dislike shooting from a bench!

[cajun48]

Went to the range (100yd) today and remembered just how much i dislike shooting from a benchrest! The benches were too low and you had to be a contorsionist to get even close to comfortable for shooting! Moved to the other end of the range (pistol) where the bench is higher. Sitting on a milk create and shooting off a rolled up rubber mat the groups shrunk considerably. Wish i had my camera to take pics and then knew how to post them then you could of seen how much better. But don't dispair, sooner or later I'll learn how and then you'll see!!
BTW the reason for the range trip (aside from shooting) was to sight in my new Redfield revolution 3-9x40mm scope. Optics were clear (my old eyes), zoom was good (no distortion) and wins/elev adjustments was good but a little soft. Rifle was a Marlin xl7 with a Boyd featherweight thumbhole stock! aj b

 

[silicosys4]

it sounds more like you dislike shooting from a bench that is poorly set up for your needs

 

[cajun48]

silicosys4 your right. Those benches must have been built for people shorter than me. The other person at the range was 6'3" . he wound up shooting standing up and resting off his forearm. He finally came down where I was and shot kneeling down using the rubber mat when I wasn't! aj b

 

[silicosys4]

One of the better investments as far as my enjoyment of shooting was a Caldwell Stable Table. The adjustable height seat is very steady for a portable shooting bench, and I can have it in the pickup at the range, just in case I can't find a solid table...out it comes.

 

[HOOfan_1]

At my range, the Bench is too high for the chairs...I use a big overstuffed boat cushion/flotation device. Maybe you should try a lower chair

 

[gbran]

I live near many places outdoors I can go shoot. I have my own chair/bench equip and I don't have to worry about range-breaks. All I have to do is clean up my mess.

 

[Furncliff]

My birthday present from a year ago. I love it.

I don't use that flimsy looking rifle rest in the picture.



Big Game Shooting Bench

Amazon, Cabelas'.

 

[jmr40]

You use your sandbags to adjust everyhing to fit you. The height of the bench or stools/chairs matters little.

 

[sage5907]

Cajun, I have to agree with you. I also dislike shooting from any kind of a bench. The only things you can do when shooting from a bench is to tune your rifle and learn to pull a trigger. After that a bench is just a crutch. My favorite way to shoot today is to sit down in front of the bench and use a shooting stick. It's a lot more fun and on a good day I can still shoot 2 inch groups at 200 meters. BW

 

[JohnBT]

"The only things you can do when shooting from a bench is to tune your rifle and learn to pull a trigger."

And the most difficult thing of all, reading the wind.

 

[Walkalong]

Pick up a chap musicians stool with the threaded support that will adjust up or down as needed. They also make folding ones that adjust and then lay flat to take home. I have both. The seat comes off of the musicians stool, and that helps with transporting it.

 

[henschman]

I'm not a big fan of bench shooting myself. For that matter I don't particularly care for shooting from super tight slings with shooting coats and gloves (high power competition style) either. I don't have anything against other people doing those things it if that's what they enjoy, but I personally prefer to practice techniques that have more application in the field. I usually shoot from various supported and unsupported field positions, and I zero the rifle from the type of position I plan on using it with in the field.

By the same virtue, the type of competitions I like are ones that are more geared toward practical field shooting. Just different strokes is all.

As others have said, you might actually enjoy shooting from a properly set up bench! It isn't too bad, but it gets kind of boring for me.

 

[mac66]

If you want to try something different. Go to an Appleseed and learn to shoot from standing, sitting and prone, unsupported with a sling. Very challenging and lots of fun.

 

[Trent]

I don't mind benches, they serve their purpose.

I *dislike* concrete top benches. All the ones at our local range are solid poured concrete. One thoughtless trigger pull on a high powered rifle, and the skin is ripped off your elbow.

Thought I was going to need to go to the ER first time I dropped the hammer on my Barrett M95 there. Elbow wouldn't stop bleeding.

I've since learned to bring an old rag or T-Shirt to put down.

 

[X-Rap]

If you can't shoot well from the bench I doubt you will from other positions, there is no better way to test loads, scope settings, stock fit, and other modifications or changes that with solid shots from the bench. I will agree, the bench needs to fit as well but unless you can prove you and your gun on the bench the rest is just guessing.

 

[Walkalong]

One thoughtless trigger pull on a high powered rifle, and the skin is ripped off your elbow.

A simple solution is a towel. I also have a little "brick" sand bag for my elbow. The towel is great for when I forget it.

