Shooting Bag Firmness

[kuduman49]

Is there a general consensus regarding how firm the front and rear sand bags (mounted in a bench rest) should be ?? The denser the front bag, the more recoil movement, thus POI change ??? If the bag is too soft, it would seem that the rifle could move very easily and also affect POI. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Immike]

You pretty much answered your own question. It's a good idea to use a filler that won't pack such as walnut media or screened sand in the front. The rear base should be full and firm of heavy sand with the ears the same as the front bag. Tight but not too tight.

 

[BoydAllen]

A lot of this depends on shooting style. If you shoot a particular rifle with a firm hold, you can have softer bags and there may be some advantages to their being that way. Rifles that are not stocked and balanced for a light or no hold, and/or those that have a higher level of recoil usually are better shot this way. For rifles that do favor a light or no hold, I still find some advantage in not filling bags so that they are rock hard. IMO there needs to be some damping in the system. Ultimately, the best thing is to experiment with different combinations to find out what works best with a particular rifle and type of hold.

 

[GSPV]

I use a mix of aquarium sand and Sinclair heavy sand in both my front and rear bags. It helps with them not packing down.

With that said, I "fluff" my front bag and the ears on the rear bag before every match.

 

[GSPV]

More:

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2013/03/how-to-tame-vertical-stringing-tips-from-speedy/

 

[kuduman49]

MANY THANKS FOR THE RESPONSES,,,,, I now know that I need to let some sand escape. The last article was very informative.