Introductory Overview for Understanding Common Shooting Bag Fills and Their Impact on Long-Range Shooting Performance

INTRODUCTION

In the world of long-range shooting, precision is everything. Shooters constantly look for ways to improve their accuracy and consistency. One often overlooked but critical factor in achieving long range precision is using the right shooting bag fill for your bag and application. This article is intended to provide an introduction and brief overview of what is shooting bag fill, the various types of shooting bag fill commonly used, and how shooting bag fill impacts the performance of long-range shooting.

WHAT IS SHOOTING BAG FILL?

Shooting bags, also known as support bags or shooting rests, are used to stabilize the rifle during shooting. The fill material inside these bags plays a crucial role in determining their effectiveness. The fill can vary widely, ranging from lightweight synthetic beads, degradable foodstuffs found in kitchen pantries, pet store fillers, hardware stores, hobby shops and even products that are heavier than sand. The choice of fill impacts the bag's weight, stability, user fatigue and how it conforms to the rifle for ultimate stability as the right platform and base.

TYPES OF SHOOTING BAG FILL

1. Sand: A traditional fill material, sand is dense and provides excellent stability. It’s also readily available and very inexpensive. It is difficult to travel with if you have to fly with your bag, so some shooters empty their bags and refill from hardware stores when they land. However, this is time consuming, and not all sand is the same! Sand is also very heavy, and it doesn’t perform as well when it gets wet.
INSIGHT: Sand varies dramatically based on geographical sourcing. Some shooters have custom blends of sands to dial in their desired performance based on the roundness/angularity of each grain and they also play with the average particle size distribution (PSD) of the sands (smaller and larger) to optimize flow and lock-up.

2. Plastic “Poly” Pellets: These pellets / beads are very common as a standard stock fill that comes with many bags on the market. They are typically about half to 1/3 the weight of sand and provide good support. They are also resistant to moisture, making them suitable for various weather conditions. Depending on the source, they are getting more expensive and in the “medium weight” category, you can get some other fillers that have different, non-rounded shapes to promote different lock-up.

3. Recycled Rubber: This fill offers a balance between weight, stability and cost. It is more eco-friendly and provides good support without being overly heavy. This is often preferred by the bags found in big box stores as it is very inexpensive, but the drawbacks can be odor, conformity, bounce and weight if you fly with it.

4. Kitty Litter and Corn Cob: These are common lightweight fillers because they are cheap, easily accessible and they are considered lightweight by many. The main drawbacks are when kitty litter and corn cob fillers get wet, they either get rock hard, grow mold and sometimes expand and can bust the seams on bags. For shooting bag fills, it’s best to go with inorganic materials that aren’t designed to be super absorptive.

5. Lightweight Beads: Polymer Foam Beads like expanded polystyrene (also known as EPS Beads or sometimes found as bean bag fill) are much lighter than sand and plastic poly pellets. They are easy to carry and are economical. However, depending on the type of base resin used to make these beads, they can “go flat” over prolonged use and if so, over time, the shooting bag will appear more “empty”. This will introduce a new and undesirable variable for the shooter will have a new and ever changing variable to account for if the bag they practiced with is becoming more flat over time. Ultra lightweight plastic beads can also have static that makes filling a bag challenging, but after that it’s no real issue.

6. Glass Beads and Lead Shot: These products are often used by shooters trying to dial in the ultimate performance. The common thinking is weight = stability, so more weight should mean a more stable platform. They are also inorganic and don’t absorb water. However, these super heavy fillers aren’t practical for every shooter and application, such as hunting, and lead shot can be a health concern. 

7. Spex•Lite® Shooting Bag Fill: Engineered by chemists, Made in America, and trusted by professionals and enthusiasts around the world. These inorganic products from Spex•Lite® Shooting Bag Fill come in three separate weight classes, from ultra lightweight (up to 100x lighter than sand), medium lightweight and heavy sand (up to 28% heavier than sand) to give long range shooters a complete offering. They are designed to be non-absorptive or substantially less absorbent than alternatives and the medium lightweight fillers come in different particle shapes to optimize flow and lockup to make the most stable lightweight platform in every bag. One potential drawback on its ultra lightweight products can be static. However, any potential static on lightweight filler beads can be quickly and mostly overcome with patience and a simple antistat spray from a local dollar store as shown in this video here, and once it’s in the bag, it’s not really an issue.

PRO TIP: Spex•Lite® Fillers are often mixed with other Spex•Lite® Fillers to provide fully customizable options for each shooter’s preference and situation to balance weight, shape, rigidity, flow and lock-up.