I also have a "pillow" bag that works OK.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

I detest benches, my preference is prone, I'm more relaxed, unstrained, and shoot a bit better, also have less shoulder fatigue.

 

[bamajoey]

I enjoy shooting from a bench so much I built one in the woods. Nothing fancy, but it gives me a great base for my favorite pasttime.

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[cajun48]

Furncliff, bamajoey and Walkalong thanks for the pics. Leaning towards Walkalongs rest to replace the one I have. On mine the forestock rest and the stock rest are made of rubber. Chatted about my problems at the range with a salesman at Dick's sporting goods and his conclusion was that with the rubber rests the gun would "stick" to the rubber and I would be fighting the rifle along with getting poked in the ribs and having to sit on my foot. Tomorrow will make another trip to the range and shoot off of sandbags and rolled up towels and a seat cushion. Fingers crossed that I'll have a better day!!

 

[snake284]

Went to the range (100yd) today and remembered just how much i dislike shooting from a benchrest! The benches were too low and you had to be a contorsionist to get even close to comfortable for shooting! Moved to the other end of the range (pistol) where the bench is higher. Sitting on a milk create and shooting off a rolled up rubber mat the groups shrunk considerably. Wish i had my camera to take pics and then knew how to post them then you could of seen how much better. But don't dispair, sooner or later I'll learn how and then you'll see!!
BTW the reason for the range trip (aside from shooting) was to sight in my new Redfield revolution 3-9x40mm scope. Optics were clear (my old eyes), zoom was good (no distortion) and wins/elev adjustments was good but a little soft. Rifle was a Marlin xl7 with a Boyd featherweight thumbhole stock! aj b

It would help if you had a good tripod and rear rest to get the rifle up so you're not having to contort your body to shoot accurately.

BTW, I now have two Redfield Revolution scopes. Both, due to my eyes not being quite what they were even 5 years ago, are in 4-12x40. I put one on my old 1966 Model 70 in .270 Win. and one on my newly acquired Mark V Lazer Mark Weatherby. I agree with you they are very clear. They are much better optics than the price would suggest. I think they're a real deal.

 

[snake284]

Also, BTW, what did that Boyd's stock set you back? And is it a laminate?

 

[snake284]

I detest benches, my preference is prone, I'm more relaxed, unstrained, and shoot a bit better, also have less shoulder fatigue.

Bench shooting is the only real way to not only see what your rifle will do, but also tune your rifle to shoot its best. But you need a good solid set up that fits you. The best case are concrete benches. If you go to most big time bench rest meets you will find concrete benches and solid, adjustable seats.

Prone, sitting, neeling, standing is position shooting. That's a different entity totally. You don't sight in or work up loads using positions. You do this on a bench. A solid bench takes the wobble out of it and allows your rifle to perform its best.

Position shooting is for certain styles of competition. Not for fine work. It's more about the shooter and less about the rifle and equipment. Bench shooting is the opposite.

 

[cajun48]

snake, the boyd thumbhole is a laminate and it set me back $100 2 years ago. They still cost $100 (actually 99.99). Check them out at boydsgunstocks.com. Really good quality. On mine the fit was great, drop in and go shooting. When I sighted in the old scope best 3 group at 100yds was 1/2" with 2 holes touching 3rd hole was 1/4" off.
If I ever get another rifle it'll get the redfield 4-12x40mm, my older eyes need a little more magnification (LOL). aj b

 

[aka108]

For the life of me I don't understand how any one would build a range that did not have adjustable height seats at the bench. One doesn't have to be a engineer to figure out how to do it.

 

[Trent]

aka108;

our local range uses poured concrete tops supported by big concrete blocks mortared in - zero movement, and very probably in the neighborhood of 350 lbs each.

The whole point of shooting from a bench is to have a STABLE shooting platform.

Introducing any adjustment mechanisms in to the bench would also introduce instability on the hinging / elevation mechanisms, plus metal which is exposed to the environment 100% of the time. Wouldn't take long at most ranges for the adjustment mechanisms to become a 100% chunk of rusted junk.

So there's very solid engineering reasons behind building sturdy benches, which are not adjustable.

Benches SHOULD be built somewhat lower than a conventional desk - to accomodate shooters using bipods, "lead sleds", and so on. I would reason 26-28" would be the correct height. (Standard desk is usually around 30" from floor to surface)

As it stands our benches were built at about 28" which makes them uncomfortably HIGH shooting from various long, non adjustable bipods. I'm perfectly at home on them using a 6" harris, but get the PKM up there with the 12" bipod, and it's REALLY difficult to get the gun stable, on target, and not get knocked backwards when you pull the trigger.