How To: Make Your Own Shooting Bags In Minutes

If you have the need for some shooting bags, some old jeans, and a hot glue gun, Roy Huntington has something to show you. Follow along to see two methods for creating simple and effective shooting bags.
To subscribe to FMG Publications Newsletters, visit gunsmagazine.com/newsletters/.
To subscribe to GUNS Magazine and/or American Handgunner Magazine, visit fmgpubs.com/checkout/subscribe/.

[@statikpunk]

My shooting bags are real easy. Take an old tall sock and fill it halfway with beans (I use airsoft BBs they are very light) then tie an overhand knot above the filler. At this point you will have a bag with a tail. Reverse the remaining tail and fold the bag back in on itself ( just like when you fold a pair of socks) and you are done ..double layer shooting bag. For my hot revolvers I stuff a piece of scrap leather between the two sock layers to protect from cylinder blast cutting .

[@OneWildTurkey]

Thanks for the great idea! I just adapted the plans to use some old Friday Socks and tied them up with garden twist tie. (Friday socks - you know, the ones that aren't holey ;-)

[@fmgpubs]

Someone said they used tube socks and zip ties. Great idea too! Roy

[@JohnDoeSmith08]

I use zip ties to close end of shot bags. Never thought about hot glue & sleeves & legs. Good idea!

[@frankbrowning328]

What a GREAT IDEA! I've got a couple that I've purchased over the years at stores but now I can have custom bags cheap! Thanks for the great video

[@fmgpubs]

Thanks Frank. Make sure to get a kid involved if you can. I gave these bags to a 15 year old boy who went on his first deer hunt this past weekend. He used one in the blind. He didn’t get one this time but had a great time. Better luck next go, Josh! Roy

[@timwintersoncntr]

My all-time favorite homemade bag is a large stretch acrylic sock filled with Uncle Ben's parboiled rice. The toe is already perfectly finished, so hand sewing the heal end after cutting off the ankle is quick and easy. That combination of stretchy, soft skin and fine granularity of the rice filling tops all other combinations in my experience.

[@fmgpubs]

I like the idea of using an old sock. You guys are full of it. Ideas I mean … Roy

[@JamesWhite-tg4kw]

Popcorn very hard

[@user-mf9hb9vi9c]

I've been using kitty litter for years to fill bags, both the old canvas shot bags (both 5# and 25# sizes) and cut-off legs from jeans.

[@fmgpubs]

I was always worried about kitty litter clumping if it got damp, but if it doesn’t, that’s a great option. My wife brought home some kitty litter not long ago made out of recycled newsprint. That has potential! Roy

[@jfruser]

One thing...hot glue can come apart inside a hot car in summer. My dad once fixed the sun visors in our auto with hot glue. It worked before, when we lived up North. But not South of the M-D line! Another option is Welder brand glue. Actually, it is contact cement and it laughs at heat once it is cured.

[@fmgpubs]

Contact cement would be a great option. I’ve never had any issues with hot glue coming apart, but could see how it’d soften in a hot car or trunk. Good tip. Roy

[@lanedexter6303]

Hey, I like this! Much better than my old bags of sand in canvas. Thanks.

[@fmgpubs]

Lane, I especially like the fact they’re light! Roy

[@lowbias]

Made myself a perfect bag today, for next to no money. It works like a dream, thank you!

[@fmgpubs]

Excellent. Now make a few more. Amazing how handy they are if you have a few. Roy

[@KC-kg2dm]

my brother-in-law asked me to make him one of these! even though you didn't use a sewing machine like i will be, this tutorial still helped me figure out what i needed to do! thanks!

[@fmgpubs]

You bet KC. Someone said he uses heavy socks filled with beans and a zip tie on the end. That’s easy! Go get ‘em. Roy

[@grantmedical]

Many thanks! I made a gun rest within minutes after watching your video! I was amazed at how strong it is! Tomorrow I am off to the range to try it out! Again… many thanks!

[@fmgpubs]

Thanks Doc, appreciate your comment. Now make ‘em for your friends! Roy

[@garyreadler4886]

Thanks Roy for another great video of DIY shooting rests, so simple.