SHOOTING BAG FILLERS’ IMPACT ON LONG RANGE PERFORMANCE

1. STABILITY: The primary function of a shooting bag is to stabilize the rifle. Heavier fills like sand, heavy sand and lead shot offer superior stability, minimizing movement and vibration. This stability is crucial for precision shooting, especially over long distances where even minor shifts can significantly impact accuracy. Certain fills work better in certain bags for various applications. Many shooters carry several bags with them for this very reason.

DID YOU KNOW: Almost one third of shooters own four or more shooting bags, primarily to optimize bags for given situations?

2. WEIGHT REDUCTION: While heavier fills are the preference of the most elite shooters for given situations, they can be challenging to transport, both by air and from prop to prop (for PRS shooters), in the field (military/law enforcement), or while on a hunt or photography shoot. Lighter fills are more portable but may sacrifice some stability. Shooters need to balance the trade-off between stability and portability based on their specific needs and shooting environment. Carrying around a lighter bag leads to less shooter fatigue, so they can shoot better for longer. For military applications, lighter bags mean they can carry more gear and supplies, or move with less fatigue. For hunters, they can go further longer. For competition shooters, such as Olympians, PRS and F Class Shooters, they can fly without paying extra baggage fees. For shooters with injuries or disabilities, they can carry their bags more easily. There’s an old adage in the community: Ounces make pounds, and pounds make pain!

3. CONFORMITY: The ability of the fill material to conform to the rifle and the shooting surface affects the overall stability and speed to acquire the target. A shooter’s ability to quickly form a stable connection between the rifle and the prop or ground is fundamental to establish a stable shooting position for getting NPA (Natural Point of Aim) quickly. Some bags and fills can be stable AND help you be able to quickly manipulate the microadjustments quickly. Materials like lightweight beads and plastic pellets can mold easily to the rifle's shape, providing a customized fit and allowing for micro adjustments. Others prefer heavy sand. PRO-TIP: Mixing and matching fills of various shapes (like beads and platelets) can help balance lock-up with the ability to make micro adjustments to give you the best of both worlds!

4. DURABILITY: Different fill materials have varying levels of durability. Sand and plastic pellets are highly durable and can withstand rough handling and adverse weather conditions. Organic-based fills like husks, hulls and certain lightweight fills like corn cob, while convenient, may degrade faster and lose their shape over time, affecting performance and costing more in the long run.
INSIGHT: According to Spex•Lite® Fillers Annual Shooting Bag Fill Trends Survey in 2023, the #1 deciding factor for shooters when choosing which fill to use was durability. 2nd was weight savings and 3rdwas does not absorb moisture

5. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: The choice of fill can also be influenced by environmental conditions. For instance, in wet conditions, sand can retain moisture and become heavier and less conforming to props or foundations, organic fills like rice can expand or grow mold, and kitty litter gets rock hard. Polymer-based fillers like Spex•Lite® 5125 are more resistant to moisture and maintain consistent performance.

FUN FACT: Spex•Lite® Heavy Sand is up to 75% less absorptive than ordinary sand (according to ASTM C128). According to an independent testing lab, the director noted “[The Spex•Lite®] Heavy Sand sample had a tendency to dry much more quickly in ambient conditions when compared to standard sand samples”.

VIDEO: Stay Dry in the Rain with Spex•Lite®! Comparison of Kitty Litter, Corn Cob and Spex•Lite® Fill

 

CONCLUSION

The filler in shooting bags is a critical factor that can significantly impact long-range shooting performance. One shooter once said why buy expensive gear and quality bags without using the right fill – it’s like driving a high performance sports car with a junky old engine. Whether you prioritize stability, portability, conformity, durability, or being able to shoot in the elements, understanding the pros and cons of different fill types and how you can mix and match them best can help you make an informed decision that’s right for you. By selecting the best shooting bag fill for your unique needs, you can enhance your precision, achieve greater consistency, and ultimately improve your long-range shooting outcomes.

WHERE TO BUY SHOOTING BAG FILL

To get the widest range of shooting bag fill that is trusted by professionals, athletes, law enforcement, hunters and recreational shooters around the world, all you need to do is call Spex•Lite® Shooting Bag Fill, a family-run company that engineers fillers Made in America. Visit the Spex•Lite® website and use the
“How Much Shooting Bag Fill Do I Need” calculator to estimate the amount of fill you will need for your specific shooting bag.

 

Call: 440-462-1500

Email: info@spexlite.com 

Visit: https://spexlite.com/shooting-bag-fill-1.

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