DIY rear bag
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I decided that it I wanted another rear bag like the one I use with my DTA. It is patterned after a popular bag. I also decided that I don't want to spend the $60 plus shipping to get one to me...so I am making another one.
I have all the pieces cut and ready to sew. I'll post pics along the way. The only thing I'm gonna have to buy is fill. I already had everything else laying around.
Finished dimensions will be 8x6x3. Cut dimensions are an inch larger. Two pieces 9x7, two pieces 9x4, and two pieces 7x4.
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Interesting.
I have a ton of TAB rear bags around and have always liked them.
I like your choice of camo pattern. :)
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Overlock or a straight stitch?
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@dddoo7 what type of sewing machine.
Overlock is like most commercial work is done with a serger/ Overlock machines that has double needles and a blade that cuts excess fabric off as you sew.Straight stitching is like I learned in home economics class in 7th grade.
Single needle and bobbin underneath the presser foot.
It does a neater job but is more labor.
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I am just using the machine my wife got from her grandmother. It is limited as to the number of layers of 1000d it can handle and it is slow but it works. It is the kind I used in 7th grade...nothing commercial.
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I had a few minutes this morning so I punched the holes and pressed the grommits in the tabs. This can be done with a cheap $10 grommit press, but is much easier with a nice press. I found this one with 500 grommits for about the price of the grommits.
More to come later.
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That looks professional.
That is the one thing that my Creedmoor mat needs.
I want some tie down points on the corners.
The last thing I sewed was a pair of pajamas from some nice linen sheets I found on sale.
Cut those suckers up and used a French Seam to put them together
That was probably 20 years ago with my first wife.I need to dig out a machine and my old Vogue sewing book.
Don't laugh. It was $2 at a thrift store.
Early 70's copyright and hardback bound.
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I'll be watching this project with interest. Super cool.
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The next step is to mark sewing lines on the back of each piece. If you sew straight don't worry about this. I do not sew straight. They are 1/2" in from each edge.
After sewing lines are marked, sew on all of the handles and tabs. You can leave them hanging long because they will be on the inside. Each tab and handle will be sewn in again as the pieces are sewn together.
Next sew the pieces together leaving one 3" side open to turn it right side out. Double up on the corners for strength.
When all but one side is sewn, turn it all right side out using the side that is still open. Use a large screwdriver or other item to push the corners into shape.
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I still have to find filler. I will finish this up when I find what I am looking for. I have bean bag filler, but it is heavier than what I want. It will take 2lbs to fill it. I will probably try styrofoam pellets. My other one like this is full of airsoft bb's which work, but are also heavy.
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Plastic doll fill is great. Joann's sells a 2# bag for $20. You can get a 40% off coupon from their website for any one item. The only issue with bean bag fill is it crushes over time. Doll fill is smaller than airsoft BB's, and have an illregualr shape to them. That allows them to lock into each other better.
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@norcal_in_az said:
Plastic doll fill is great. Joann's sells a 2# bag for $20. You can get a 40% off coupon from their website for any one item. The only issue with bean bag fill is it crushes over time. Doll fill is smaller than airsoft BB's, and have an illregualr shape to them. That allows them to lock into each other better.
I'm sure doll filler would work great...and that is actually what I already have. It says "bean bag/doll filler" on it. Problem is I don't want this bag weighing 2lb. This same bag is 7oz from the manufacturer so I know it is possible. I just have to find something that will work AND be lightweight AND last over time.
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Take care of going "too" light. NPA is a very fickle thing, and a bag that is too light will resist packing correctly and can cause severe NPA violation during recoil. You need a solid base for the rear of that rifle.
I'm not sure what TAB Gear uses in their bags, but I consider it to be near flawless.
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@orkan said:
Take care of going "too" light. NPA is a very fickle thing, and a bag that is too light will resist packing correctly and can cause severe NPA violation during recoil. You need a solid base for the rear of that rifle.
I'm not sure what TAB Gear uses in their bags, but I consider it to be near flawless.
I see a lot of guys running super soft bags in the back but I've never felt as solid as I do with a TAB in the back.
The 6 year old TAB bag I have is better than the new ones too. It'll be a sad day when I lose that one or put a hole in it.
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This one is patterned after the tab gear str8t laced. I made the first one before tab gear picked them up. I guess tony uses something different in this one than he uses in the ones he designed. I might just buy another lb of doll beads and deal with the weight.
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I went with poly pellets. It will be heavy but it should be solid too. I'll post final pics once I get it filled and the fill hole sewed up.
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It comes in right at 2.2 lbs, but it is solid as a rock.
Finished product
The thing I like about this bag is the flexibility. It works in several positions from flat to standing short or tall, to scrunched up which is very solid.
Flat
Standing short
Standing tall
And scrunched up
Most of the time however I just use it flat to give the monopod a soft contact point instead of solid to the ground.
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That sure is a nice bag 3d, I have made a few and was just looking at doing something along that line.:smile:
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Looks great.
Where did you source the fabric?
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This is coated 1000d. I recommend non coated unless you really need the coated. Non coated is easier to work with.
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To anyone looking to make more than a bag or two, I highly recommend looking in your local classifieds or the Internet to pickup a used industrial sewing machine. I dabble with making all sorts of gear, which is predominantly made from 1000d cordura. I never knew what I was missing (as I had never seen one in a store) until I saw one in-person chow through 6 layers of denim with the greatest of ease. I was immediately sold and kicked myself for struggling on a lesser machine for years.
The experience was...dare I say ...akin to the reviews I've read for the base CPS. Having the tool that's the cats meow for the job is a good feeling, even if it's a little investment to begin with.
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I would love to have an industrial machine. I have one picked out, but just can't pull the trigger with no more than I make. The one I picked out is a sail making machine and runs about $750. for $750 I could buy everything that I have ever made twice over.
I haven't considered looking for a used one though. That would be the way to go.
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This post is deleted!
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I got inspired by this thread so I made a bag too. Same size, but I used cordura fabric, and I like webbing for the straps.
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Nice!
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@orkan Thanks! This is super sturdy even without fill. I have plenty of material still, so I think I'm going to make a couple of other sizes.
Anyone have one of those pillow sized bags? Like what a lot of guys use under their arms when shooting kneeling?
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@norcal_in_az
Very nice :thumbsup:
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@norcal_in_az I got a pump pillow
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@tscustoms what are the measurements? Also do you know kind of fill is in it? I'm thinking something that large would have a lighter fill.
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@norcal_in_az http://wiebad.mybigcommerce.com/pump-pillow/
9x11x7 it shows. yes, it has a light fill but I don't know what it is. I would say it wouldn't hurt to be an inch bigger in every direction either. I'll run one if you build two!
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@tscustoms I'll see how much fabric I have left.
Thats not a cheap bag lol. Let me design one and see how it goes.
I also breifly looked at fill while at the fabric store. They had hi-dens foam chunks that felt really soft and light, but I think it wasn't dense enough.
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THIS. is a big bag!
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I remember watching that video shortly after it was uploaded thinking it was purely comedy.Then probably not even a week later, saw a squad drag it around at the SD Steel Classic :astonished:
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@rhyno here's the rectangle one.
