How do you sandbag your handgun?

For specialized handguns like a Thompson/Center Contender or bolt action hand gun, I rest the fore arm on a sandbag on a bench. Good for checking the accuracy of ammunition but I'd assume shooting positions that I might encounter for practice.

Revolvers and semi-autos, I shoot off hand or maybe with my hands/arms on a rest. It is the way I will be shooting them for the most part in the "real world".

When I was shooting IHMSA metallic silhouette with a revolver, I'd practice in the Creedmore position with handgun across my knee. I'd have a protective blanket across my leg to catch the flash from the barrel/cylinder gap.

Resting the butt of a revolver often will result in fliers, and normally will result in a POI change, as compared with any other "in your own hands" shooting. The standard recommendation is to rest the barrel immediately in front of the cylinder, and then to support the wrists well behind the gun butt.

In my limited experience this technique is equally valid with autos. With bolt action handguns, I have no idea.

I was always taught to rest my wrists on my bag when testing. This would give me the same POI as off hand shooting. If you rest the barrel you will get good groups but when you go to off hand your groups will not be in the same place.

I always am using either wrists or forearms with hand guns. Just for extra input, I always have my hand between the rifle stock and the bag when shooting rifles!

Although I don't have a link Jerry Miculek has a video on how he does it. I arrived at the basically the same method before ever seeing it and I like it. It seems to work very well for Mr. Miculek.

I don't use sandbags. Muzzle blast destroys them. I used to use shooting sticks when I shot at my dad's place. He has them mounted to his indoor bench...



Now I like to go to a local gravel pit and use my own shooting bench that has a built-in rubber coated solid rest. The frame area just ahead of the trigger guard rests on the rest.

X bags;

Two hand hold,work your grip down and wedged into the bags. They'll form nicely around your hands. Gun never touches the bags. Was shooting an early 357 Trooper yesterday with this setup,helping a bud sight it in as back up for deer. Pretty durn easy.