Any objective comparisons of drag bags?

[MG-70]

I've searched and read quite a few threads, but didn't find actual comparisons or objective reasons why one bag is better than the other. I'm sure the more expensive bags have better zippers, better stitching, perhaps some sort of protective spray on the fabric, etc., etc., but...

What are the differences between the Condor, Voodoo Tactical, and Blackhawk drag bags, for instance, making one better than the other? They're all made in Asia, of 1000 denier nylon, of approximately the same dimensions, number and location of pockets, etc.

I'm not hunting terrorists, but want something that lasts, and would rather not pay $200 if the $100 bag is just as good.

Thanks in advance!

 

[LawnMM]

Re: Any objective comparisons of drag bags?

There's the TacOps bags, and then there's everything else.

 

[MG-70]

Re: Any objective comparisons of drag bags?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LawnMM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There's the TacOps bags, and then there's everything else. </div></div>

What makes it better?

 

[clmayfield]

Re: Any objective comparisons of drag bags?

Here is a good quote from March 2010:

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Aries64</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: baschu</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Always wondered about the shooting mat that comes with the bag. What are the dimension? L x W x H(Padding?).</div></div>
The dimensions of the included shooting mat are 51"L x 25.5"W x 7/16"Thick. Since the mat is about 7/16" thick, I'd estimate the closed cell foam padding used in the mat to be 3/8".

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: baschu</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The price seems high but if the mat is close to what I'm looking for it might be worth it.</div></div>
Compared to all bags except the Eagle, the Tac Ops Drag Bag is considerably more costly. However, when compared to the Eagle (which seems to be the standard that many go by), the Tac Ops is a better value because it offers features such as a padded suppressor pocket and a hide-away shooting mat that the Eagle doesn't have for marginally more.

And by the time you buy an Eagle DB and a shooting mat you could have bought the Tac Ops, but you will still be missing some of the cool Tac Ops features, such as the shooting mat pocket. Since the Eagle DB lacks a pocket to store a shooting mat the mat must be carried separately or lashed to the DB or a backpack.

Keith </div></div>

I've got a Tac Ops. It came with the gun. I told Mike not to bother sending it, but he insisted. I was a moron. It is simply awesome. Available in short and long so you can either carry the suppressed rifle, or have a shorter bag. The whole thing is very very well thought out. I can;t comment so much on the Eagle. Looks pretty cool, though.

 

[mission_fail]

Re: Any objective comparisons of drag bags?

Just something I've noticed. On all the drag bags I ever used and have seen others use(don't know the types as they were a random assortment of issued gear) any zippered pocket on a bag was busted. I had to stitch it together with 550 cord and untie and retie every time. I would think velcro wouldn't work great either. Buttons and snaps are good, buttons being preferred. This is only if you actually plan on using your drag bag for it's intended purpose, dragging it behind you on a stalk. For general carrying/transportation purposes, I would think almost any drag bag would fit the bill in terms of durability, excepting the lowest of the low grade stuff.

 

[Aries64]

Re: Any objective comparisons of drag bags?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MG-70</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LawnMM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There's the TacOps bags, and then there's everything else. </div></div>

What makes it better? </div></div>
That's easy:

The TO DBs' are 100% Made in the U.S. out of top quality materials. They have more than enough storage pockets and are built sturdily enough that you can carry a full-size spotting scope, tripod, lens cleaning kit, range finder, binoculars, data book, Kestrel, spare bipod, cleaning rod and cleaning supplies, bean bags, and several hundred rounds of ammo and still have additional capacity. They also offer the most comprehensive features in any convention drag bag around. One of the great things about the Tac Ops DBs' is that you can pack everything you need in the bag so you don't forget anything. If the Tac Ops Drag Bag has a downside I'd say that you can carry too much in it and it becomes a fat, heavy bitch.

Tac Ops Drag Bags' currently come in two sizes: "<span style="font-weight: bold">SHORT</span>" and "<span style="font-weight: bold">LONG/Regular</span>". <span style="font-weight: bold">SHORT Drag Bags will accomodate tactical rifles with OALs' of up to 43.5" mounted with a large scope. "LONG/Regular" Drag Bags will accomodate tactical rifles with OALs' of up to 51.0" mounted with a large scope. All Tac Ops products are 100% manufactured in the Los Angeles, California area.</span>

I want to point-out that the dimensions of the (included) Shooting Mat are approximately 48.5" LONG x 25.25" WIDE. I say this because the dimensions given in <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Carter Mayfield</span></span>'s 2010 quote of me stated that the Shooting Mat dimensions were larger. That was because the Shooting Mats of older (Gen 3 and earler) Tac Ops Drag Bags were larger.

