Using a Gun Rest
I am going to get a gun rest to sit on the picnic table on my deck so I can sight in the scopes on my rifles. I have what may be a silly question. On some, the rear support works like a vise and can tighten up on the stock. I am going to sight in at 100 yards. Should I tighten the rear vise down on the stock or leave it loose? I don't want to damage the guns during recoil. I will be shooting all the way from .22lr up to 7.62x39's, 30-30's and a 30x06.
Don't worry about me sighting in off my deck. I live 25 miles from town and have a 320 acre private range. Thanks a lot.
Mike S.
Don't worry about me sighting in off my deck. I live 25 miles from town and have a 320 acre private range. Thanks a lot.
Mike S.
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The key to good shooting, starts with a good solid bench, and I don't mean pic-nic table. One that lets the shooter sit upright, with the gun in contoured SAND BAGS(I use a good rear bag, and a tri-pod style, adjustable bench rest with a bag on top). If you are talking about the Lead Sleds, I don't believe in them, and most serious shooter's don't either. You can sight a gun in using them, then when you shoot it from a good field rest, it can be substantially off, as it does not let the gun naturally recoil. Plus, with the Lead Sleds, if you have a highly figured, well grained stock(usually very expensive, too), you can split it with the Lead Sled's use.
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What you are describing is a rifle holder, not a gun rest for shooting. It is used to securely hold the rifle while working on it, e.g., mounting a scope. For sighting-in all you need is some sort of a solid rest (sandbag) to rest the forend on. No, you do not lock the buttstock into anything. You can also rest the buttstock on something if that helps to steady the rifle. Beside the traditional sandbag, you can make a wood rest covered with thick carpet. 0 -
I use a Lead Sled for my ammo tests and sight-ins. I load it with 100# of lead and it doesn't hardly move. I like that method because most of the time with good scopes, I can shoot one shot. Then, put the crosshairs back on the bullseye. Once it is there, without moving the gun, move the crosshairs until it is centered on the bullet hole. Your next shot should be dead on.
That said, once a person is sighted in and ammo chosen, then nothing beats practical practice in the methods used when normally using the gun (standing, kneeling, and prone for hunting, sand bags, etc for target).0 -
Agree with TSR completely. Same way I have alway sighted in. Have spoken to a couple of people at the range who have used the led sled and resulted in cracked stocks, even with smaller calibers. The recoil has to be absorbed somewhere, either by you or your guns stock. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by msmalley1227
I am going to get a gun rest to sit on the picnic table on my deck so I can sight in the scopes on my rifles. I have what may be a silly question. On some, the rear support works like a vise and can tighten up on the stock. I am going to sight in at 100 yards. Should I tighten the rear vise down on the stock or leave it loose? I don't want to damage the guns during recoil. I will be shooting all the way from .22lr up to 7.62x39's, 30-30's and a 30x06.
Don't worry about me sighting in off my deck. I live 25 miles from town and have a 320 acre private range. Thanks a lot.
Mike S.
As mentioned, you may be describing is a gun vise, designed to hold guns in place during cleaning or gunsmithing.
While some of these are described as "dual use" (for holding gun and shooting gun) the basic ones really aren't meant for shooting guns off of. I think if you want something SOLELY for use as a shooting rest, you're better off buying something designed specifically for that purpose.
Note that even with the gunsmithing type vises, you can still use them to hold the gun in place while you peer through the open barrel to "barrel sight" (or "bore sight") it onto the paper. That's a good first step, but again, its different than actually shooting the gun.
If you ARE going to use one of these to sight in I would advise NOT tightening down the rear vise part, because I do think there is a real risk of damaging the gun, vise, or both.
Ideally, what you want is a SHOOTING rest. There are plenty of them out there at different price points, with different features (ie ones you sit in, "lead sleds" that you can load with weight to reduce recoil, etc). Most of these do NOT offer the ability to clamp the stock in place.
Alternatively, there is nothing wrong with shooting off the old tried and true sandbags, and if this is really a picnic table you intend to also EAT off of from time to time, you may find that the easiest simplest solution. There are commercial lead shot filled bags you can buy that are a little nicer to look at and may have "V" shaped cradles to hold your gun snugly that will do the same thing,0 -
quote:Originally posted by bambihunter
I use a Lead Sled for my ammo tests and sight-ins. I load it with 100# of lead and it doesn't hardly move. I like that method because most of the time with good scopes, I can shoot one shot. Then, put the crosshairs back on the bullseye. Once it is there, without moving the gun, move the crosshairs until it is centered on the bullet hole. Your next shot should be dead on.
That said, once a person is sighted in and ammo chosen, then nothing beats practical practice in the methods used when normally using the gun (standing, kneeling, and prone for hunting, sand bags, etc for target).
I've heard more than 1 report of buttstocks breaking as a result of heavy recoil combined with a lead-sled than allowed no movement. This may or may not have happened to you, but it's something to consider...0 -
Try these bags you will love them. A local older guy makes them from his house. Also make sure you shoot your gun off hand or however you will be shooting it in the field as some guns shoot differently in different positions.
http://dog-gone-good.com/0
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