gun rest - The Firearms Forum

gun runner · 09-21-2012, 07:32 AM

Could someone please tell me what is a VERY stable gun rest? The $30 one I have from academy is a piece of junk. Its very unstable. I want to get sub-moa groups out to a 100-500 yards with my .223 but the rest I have wont give me the chance. I can send a coyotes head rolling downhill from 250yards but I want to really test the maximum accuracy of the rifles I own. Not my .22's but my centerfire weapons. Thanks for any help

GunHugger · 09-21-2012, 07:58 AM

I have a few different ones and recently bought a Caldwell Rock, for the money it's real nice and solid. They also make a "budget priced" one called the Rock Jr., but no adjustable feet and it looks...not so great.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/412...-shooting-rest

carver · 09-21-2012, 08:11 AM

I would also recomend this type of shooting rest, or a sandbag of some sort. Gun rests like the lead sled, and others will cause a gun to shoot to a different POI, than what you get with only the forearm support.

GunHugger · 09-21-2012, 08:25 AM

Get a rear bag like this one.

I have a few old leather ones, this one looks like a good one.

These work well. I like to set up the shot just a little high on the point of aim (bulls eye) then I use my none trigger hand to squeeze the base of the bag to raise the butt of the gun to bring the crosshairs down to the bull. Bang.

Don't over pack it with too much sand or it becomes too stiff to do the above.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/679...ather-unfilled

gun runner · 09-21-2012, 08:48 AM

With me I have to have the whole gun completely rested. I tried a bi pod and nope dont work

bamajoey · 09-21-2012, 03:02 PM

This is the one I use. It is plenty heavy at 20lbs. Caldwell "The Rock BR 1000". Rear bag is a Protektor. The rest has been discontinued but they make another almost like this one.

gerard488 · 09-21-2012, 08:55 PM

I built my own spring loaded rest that works real well. here is a pic but straps are not attached i those pics

gdmoody · 09-21-2012, 09:36 PM

I use a Caldwell Rock like GunHugger shows for the front, and a sandbag like he shows for the back, only mine is not made by Caldwell. When I am sighting in a scope, I use a Lead Sled.

I like that one gerard built!

Zane71464 · 09-22-2012, 06:45 AM

For longer shots off the bench, I have a piece of oak 6"x6" about a foot long I put down and lay a sand bag on top of it. For the rear of the rifle, I use one similar like what GunHugger posted a pic of.

Zane71464 · 09-22-2012, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerard488

I built my own spring loaded rest that works real well. here is a pic but straps are not attached i those pics

That's a fine looking unit you made there!
I was wondering, is there any verticle adj. to the front of it?

gerard488 · 09-22-2012, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zane71464

That's a fine looking unit you made there!
I was wondering, is there any verticle adj. to the front of it?

The front has about 2 inches verticle adjustment on one side to level the unit side to side, the back end has about 3 inches of verticle adjustment.
The rest has been finshed and used lots since this pic was taken,the straps and butt stock cradle is not shown here. Works really well for sighting in with just two shots

carver · 09-22-2012, 07:37 AM

My biggest problem with straping, or locking down a gun when shooting for zero, is that in the field there are no straps, and no way to lock the gun down. Holding it to your shoulder is no where near the same. The gun will now shoot to a different POI.

Zane71464 · 09-22-2012, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerard488

The front has about 2 inches verticle adjustment on one side to level the unit side to side, the back end has about 3 inches of verticle adjustment.
The rest has been finshed and used lots since this pic was taken,the straps and butt stock cradle is not shown here. Works really well for sighting in with just two shots

Quote:

Originally Posted by carver

My biggest problem with straping, or locking down a gun when shooting for zero, is that in the field there are no straps, and no way to lock the gun down. Holding it to your shoulder is no where near the same. The gun will now shoot to a different POI.

