag. This allows it to bottom out but be in contact with the ears for tracking.

When setting up, I will hammer the butt with my fist into the bag to get it to settle most of the way. It might settle a little more during my string, but not a whole lot.

Something else to watch out for, if the rear bag is contacting your chest/shoulder and moving it around can cause alignment issues. Good grippy stuff on the bottom helps.

Thank you for the response. Most of the local shooters are sling shooters so I have limited access to this kind of information.

 

[WillyTP]

Definitely make sure the rifle is beaten down into the bag well. I’ll notice when I forget about it that as I shoot the rear settles more and more and then I can’t get low enough for the bottom target on a score card.

 

[JFrank]

I’ve struggled with this a bit myself, a buddy gave me this tip.
Take enough sand out of the bag so the top isn’t rounded nor will it push back or lift the butt stock up after a shot of two, you want it to hold the form you pound in it.
The ears have slightly more sand removed, they’ll fell soft until the stock is in place and tapped down, at that point they will be firm and capture and support the stock.
There’s a bit of trial and error for sure, I hope this helps.
Jim

 

[Sandstorm]

Exactly what Jim said....100%
Took me a while to get this resolved as well.

 

[LHSmith]

In SR BR I want the stock to rest on the ears giving 2 points of contact. Also filling the ears with something courser than sand such as: 1/ Black Diamond blasting media ( avail. from TSC) or 2/ the courser sand after sifting mason sand. The irregular shaped granules tend to lock together vs. the spherical granules found in play sand and the lack of "fines" prevent the ears from settling and also compacting into a hard mass. The other problem that would cause me to keep adjusting for POA is bag movement. I solved this by using a bag with a built-in donut and wiping the bench top with a damp rag before placing the rear bag. Dust and even pollen build-up will cause the bag to move- subtlely - but enough to change original POA.

 

[ShaunW]

In SR BR I want the stock to rest on the ears giving 2 points of contact. Also filling the ears with something courser than sand such as: 1/ Black Diamond blasting media ( avail. from TSC) or 2/ the courser sand after sifting mason sand. The irregular shaped granules tend to lock together vs. the spherical granules found in play sand and the lack of "fines" prevent the ears from settling and also compacting into a hard mass. The other problem that would cause me to keep adjusting for POA is bag movement. I solved this by using a bag with a built-in donut and wiping the bench top with a damp rag before placing the rear bag. Dust and even pollen build-up will cause the bag to move- subtlely - but enough to change original POA.

I’ll have to try the blasting media. I’ll track it down. I’m also thinking I may have the rear bag too close to my chest. I have a donut that I need to fill the edges with sand. Good stuff everyone