Shooting Mats!

My Cabela's mat has been great so far.
How heavy/bulky is that mat? I saw it and it looked pretty nice, but not very compact.

I've got the midway one and a more compact one from tab gear. Love them both for their purposes.
Midway has a few, which one do you like? Have you found the Tab gear one to be water proof/resistant enough?
 
How heavy/bulky is that mat? I saw it and it looked pretty nice, but not very compact.


Midway has a few, which one do you like? Have you found the Tab gear one to be water proof/resistant enough?
The Cabela's one isn't very compact. It likely wouldn't be a good choice if you were backpacking. Great for traditional prone shooting though, which is my intended purpose.
 
The Cabela's one isn't very compact. It likely wouldn't be a good choice if you were backpacking. Great for traditional prone shooting though, which is my intended purpose.
Same with the midway one too. Super comfy when you sprawl out. Lol
 
Old ensolite pad
lol, is that like the Hushmat/Dynamat stuff for car audio?!
The Cabela's one isn't very compact. It likely wouldn't be a good choice if you were backpacking. Great for traditional prone shooting though, which is my intended purpose.
Same with the midway one too. Super comfy when you sprawl out. Lol
I don't see any backpacking required for my shooting experiences in the near future, so those two may be good options, thanks! I'll definitely keep the Tab in mind too.
Have you heard of the Armageddon gear shooting mat? Seems similar to Tab.

Some folks seem to really like Voodoo Tactical and Blackhawk mats too, but those seem to be a bit on the expensive side for a mat.
 
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Armageddon gear rocks too. Don't have their mat, but the can covers have been pretty top notch.
 
I bought a Champion's Choice about 25 years ago. Nice canvas outer, 1/2" thick, rolls up nice.

I'm sure there's others that are well made.

-R
 
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I use a Midwayusa mat, used a gift card from a Vortex promo they were running. Very comfortable, I'm not fat, I'm girthy.
 
Armageddon gear rocks too. Don't have their mat, but the can covers have been pretty top notch.
Triad Tactical was the other one supposedly making good minimalist mats.
Love my Midway mat. I don't mind crawling in the dirt but, the last time I shot prone in the dirt, the rocks and gravel did some real damage to my elbow.
I use a Midwayusa mat, used a gift card from a Vortex promo they were running. Very comfortable, I'm not fat, I'm girthy.
For the folks with the Midways, I see they have Gen 2 on their Pro series. Are you using that one or is there not really any difference in their different lines?
I use a Midwayusa mat, used a gift card from a Vortex promo they were running. Very comfortable, I'm not fat, I'm girthy.
I'm just fluffy! ;)
its-so-fluffy.png
 
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The primary arms compact mat lists for $49.99, but I have seen them go on sale for $19.99 from time to time. Fde or black.
 
Buy once... cry once.
https://www.creedmoorsports.com/category/Mats-and-Kneeling-Rolls/1

I bought one of these roll-up matches when I started shooting NRA/CMP highpower 13 years ago and it's still going strong. It's a bit dirty from age, but it's held up great with no rips, tears or cracks.

If you decide to get one, splurge and get the extra padding.
 
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Found these two also:

Champion Shooting Mats

Champion's Choice Shooting Mat

Buy once... cry once.
https://www.creedmoorsports.com/category/Mats-and-Kneeling-Rolls/1

I bought one of these roll-up matches when I started shooting NRA/CMP highpower 13 years ago and it's still going strong. It's a bit dirty from age, but it's held up great with no rips, tears or cracks.

If you decide to get one, splurge and get the extra padding.
Did you find the dark rubber sections heat up significantly in the sun as some users have complained about?
 
Did you find the dark rubber sections heat up significantly in the sun as some users have complained about?

Yes, the rubber pads can pretty toasty if left in direct sunlight. I recall one EIC match down at Ft. Benning when the temps hit 100+ as we moved back to the 600 yard line. Dumb-^$&# me left my mat sitting out and then I plopped down to shoot. What a scorcher...

Those pads on the mat really shine when you're wearing a shooting coat though. Keeps your elbow from slipping out while in the prone position.
 
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I have a US Palm that my wife bought me. It is thick and heavy, but a nice mat for extended shooting sessions. I also have a Tactical Tailer mat that is a bit smaller and lighter but it doesn’t get used as much.

If I was having to hump it out into the field, I’d be using a Triad or similar minimalist mat.
 
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I am still using mats I bought at Camp Perry 40 years ago. I remember buying them from Al Freeland. One is still like new and the other one has seen better days.
 
I use a GI issue sleeping bag pad. I saw one I really liked, with the pad sewn to a field jacket liner for some cushion. There are a billion ways to DIT without spending much. That said, some of those expensive ones, are very nice.
 
Every time I see the Midway ones on sale I think about getting it, Ive even gone as far as adding it to my cart. Then I realize I would rather spend the money on ammo and the old horse blanket I use works just fine.
 
You guys and money, well you know what they say about a sucker and his money :)

I use nothing more expensive than a thick piece of carpet I salvaged from a remnant pile on a jobsite. It's plush on one side and has a rubber back on the other. Cost- exactly $0.00 shipping $0.00. Do I shoot as well from it v an expensive purpose built one, absolutely! Better to spend the money on ammo or the gun in my opinion.
 
You guys and money, well you know what they say about a sucker and his money :)

I use nothing more expensive than a thick piece of carpet I salvaged from a remnant pile on a jobsite. It's plush on one side and has a rubber back on the other. Cost- exactly $0.00 shipping $0.00. Do I shoot as well from it v an expensive purpose built one, absolutely! Better to spend the money on ammo or the gun in my opinion.
I suppose you run around with that attached to the top of your pack in a match as well???

How much water can a piece of carpet hold, and how much does it weigh?
 
Water goes in the canteen. Keeping it dry Grasshopper is as simple as a Hefty bag. Now go spend your candy money....:)
 
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