Tested my version of a Ransom Rest

[Blue68f100]

I finally got finished and had time to test it out. I made this for holding 1911's only. That's what I shoot the most and what most of neighbors have too. I tried to make this with the scrap material I had on hand. I did have to older a few items, belvelle springs. I machined the main back plate for the grip screws to recess into. Added adj side plates to clamp from the front and back. Added a way to press the grip safety. There is no way to adj aim with the setup. Luckily my target and bench are pretty close to the same elevation. I just used a couple of clamps to secure it to my bench. The bench weights around 80#, just setting on the ground, not anchored.




I have a safety pin that must be installed for the remote trigger to work. The white knob. There is a 5:1 reduction in trigger pull force as it's setup.



I can adj the tension on the side plate which controls how the gun pops up. Once I had it set right, the gun would return to the fire position ready for the next shot. The brass was being ejected at 3:30, all good. On the last shot the gun would not return to fire position since the slide did not go forward.

Here is how it worked.

Full mag (7 rounds) loaded, slide released, arm remote trigger, proceed to fire. Once the gun reset I fired again, did not check where the sights were at.

I had a shim between the base and side plate. The wind picked up and blew it away during my test. The reason for the POI shift. The lower 3 shot is where it shifted too.

The 1911 is one I built in 2013 as my BE gun. I was using 185gr LSWC (MBC BE#2) 4.1gr WST, WSP Win brass for my test ammo. I have a 200 gr LSWC load that is slightly more accurate than this 185gr.



I would say this was a success. I may do some more tweaks to make it easier to sight in. But for right now it's usable.

 

[ParallelCode]

That's awesome.

 

[Catpop]

Factory ammo or handloads?
Nice groups either way!

 

[lordpaxman]

More machining like that and you’ll be in business in no time! I have woodworking tools, my son has some metal tools. On the woodworking forums some guy machined a very simple offset plate for a domino joiner and is now in business selling them and other accessories. Who knows what will end up with all these ideas?

 

[GerryER]

Nice work! I did a similar project years ago, but made it to work with the Ransom and Caldwell grip adapters. (Caldwell had a patent infrigement case against them from Ransom and had to take their version off the market, but their adapters were still available for awhile.) I included a small adjustable shock absorber to regulate the recoil in the mechanism and used a bicycle handbrake and cable to operate the trigger remotely. It worked pretty well but I haven't used it much. I tried selling it, but evidently not many people have a use for it. You really have to be interested in finding out the mechanical accuracy of your pistols to want one.

(David, I should have paid more attention to "Blue68F100." I didn't realize that this was one of your projects; your sled in the other thread is nice, too!)

 

[jmorris]

There is no way to adj aim with the setup. Luckily my target and bench are pretty close to the same elevation.

You can move the back side to side, keeping the front in place for windage and use a thread at the return contact point for elevation.

Kind of like this, where the rear of the base plate, under the wing knobs, is slotted.



And the front adjustment bolt is there under the trigger guard. It is steel as is the contact point it rests on. It’s also the front mount bolt as it passes through the aluminum base.

 

[Blue68f100]

Factory ammo or handloads?
Nice groups either way!

I posted the load I used. Handload..... 185gr LSWC (MBC BE#2) 4.1gr WST, WSP Win brass.

More machining like that and you’ll be in business in no time! I have woodworking tools, my son has some metal tools. On the woodworking forums some guy machined a very simple offset plate for a domino joiner and is now in business selling them and other accessories. Who knows what will end up with all these ideas?

I'm retired and just enjoy making things. As I get older I'm not near as steady as I use to be, eye sight not near as good either. I built another 1911 in 9mm and 357 sig I was needed this to test the accuracy of my ammo and gun. Dot sights are not know for precision, so was looking for a way to keep it as close to perfect as I could.

I have a fairly complete wood shop too. Most of it is actually my brother that was inherited from my dad when he passed. My brother does not have room for it, so it's still setup here in my shop. I really need it out so I will have room in the main shop to spread out.

I was actually surprised that it work as well as it did the first time out. I have one project that I made, that my attorney says I need to patented. It was some rod holders for my boat that actually secure the rods so they will never come out no matter how rough they are banged, un-till you release them. I've still been tweaking on them making them better.

 

[doubleh]

I posted the load I used. Handload..... 185gr LSWC (MBC BE#2) 4.1gr WST, WSP Win brass.



