Sand for rear bag ?

[R.Morehouse]

Just picked up my first bench type rear bag..Protektor..Of course it came empty. I am looking for some fill advice. Hopefully something I may be able to pick up around here somewhere. I REALLY would like to avoid buying and shipping some specialized sand. I am sure there must be a second best suggestion for me out there......Thank's in advance for your input...Rick

 

[Raythemanroe]

I have heard guys mix lead shot with sand! that is kinda up to your liking.

 

[Phil3]

I got a Protektor rabbit ear rear bag and did spring for the Sinclair heavy sand. Pricey, and expensive to ship, but is almost 2X as heavy as regular sand. The other person's idea on lead shot is not a bad idea. My Protektor bag weighs in at 7.2 lbs, and it is not full.

Phil

 

[itchyTF]

How far are you from Galeton, PA?

 

[NateHaler]

of more concern than the sand (nothing wrong with playground sand, available at hardware stores for cheap, or take a bucketful from the nearby park -- your tax dollars at work) should be how you're going to fill that bag.

Figure it will take you nearly an hour. I'm not kidding. The Sinclair funnel for this purpose is well worth the cost IMO. Otherwise, you'll spend more time looking for a way to get sand in the tiny fill ports.

Were I you, I would have bought it pre-filled.

 

[longbow]

If your near a foundry go pick up there used sand. It is the heavy sand used for casting metal. You can screen it. Very heavy and free. Add some baby powder to sand , it'll go thru funnel alot easier. Pete

 

[R.Morehouse]

How far are you from Galeton, PA?

I don't know where that is....I am 30min N. of Pgh.


So far as filling it goes, the Protektor instructions seem simple enough for this country boy.

Thank's for the input......Rick

 

[7stubby]

I recently had to fill a Dr Bag. I read on here someplace, if you have a Tractor Supply store close to you. They carry Garnet sand, which they sell as a sand blasting media. Its right up there in weight of what the black sand Sinclair sells and other places sell. It came in a 50 lb drum for only 28 bucks. After I filled my Dr bag rear bag, 2 front bags, and a smaller rear bag, it didnt even look like I put a dent in it. I have enough for my lifetime, my kids lifetime, and if they are still shooting bullets and not laser guns, my kids-kids lifetime.

 

[R.Morehouse]

I recently had to fill a Dr Bag. I read on here someplace, if you have a Tractor Supply store close to you. They carry Garnet sand, which they sell as a sand blasting media. Its right up there in weight of what the black sand Sinclair sells and other places sell. It came in a 50 lb drum for only 28 bucks. After I filled my Dr bag rear bag, 2 front bags, and a smaller rear bag, it didnt even look like I put a dent in it. I have enough for my lifetime, my kids lifetime, and if they are still shooting bullets and not laser guns, my kids-kids lifetime.

Just called my local Tractor Supply and the sand blasting media they sell in a fine grit is some stuff called Black Diamond in the smallest 50# bag is a WHOPPING 8 bucks. Does anyone know if it is real heavy like the Garnet sand? If it will do the trick that is a dooooooable buy for sure.

 

[NateHaler]

I think you should jump on this deal. After all, it's just sand. And some rear bags are so big that unless you have the grip strength of Derek Poundstone, you'll probably need two hands to move the damn thing.

As to filling it, let us know what you do. The first time I took on this task, I took a Dremel tool to a couple of .30-06 cases -- cut the bases off. Taped them together to make a crude fill tube that wouldn't collapse, like a straw does.. Didn't have another funnel that would fit into the .30-06 case, so I rigged up a POS cone out of heavy paper. By the time I got the friggin' bag filled, I'd spent more than an hour. Time is money!

Now I have the Sinclair funnel, heavy sand, talcum powder, etc. But I shoot some of my best groups off a Harris BRM-S bipod and a rear bag filled with rice. I kid you not. Compared to lugging either my JJ or Sinclair rest and an Edgewood or Bald Eagle or Protektor (or all of that!) to the bench. I should add Doan's Pills to my range bag contents.

 

[Phil3]

I bought the Forster funnel (http://www.sinclairintl.com/shooting-rests-bipods/sand-bags/sand-bag-accessories/forster-bag-filling-funnel-prod33914.aspx), and it made the process easy. Takes a while, but it worked fine with Sinclair heavy sand into a Protektor rabbit ear rear bag.

Phil

 

[itchyTF]

Galeton is 22 miles east of Coudersport on Rt. 6 or 72 miles NW of Williamsport. If you were traveling in that area you could get the heavy sand right from Protektor. Maybe they'd even fill it for you.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Rick, that Black Diamond sand blasting media should be heavier then playsand. Sounds like a good choice. I know first hand that the Sinclair funnel is the cat's meow when it comes to filling bags.

 

[7stubby]

Here is the link to the stuff that Tractor Supply carries that I used.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/black-bulltrade%3B-no-80-grit-abrasive-garnet-sand

My Dr bag weighs in right around 17 pounds when using this sand. Its a reddish color and fills very nice.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Thankyou all for your input. I think I got this....300RUM case cut off...Funnel fit into the big end...Sand blasting media from T.S....And a little ( the hardest part for me ) Patients... 8)...Happy Shooting.

 

[itchyTF]

Crazy dusty
July 16, 2012
Flows well through the TSC blasting cabinet. Problem is it is so rediculiously dusty you cant see your part after a few seconds of blasting. Spend the extra money for the glass beads.

Review from TS. May want to take whatever you want to use and pour it a few times on a breezy day to get rid of the dust.

 

[7stubby]

Hmm, thats strange. I didnt have any dust to speak of. Guess I got lucky then.

 

[NateHaler]

May want to take whatever you want to use and pour it a few times on a breezy day to get rid of the dust.

This sand is going INSIDE a sandbag. Where it will remain. How does it being dusty in a blasting cabinet have anything to do with the OP's application?

Imagine how dusty the sandblasting would be if they used talcum or baby powder as some of us do on our sandbags to help the stock slide smoothly.

This is apples and oranges.

 

[Raythemanroe]

rwhart.com,

ZIRCON 13 LBS

13 LBS OF ZIRCON PACKAGED AND BOXED. USED FOR FILLING FRONT AND REAR BAGS. ZIRCON IS ABOUT 98 PERCENT HEAVIER THAN STANDARD PLAY SAND. GET MORE WIEGHT IN YOUR BAG!
Price: $23.99

 

[itchyTF]

BOhio -

This was just my opinion, not a dictatorial statement. If you notice I said "May" not "You have to". If the dust is fine enough it may work its way through the stitching holes and still be, I suspect, a coarser abrasive than talcum powder.