Wiebad TAC Pad (Photo courtesy of Wiebad)
July 11, 2022
By RifleShooter Staff
If you ever watch a Precision Rifle Series match (PRS), you’ll see there are many different factors that go into competing. It’s not just hitting targets at distance. Everything is timed; you must carry anything you want to use in the competition between stages; there could be moving targets, and one of the most challenging aspects is shooting from unconventional shooting positions.
This is what makes PRS interesting. Many people can be a great shot from a bench, but can you hit targets at distance from a barricade or rock? Match coordinators like to get creative with their stage designs, and incorporating challenging and difficult positions is how they separate the good from the great. Tank obstacles and barrels are common, but don’t be surprised to see shooters balancing their rifles on a rope.
Simply setting your rifle on an obstacle is going to make accuracy at distance highly challenging. Balance and stability are important for long-range precision, so a good bipod is where most shooters start, and bipods in the Precision Rifle Series are usually several hundred dollars. However, a bipod is only useful if you have a semi-flat surface like the ground or a large rock. This is where shooting bags come in, and there are tons of different options. The primary thing to know is that you want a bag that can provide a balanced and stable shooting position on the various barricades you might come across in a match. Many shooting bags can be filled with different materials, providing different advantages based on primary use. Some bags are dedicated to rear buttstock support, and others offer versatility for rear support and the ability to support the entire rifle.
Below are several different brands and options that are well-liked within the precision long-range shooting community. Consider your own shooting style and consider how different bags would affect it. Don’t forget, whatever you decide on, you’ll have to carry it in a match.
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Armageddon Gear The Game Changer is a highly versatile option for long-range precision work. (Photo courtesy of Armageddon Gear) Hands-down, one of the most popular shooting bag brands is Armageddon Gear . Their Game Changer OG is uniquely shaped to fit around many different obstacles. They also have an upgraded version called the Sticky Game Changer OG . It’s made with a “sticky” textile that offers a firm grab on various obstacles, and it keeps your gun from sliding on the bag.
It measures 7 inches long by 4.5 inches wide and 5 inches tall, and it weighs in at 5 pounds. Five pounds is some serious weight, but that provides a firm platform that creates excellent stability for your rifle, whether it’s used as a rear bag or to support the entire rifle. It has carrying straps for hauling the bag between stages, and its fill can be customized to shooter preference.
Armageddon Gear also offers different sizes like the Schmedium Mid-Size Game Changer and the Pint-Sized Game Changer . They also offer several different dedicated rear bag options. The Squishy Rear Bag is cylindrical-shaped, but they offer traditional rectangular rear bag options, too. With tons of different options, customization is a big part of what makes Armageddon Gear popular with the PRS crowd.
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Caldwell The Caldwell Tack Driver Line is affordably priced and performs well in the field. (Photo courtesy of Caldwell) Caldwell is well-known for its various shooting sleds. The Lead Sled has been around for years, and their new Precision Turret Shooting Rest is an excellent option for sighting in precision AR-15s. They recently introduced a new Tack Driver Line of bags that are well suited to long-range shooting.
Their X Bag and X Mini Bag offer a unique shape that works as a rear bag, middle support and even good forend support for many different rifles. The various extensions from the bag can wrap around practically any surface and provide a solid fitting for your rifle. They’re 6.5 and 1.5 pounds, respectively, so they have a place in hunting environments, too.
The Tack Driver Prop bag is a simple rectangular design with elastic straps to attach to a rifle, and it also has an attached carabiner clip. It’s lightweight and is filled with a foam pellet media that squishes around obstacles. It’s ruggedly built, and the new Tack Driver bags are much more affordably priced compared to many of the other options in this list.
WieBad A smaller bag like the Wiebad Mini TAC Pad saves space and weight when dragging gear between match stages. (Photo courtesy of Wiebad) Another brand that is often seen at PRS matches is Wiebad . Most of their bags have many different color and pattern options, and they have an extensive selection of front, rear and multiple-use offerings. Their TAC Pad is one of the best options for a versatile shooting bag. It’s only 1 pound, and it has multiple straps and a carabiner to attach to rifles or shooters.
The Tater Tot is an interesting offering from Wiebad. It uses a fortune cookie shape to simultaneously offer clearance and stability for rifles. It weighs in at 11 pounds and uses a heavy sand fill. It does have a carry strap, but that’s still some serious weight to drag.
Shooting bags come in many different shapes and sizes. A cylindrical bag is a popular alternative for rear support over a traditional rectangular bag. (Photo courtesy of Wiebad) Wiebad also offers several different rectangular and cylindrical rear bags in various sizes. The MilkToast bag is small enough to fit in pockets, but it’s grippy and solid and offers a rest where larger bags may not be your friend.
TAB Gear The TAB Gear Simple Patch is a nice option with a locking zipper function. (Photo courtesy of TAB Gear) TAB Gear offers several different rectangular bags that are simple but well-made. Their Simple Pouch – Locking Zipper is interesting because, as one can guess, it has a locking zipper function. This allows one to quickly and easily fill the bag with many different media options without the need for an internal bladder to contain the media.
This allows media to be swapped quickly if you do use an internal bladder, or the bag could simply be used as a bag, using it to carry anything that fits. Also, the zipper can be wrapped around the attached pull tab to “lock” the zipper firmly in place.
The North Texas Rifle Precision bag is a great rear bag with a rubber-panel bottom. (Photo courtesy of TAB Gear) The TAB Gear North Texas Rifle Precision (NTRP) bag is another rectangular offering with a hook and loop fastener top and a rubber-panel bottom. It has adjustable paracord on the sides as well as pull tabs to attach the bag to a carabiner.
Bison Tactical The Bison Tactical Udder bag has a unique design that allows it to fit around almost any style barricade or position found in competitions. (Photo courtesy of Bison Tactical) The Bison Tactical Udder bags stand out in a lineup. They look distinctly like their namesake, but it’s a proven design that is adaptable and sturdy for long-range precision. The Tactical Udder – Fat Boy has thick legs and a deep pocket to fit around obstacles, and it has multiple attachment points and carry handles.
For a smaller version, the Skinny Boy Tactical Udder offers similar features in a smaller package. Both options are available in several different colors and patterns, and they’re well-suited for full support of a rifle on practically any barricade. The Tactical Udder bags can also be set upside down on a bench with the legs in the air for great bench shooting. It’s easy to swap the fill media to customize the weight, making the Bison Tactical Udder bags one of the best long-range precision bags on the market today.
(Photo courtesy of Bison Tactical)
