What kind of rest/ bags/ bench do you use?

[horsemen61]

Ok guys in trying to help my friend shoot more accurately he is looking into what kind of rest/ bags he needs plus he wants to build a solid wood bench to shoot off of so any thoughts here would help a bunch

So what kind of Sandbags/Rest do you Use when you're trying to be as Accurate as you can be?

Also the bench/what you shoot off of you use would be helpful. Pics please!

 

[NorthBorder]

I use a simple Caldwell forearm rest. I have a bag of popcorn in an old sock that I secure under the butt of the stock, I squeeze the bag with my support hand to raise or lower the POA. I think sandbag will work just as well.

 

[Maverick223]

I use a heavy steel table topped with a Caldwell Rock BR Competition rest along with a very heavy rear bag (about a 50-60lb sandbag) when I'm trying to be as accurate as possible. It works well for me (it makes a final sight-in fairly simple), but as you might imagine the heavy gear makes it a bear to tote (I use good ole bipods most of the time...even when shooting the precision rifle).

 

[Bart B.]

Laying on the ground slung up prone, big bag of rice under fore hand, small one under stock toe.

Groups half that of anything sitting at a bench.

 

[Howard Roark]

I cobbled my own front rest rest from a design I had rolling around in my head for a few years. The legs are 1" cold rolled steel, center section is SS. The screw jack is part of an old SS service rifle barrel. The only parts that were store bought were the plastic adjustment knobs and cordura bag, of which there are three to fit various fore end widths. I use a Bald Eagle rear rest.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I use a Harris 6-9" bipod and a Protektor leather rear bag filled with heavy sand. I prefer their bags with a hard bottom.

 

[Plastikosmd]

Custom viper rest, 50lbs with various tops to accommodate my 22 40x stuff to 50bmg to custom BP guns., benches vary dep on range. On my personal range they are wood composite

 

[hq]

A large Barbabeau (of Barbapapa series) plush toy. I have no idea what it's been stuffed with but it's solid, lightweight and easy to form around the forend on a shooting bench. And boy it is a conversation starter at the range...

 

[Ks5shooter]

My front rest I use made by a machine shop class in Altoona Pa. All proceeds go to local community charities.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Joe+Cowan+Rifle+Rest&FORM=RESTAB

For the rear I use a Protektor Dr. Bag
http://protektormodel.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=42

 

[Newtosavage]

I bought two leather bags (designed for shooting bags) and filled them with rice. Took me nearly an hour to fill them with rice, but they work great. I usually prop the front bag up on a small sandbag filled with pea gravel (less messy than sand). I also use a bipod and just the rear rice-filled bag, and that works very well too.

 

[Varminterror]

I'm currently using both Sinclair and Bald Eagle front rests and both Edgewood and custom Edgewood clones for rear bags. Laying in the dirt, if I don't use the same front rests, I still use the same rear bags then use a Sinclair F-class style Ski-pod out front.

 

[pintler]

"plus he wants to build a solid wood bench"

My only suggestion there is to make it with three legs. If it has more than three legs you always have the problem of not all the legs contacting equally.

 

[Art Eatman]

The plastic zippered bank bags work as well as any other, I've found. Maybe a piece of 4x4 under the front bag, if needed to hold the rifle level.

 

[fpgt72]

"plus he wants to build a solid wood bench"

My only suggestion there is to make it with three legs. If it has more than three legs you always have the problem of not all the legs contacting equally.

huh?

I shoot from a pretty heavy table I built....you just need to make sure nothing is wiggley.

 

[red rick]

For cheap I use a Bulls Bag , I use it most of the time because it is so convenient to transport and I'm just looking for hunting accuracy . I also sometimes use a Sinclair front rest with a Protektor front bag on it that fits the forearm of the rifle I am shooting and a Protektor rear bag .

 

[Axis II]

Custom viper rest, 50lbs with various tops to accommodate my 22 40x stuff to 50bmg to custom BP guns., benches vary dep on range. On my personal range they are wood composite

What in the world is that thing at the bottom?

 

[Legionnaire]

For quick outings, I use an inexpensive Caldwell forend rest (The Rock Jr., I think) with a beanbag under the toe of the stock. Like others, squeeze the beanbag with your off hand to raise and lower point of impact.

While I really like bipods when shooting prone, I don't like them from the bench. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong, but I find that bipods on the bench "bounce" too much; I get far more consistent results using the inexpensive forend rest.

I just procured a Caldwell Lead Sled Plus to use for load development. I've only had it to the range once thus far, and found it very helpful in bore sighting and setting up a scope for the first time. It is an extremely stable platform, and I expect it will help with the consistency needed for load development.

 

[I6turbo]

Cowan rest with the appropriate Protektor front bag, and various rear bags as needed. It helps to have a more stable bench, but a rental car will do in a pinch.

The Martha Stewart blanket is essential for groups under half-MOA.

 

[Mn Fats]

Here is my design. Simple enough and solid as a rock. Plus there's an axle so I can pop on the wheels and tow it with my atv. This, a Harris bipod and sandbags is all I'll ever need.

 

[coloradokevin]

Ok guys in trying to help my friend shoot more accurately he is looking into what kind of rest/ bags he needs plus he wants to build a solid wood bench to shoot off of so any thoughts here would help a bunch

So what kind of Sandbags/Rest do you Use when you're trying to be as Accurate as you can be?

Also the bench/what you shoot off of you use would be helpful. Pics please!

I've always had my best accuracy when I shoot from the ground; prone and bipod supported. Just place a shooting mat on the ground, then shoot prone using a bipod on the rifle, and a rear squeeze bag (sand sock) on the stock that you control with your support hand.

It is a very stable way to shoot accurately, and I see people overthinking this issue far too often.

 

[Odd Job]

I can't transport or store bags or a rest (don't have the space). So I use a Harris bipod and whatever sand bag I can find at the range where I shoot. I shoot mainly .22 at ranges of 25 and 50 yards. It is as accurate as I need for the shooting I do.

 

[Offfhand]

The rests I use mainly depend on what I'm shooting and where. Matching the rest to the rifle is important. For overall quality the John Loh rests are tops. The Ransoms are rugged and classy. For benchrest competition I use a Farley Coaxial. For long shots at game I use a Harris. I Attached is a photo of some of my rests and bags, take your pick.

 

[Bart B.]

Here's the machine rest David Tubb and some other National Champions used to test their stuff:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/12787226@N00/sets/72157594303093714/

His dad, George, had this one builept in the early 1960's. It's ideal because the rifle recoils back and the muzzle rises virtually identical to rifles fired off ones shoulder.

 

[Reuben McCoy Rankin]

lead slide

 

[Walkalong]

Front Rest, Rear Bag.