Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Shooting rest for load testing…..what’s working for you?

In the market for a new rest for bench work. The rests I have now are not satisfactory for me at this point. Recently bought the Lyman “bag Jack” rest with the scissor mechanism to raise and lower…..about as unstable as it gets.

Thinking maybe a Sinclair benchrest style lightweight rest or something similar.

Any thoughts or comments? Thanks in advance!

I've been using a cast aluminum Bald Eagle rest and a sand filled bunny bag for about twenty years. The combination is not light, but is very stable.

Best deal around

https://www.grizzly.com/products/bald-eagle-triangle-plain-rest-aluminum/be1128

Or 2nd

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015040838?pid=348661

I've been using a Sinclair Lightweight bench rest for a number of years. It works fine for my purposes, although a heaver version would be a bit more stable if you want the best possible accuracy.

I use my lead sled with no weight to get close, double check off rest and bags.

You might have missed, Powdr started a thread a few weeks back, "Rifle rest for accuracy" here in the Gunwriters section.

When I was broke I made mine in the fab shop and added the Protector top, I enjoyed a Sinclair cast steel and a Grizzly cast steel but I removed the windage top..

Midway had the Caldwell Benchrest for $109 before Christmas which is fine for working up loads for my current needs.

A flat bottom rear bag that doesn't roll and wallow and Protector top bags have been a constant for me.

I've been loving life since I acquired a Sinclair years ago.

Lots of sand bags

I was going to start a thread, but this may do, without hi-jacking (Maybe).
If once a load is found using a certain rest - will that "sweet" load hold upon changing rests? I realize POI may differ. But will the load differ much?
Hunting loads developed using sand or bipod, vs backpack or sticks in the field.

Thanks

Sinclair front rest and bunny ear rear bag

What are you using to fill your bags? I’ve been using regular sand and it seems to absorb water and get way too heavy. Anything cheap and may be available locally?

sinclair and Hart rests hard to beat

i use the earth. it's fairly stable

Boy am I a cheap ass....

A bipod and a sand bag seems to work just fine for me....

I have a Hart left to me by my brother. Heavy bugger, but solid. Just replaced the cheap rear bags I was trying to use with good, pre-filled Protektors. Makes a huge difference. Those Beany Babie lightweights don’t cut it. Tried a Lyman knock-off of a Bull Bag, and it’s unevenly filled, so the rifle won’t sit squarely.

I see people strugggling at the range all the time with cheap rests, no spotters, flimsy targets, and no stapler. They travel for an hour or more to get there, and then don’t have what they need to enjoy themselves.

This, and a rear bunny ear bag. You've got to really try to screw it up.

https://www.championtarget.com/all-products-2/gorilla-range-bag/CH-40467.html

Hart pedestal rest with leather Protektor 1 1/2" front bag; leather Protektor bunny bag for back rest.

That's is a buy right there....they look a little different than the Bald Eagle rest I had.

Still a good deal.

Something damn handy & helpful on sporter rifles when using a bench rest type rest is a fore end adapter. Take the fore end to a flat, slick 3" wide surface that rides the front bag well. They mount using the front sling swivel threads.

Sinclair used to sell a couple versions, or they can be easily made.

Sinclair heavy varmint rest ~ 300.00 - 400.00 , now can’t go cheap so Edgewood front and rear bags ~300.00. Rear speed screw ~ 70 - 80.00. Forearm adapter 40.00

Or go whole hog and junk the varmint rest and get the competition rest @ 659.00.

So if going option 1, 800.00 and you are guaranteed to reduce the groups out of any rifle by 50 - 60%
Option 2, ~1100.00 you are guaranteed group reduction out of any rifle by 70 - 80 %

In other words 800 buys you guaranteed 1/2” groups out of any rifle. 1100 gets you guaranteed ~ .1 or better out of any rifle. 😳