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Phoenix Shooting Bags Review
One of the most overlooked pieces of gear for the modern hunter is a support bag for their rifle. A quality support bag will be durable yet supple enough to conform to a rifle and other potential rests when it is used as a cushion between two hard surfaces. The two most common uses for such a bag are from the prone position as a rear rest or as a cushion between the forend of the rifle and a tree branch.
Many riflemen tend to discard the idea of extra weight or gear when it comes to their hunting pack and tend to use a rolled-up jacket or rain gear in place of a support bag. While it will work in a pinch, these are less than ideal and don’t offer the user a universal rest solution when stress and time are factored in.
Phoenix Shooting Bags makes a variety of ultra-lightweight bags to build a variety of rest options for the Western Hunter looking to increase his accuracy in rifle shooting. While a bipod mounted to the rifle is the best option for precision shooting, some rifles are not adequately built to attach one. This is where the Large Bag from Phoenix Shooting Bags is best suited. Topped with the Tony Bag of Doughnuts or “TBD,” this duo creates a saddle for the forend of the rifle and makes for a stable rest.
I have used the TBD and small Ridge Runner bags the most for hunting and PRS competitions with great results. The bags are lightweight and easy to attach to your backpack with a carabiner clip for quick and quiet deployment. These bags vary from 7-14 oz and with a full array of sizes, you can build quite the shooting bag arsenal.
Glassing Pad
For most Western Hunters, a quality glassing pad is key to long days sitting and glassing for game. While a quality stool is nice, the extra weight and bulk can be a hindrance. I have found the glassing pad from Phoenix Shooting Bags to be very useful due to its lightweight design and insulating capability. In Montana, most of my glassing is done in below-freezing temperatures, typically on snow-covered ground.
Without a quality pad, you’re not lasting long on the mountain, and standing all day is not a viable option. With their quick clip buckle, you can easily attach the pad to the back of your pack via a 1” webbing strap. For you predator hunters, this pad is about as cactus-proof as I have found and also works great in sharp rocks for those long calling stands.
Check out the full line of Phoenix Shooting Bags and pads at Phoenixshootingbags.com