I like the looks of it alot and very nice work!
I'm thinking like Carver...
When I started out shooting a more serious note, the "hold-in-place" devices for the rifles faded with me. I started out with the lead sled that Calwell makes and I still use it to strap a bolt gun in to open bore sight it in.
It seems, and maybe its just the way I got used too, but after shooting one in the lead sled and shooting seveal rounds during the coarse of a day, I'd go to the shoulder and the P.O.I was different

And I reckon too, that I mostly shoot in the field and had to get used to shooting from the shoulder. Most of the time, all I have with me is a trigger stick with a good brace off whatever I have. Mostly, shooting in the sitting position with the trigger stick braced again one of my legs.

carver · 09-22-2012, 09:10 AM

I used to use a hikeing stick that is 6' tall, to keep myself from tripping, and falling when walking/hunting in the woods. It makes a good fast rest for long guns, or pistols. My brother bought me one of those fancy trigger sticks, made by Primos, and I love it! Much lighter than my hikeing sticks! 66" when extended all the way.

Zane71464 · 09-22-2012, 09:38 AM

Thats the same one I use alot, Carver.
I've got a shorter one and it works well shooting from a sitting postion.
One word of caution with the 66" Trigger Stick made by Primos.....(as I found out).
They are made of alluminum and they will bend. They say they will hold, what, 70 or so pounds? Well my first one, and I have NO clue as to how this happened as I seemed to try to always take good care of it.

I came back from a night of coyote hunting a while back and got it out the next day and it seemed to be binding on the bottom section and wouldnt slide in all the way.
Got to looking and it had a "slight" bend/bow in the bottom. (not sure how that happened?) I thought I'd just fix it with some preasure on the bend and almost had it till I went too far. It's standing in the corner now and gotta get it back out and see if I can actually fix it!

***On another note, I have nothing against lead sleds or bench shooting rifle rests at all.
I think its all about a matter of preferance and what type of shooting you do the most of.***

targetacqmgt · 09-22-2012, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerard488

I built my own spring loaded rest that works real well. here is a pic but straps are not attached i those pics

Very nice workmanship!!!

cpttango30 · 09-22-2012, 07:37 PM

I got mine from a man in PA Made by machinist students at a community college it Cost me $225 and is comparable to rests that cost 3 times as much.

I have seen about 10 Caldwell rests and they were all junk.

"Joseph Cowan" <cowanhaus@gmail.com>

Email him it takes about a year to get it but it is well worth the wait.

Freebore · 09-22-2012, 07:55 PM

Take a look at the following website from National Match Rifle Rest, I use the Model 2 (with some modifications). If your looking for long range accuracy, this one will do the trick.

www.nationalmatchriflerest.com

GunHugger · 09-22-2012, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpttango30

I got mine from a man in PA Made by machinist students at a community college it Cost me $225 and is comparable to rests that cost 3 times as much.

I have seen about 10 Caldwell rests and they were all junk.

"Joseph Cowan" <cowanhaus@gmail.com>

Email him it takes about a year to get it but it is well worth the wait.

I do agree with you that there are "better" rests out there and I have one myself but I don't think the Caldwell rests "are all junk".

gun runner · 09-23-2012, 10:15 AM

Well I went to Bass Pro and picked up a caldwell zero max. Cheap rest but VERY stable from my other one. When I get my mig welder replaced Im going to start making different ones. They had a caldwell for about $99 but it has a recoil block like some others and i dont need that. Thanks for the info everybody.

bamajoey · 09-23-2012, 04:08 PM

Oh heck, you shouldn't have bought that Caldwell. cpttango30 has seen about 10 of them and they were all junk.

JLA · 09-23-2012, 04:52 PM

I just use 20 dollar winchester brand sandbags from walmart. The key is a sturdy bench and good fundamentals. My bench is a wooden bench i built myself. concreted into the ground and a sturdy wooden stool. and a couple wooden trays for setting under the bags to get the right height or angle for shooting different ranges.

JLA · 09-23-2012, 04:53 PM

and some more.. All shot from the very setup i described above some shot with handguns and others with rifles.

permafrost · 09-23-2012, 08:14 PM

I use the rest like gun runner showed also. But mostly I use unfilled Caldwell bags filled with the cheap 20 lb bags of rice from walmart. Sand tends to leak and get into stuff. The rice is lighter, doesn't leak and still holds its shape when used at the bench. Put some of those little moisture dessicant packs in with it and it works fine.

