Lightweight "sand" bag?

[yakimanoob]

Hey all, I just got back from the range sighting in my brand-new Savage 16 LWH in 7mm-08, and besides the excitement of a new rifle, one thing that stuck out to me today was the need to improve my shooting setup.  I'm toying with the idea of a bipod, but for now I'm shooting off my backpack and it's working OK. 

But I need a solution for the stock--something along the lines of a sandbag.  1) I plan on doing this DIY and 2) I want to be able to carry it in my pack so I don't want a 3+ pound sand bag. 

I've seen some videos of guys using airsoft pellets as a substitute for sand, and that seems like a pretty good idea. 

Anybody on here use a lighter-weight version of a sandbag as a rear/stock rest?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

[kentrek]

I would venture to say (depending on hunting style) you'd be okay with just a bipod for 7mm 08....and when you need more you can use your pack/jacket for a rear rest... with practice you can get extremely accurate with this set up

[coop2424]

While hunting I actually use my packable vest that is in my pack all the time.  Fits into its sack and works real well for me for the rear rear.  I practice with it while shooting during the summer also.  I also have a small packable tarp that I carry with me that I can use also if wearing vest. I bought some air soft pellets and was going to sew something up but it was going to be heavier than I wanted.   Use these options when shooting longer distance and have time to set everything up of course.

[yakimanoob]

Thanks for the tips!  I usually carry a down jacket in a small stuff sack as my emergency warmth; never thought about using it for a rest.  I'll have to get that a try next trip to the range.

[huntandjeep]

I bought a Cabela's rear bag and filled it with poly beads from Walmart for stuffing stuffed animals. It's pretty light and steady. That and a bipod is pretty rock solid in the field.

[mazama]

I sighted my gun in with a with a hard solid rest,then went to a soft pillow so I could tilt gun and shoot up hill,shot higher at 300yds than 200yds,may want to check if your target with both rests to see if point of impact changes.

[jbauch357]

I spent years looking for the right consistency rear bag and could never find it.  One day before heading to the range I took a dress sock (fine stitch thin material) and filled it with a variety of beans and rice out of our pantry, then tied off one end, doubled it back up, tied off again and called it good.  Turns out it's the perfect rear bag.  It weighs basically nothing, conforms very well to whatever I'm shooting, is easy to pack around, has lasted me 5yrs now, and probably cost me $2 all said and done.

[cedarriver]

 We used bird seed in ours.

[Karl Blanchard]

Rice in a sock.  Makes a simple squeeze bag and if you get really hungry you can cook it 

[Magnum_Willys]

Got a crosstac bag with zipper. Playin with different fills to see what I like best in the field. Poly beads seem to be lightest most flexible

[yakimanoob]

Rice in a sock.  Makes a simple squeeze bag and if you get really hungry you can cook it 

There ya go!

Thanks for the advice everybody.  I like the idea of getting rid of some unused/unusable grains and beans!

[thinkingman]

Corn cob polishing media works well and is lighter than sand.