April 10, 2022 Sunday GunDay — How to Fill Sandbags and Fill Material OptionsHow to Fill Shooting Bags Most Effectively
Look for the black nylon/cordura flap on both the front and rear Edgewood bags. The flap will have white stiches running down both sides. The flap is actually two pieces made of nylon/cordura that are sewn together. The flap is actually two pieces of nylon/cordura that have been sewn together. Use a blunted rod to pack the sand into the bag. Continue this process until it is uniform in shape and firm. To compact and evenly place the sand, hammer the bag’s base on the bench several more times. Next, check to make sure you have enough sand. If you are filling a back bag, repeat this process for your ears. The bag may require additional sand as the sand continues condensing during use. NOTE: This tip comes from Creedmoor Sports which carries Edgewood Shooting Bags.
Edgewood offers a unique rear Twisted Gater bag that has an unusual footprint. This bag provides excellent support for the shooter’s arm and hands while also supporting your bench rifles from the rear. The more sandbag you have, the better it will resist movement and misalignment that can cause a shot to be lost. To increase the weight of their rear bags serious shooters have turned towards exotic sand formulations (hence a higher weight per volume) in order to improve their resistance to movement and mis-alignment. Jason Baney reviews three options for play sand to use as rear sandbags. To determine the density of each variety, he tested them all. He calculated how much volume it would move per pound. He then calculated how much each type would weigh in different sizes of rear sandbags, including large, medium, and extra-large (Bigfoot). To see how much you can add to your sandbags by switching to heavy, consult our Rapid Reference Chart. The answer is yes for serious shooters. A bag with more mass will give you more stability and help you shoot tighter groups. You can double the weight of your rear bag by switching from traditional sand to Zircon and Chromite.
The latest SEB Bigfoot Bags are shown above. The bags are perfectly flat despite being “packed to the brim” with sand.
Jason BaneyMany Benchrest shooters use “heavy sand” to fill their bags. Although this practice may seem excessive to some shooters, it is very beneficial when shooting from a bench. The sandbag will be heavier and more stable because it is thicker than normal silica “playsand”. What is the weight of the heaviest sand? The chart below will show that Zircon sand is almost twice as heavy as ordinary play sand. More weight means more resistance to bag movement and more gravity-induced “stiction”. In other words, heavy sand will help your rear bag stay on the bench during a string or fire. It is easy to tell the difference between a bag with Zircon and one filled with play sand when you use a hard-recoiling gun. The bag with Zircon stays put. The bag with play sand may not.Rapid Reference Table
Comparative Sand Weights by Sandbag Type SandBag Size SandBag Type SandBag Type SandBag Type SandBag Type Sand Riverbed Sand Chromite Zircon Standards 5?x6? 5.1 lbs. 7.9 lbs. 9.9 lbs. 10.1 lbs. Large 6?x8 6.8 lbs. 10.5 lbs. 13.2 lbs. 13.4 lbs. BigFoot 6×13? 10.2 lbs. 15.8 lbs. 19.7 lbs. 20.1 lbs. Weight increase compared to Play Sand Zincon +98% Chromite +94% Riverbed Sand+55% The benefits of heavier sandHeavier Sand helps your sandbag resist shifting or changing alignment (relatively to the stock) during recoil. This ability to maintain sandbag alignment during competitive Benchrest shooting is crucial, whether you are shooting short-range or long range. Your accuracy will not be improved if you have to fight a “migrating rear bag” at 1000 yards. Shooters can still benefit from heavy sand in non-competitive shooting. Friction from the rear bag or bumping the bag with either a pistol grip or body part can cause a lighter bag to move out of place. This can lead to the need for re-alignment in order to get on target. There are situations where you don’t need or want maximum sandbag weight. A lighter bag may be preferred for varmint “walk-around” sessions. The beanbags I use to carry around groundhog fields are filled with plastic beads. This makes it easier to tote. However, any rear bag I use on a bench will be as heavy and as heavy as possible while still using “sand”. Some will argue that you can add lead shot to make a heavier sandbag. This is a great idea. However, it is illegal in all forms of Benchrest competitions. Sandbags must contain only sand. It is tempting to add shot or sand to sandbags to increase their weight, but this would be against the rules. We tested three types of Zircon, Chromite and commercial Riverbed Sand (Exo Terra brand “Reptile Sand”) in this article. These are all heavier alternatives to regular silica “playsand”. Other types of Heavy Sand are not tested here. Sources: Sinclair Int’l sells black, chromite-based “Heavy Sand”. IFS Industries and other industrial suppliers can supply large quantities of Zircon or Chromite. Particle size 0.01?. Prince Minerals Chrome Cast 7850 (Chromite), (black): 172 Lb/cu.ft. Particle size 0.02?. Exo-Terra Riverbed Sand (Amber). Available at pet shops. Silica “Play Sand”, tan or light grey. Available at Home/Garden shops. Zircon — Heavy-Weight Champion
According to my knowledge, “Dupont Zircon M”, the heaviest “sand”, a normal person can buy, is “Dupont Zircon M”. It is also the most costly. Zircon has a light brown/tan color and is very similar to “play sand” sandbox sand. Zircon is usually rated as having the highest density among heavy sands. It also has the smallest particle sizes, though some Chromite values overlap the Zircon numbers. 1.00 pound Zircon displaces 295cc of Play Sand. This means that Zircon is 98% more heavy than Play Sand. Although some “heavy sand” vendors claim to have Zircon, they deliver a dark gray sand which is completely different. Chromite — Nearly as heavy as Zircon and 30% cheaperChromite sand has a similar density to Zircon but costs a lot less. When comparing bulk prices of both types, Chromite usually sells for 25-30% less than Zircon. Chromite sand has a black color. You should always ensure that you get what you pay for when you buy “heavy” sand. Chromite weighs in at 152cc, while Play Sand weighs in at 295cc. This means that Chromite weighs 94% more than Play Sand.