JLA · 09-23-2012, 08:18 PM

The winchester bags i use are filled with extruded nylon polymer pellets.

09-21-2012, 07:32 AM	#1
gun runner Former Guest Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South Texas Contributor Posts: 1,871	gun rest Could someone please tell me what is a VERY stable gun rest? The $30 one I have from academy is a piece of junk. Its very unstable. I want to get sub-moa groups out to a 100-500 yards with my .223 but the rest I have wont give me the chance. I can send a coyotes head rolling downhill from 250yards but I want to really test the maximum accuracy of the rifles I own. Not my .22's but my centerfire weapons. Thanks for any help -->

09-21-2012, 07:58 AM	#2
GunHugger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SW PA Posts: 1,161	Re: gun rest I have a few different ones and recently bought a Caldwell Rock, for the money it's real nice and solid. They also make a "budget priced" one called the Rock Jr., but no adjustable feet and it looks...not so great. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/412...-shooting-rest __________________ . “There will be a revolution in this country!” “I don’t believe people should to be able to own guns.” ~Barack Obama "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war let it begin here." ~Captain John Parker, to his Minute Men on Lexington Green, April 19, 1775.

09-21-2012, 08:11 AM	#3
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,280	Re: gun rest I would also recomend this type of shooting rest, or a sandbag of some sort. Gun rests like the lead sled, and others will cause a gun to shoot to a different POI, than what you get with only the forearm support. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

09-21-2012, 08:25 AM	#4
GunHugger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SW PA Posts: 1,161	Re: gun rest Get a rear bag like this one. I have a few old leather ones, this one looks like a good one. These work well. I like to set up the shot just a little high on the point of aim (bulls eye) then I use my none trigger hand to squeeze the base of the bag to raise the butt of the gun to bring the crosshairs down to the bull. Bang. Don't over pack it with too much sand or it becomes too stiff to do the above. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/679...ather-unfilled __________________ . “There will be a revolution in this country!” “I don’t believe people should to be able to own guns.” ~Barack Obama "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war let it begin here." ~Captain John Parker, to his Minute Men on Lexington Green, April 19, 1775.

09-21-2012, 08:48 AM	#5
gun runner Former Guest Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South Texas Contributor Posts: 1,871	Re: gun rest With me I have to have the whole gun completely rested. I tried a bi pod and nope dont work

09-21-2012, 03:02 PM	#6
bamajoey Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pensacola Contributor Posts: 1,260	Re: gun rest This is the one I use. It is plenty heavy at 20lbs. Caldwell "The Rock BR 1000". Rear bag is a Protektor. The rest has been discontinued but they make another almost like this one. Last edited by bamajoey; 09-21-2012 at 03:05 PM..

09-21-2012, 08:55 PM	#7
gerard488 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 70	Re: gun rest I built my own spring loaded rest that works real well. here is a pic but straps are not attached i those pics Attached Images

09-21-2012, 09:36 PM	#8
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,343	Re: gun rest I use a Caldwell Rock like GunHugger shows for the front, and a sandbag like he shows for the back, only mine is not made by Caldwell. When I am sighting in a scope, I use a Lead Sled. I like that one gerard built! __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

09-22-2012, 06:45 AM	#9
Zane71464 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio NRA Member Contributor Posts: 5,368	Re: gun rest For longer shots off the bench, I have a piece of oak 6"x6" about a foot long I put down and lay a sand bag on top of it. For the rear of the rifle, I use one similar like what GunHugger posted a pic of. __________________ Two Words; "Simple Man", song by Charlie Daniels sums up my thoughts on a "few things"!

