Looking for a sand alternative for sand bags as shooting rests.

[Blackhawk Convertable]

I want to make a few sand bags for shooting rests. Wondering if anyone has an alternative media that's a bit lighter than sand and is still fairly cheap and readily available? Right now my thought is to cook the sand until all the moisture is removed from it. By the way, I'm going to use standard 25 lb shot bags.

Thanks,

BC

 

[GunnyGene]

I want to make a few sand bags for shooting rests. Wondering if anyone has an alternative media that's a bit lighter than sand and is still fairly cheap and readily available? Right now my thought is to cook the sand until all the moisture is removed from it. By the way, I'm going to use standard 25 lb shot bags.

Thanks,

BC

Small caliber spent brass.

 

[rugerjunkie]

Buy a cheap stuffed animal that has plasic beads in it and perform transplant surgery…

 

[Cholo]

Some folks use kitty litter.

 

[NikA]

Airsoft BBs.

 

[peachhead]

Rice

 

[deac45]

I'll second the AirSoft BBs.

 

[peachhead]

I'll second the AirSoft BBs.

Never thought of that.

 

[pawncop]

Cat litter is an option.

 

[Mobuck]

Wheat or shelled corn work OK and lighter than sand BUT will mold/rot if it gets wet. Oil Dry is another option but also absorbs moisture readily. Ground corn cob tumbling media works--even the dirty, grubby used stuff that you'd normally throw away.

 

[Get Wood]

I want to make a few sand bags for shooting rests. Wondering if anyone has an alternative media that's a bit lighter than sand and is still fairly cheap and readily available? Right now my thought is to cook the sand until all the moisture is removed from it. By the way, I'm going to use standard 25 lb shot bags.

Thanks,

BC

I Use The Old Media Out Of My Brass Tumblers.

 

[WV460hunter]

I still use sand simply because it forms so well, my range bags are leather. Alot of fuys over my way take blue jeans and cut the legs off and sow the ends and fill with lead shot and or sand and then sow off . This is a cheap alternative to leather but big caluver revolvers will burn them up readily..Leather can take tons of abuse and has.

 

[cellar701]

I used to use brown rice but had some issue with moisture absorption. Now I use plastic pellets. I’m getting ready to order some, and this was recommended to me:

https://www.doubletapind.com/products/plastic-fill-for-gun-shooting-rests

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I have used kitty litter. It's somewhat lighter than sand.

 

[Rat76]

I use Pine horse bedding pellets; hardwood heating pellets would maybe work better but I've got a ready supply of the pine. We use it for cat litter. ;)

 

[mr.deerstalker]

Cat litter is an option.

how about the whole cat....just kidding

 

[contender]

As a few have mentioned,, some form of plastic pellets. I had a friend working at a plant where they made injection molded plastic parts. If they spilled any clean pellets,, they'd get swept up & thrown away. I got a few 5 gallon buckets of the "scrap" plastic & made several shooting bags.
No worry about moisture.
Lightweight when compared to sand.
Forms easily.

Airsoft BB's may be a little bigger than some might prefer. But they should work.

I also know of a guy who had an old "beanbag" chair. It was actually filled with tiny styrofoam beads. He used that to make some bags. He said of you are going to use that,, you need a place w/o any wind, or any kind of breeze,,, and a good vacuum cleaner.

 

[davevabch]

You can use a number of different items to replace heavy sand. I will take a typical cloth bag and fill with old rags, also use "Rubber Mulch" I love air rifles and also use these for backstops.

 

[454Redhawk]

I use poly-pellets from Amazon. They are available in different weights.
https://www.amazon.com/poly-pellets-bulk/s?k=poly+pellets+bulk

 

[DerekR]

I used several bags of dried beans. I went pinto. lol

 

[Jack Ryan]

Rice, corn, beans, saw dust, wood chips, DRY sand, bird seed. I can't believe people can't figure this out for their self.

 

[Sam Summey]

I knew a guy that used fired 209 shotgun primers. A trap shooter.
I tried limestone pea gravel, too much dust.

 

[Renaldow]

BBs or lead shot seem to be pretty standard at the ranges I've been to here. Pebbles/rocks would work if you don't want to buy something.

 

[Lefty From OK]

One day heading out the door going to the range and I noticed corn hole bags on my work bench so I gave them a try, worked nicely. Inexpensive ready to use and weather resistant with plastic beads.

 

[WV460hunter]

how about the whole cat....just kidding

I reckon that would be fine seein' you could get in wrestled into those bluejeans

 

[WV460hunter]

One day heading out the door going to the range and I noticed corn hole bags on my work bench so I gave them a try, worked nicely. Inexpensive ready to use and weather resistant with plastic beads.

What !!!!!!!! Are you tellin' me there isn't actually corn in those corn hole bags

 

[WV460hunter]

I used several bags of dried beans. I went pinto. lol

Always liked a Good Pinto, especially with a tortillas

 

[Hertervillian]

Walnut media. JoAnn fabric is where the wife found hers. Bonus, they are going tits up so probably going to be a sale on everything soon enough. Plastic pellets can be sourced there too.

 

[moparclan]

I use new corn cpb media sold at our big box store for small critters. Works great and can also used in my tumbler. My one bag/rest actually came with that media already in it. Much cheaper than the gun shops sell.

 

[Tenbore]

I have used dried beans before.