It fits on your back, and in the back of a truck, no problem.
I rarely shoot prone, so I’m not bothered getting down on the ground occasionally. And I’ve never gotten bent out of shape about getting dirty. That is part of the fun. So when I had a chance to review Galati Gear’s Combat Ready Shooters Mat and Carry Case combo, I halfway expected it to be superfluous. It looked like a tacti-cool extra that could be used to camo-coordinate your shooting ensemble. I was way wrong. This is a deceptively simple concept, and it is well executed.
Let’s start with the carry-case part. Rifle bags are a dime-a-dozen. There are so many variants, and almost all of them do one thing in kind of a half-assed way, and that’s almost protect your rifle. You know the ones I’m referring to. They are thinly padded, and can barely squeeze over a scoped gun. The Galati bag is different. It has a rectangular shape that can accommodate a couple of rifles, though it is really designed for one. Inside, the gun is strategically held in place by hook-and-loop straps. The barrel and stock are secured in the middle of the bag, which keeps you from accidentally hammering the gun when you set the bag down, and the placement inside, keeps the rifle away from the gear pockets.
The bag unfolds neatly. The flap that protects the gun inside the case now protects your knees. The total length is 69 inches, and the width is 30 inches.
And there are lots of pockets. The bag is really set up to organize a few basics: rifle, magazines, strap, even a suppressor. All at your fingertips (in either bag form, or mat form).
When you do open the bag up, it opens flat, like a book, and there is ample room to lie down on. And, as I mentioned, all of the pockets are there, at one end of the mat, right where your shooting from. Mag changes are much easier from the bag, as you don’t have to roll over to get a mag off your belt. It seems so logical.
The case is made to hold rifles and shotguns as long as 42 inches. They can be 13 inches high. The bag is made from 1000D Nylon. Beneath that is .5 inch closed cell foam. The zipper is a YKK with dual sliders, and it is protected by flaps on both sides, and two clips that secure everything with one last layer closure.
The construction is fantastic. Even the pockets’ flaps are edged.
If you need even more concealment than the multicam offers, the back has numerous places to attach natural vegetation. Or you can use the accessory loops to add pouches.
Carrying the case with the handles is easy enough. There’s also a wide strap for your shoulder, and they offer extra straps that will turn this into a very large backpack.
It isn’t compact, though. I could see carrying it into combat, though. If I were a sniper or a designated marksman, I’d try it out, at least. As is, I’m not seeing too much boots-on-the-ground style combat here at my desk.
But I do stalk hunt. I love to hunt, but hate to sit in any one place for too long. I was out scouting last week, preparing for the upcoming whitetail season, and I found an ideal lane that cuts through about 150 yards of scrub oak. The grass there is high, and the trails are so well worn that they look like they were made by Bison. There’s a lone tree at one opening that isn’t wide enough to cover me sitting or standing, but the grass is tall enough for me to shoot prone.
So the Galati will go with me. I’ll have it packed and organized the night before, so when I wake up, I can just grab-and-go. That’s the benefit, really. Enough protection. More organization. And added comfort.
I’ve been hauling this around now for about three months. I’ve shot from prone much more than I normally would, and I’m practicing even more now that I know how I’m going to use it.
Shooting the ARX 100 without a bipod isn’t easy. The mat means you have one less thing to worry about as it is comfortable on bare elbows.
The bag lists for $259.95. It is selling for less. Some of the Galati bag/mat combos come in closer to $200 retail, though not in this camo pattern. For $259 you can buy a rock solid hard case. That’s true, but those cases are only for transporting and protecting. You aren’t going to wheel one into the field and open it up like a recliner. There may be an opportunity for both though. If I had a hard case that I could put the whole shooting mat/ bag into–then it would be perfect.
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The multicam makes it harder to see the pockets, but they’re there on the right side, which would be below the barrel. This distribution keeps weight balanced and gear accessible.
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The mat isn’t overly wide. It could double for a bed mat, if you were desperate. As a shooting mat, there’s just enough room to keep both elbows on.
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Need additional storage? You will if you’re taking the Galati into combat. No worries. There are a lot of ways to add on to the bag.
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The zipper on the bag is a heavy-duty YKK, which has come to be the industry standard.
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The foam inside is half an inch thick. This third panel, like the spine of a book, allows the bag to open flat.
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Once the bag is zipped, straps lock it down and take the weight off of the zipper.
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The buckles may be the most visible piece of the bag.
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The D-rings are used to attach optional back-pack straps, which would help if you have to pack this any distance.
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All of the straps and loops are sewn in well. As hard as I looked, I could find no visual or structural defects with the bag.
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Another nice feature, in my opinion, is that the bag isn’t emblazoned with the Galati logo. Just here, in the flap.
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You can see here the basic dimensions. The ARX 100 is not as long as many bolt guns, but it isn’t tiny, either. The case contains it perfectly with room to spare.
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Straps on the inside and out allow you to maximize placement of extra pockets, pouches, and extras. A pistol and holster would be a logical addition.
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