It all started a few weekends ago whilst attending an escrima seminar at one of our local clubs. Somewhere during registration for the seminar I see a guy showing up with an interesting bag.
I immediately see its potential as a covert rifle bag. So I go up to the guy (who turned out to be one of the instructors, as I was to find out just moments later
) and ask him what kind of bag it is, where he got it and how much it costs.
So he tells me that it’s a hockey bag and he got it from a hockey shop in Germany and it costed him somewhere around 65 Euro. He even vaguely remembered the shop’s website.
So that evening, after the seminar I immediately started browsing the intarweb for that bag. Got lucky right at my first search (Google was my friend in this instance) and immediately ordered myself a bag. It costed me (incl S&H) 68 Euro and was delivered at my door the next Friday. Just in time to use it in last weekends DSR match.
That’s the main purpose of this bag: getting my rifle and gear in a very low-profile way to the matches, since the majority of these matches are held way up north in Holland. So when people see me, I want to give them the impression that I’m just some guy who’s into field hockey.
Here’s some specs of the bag:
Height: 97 cm (3’ 18”)
Width: 25 cm (9.84”)
Depth: approx 18 cm (7.09”) for the two “cargo pockets” and 3 cm (1.18”) for the “stick”pouch
Material used: some waterproofed synthetic whatchamacallit. Definitely not cordura.
The bottom part of stick pouch is reinforced with some thicker plastic material.
The straps are padded as is the upper part and lower part of the carrying frame.
The frame is stiffened by adding three small strips of metal.
Finish of the bag is quite good, but of course it’s no way near one of those Model 1 covert rifle bags.
Given the price etc it is most likely made in China (but I haven’t found the tag yet
)
There are two main cargo pockets on the bag, a bottom one measuring 18 x 50 x 25 (7.09 x 19.69 x 9.84) and a top one measuring 15 x 49 x 25 (5.91 x 19.29 x 9.84).
At each side of the top cargo pocket there’s two smaller side pouches about 17 cm (6.69”) deep, with a small mesh insert and a bungee strap.
In the top cover there’s also a small pocket. And finally between the top and bottom cargo pockets, there’s a small pocket large enough to fit a holstered pistol.
My AR with 14.5” barrel and partially collapsed UBR fits snugly into the stick pouch with the Aimpoint T1, FUG and taclight attached. Adding the magnifier makes it a PITA to fit it in the pouch.
Putting on the Leupold made it a major PITA just getting the rifle pushed down the pouch. When trying to take my rifle out, it had to take off the scope before I could take out the rifle.
So for those looking for a bag from which they can quickly produce their rifle: don’t go this route, the pouch is just a tad too small.
For me it serves my purposes: a covert bag for attending DSR matches across the border.
The rest of my gear fits nicely into both cargo pouches and even gives me some room to put in an extra fleece vest, or wet weather gear + some spare mags, if needed my pistol for when it’s a two-gun event, an extra light, my scope, etc etc.
Thanks to the padded straps and the small pack frame, for lack of a better description, the feel and weight of the loaded up bag is quite comfy. Of course will it not stand up to the rigors of an extended hike over rough terrain, but there’s no need for it. It only has to carry my rifle from my house into the car and from the car to the range and vice versa.
Apart from some test fitting and figuring out what the best way is to put my rifle in, I’ve only been able to use it once in real life, ergo take it to a match.
My Final verdict:
PRO:
It definitely is covert enough
It comes at a fair price
It does serve my purposes
CONS:
It’ll fit my rifle, but after some minor fumbling
Retrieving your rifle quickly is not possible, again does it require some fumbling
Not all optics can be fitted to your rifle: i.e. the pouch is a tad too small
The bag will probably not survive 10 years (but what can you expect, given it’s low cost)
And finally some pics:
Front view
Rear view with straps & frame
Rear: “stick” pouch
Pocket in topcover
Left side pocket
Bottom cargo compartment
Bunch-o-stuff packed into the bag
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), get one that's polyester based (won't tear that easily) + resistant to high temps, 'cause otherwise the glue will start "to bleed" when left too long out in the sun.
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