[Peter M. Eick]

I am starting to think about buying a Ransom Rest. I assume they are still made. Any advice from someone that owns one?

[rcmodel]

Main thing is make sure they make grip inserts for the guns you want to use in it.

If they don't, you have a very expensive & finely made boat anchor.

The other thing is, the bench you mount it on has to be an immovable object.

http://www.ransomrest.com/inserts.html

rc

[Peter M. Eick]

Thanks for the advice. The big ones I would test are there. 1911, N frame, D frame, I frame, PSP, P9, Sig 210 and 229 along with Witness Large frame. I was thinking of their master series with the rest and windage base.

I will look at the concrete benches tomorrow when I am at the range. I think they are all on the 50 yrd range or longer so I would probably be only shooting it on the 50.

By the way, that 1918 1911 I bought, I am finally going to try it out tomorrow. I have some "wimpy" 45acp loads made up that should do the trick. The more I have studied the gun under good lighting, the more I realize it has been shot a fair amount. The slide stop is pretty peened up so my concern about damage to a real collectable has dropped. It is now moved to the "don't beat the darn thing up" part of my collection. A couple hundred rounds a year is my plan.

[owen]

I've mostly tested polymer frame autos, and the ransom rest does them no favors, because of the typically sloppy frame fit, which is exacerbated when you squeeze the frame tighter. The ransom rest "aims" the gun by pointing the receiver at the same place, while the actual shooting is done by aiming with the sights.

A decently skilled shooter with a polymer frame auto can often outshoot a ransom rest.

I also think the Ransom Rest is largely responsible for the obsession with tight slide to frame fits on 1911s.

Inserts are fairly expensive, about $60/set IIRC, and you're looking at 9 sets of inserts for your list.

[Peter M. Eick]

Thanks. I knew the polymer would be an issue, but a few years back I purged polymer from my safe so I have none now. All of my guns are now steel or AL alloy (unless one is stuck in the back somewhere).

Like most things I do, I will just accumulate the inserts over time. One a month or maybe 2 a quarter. Just take the long view and slowly do it.

I am sure you are right about the tight slide to frame fit. I am one of those folks that does judge a gun by the fit and finish. My first 1911 was a Baer and ever since that is how I have learned to expect a gun should be made. It was a surprise the first time I picked up a Colt 1911 and found out how "sloppy" it was.

[springer99]

I think they're a great tool for working on load development, as long as you follow the caveats that RC mentioned. At our club, we had one lane at our wooden firing line braced with extra timbers, just to help provide a stable platform.

I've also heard is said that it's possible to outshoot a ransom rest, IF you have a VERY sloppy frame/slide fit on the gun in question, but I've never seen one do so. I'm certainly not one that can do it, so I have to rely on the ransom rest. :D

If you also use a chronograph, using it and a ransom rest at the same time can give you that extra insurance policy that you won't throw one thru the screens by accident.:banghead:

[Peter M. Eick]

At the range I found that most if not all of the benches on the short lanes are wood. None is really what I would call "solid".

I will next investigate down on the 200 to 600 yrd line. I think those benches are concrete.

My whole idea may go "kaput" if I can't find a bench to mount it on.

[springer99]

Peter, I neglected to say that the wooden posts supporting our lanes are sunk into concrete. Makes them a very stable platform for this purpose.