Now, I may have missed something (I don't think I did), but below are the main features of the Tac Ops Gen 5 Plus Drag Bag:

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">- Heavy Duty 1000 Denier Cordura Construction

- Heavy Duty Double Pull Zippers

- Heavy Duty, properly positioned Carry Handles for level-carry

- Fully padded throughout with Closed Cell Foam

- Large Exterior Zippered Pocket with Single Hold-Down and

- Zippered "Slash" Pocket

- Detachable "Nose Cone" with HD Buckle attachment

- Large Exterior Pocket with Double Hold-Downs

- Metal-grommet Drain Holes on Exterior Pockets

- Fully-padded Exterior Suppressor Pocket with HD Buckle Closure

- Fully-padded Stow-Away Shooting Mat stores in Hide-Away Pocket on Rear of Drag Bag

- Fully-padded Stow-Away Backpack Straps store in Hide-Away Pockets on Rear of Drag Bag

- Fully-padded Rifle Compartment with Dual Rifle Hold-Downs

- Zippered Accessory in Rifle Compartment for additional storage

- Full Length Cleaning Rod Pocket along Spine inside Rifle Compartment with Snap Closure

- Routing holes and/or slits for Hydration Bladder tube (Hydration Bladder not included)

- Tac Ops Lifetime Warranty</span></span>


<span style="font-weight: bold"> <span style="font-size: 14pt">**BELOW ARE SOME PHOTOS OF MY PERSONAL TAC OPS X-RAY 51 IN A TAC OPS GEN 5 PLUS SHORT MULTICAM DRAG BAG. <span style="color: #FF0000">**ALL CURRENT (GEN 5 PLUS) TAC OPS DRAG BAGS HAVE THE SAME EXACT FEATURES**</span></span></span>

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 11pt">The OAL of my Tac Ops X-Ray is 42.5", and it fits perfectly in a SHORT Tac Ops DB. Below is my X-Ray 51 in a SHORT Multicam Tac Ops Drag Bag.</span></span>

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">21.5" barrel (42.5" OAL) Tac Ops X-Ray 51 in SHORT Multicam Drag Bag. (LONG Bags accomodate OALs' of 50-51")</span></span>

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Front of Tac Ops Multicam Drag Bag:</span></span>

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Rear of Tac Ops Multicam Drag Bag:</span></span>

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Detachable Nose of Tac Ops Multicam Drag Bag:</span></span>

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Butt-end Outer Zip Pockets and Closed-Cell Foam Padded Suppressor Pocket w/Heavy-Duty Buckle:</span></span>

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Included Closed Cell Foam-padded Hide-Away Shooting Mat measures approximately 48.5" LONG x 25.25" WIDE:</span></span>

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">The Shooting Mat stores in a Hide-Away Pocket on the rear of the Tac Ops Drag Bag. Now you see it:</span></span>

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">...and now you dont:</span></span>

Keith

 

[MG-70]

Re: Any objective comparisons of drag bags?

Guys,

I appreciate the feedback! The Tac Ops bag looks great, but the only price I could find was from an undated sniper central review where it was quoted as costing $300 (no price on the manufacturer's website). The Eagle Industries drag bag, also reported to be top notch, seems to sell for $350 or so.

Can anyone give me opinions, based on experience, on less expensive options, such as those from Voodoo Tactical, Blackhawk, Condor, etc.?

I've had a hard time confirming whether the Condor bag is made from 600 or 1000 denier. The manufacturer's site doesn't state the specs and I've found online reviews stating both.

Thanks again!

 

[plong]

Re: Any objective comparisons of drag bags?

What Keith said...<span style="font-style: italic">ALL of it</span>... and I say that as one who traded up from an Eagle bag

. Love mine; and I never planned to pay even half that for a bag!

