what makes one range bag better than another?

[Cap]

I have a Midway range bag.
I bought it awhile ago when they were on sale for $29
I was so impressed, I bought another as a gift.
(they're now on sale for $39)

I have a couple friends that paid 3 to 5 times as much for their RB.
They "look" identical to my Midway bag 'cept for the logo

question is, what makes those other bags that "appear" identical or nearly identical cost so much more?

are they made in a different country where manufacturing costs are higher?
better materials?

what?

thanks


..l.T.A.

[Joni Lynn]

There's more to that than I could guess. Midway is large enough that they can order in mass quantity and get a discount where the other companies probably don't.

[Auto Mag]

Cap, I think basically most range bags are somewhat alike in looks but I think that the weight and type of denier fabric, nylon versus polyester, type of hardware, all steel versus nylon versus all brass construction, type and manufacturer of zippers, (heavy duty YKK MAX are best) or so I have heard and the thickness of the bottom of the bag for support all play a part in the cost. I do not know anything about denier weight be it 600 to 1000 or nylon versus polyester!! :) :)

[Hawkmoon]

Well, since we want these for guns, any bag that isn't made of "ballistic" nylon is obviously inferior.
:lh:

(Does anyone actually know what "ballistic nylon" is, and how it's different from "nylon"?)

[MoneyTree]

I think Caps has brought up a good point .

I've contacted Chuck Bradley at Shooters Connection via email since I own one of his top of the line range bags ( it's a fantastic bag , really several bags in one ) . Hopefully he'll find time to address this question . Other manufacturers and dealers too for that matter .

I've compared our bag with friends bags at the range which looked basically the same as the Shooters Connection bag and we all agreed the Shooters Connection bag was better .

We just felt like it's more of a quality bag and had a large amount of features as compared to the other bags , but we're certainly not experts and the other bags were nice as well .

I'm in the process of having our names embroidered on it now since it was a wedding anniversary gift or else I'd post a photo of it .

But really only time will tell if I've made a good investment .

[Cap]

I've contacted Chuck Bradley at Shooters Connection via email since I own one of his top of the line range bags. Hopefully he'll find time to address this question . Other manufacturers and dealers too for that matter .
.

That would GREAT!

Thanks AutoM

Those are things I can relate to.
I buy Carharts cause I see better zippers, rivets in critical areas and heavier duck cotton.
They're better than Walls or Dickies
I could use my Filson fishing vest as an example too.

The two friends I shoot with paid $120 and $150 for their bags
(I don't recall the brands)
I looked over the $120 one pretty good.
If i was a "betting" man, I'd bet a nickel that his and the Midway bag came from the same assy line in China, using the same components

..L.T.A.

[Frank]

...what makes those other bags that "appear" identical or nearly identical cost so much more?....
I guess the first question is whether they really are identical or nearly identical. Two things can look the same but in fact be very different.

If they really are the same, the expensive one is overpriced. On the other hand, it's possible that the one that costs more is actually made by someone else with more care and using better materials -- even though it looks like the cheaper one.

I suppose what I'm getting at is that there's really no way to answer your question without comparing the two in the flesh -- or at least having a whole lot more information.

DVC

[JTQ]

Well, since we want these for guns, any bag that isn't made of "ballistic" nylon is obviously inferior.
:lh:

(Does anyone actually know what "ballistic nylon" is, and how it's different from "nylon"?)

I would assume the "ballistic nylon" flies through the air in "uncontrolled flight" while the the regular nylon is somehow controlled when you throw them. :lm:

[MoneyTree]

I would assume the "ballistic nylon" flies through the air in "uncontrolled flight" while the the regular nylon is somehow controlled when you throw them. :lm:

I think my new bag is made of anti ballistic nylon . So far it goes wherever I tell it too . :D

[Hawkmoon]

A day without learning something is a day lost.

I had always thought that "ballistic nylon" and "nylon cordura" were the same thing. Wrong again. It seems that ballistic nylon is called that because it was originally developed for use in military flak jackets. It is denser and tougher than cordura, but less flexible.

"Cordura" is a trade name. It was originally the name for a Rayon fabric used for tire cords ... hence the name. Then Nylon supplanted Rayon, so the company transferred the name to their Nylon fabric. Cordura is an abrasion-resistant, Nylon fabric, avaialble in a range of thread densities ("denier" - threads per inch). Basic Nylon pack cloth is 400 denier. The lowest grade of Cordura seems to be 500 denier. Then there is Cordura Plus, with 1000 denier.

But ballistic Nylon has a denier of 1050. And then there's something called "luggage grade" Nylon with a denier of 1680.

I found a site that sells the cloth. For comparison:

400 denier pack cloth - $11.20 / yard
500 denier Cordura - $13.70 to 14.20 / yard
1000 denier Cordura Plus - $15.30 / yard
1050 ballistic Nylon - $18.65 / yard
1680 luggage grade Nylon - $14.95 / yard

You now know as much as I do, which may be just about enough to drive a sales drone nuts when you try to pin them down as to exactly what their bags are made of.

http://www.ahh.biz/fabric_catagories/heavy_fabrics.htm

[jfrey]

I have one of the Midway bags and so far I am pleased with it. The more expensive bags may have slightly better materials, and maybe not. If you are happy with the range bag you have, that is the main thing. When you get them loaded with all the junk we carry to the range, they are too heavy to carry anyway.

