Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Favorite rest for sighting in a rifle

Hart seems to be popular here too.

Back pack.

actually I was looking at 1 of these in the A/P version. 30 lbs.

http://www.brownells.com/shooting-a...competition-shooting-rest-prod39322.aspx

Or maybe this ifin I wanted to go cheap.

http://www.bullets.com/products/Triangle-Windage-Rest-Cast-Iron/BE1153

One of the best responses to the OP. Hart for me too, with interchangeable tops because I am lazy as well as fussy.

For the past couple of years I have been a range officer at our local range. I am amazed at the number of "serious" shooters who invest considerable time and money "testing", but IMO achieving suboptimal results because their technique is deficient even if they have decent equipment. Poor choice of rest(s) and how they are used is a major culprit. Gimmicky rests, even expensive ones, seldom work as advertised.

The dynamics of a light-for-power hunting rifle vs. a typical benchrest rifle are distinctly different. A big game rifle with a synthetic stock free floated will bounce clear off a hard packed front bag like benchresters use. Wrap around forearm checkering will kill your groups too, not to mention a sling swivel stud. A simple expedient like a plastic baggie between stock and the rest can improve groups significantly.

Paul

I posted this on another forum but am wondering about the Caldwell NXT rest. I have to shoot left handed rifles now since losing the vision in my right eye and at 78 I am not the sight in shot I use to be. Have a lead sled that the Daughter and Granddaughter use when shooting the bigger guns and I also have some bag rests. Just thought this would be easy to use at the range. Is it OK or a piece of junk? Price seems pretty reasonable.

Lead sled. I buy mine used from ingwe.

Sleeping bag on a pickup hood.

ingwe showed me that. I prefer the 'sled.

Sleds are pretty classy, especially if Ingwe autographed them.

He didn't autograph mine, but he did put it through his "break-in procedure" for lead sleds, which is maybe even better.

That makes Bobby Hart smile.

smokepole,

I would be interested in hearing all about that, because I have always been interested in breaking-in my gear "properly." I keep hearing about "proper" break-in on the Internet, and am always eager to learn.

I switched from a metal front rest when a rifle jumped off of it from recoil and hit it's stock on a sharp corner. It's a Sinclair. Any metal front rest would damage a rifle that hit it.

Now I use a large soft bag as shown covered with a soft towel and a leather rear.

ingwe has a youtube video, PM him, it's great!!

For years I used a variety of different bags. I recently bought a Caldwell Full Length Fire Control Shooting Rest and prefer it. I get rifles sighted in much faster using less ammo.

....remember, always treat your stuff with love and respect. Identify the proper harmonic ossilations and you're there..

Does Bed, Bath and Beyond have them in stock or will I need to order one of those...?

You know Bobby ?

I've found the more shiet one has to lug out to shoot lessens the amount of shooting one does.

My experience was exactly the same.

I'm not a fan of any of the one piece the fore-and-aft rest setups, but some favor them.

My absolute last choice would be a one piece light plastic rest.

Especially if cost is a concern, the traditional shot bag filled with sand works pretty darned well, at the expense of weight and convenience. For a softer rest the bag can be filled with beans, kitty litter, or whatever. Combined with a commercial bunny ear rear bag, you would be well set for sighting in, i.e. anything but serious benchrest work, at minimal cost, just like in the photo.

Paul