What's your favorite rifle rest?

[Saltydog235]

Caldwell type front rest to adjust rough elevation and a rabbit ear bag for the rear stock. My rabbit ear bag is filled with lead shot, not sand though. Its been a great system for me.

 

[.300 Weatherby Mag]

Sinclair:

 

[PawPaw]

All those are good, and I've used some might fine rests in my time, but the one that's with me always is a roll of carpet padding taped with duct tape. It lives in under the back seat of the pickup truck.

Here's a picture of my son using it with a .45-70.

 

[smoakingun]

from a practical standpoint, you can't bank on a rest in the field, not even with a bi-pod. Learn to use a sling, then you wont need a rest

 

[shredder4286]

from a practical standpoint, you can't bank on a rest in the field, not even with a bi-pod. Learn to use a sling, then you wont need a rest

Definitely. Next time I hit the range, I'll have to try and hit the 300 yd gong just using my sling to steady me

 

[plinky]

I have used the Caldwell Rock and Rock BR. Have to say I wasn't at all impressed with the Rock BR. That could be because I tend to squeeeze the rear bag instead of adjusting the front rest up or down.

 

[jimbob86]

Stoney Point Shooting sticks and a leather military sling. Rock solid, portable, adaptable to nearly any situation.

you can't bank on a rest in the field, not even with a bi-pod.

Bingo. And those bi-pods get hung up on brush when you are still hunting. They add weight out where you dont want it, making the rifle cumbersome.

I can't understand the logic behind folks who advocate for short action cartridges and short barrels because they are "handier" and then go and hang a bipod on the front that sticks 6" past the barrel when folded......

 

[FrankenMauser]

I can't understand the logic behind folks who advocate for short action cartridges and short barrels because they are "handier" and then go and hang a bipod on the front that sticks 6" past the barrel when folded......

Me either.

That's why all but one of my hunting rifles is a long action with a 24" or longer barrel, and all weigh in at 8.5 lbs or heavier (unloaded). And the short action rifle weighs in at nearly 10 lbs, with a 26" barrel. ...The long barrels make my bipod look smaller.

you can't bank on a rest in the field, not even with a bi-pod.

Nope, you can't. But the 85% of the time that shooting sticks can be used... my bipod can be used. Personal preference, is all it is.

 

[warbirdlover]

from a practical standpoint, you can't bank on a rest in the field, not even with a bi-pod. Learn to use a sling, then you wont need a rest

I've been hunting for almost 50 years and I've always been able to find a natural rest, tree, bush, or whatever.

I've had the military slings and know how to use them but the only way I'm comfortable taking a shot is having a more solid rest. Now I sit in a box blind and rest the gun on the window sill so I have my rest there.

Not saying you guys can't shoot good offhand with the sling. Just saying I can't. At least not to my satisfaction.

 

[Bruceak]

Even when sighting in a hunting rifle at the range I like a rest that requires me to hold on the target. For many years that was a rolled towel on top of a kids training potty. I find that a gun rest that eliminates all variables of the shooter doesn't necessarily result in "field" accuracy. I want to eliminate the wobble of an off hand shot but leave me responsible for my own hold and trigger pull. In the field I love to find a scrub pine with a solid limb at arm pit height when a nice buck comes sneaking up the muskeg in answer to my bleat call.

 

[oneoldsap]

I have an old Hoppes Varminter rest that works great on the Hood of my Truck . A Pickup Truck Door is pretty popular too ! LOL

 

[christcorp]

I tend to agree with the "Non-Artificial" rest crowd. Whether you're a hunter, shooting prairie dogs, a competitor, or just a paper puncher; real life in those activities require the shooter to hold the rifle. With holding/aiming a rifle, the human variable, such as breathing and keeping a steady hand is the major contributor in hitting your target or not. Using artificial rests take the human factor more out of the equation. Because of this, the shooter doesn't have control over true accuracy.

I can understand a bi-pod that is attached to the rifle. Maybe even some shooting sticks. But the shooter has to have complete control. There's nothing wrong with resting the rifle on a cushion, sand bag, gun case, etc... Bottom line: if i can let go of the gun, with no human contact, and the point of aim of the rifle doesn't change...... then I don't want it. It serves no practical purpose. Simulating resting the rifle on a fence post, tree limb, a downed log while laying prone, etc... are all natural ways of steadying a rifle. Any rest that can do this, and doesn't require the rifle to be physically locked in, is fine. Anything else is impractical unless you're an ammunition or weapon developer and are trying to determine the characteristics of the actual bullet or rifle. But a rifle by itself has never fired a round of ammunition since the beginning of time. It requires human interaction. So; if the rest doesn't require 100% human interaction, and isn't a "REST" in the truest sense of the word, and is instead a form of vice that "HOLDS" the rifle in place; then it's totally impractical and a waste of my time because it won't assist me in real shooting activities.