I'm retired and just enjoy making things. As I get older I'm not near as steady as I use to be, eye sight not near as good either. I built another 1911 in 9mm and 357 sig I was needed this to test the accuracy of my ammo and gun. Dot sights are not know for precision, so was looking for a way to keep it as close to perfect as I could.

I have a fairly complete wood shop too. Most of it is actually my brother that was inherited from my dad when he passed. My brother does not have room for it, so it's still setup here in my shop. I really need it out so I will have room in the main shop to spread out.

I was actually surprised that it work as well as it did the first time out. I have one project that I made, that my attorney says I need to patented. It was some rod holders for my boat that actually secure the rods so they will never come out no matter how rough they are banged, un-till you release them. I've still been tweaking on them making them better.

Pretty cool gadget. I have considered making such a gizmo off and on for years. I just never got around to doing so an probably never will. I have been afflicted with the "make something" syndrome since I was a little kid and still have it. I started with scale model airplanes when in about third grade and have just continued with various things, both wood and metal. My head would most likely explode if I had to quit for some reason.

 

[Blue68f100]

You can move the back side to side, keeping the front in place for windage and use a thread at the return contact point for elevation.

Kind of like this, where the rear of the base plate, under the wing knobs, is slotted.

View attachment 1070546

And the front adjustment bolt is there under the trigger guard. It is steel as is the contact point it rests on. It’s also the front mount bolt as it passes through the aluminum base.

View attachment 1070547

I may add some adjust-ability if I can find some material to use. Living out in the country has it's perks. Going down to the local supply house is not one of them. In fact the town I'm closes to closes up around 6 pm unless it's food & groceries. A lot of the restaurants are closed on Monday's to give there employees a day off. Most are small shops, family owned. So I have to order my supplies every time I need something. Which I have been working on a list now but not ready to pull the trigger. I'm needing some 3/8" spring washers for the rifle sled I made, and some o-rings, a end mill or 2, not big enough due to the cost of shipping. I normally place one once a month.

Like it is there is not any place that is going to move during use, provided I tighten things down like I should. Looks like yours can be locked down pretty solid. Add adjust-ability is another place for error to be introduced if not done right.. Side to side is not really an issue, up and down is what I need. Will probably add it once I can find some material to use. All I have left is some really big thick stuff or small, nothing in between.

 

[jmorris]

Will probably add it once I can find some material to use. All I have left is some really big thick stuff or small, nothing in between.

Something like this should do the trick, I would add a knurled “nut” to lock in the adjustment.

 

[Blue68f100]

There is only 0.030" clearance between the base and side plate when it's level, yes really close. May be easier to put the adjuster on the base, then open/notch the backing plate up to give it clearance. Then it would not add any weight to the assembly. The base and backing are both out of 3/4" 6061-T6 Al.

 

[Buck13]

I tried selling it, but evidently not many people have a use for it. You really have to be interested in finding out the mechanical accuracy of your pistols to want one.

Sounds like something I'd be interested in, but the big question is always "at what price?" How much you think it's worth to you after putting a bunch of materials and effort into it and how badly someone else wants it don't always line up...

 

[AzShooter1]

I think you did a fantastic job. I do a lot of testing from sandbags and would love to try my guns from a rest like that. It's really the best way to test accuracy of a load.

 

[Milt1]

That's incredible, the machine parts look great along with accuracy!

 

[Blue68f100]

Added the elevation adjustment to it. Did it like @jmorris suggested. But I did a recess slot so it can not shift.


I moved the remote trip bar over to keep the brass from hitting it.



Then I pined the shaft assembly. I noticed playing with it as I increased clamp force load it would rotate between the end plate and arm. I think this is a source of horz stringing on the target. This surface I did not face, now it will only rotate at the bearing face.


The next test is tomorrow so I will find out.
Going to run my 5.0 gr WSF 9mm load for a base run. Then some 124gr & 115gr XTP's with WSF. Will post the result in new threads for the XTP's

 

[1066]

Good job sir. As a bit of a "maker" myself, I appreciate just how much thought, time and effort goes into these projects - and the satisfaction of using something that works well, that you have designed and made with your own hands.

 

[Blue68f100]

Did a test run and ran into a problem. My horz spread was less than 1/2 (fixed) but my vertical spread was way too large, >2". I think I found the problem and waiting for a good day to test again. Wind has been 10-15+ with forecast > 20 this weekend, and rain moving in Sunday.