Front bag rest?

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westernrover

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I mostly use rifles in the field for hunting. I don't shoot bench rest. Still I need to zero scopes, test ammo, practice different distances, and so on. I used to just set up in the field (BLM land) on the ground, but when I was doing some accuracy testing, I found it wasn't dependable for getting good data.

I moved to the county range, which I found had been upgraded in the last few years and is really nice -- 300 yards, covered steel benches...

I tried a Caldwell Rock BR front rest with a Protektor rear bag. Great setup, but pricey. I tried the Protektor front bag, but by itself, it's too low. I had to put it on a pillow.

I don't really want to spend on a fancy metal rest like the Rock BR, but I want something better than a canvas duffle bag stuffed with old jackets or the front bag rest stacked on other stuff.

I have a Harris bipod, but it's not quite as stable as a bag.

Is there a good front bag that will work by itself on the bench (no rest or pillow underneath). I'd continnue to use the Protektor rear bag with it.
 
I bought a set of cheap rabbit ear bags from wally world years ago. I put a rear bean bag in the V gap to make it a little easier to work with when I zero hunting rifles.
 
It seems like it would need a piece of 4x6. I'll have a chance to try it again tomorrow and figure out just how much higher it needs to be. I just hate to spend on an expensive bag like that and put it into a kludge. If I put Tru-Oil on the piece of board, does that make it legit?
 
A couple of cut off blue jean legs filled with sand served me well until I was finally able to afford a proper front rest. Shot bags work well too if you know anyone that loads shotgun.

Edited to add, search Misway for front rest and bags. There are many many choices.
 
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I've used my range bag or a small pack stuffed with old clothes.
Usually use a bi-pod though.
A shooting mat with sewn in straps for the bi-pod feet to load against makes it pretty stable.

I also use the small pack when seated using a tripod.
 
I shoot groups smaller than my click increments from a Harris and a rear bag.

I find the Rock BR to be terrible. I’d honestly rather use a Sinclair Ski-pod than a Rock BR.

A big X bag will offer great forward stability if you can’t adapt to the Harris.

Wood blocks/slabs under front or rear bags add cheap (and stable) height.
 
A large cloth bank money bag with 10 pounds of pinto beans. Leave'm in the plastic, tie the bank bag as tight or loose as you want, xperiment.
 
I have a front bag that it too low also. My fix was to take a Bloch of wood larger enough to raise the bag up. Using machine bolts on the four corners to get the height I need is helpful.
 
Harris bipod front, old Allen suede front bag at rear.
Done that for 40 years.
Bag finally fell apart.
Bought a new bag "set", different material and not sand for filler.
It works.

Shooting my Ruger single shot that doesn't have forend stud.........I used the front and rear bag, but find the front too low.
I set it atop my Wheeler screwdriver container. Still get good groups. So I guess it works.

Proly need to get more professional about it.........LOL
 
I took some wood that was 2 1/4" high (quite a bit thicker than a 2x6 that would only be 1 1/2"). It was still too low with the rear bag all the way forward to the grip. I had to set my canvas Boyt case in the stack to raise it up enough.
I figure this Protektor bag must be intended to put on top a front rest.

I think I'm going to stick with the Harris bi-pod for the most part. There are some times I don't want to move it to a different rifle and so on. In that case, I like the idea of sewing my own big bag and filling it with sand. I will get around to that at some point. I've got some nice canvas for the job and plenty of sand. Thing will probably weigh twenty pounds when I'm done.
 
I failed to say that I have an assortment of wooden blocks that I take with me if I know that I'll be shooting from a strange bench. I did a job once where they had put Horse stall matting on the floor in a gym and I collected some of the scraps. This is 1/2in thick dense rubber like material. This stuff comes in 4X8ft sheets and is expensive. I was fortunate to get some of the scraps.
 
I now use a seriously heavy front rest I built but in the past used a sandbag and various thicknesses of scrap plywood cut to fit under the bag for shims. I much prefer the rest with a sandbag under the rear of the stock.
 
I primarily use 2 methods:

An ancient Hoppes front rest with a bag
Harris or Atlas Bipod. IMHO the Bipods don't give up much if anything to a front rest. Make sure you get one with adjustable cant.

IF the rifle is a varmint or precision rig, I'll do all my load development zeroing etc. off of it's bipod.

I use both with a rear bag, I've got an old Hoppes rear bag, an Armageddon Gear "Gamechanger" and a Thunderbird Long range "Mini-Tacky" with git-lite fill. The Mini-tacky also doubles as a hunting rest when pout on a tripod. log, backpack etc.
 
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