09-22-2012, 07:37 AM	#12
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,280	Re: gun rest My biggest problem with straping, or locking down a gun when shooting for zero, is that in the field there are no straps, and no way to lock the gun down. Holding it to your shoulder is no where near the same. The gun will now shoot to a different POI. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

09-22-2012, 09:10 AM	#14
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,280	Re: gun rest I used to use a hikeing stick that is 6' tall, to keep myself from tripping, and falling when walking/hunting in the woods. It makes a good fast rest for long guns, or pistols. My brother bought me one of those fancy trigger sticks, made by Primos, and I love it! Much lighter than my hikeing sticks! 66" when extended all the way. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

09-22-2012, 09:38 AM	#15
Zane71464 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio NRA Member Contributor Posts: 5,368	Re: gun rest Thats the same one I use alot, Carver. I've got a shorter one and it works well shooting from a sitting postion. One word of caution with the 66" Trigger Stick made by Primos.....(as I found out). They are made of alluminum and they will bend. They say they will hold, what, 70 or so pounds? Well my first one, and I have NO clue as to how this happened as I seemed to try to always take good care of it. I came back from a night of coyote hunting a while back and got it out the next day and it seemed to be binding on the bottom section and wouldnt slide in all the way. Got to looking and it had a "slight" bend/bow in the bottom. (not sure how that happened?) I thought I'd just fix it with some preasure on the bend and almost had it till I went too far. It's standing in the corner now and gotta get it back out and see if I can actually fix it! *On another note, I have nothing against lead sleds or bench shooting rifle rests at all. I think its all about a matter of preferance and what type of shooting you do the most of.* __________________ Two Words; "Simple Man", song by Charlie Daniels sums up my thoughts on a "few things"!

09-22-2012, 07:37 PM	#17
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: gun rest I got mine from a man in PA Made by machinist students at a community college it Cost me $225 and is comparable to rests that cost 3 times as much. I have seen about 10 Caldwell rests and they were all junk. "Joseph Cowan" <cowanhaus@gmail.com> Email him it takes about a year to get it but it is well worth the wait.

09-22-2012, 07:55 PM	#18
Freebore V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Midwest USA Posts: 265	Re: gun rest Take a look at the following website from National Match Rifle Rest, I use the Model 2 (with some modifications). If your looking for long range accuracy, this one will do the trick. www.nationalmatchriflerest.com

09-23-2012, 10:15 AM	#20
gun runner Former Guest Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South Texas Contributor Posts: 1,871	Re: gun rest Well I went to Bass Pro and picked up a caldwell zero max. Cheap rest but VERY stable from my other one. When I get my mig welder replaced Im going to start making different ones. They had a caldwell for about $99 but it has a recoil block like some others and i dont need that. Thanks for the info everybody.

09-23-2012, 04:08 PM	#21
bamajoey Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pensacola Contributor Posts: 1,260	Re: gun rest Oh heck, you shouldn't have bought that Caldwell. cpttango30 has seen about 10 of them and they were all junk.

09-23-2012, 04:52 PM	#22
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,320	Re: gun rest I just use 20 dollar winchester brand sandbags from walmart. The key is a sturdy bench and good fundamentals. My bench is a wooden bench i built myself. concreted into the ground and a sturdy wooden stool. and a couple wooden trays for setting under the bags to get the right height or angle for shooting different ranges. Attached Images __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

09-23-2012, 04:53 PM	#23
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,320	Re: gun rest and some more.. All shot from the very setup i described above some shot with handguns and others with rifles. Attached Images __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

09-23-2012, 08:14 PM	#24
permafrost Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oklahoma, USA Contributor Posts: 1,771	Re: gun rest I use the rest like gun runner showed also. But mostly I use unfilled Caldwell bags filled with the cheap 20 lb bags of rice from walmart. Sand tends to leak and get into stuff. The rice is lighter, doesn't leak and still holds its shape when used at the bench. Put some of those little moisture dessicant packs in with it and it works fine. __________________ Stand and Fight Last edited by permafrost; 09-23-2012 at 08:16 PM..

09-23-2012, 08:18 PM	#25
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,320	Re: gun rest The winchester bags i use are filled with extruded nylon polymer pellets. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!