[MoneyTree]

When you get them loaded with all the junk we carry to the range, they are too heavy to carry anyway. Your sure right about that , they need to start putting inflatable tires on them or a small battery operated motor . The last time our neighbor saw us loading up for the range he asked " what are ya'll guys doing , running away from home . " :D

[MoneyTree]

I've contacted Chuck Bradley at Shooters Connection via email since I own one of his top of the line range bags ( it's a fantastic bag , really several bags in one ) . Hopefully he'll find time to address this question . Other manufacturers and dealers too for that matter .

I've compared our bag with friends bags at the range which looked basically the same as the Shooters Connection bag and we all agreed the Shooters Connection bag was better .

We just felt like it's more of a quality bag and had a large amount of features as compared to the other bags , but we're certainly not experts and the other bags were nice as well .

I'm in the process of having our names embroidered on it now since it was a wedding anniversary gift or else I'd post a photo of it .

But really only time will tell if I've made a good investment .

Here's my email to Chuck Bradley .

Hello ,

I just saw this post in the M1911 forums and thought it might be one that you can answer . It's entitled " what makes one range bag better than another? " . Since I have one of your fantastic bags I was hoping you might want to address it . Thanks in advance . I'm MoneyTree on the M1911 forums btw .

Ed

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=55709

Here's Chucks response to my email to him . I just received his permission to quote him . Hopefully this will help answer Caps original question and not start a flame war ( which is what we're trying to avoid ) .

I have been approached with this question many times over the years. First of all Midway stole my design , along with several others including the 5.11 bag. I actually talked to Midway about it and asked them to at least change the design a little. Unfortunately nothing was changed. I have to question the ethics of these companies. I have been making my bag since 1999. Some even claim to have designed the bag themselves, that is a complete fabrication. At least give me some credit. This bag was designed by Shooters Connection and we stole it.

The bags are made overseas since nobody in the US that i have spoken to is willing to make my bag for close to the price. Even if I could find somebody in the US to make them the raw materials would still come from overseas. Imports are something we cant get away from nowadays.

We spec the bag out with the best of Zippers, fabric, padding and construction. We also use nylon that is double & triple PVC coated on the back side. We use heavy, thick padding in the walls. The stitching is also 2-3 seam reinforced stitching. We also offer a 5 year pro-rated warranty.

I talk to customers regularly who purchased the cheaply made bags that are ordering one of mine after the cheap ones fell apart. The customer who buys my bag are usually the type that likes really nice things. They have really nice guns, like STI, and are usually a competition shooter.

I have toyed with making my bag much cheaper to compete with the other cheaply made bags but that just isnt what Shooters Connection is about. We pride ourself in carrying the best, not the junk. We will leave that to others.

Chuck Bradley

[d90king]

Good post money.... I think that covers it nicely. I think the bottom line is that generally you can feel quality when comparing things side by side.

[MoneyTree]

Good post money.... I think that covers it nicely. I think the bottom line is that generally you can feel quality when comparing things side by side.

Thanks Patrick , I'm hoping the E-zine will be able to do a review of Chuck's Shooters Connection Tournament Series Shooting Bag .

[Cap]

Thanks MT, I appreciate your help with contacting Chuck and him giving his input

..L.T.A.

[cuzinvinny]

While I appreciate Chuck taking his time to reply, I don't really believe he answered the original question. The first paragraph discusses Midway stealing his design. The second talks about manufacturing overseas. Only the third paragraph touches on the meat of the question. What makes his bag better than any other. Chuck notes that he specs the best zippers, fabric, padding and construction. Does the Midway bag use inferior zippers? What is better about his fabric, does the Midway bag not use double or triple PVC coated fabric? Chuck does note that he specifies double and triple stiched seams, and I have read a few second hand reports of Midway bags coming apart at the seams. Although I don't recall seeing any first hand complaints about the Midway bag. I don't mind spending a few bucks more if I'm actually getting a better product but I want the seller to convince me that he really does have a better product, and I want to know the details of why his product is better. For example, a Baer, Wilson, or Ed Brown 1911 will cost far more than a run of the mill S&W, PARA, Colt, or Kimber, yet with any of the first three I know I am getting a hand fitted gun that is guaranteed to shoot a 3" group at 50 yards.

Please don't take this as a knock on Chuck or his bag. I give him a lot of credit for taking the time to reply. I have also read that Chuck does give back to the shooting sports in a big way.

[MoneyTree]

The E-zine is going to do a review of Chuck's Shooters Connection Tournament Series Shooting Bag in the very near future so I'm sure we'll learn more . I sure Chuck will be willing to talk to you about his bag if you want to email him chuckb@shootersconnection.com that's what I did . My wife owns the bag and we both really like it but I couldn't say how much better ( if it is at all ) it is than other quality bags only that I liked it more than all the bags I could look at when I was in the market for one . The bottom line is that everyone has to make their own decision after comparing bags , reading reviews and getting the opinion of friends who have the bag . I did all three and I'm satisfied .

[SLM]

I shoot quite a bit of USPSA on both the local and Area level and I have seen a Midway bag come apart. It failed miserably where the shoulder strap is attached and by the end of the day the hand handle on one side was off. They are probably fine for occasional trips to the range but competition shooters schlep quite a bit of stuff around, the bag gets a ton of miles on it both in the car and on foot and it has to hold up. It's another piece of gear that has to perform as intended.

Sitting side by side it's fairly easy to tell a quality bag from a not so quality bag. They are heavier, stiffer, hold their shape open or closed, zippers work smoother, etc and will last years of hard use.

Sure a cheaper bag may be fine for quite a while depending on how it's used but a quality bag will be fine a good long time with a lot of use. There's a reason you see lots and lots of SC bags at matches and not much else.