Any recommendations for a good gun rest?

[Matt Dillon]

Folks, I hope to do a lot more rifle shooting at the range this year, and was wondering what you all recommended for a front and/or rear gun rest? Hopefully something fairly economical, but was wondering what you all had experience with. Thanks in advance for you help, Richard

 

[Art Eatman]

I've used the zippered bank bags, with sand. Some full, some about half-full. Or, if you have some old wornout pants and access to a sewing machine, you can make your own. That's about as low-cost as I know of. I've used a 12" length of 4x4 under the front bag, sometimes, depending on the benchrest and rifle fit. I like to rest the toe of the butt pad on a sandbag...

Art

 

[DMK]

Not as good as Art's suggestion, but I use a milsurp canvas butt pack to carry my ammo to the range. I take out about half of the ammo, put a couple rolled up beach towels in it and use it as a front rest. Like Art, sometimes I put a block of wood under it if it isn't high enough(but you can vary height by adding or removing the contents). For the rear rest, I use another rolled up towel.

 

[Roadrunner]

White tube socks full of dried beans, just don't get it wet.

 

[Bacchus]

The rests I've seen and used seem to vary widely in price and quality. I have a cheap plastic one (<$15) that I bought from sportsmansguide. It's adjustable for height and does OK if you weight down the sides with sandbags. I can't really recommend it. If I were you, I'd either go with a nicer one (I've been impressed with Hoppe's model and each leg is adjustable in case your bench is not completely level). It runs about $60.

I also use bags filled with sand, although I prefer a rest for the forearm and a bag for the rear.

HTH.

 

[Cortland]

If you want the real thing you can get a cast iron adjustable Wichita Arms rifle rest with front and rear leather sand bags for $160. Not necessarily cheap, but it'll last forever and is ever so much nicer than wrestling with cheap aluminum or plastic rests.