Bench Rest

4

4whln

New member
What kind of bench rest do y'all use? I want to get something that's not too expensive, say under $50 to sight in my scope and do a little target practice. Or is anything under $200 not gonna work?
 
Not sure how much a Caldwell front and rear sand bag set is, but I think they may be around $50.

If you have a bipod you can use that and just make up something for the rear rest.

I've never in my life used a proper rest, its my friend and I used to use calf feed bags, they worked ok.
But if you can find something to support the front of the gun all you need is a think jacket or 2 to fold up under the rear of the stock, or a pillow.

I really should buy a Caldwell bag set though, make my life a heck of a lot easier.
 
I like the way the Caldwell Zeromax looks. A front sandbag is included in the set, and it's under $50.
 
IMO, stay away from the Lead Sleds or anything where the butt of the long gun is against a solid object and not your shoulder. Some have cracked the stocks of their long guns with these types of rests.
 
Hello, 4whln. I have a suede leather/canvas Uncle Buds Bulls Bag..I like this for my BPCR single shot rifles.
I also have a cast-iron Hart front rest with leather Protector Bag..this has a customized (by me) windage adjustable top & very heavy at 20+ lbs.
 
I just received a Caldwell Rock BR from OpticsPlanet. Cost was around $150 with free shipping. I've used cheap bags, cheap rests etc in the past and have to say I wish I had purchased this a long time ago! I think you would have to spend twice as much if not more to find a rest as nice. I highly recommend it!
 
Gotta have a bench rest......

Improvise. A rolled up jacket or sleeping-bag over the hood or tailgate of the pickup. If you get yourself a really nice bench-rest apparatus you won't be able to shoot without it. Just sight in and do most of your shooting standing off-hand. And, if you really need a quick steadier position, drop to a kneeling position.
 
I just use sandbags for the most part. I used to make them from lead shot bags when I could get them in cotton sucks that most of the ones I see these days are plastic. I've had some family members who could sew make them from blue jean legs when the rest of the jeans have worn out. I've even bought the unfilled Caldwell Dead Shot front and rear bag, I don't care for the rear bag much but it does work.
 
I have found that bipods are fine for the field, but for bench shooting I use a simple and very portable Caldwell Rock Jr and rear bag. There’s too much bounce with my tripod on a bench.
 
Caldwell Rock BR - nice and heavy. I used it all the time when I mostly shot for groups with my .22 at 50 yards and used it sometimes for 100 yard shooting with my .223.
I still have my Rock BR but I am switching to a bipod and maybe a small sandbag.
If I were to do it again, I would get a smaller Rest that is easier to lug around. maybe the following or like (lighter, smaller).
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/412484/caldwell-rock-front-shooting-rest
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/47...t-tri-stance-rifle-pistol-front-shooting-rest
 
In the days of my father and grandfather this country was known as a "nation of rifleman".

But today sadly that is no longer the case. Today liberalism has destroyed a lot of that and the shooting bench has destroyed a lot more of the tradition.
 
Can't remember the make but its a standard Caldwell type front and rabbit ear rear. Only I filled my bags with #9/8 lead shot. Its worked well for over 20 years now.
 
I've got a Shooter's Ridge front rest in my range bag, but I'm just as likely to use a couple of homemade bags. I cut the legs from worn-out blue jeans and fill them with walnut media. Light weight and rock solid, and you can make them in a variety of sizes. I've even got a couple of small ones that are made from the back pockets of carpenter pants. Very small and useful for a number of tasks.

There is no reason to spend a lot of money on shooting rests, unless you're in one of the games that demands it.
 
If you are into benchrest competition then a bench is necessary for your shooting.

Otherwise if you goal is to be the best all around shooter in the real world you can be then the best thing you can do is forget that a shooting bench even exists.
 
The bench rest is also for sighting in scopes and testing handloads, at least thats what I use it for. You arent gonna get accurate results if you stand unsupported and shoot. I have been a rifleman since I was 18yrs old and the bench rest has its uses other than competition.
 
If looking for a rest on the cheap, most any old sandbag type rest will work fine for general sighting-in and target shooting. The most important thing is that you do everything the same for every shot. Placement of the rifle on the shoulder and front rest, trigger squeeze, cheek weld, breathing, body angle, everything. No different than other types of shooting (standing/offhand, prone, etc). The rifle handling has to be good for accurate shooting...period.
 
"You arent gonna get accurate results if you stand unsupported and shoot."

Did I say you could? Are you aware that there are other shooting positions besides bench and standing?
 
I am very aware that there are different positions other than bench and standing.

The shooting bench has destroyed alot of that tradition
To be the best all around shooter in the real world the best thing you can do is forget that a shooting bench even exists.

Sounds to me like you have a problem with people shooting from a bench. I was in the Army for 8yrs. and have been shooting for most of my 43yrs. on this earth so Im familiar with just about every way a gun can be fired there is. If you want to see what a rifle is capable of you need the rest. If you want your scope to be dialed in correctly you need the rest.
I can shoot standing offhand, prone, sitting, hell probably jumping up and down but sometimes you need a rest. To say one should forget about it if he wants to be agood shooter is uncorrect.
 
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