 

[csmsss]

At the range, the only rest I use while shooting is my elbows. I use a sandbag or folded up towel only when I'm not holding the rifle to keep the action and barrel off the table. Everything I take to the bench, I have to carry back to the car. Since I'm lazy, I try to keep that to a minimum.

 

[warbirdlover]

When I sight in the rifle at the range I want to know that it's hitting exactly where I want it so I use a good rest and the bench. Seeing a good group on the paper also gives me confidence in my rifle.

Hunting is a different story. I don't shoot freehand or with a sling. I just don't feel steady enough. I always find a tree, branch etc to steady the gun on but It's not using the same technique I use at the range. As was stated above I can't let go of the gun and have it stay on target. My "method" has been working for almost 50 years so I'll continue to do it this way.

 

[shredder4286]

Stoney Point Shooting sticks and a leather military sling.

I've never tried those shooting sticks. I'll have to check them out.

Not saying you guys can't shoot good offhand with the sling. Just saying I can't. At least not to my satisfaction.

I'm right there with you.

Using artificial rests take the human factor more out of the equation. Because of this, the shooter doesn't have control over true accuracy.

I guess it comes down to what you want to achieve on paper. I've been getting moa @ 100yds with a shooting bag and a sandbag, and I'm happy with that. I know the rifle shoots good, and that I can make that happen with me holding it when it goes bang. I wouldn't mind seeing those groups shrink when steadied by a lead sled, but it's not that big of a deal. If I'm hitting moa @ 100, I know it can shoot better with me out of the equation.

 

[taylorce1]

I use this Caldwell Rest the most, before that it was shot bags or pants legs filled with sand. I used to shoot quiet a bit from sandbags only under the front and my non firing hand supporting the buttstock. Of course this is only to zero my rifle after that I like to shoot mainly from field positions.

I agree in the field I can usually find some sort of support pretty easily. I usually carry a small day pack that gets used a lot from the prone position, and a pair of shooting sticks for kneeling and sitting. Plus there usually are some rocks or trees around as well expcept when I'm hunting on the plains for pronghorn. Then I'll slap on a 6-9" adjustable bi-pod as I'll be shooting from the prone 9 out of 10 times.

 

[Dre_sa]

I've found that the best rest to use is a soft one. blocks of foam with a "V" cut out work well. I understand that a sandbag is great too.

I've found that a good soft rest will mean that the rifle bounces around less under recoil. I've tried a soft rest, then switched to a bi-pod and found that I couldn't keep track of the crosshairs or sights under recoil. I switched back to the soft rest, and the problem went away. I also noticed a slight improvement in the groups fired using the soft rest.

I'd generally avoid using the bi-pod, but if it's all I've got, that's the one i'll use.

 

[shredder4286]

I've found that the best rest to use is a soft one. blocks of foam with a "V" cut out work well. I understand that a sandbag is great too.

I've found that a good soft rest will mean that the rifle bounces around less under recoil. I've tried a soft rest, then switched to a bi-pod and found that I couldn't keep track of the crosshairs or sights under recoil. I switched back to the soft rest, and the problem went away. I also noticed a slight improvement in the groups fired using the soft rest.

I'd generally avoid using the bi-pod, but if it's all I've got, that's the one i'll use.

I guess it all comes down to what you like best. Everybody's different. Taylorce1 and I are going out shooting tomorrow (provided colorado winds don't ruin our range day) and I believe he's bringing out a few rests. I also have a foam piece I'm gonna bring along to throw in the mix. It'll be interesting to try a few rests and see what resusts I get.

 

[sc928porsche]

If I am sighting in a rifle, then a good leadslead. Otherwise, its the good ol' elbows. It keeps your hunting arm in tune. BTW, if you see someone bragging on how tight a group he shoots, have him show you what he can do freehand.

 

[smoakingun]

Definitely. Next time I hit the range, I'll have to try and hit the 300 yd gong just using my sling to steady me

come on out to the range with me and i'll show you how to do it out to 500.

I have been on plenty of hunts (usually wyo. antelope hunts) where there was not a tree, fence post, or log for milles. Tall grass makes most bi-pods unuseable. Shooting sticks are nice, especially the ones that double as walking sticks, if you want to carry the extra gear. Odds are, your rifle has a sling, and with practice, 200 yards is not unreasonable using a hasty sling.