Riverbed sand is 30% denser than Zircon and Chromite but about 150% denser than silica. This sand will cost you more depending on where you buy it and how much you order. Riverbed sand can be found in a variety of sizes and colors, and it appears reddish and black. Riverbed Sand is not recommended unless you can get Zircon and Chromite. Riverbed Sand weighs 1.00 lb, whereas Play Sand weighs 295 lb. Riverbed Sand is 55% more heavy than Play Sand. Each type of sand was weighed to 1.00 lbs. on a commercial postal scale. Each 1.00 lb piece of sand was then placed loosely in a 600ml beaker. The top surface was then shaken lightly. This was used to determine the volume of the sand.
Chromite: 152 cm
Riverbed sand: 190 cc
Play Sand: 295 CcHow does the density-volume numbers translate into the real world? Here’s an estimate of how much each sand will weigh in different sizes of rear bags:Standard Bunny Ear Bag5 By 6? footprint or approximately 1500cc Zircon : 10.1 lbs. Chromite : 9.9 lbs. Riverbed Sand : 7.9 lbs. Play Sand : 5.1 lbs. Protektor Doctor bag6? by 8? footprint or approximately 2000cc Zircon : 13.4 lbs. Chromite : 13.2 lbs. Riverbed Sand : 10.5 lbs. Play Sand : 6.8 lbs. Seb BigFoot Rear Loaf Bag6? by 13? footprint or approximately 3000cc Zircon : 20.1 lbs.Chromite : 19.7 lbs. Riverbed Sand : 15.8 lbs. Play Sand : 10.2 lbs. Conclusions and recommendations What is the best choice? We recommend Chromite for most users. Although it is nearly as light as Zircon, Chromite is much more affordable to purchase. Zircon is the best choice for those who want the maximum weight of their sandbag without considering cost. It is sold in a higher grade (higher density), than Chromite. Chromite is more affordable and will deliver the same weight per volume. When bought in bulk, Chromite can be 25-30% cheaper than Zircon. If you don’t need the Riverbed sand immediately and can’t wait for a source of Zircon or Chromite, I wouldn’t recommend it. Sinclair Int’l, and other major mail-order sellers, do sell heavy sand. However, Zircon or Chromite might be more expensive if purchased in larger quantities from industrial sources. Prices for Riverbed sand vary depending on where they are purchased and how many they are bought. Exo-Terra Reptile Sand (photo right), the Riverbed sand that I tested was quite expensive when purchased at a pet shop. Bottom line: If you are looking to save some money on your rear bag, you might consider buying cheaper Chromite sand. However, if you are looking to gain as much weight as possible, you should go for the heavier Zircon.
The Lenzi Rear bags are very popular and well-received by top competitors. This are sold through PMA Tool.TOPICS: Sand, Heavy Sand, Zircon, Dupont, Chromite, Riverbed Sand, Reptile Sand, Beach Sand, Play Sand, Benchrest, Protektor, Edgewood, SEB, BigFoot, Gator, Docter Bag, Doctor Bag, Loaf Bag, footprint, leather bag, Rear bag, Sand Density, Silica, Exo-Terra, IFS Industries, Sinclair International.Similar Posts:Tags: Beach Sand, Benchrest, BigFoot, Chromite, Docter Bag, Doctor Bag, DuPont, Edgewood, Exo-Terra, footprint, Gater Bag, Gator, Heavy Sand, Leather bag, Play Sand, Protektor, Rear Bag, Riverbed Sand, Sand, Sand Density, SEB, Silica, Sinclair International, Zircon