[@fmgpubs]

Let me know if you have more ideas. I'll be doing a really easy and versatile target stand soon. If you have a couple of 2x4s, you can make it. Roy

[@robkirkland7982]

Great idea!

[@BlueSun2]

Looks good! I've used shelled corn for a filler.

[@allenbitting986]

Great idea! In the past I used dust free oder free cat litter. The cheap stuff.

[@jfruser]

Thank you!

[@southernexposure123]

When she hears a bump in the night and wants you to protect her from the bear ask her, "You want me to do - *What*?" Believe me she'll tell you again as many times as you ask. lol

[@l.a.3887]

Pretty cool 😎

[@Bill-jv5eg]

Thanks, great idea! I did build one of the shooting rests, works great. Easier than my friends adjustable expensive one😎😎

[@fmgpubs]

I know what you mean about the adjustable ones. I use my homemade ones exclusively nowadays. Roy

[@tangobravo8889]

Excellent videos, a lot of common sense innovations. Thank you.

[@fmgpubs]

Glad to help! Roy

[@cliftonivy8927]

Roy, both your grandma and my wife had fancier ways of sewing a bag /pillow / ? like this, but I liked your hot melt glue approach. It just needed one more tweak.

[@fmgpubs]

One more tweak it is. I’m going to give it a try to make both ends look better, just because! Roy

[@michaelaiken3406]

Hey Roy, I ordered some bags from Brownells. Put plastic beads in them that the wife obtained from the hobby store. Works great. I like your bean storage idea also.

[@fmgpubs]

I think I've seen those plastic beads. A great idea too. Thanks for taking the time to say hi! Roy

[@callawayken650]

Roy, you have done a video on the bags I made several years ago from a basket of clothes that my daughter left from her college days! I just stuffed the pants legs full of other clothes from the basket held inside a plastic bag. I also use the clothes for gun rags, and throw away hand towels without care. Another use was that I took a pair of pants and made covers for the reloading machines in similar fashion. A couple other pairs of pants were sewn into a great shop apron with lots of pockets. One day you may make a video of how to use and old gas grill and/or an old small refrigerator at your shooting range as storage to keep a few items stored there so your don't have to pack everything down there every time. Reply

[@juanlife0252]

Thanks so much

[@fmgpubs]

You bet, Johnnie. Check out some of the ideas the comments have. They’re great! Roy

[@jfruser]

One last comment. I have used white rice and pinto beans. White rice is a LOT heavier per unit volume.

[@roygaisser9230]

Thanks much Roy---I KNEW I was asking the right guy!!! These'll go nicely with my "Custom Shooting Rests" from your other video. Oh yeah. Gonna make my brother-in-law one for Christmas. It's gonna cost money though. I can't find any pink paint in my old remnants and partials, and I want his to look NICE! Hope the family and the whole FMG family has a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas! Thanks again.

[@fmgpubs]

Thanks Roy. A great first name you have there. Send pics of the pink rest! [e-mail] will find me. Roy H.

[@geneyohannan8382]

There’s all kinds of plastic beans or pellets out there. I know if I use beans or rice the mice would have a field day! Love these bags.

[@michaelsalcido3736]

Correct! You should not use any type of food product imo. bc of: 1. the moisture absorbing issues & 2. the rodent/varment issue.

[@tedbarbour6540]

I have a couple of Caldwell shot bags that were given out at some event or other that I stuffed some old rags, pillowcases and hand towels in that work great as well. But I did just go to the "orange" big-box home warehouse to buy a Ryobi glue gun...!!!

[@michaelsalcido3736]

Why can’t you just write “ Home Depot”?

[@rosswitte]

Lentils, softair balls, bracelet beads

[@anthonychrismartin7888]

I do the same with Royal Crown bags. Use cheap cat litter

[@fmgpubs]

Great idea with the Crown bags. And a good excuse to buy more! Roy

[@ulflyng4072]

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy

[@jeffreyandreas7514]

Thanks for another fun and practical DIY project Roy! I currently use old lead shot bags filled with sand and sewn shut, they work fine but 4 of them in my shooting bag makes it weigh a ton. Maybe it’s time for a change! Keep these videos coming, I really enjoy them!