 

[Aries64]

Re: Any objective comparisons of drag bags?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MG-70</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Guys,

I appreciate the feedback! The Tac Ops bag looks great, but the only price I could find was from an undated sniper central review where it was quoted as costing $300 (no price on the manufacturer's website). The Eagle Industries drag bag, also reported to be top notch, seems to sell for $350 or so.</div></div>
If you look around the Net' you'll see that Tac Ops Drag Bags sell for around $365.00. <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Liberty Optics</span></span> sells Tac Ops Drag Bags, as well as a company called <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">"Tactical Works"</span></span> (no relation to Tactical Operations., Inc. in Los Angeles). Tac Ops has also been "private labeling" their drag bags to several well-known vendors here on the Sniper's Hide such as G.A. Precision. $365.00 is a lot of money for a drag bag and most people don't spend that kind of money lightly - I sure don't. But remember, quality costs money.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MG-70</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Can anyone give me opinions, based on experience, on less expensive options, such as those from Voodoo Tactical, Blackhawk, Condor, etc.?

I've had a hard time confirming whether the Condor bag is made from 600 or 1000 denier. The manufacturer's site doesn't state the specs and I've found online reviews stating both.</div></div>
I don't own a Condor Drag Bag and it's been a long time since I looked at one at a gunshow so I can't tell you whether the Condor is sewn out of 600 or 1000 Denier (Cordura), but having looked at the three you mentioned before, if you'll only be using your drag bag to move and carry your rifle from the safe, to the vehicle, then to a shooting pad at the range a Voodoo Tactical, Blackhawk, or Condor drag bag will probably do the job for you just fine. Also all three of those cost far less than a Tac Ops or Eagle Drag Bag so from a practicality standpoint they make sense.

However, I'm sure you know that practicality is subjective - just look at the rifles and scopes on this web site (I'm guilty too). While the Voodoo Tactical, Blackhawk, and Condor might be more practical, you shouldn't have any illusions that they are as well-made as a Tac Ops Drag Bag (U.S.-made) or an old-school (made in the U.S.) Eagle Drag Bag. Also, remember that hindsight is 20/20, and better quality equipment usually saves money in the long run.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MG-70</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks again!</div></div>
You're welcome.

Keith

 

[jbell]

Re: Any objective comparisons of drag bags?

Keith hit the nail on the head. The old US made Eagle and the Tac Ops are the finest and show it by the materials used and the quality control. However it comes down to intended use. I had a US made Eagle Hybrid Rifle Case and it was very well made and never blinked at how I was using it. However I was needing a bag that I could get all of my range gear in. I could of just ordered a Tac Ops or Eberlestock and called it a day. But I started thinking of the intended use, just holding all my crap for the trip to the range in the car and then from firing position to firing position. I then came across the US Peacekeeper that Mike sells at CS Tactical. I thought it over and decided if it would fit all my gear then what am I going to gain by spending 65% more on the Tac Ops or Eberlestock, other than supporting a US company (which is important to me). If I had unlimated funds then yes I would go with a US company every time. But the truth is I dont. I talked with Mike about the bag and decided it would fit my needs. Here is a list of what I can easily carry (with room for more in the bag:
-TRG 22 26" w/ PMII & 2 mags
-TRG bipod
-SAS can (in the suppressor pocket)
-Vortex Razor HD soptter
-PRS large tripod with saddle
-at least 50 rounds of 308 in Red Tac Gear ammo cards
-Kestrel
-data book & Wiz Wheel

It loads well and carries comfortable and balanced from the handle and back pack straps. I am well pleased with this and if it fails beyond repair at some point or I end up needing a 2nd one then I have still spent less. To me its a scarifice that has paied off well. I would rather compromise on gear like this than on my rifle, optics, or ammo. Because at the end of the day your rifle case and other items like that are not going to produce hits.

Here is a link to the bag for reference and call Mike @ CS Tactical if you want to purchase one:

http://www.uspeacekeeper.com/Products/Cases-Rugs/Drag_Case/drag_case.html

 

[jerseymike]

Re: Any objective comparisons of drag bags?

If youre just taking it in and out of the trunk, one of the blackhawk, voodoo etc will do just fine. For the range i have a 511 case i got for free and its held up just fine. Drag bags are made for dragging, no NEED for it unless youre dragging it. If you WANT it then hey its your $$$.