[@fmgpubs]

Once you make some lightweight ones Jeff you’ll change your life! Ha! Roy H.

[@johnsullivan9874]

I used plastic bags for filling mine, before they banned them here in VT, they make for light weight carrying and you can ajust the firmness by how tight pack them

[@fonzfrisco9496]

Trippin

[@stanleysas3703]

Roy, Gday Mate, Just a small idea that you might like to know. I make my own resting bags using sand in old pair of socks, it works very well, Like your show.(Australia)

[@fmgpubs]

A couple of other people said to use socks, and what a great idea! Sand would seem out, but using beans or something would work great and just zip tie the end. Thanks for dropping me a note from Down Under! Roy

[@aewilliams3006]

You can fill it with deer corn , or if you shoot a drilling mix corn and beans .

[@fmgpubs]

Deer corn is a good idea too. Then you can wonder why the deer follow you around the range .... My deer here will wander in front of my targets while I'm shooting. Ahem ... Roy

[@cliftonivy8927]

Here’s how to get both seams of the flat bag looking good. Start just like you did, through the first end and filling the bag with beans. Then take the open end and turn it inside about an inch, and flatten the edge where it’s turned in - the flatter the better. That steel rectangle would work great, or a chunk of 2x4, or a screwdriver handle. Just flatten it good. Now reach in with the glue gun and put a bead of glue about 1/2” to 3/4” in the edge, from one side to the other, and mash the sides of the bag where the glue is. Let that cool. Then take the glue gun and put another bead of glue about 1/4” to 3/8” in from the edge. Flatten the seam down again, with your fingers, or (smarter) with the edge of a 2x4. Cover the 2x4 with wax paper if you don’t want to answer questions about why you have a 2x4 glued to your shooting bag.

[@fmgpubs]

Ha! That’s the secret. I just couldn’t recall the magic. Now I remember my grandmas using some sort of wooden “fid” to close up that last little bit of something she was making. Thanks! Roy

[@glennrishton5679]

I was thinking what a great idea....then you mentioned bean bags we played with as kids....

[@fmgpubs]

I know what you mean … whenever I hold one of these I always remember the old days! Roy

[@mobilemiall]

Do you ever have an issue with mice feeding on your rice or bean based shooting bags while in storage?

[@fmgpubs]

Not so far but I could see that might be an issue depending on where you store 'em. Someone else here said they use airsoft BBs (good idea) and cat litter too, so lots of options. Roy

[@aimlessdude9735]

Popcorn would work great

[@fmgpubs]

Popcorn! Great idea. I tried dry rice but I used minute rice and when it got wet is turned to mush. Roy

[@texas66]

100% cotton denim is much more resistant to barrel / compensator flash than fabrics that contain any polyester, spandex, nylon, etc. fibers. A compensated 308 that gets too close will cut open a Caldwell nylon bag with one shot! Yes, I know, be careful, barrel shouldn't be on the bag, etc., etc. But these new fangled long free floating handguards will give you something to rest on the bag and the muzzle will be too close.... I'm sure that would never happen to you...... until it does.

[@fmgpubs]

I've exploded a few of those bags too, usually with bit bore revolvers. Roy

[@anniemarr6601]

Would Catstan cat litter work for this ? New i mean ;)

[@fmgpubs]

I suppose, but doesn’t it clump if it gets wet? Roy

[@hanslain9729]

Reduce, reuse and recycle... Bob the Builder would be proud!

[@fmgpubs]

I was also amazed at the ideas comment posters came up with. Roy

[@ItAintMeBabe99]

They’re ugly. Use a sewing machine !

[@fmgpubs]

But what if someone doesn’t have a sewing machine? Put a link to your youtube video showing how to make one with a sewing machine. Roy

[@ItAintMeBabe99]

@@fmgpubs True, but I was thinking that more people have a sewing machine than a hot glue gun. I may be wrong !

[@fmgpubs]

@@ItAintMeBabe99 I found a glue gun at Hobby Lobby for $5 with glue sticks. That puts something like this within anyone’s budget! A sewing machine would be perfect, but I’m sure not everyone has one. Hell, I don’t have one! Roy