Rifle Rest
I have been thinking of buying a rifle rest for sighting in and ammo testing. I would appreciate any thoughts on the top models, and what attributes a good rest should have.
He DogWhen only the police have guns, it is a police state.
He DogWhen only the police have guns, it is a police state.
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A search showed it's been over a year since the question was asked on which is the best rifle rest, so I thought I would bring it up again.
I am looking for the best rifle rest to be used for three purposes: sighting in scopes, cleaning / breaking in barrels, and for first shot by first time rifle shooters.
The previous topic only had one reply, suggesting the Bench Master gun rest was the best. Still true?
Ken0 -
The best rest for shooting is in no way the best for cleaning, and visa-versa. The best shooting rets are the mechanical types, with windage and elevation adjustments.
i.e. Hart, Sinclair, Bald eagle
The best for cleaning are actually the cradle type in which the rifle sits with it's barrel at a downward angle so that any solvents will run toward the muzzel and not into the trigger mechanism or bedding material, which will soften it.
A good all around rest I use in the field and at home is an Uncle Buds Bull Bag filled with sand. I use the 15" long, bench model. A well spent $50. It works quite nicely for shooting and for cradleing a rifle that you are working on (within reason). HTH
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?0 -
A nice setup that you can use for all you mentioned is a Harris bi-pod on the front and an Accu-shot on the rear sling stud and you have a rock solid shooting and cleaning platform.
Just my 2 cents worth.0 -
I have two of the orange Hoppe's Expert bench rests with the suede front and rear bags that do a good job for shooting off the bench. Not competition quality but good enough for me.
I have not come up with a dedicated cleaning set up yet. That needs to be my next project. I normally take the action out of the stock.
mag0 -
Justc, not the original point of the posting, but I am also trying to figure out which of the three front rests you mention to buy. The Bald Eagle is 20 lbs in iron, the Hart is about 11 lbs, and the Sinclair catalog doesn't give a weight for their rest. Any of the three with windage top are in the $300 range. So what's the next diferentiator to help make my decision?
P.S. What's with the "heavy" sand that folks are trying to sell with their bags for $15 for 15 pounds? Can I get the equivalent some place locally?
Ken0 -
And speaking of Harris bipods... Need to get some for my Remington 700 rifle. But, whats the difference between all the models? Most places seem to be just selling the S model now, but that given there is still the choice between 6-9", 6-9" benchrest, with and without notches, 9-13" in swivel, no swivel, notches, no notches. What is a notch anyway? 0 -
quote:What's with the "heavy" sand that folks are trying to sell with their bags for $15 for 15 pounds? Can I get the equivalent some place locally?
Go to a graden center and get a bag of play sand. It will probably be wet so dry it out real good before you load you bags.
Bags will be plenty heavy enough. My 2 bags are about a total of 10#.
Amphibious Squadron 7
Mission....Assault0 -
I would guess preference would be the selling point. My friend who competes heavily in the 1000yd matches wants to switch from his rest to the Bald eagle model with the curved front legs (rather than the 3 straight legs) he hears from the guys on the circuit that they work very well. The heavy sand will help to keep your bags and rest stable during recoil. Also, they can help to keep your rear bags from moving as much while the stock "tracks" and you can regain target picture faster.
My next rest investment will be the Bald eagle I mentioned, with the windage adjustable top. Some like to click to the x-ring under certain wind conditions, and others like to use the rest top adjustment, which can be finer than 1/4 or 1/8moa adjustments from the scope. I am not experienced enough in the competitions to make a definitive statement on which way is better or better for me, but all things being equal, I would rather have the top and not need it, than need it and not have it.
The sinclair or hart will serve you well. I have shot off of the sinclair and it is a very nice rest as well. If you can find one used for a good price, without the top, you can buy a Ron Hoen (sp) top which is a very nice adjustable top as well. I have been researching them quite a bit lately, and shooting off as many different rests as I can, so that I am sure of my purchase. For the last 5 yrs or so, I have been shooting off of an Uncle Buds bull bag with a protector rabbit ear rear bag, and that has been a great field set-up which provides a nice sight in and long range shooting platform.
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?0 -
For the kind of use you describe the Lohman rest would be good. It clamps onto the mid part of the stock and will hold the rifle pretty solid. It also has a hollow base which can be filled with lead shot to add weight (cuts down recoil). I use mine when working up loads in heavy kickers and bore sighting. There a magnum model with more clamping surface and that's the one I'd get next time.
Mobuck0 -
Lohman Site vice magnum model.
Sand. Most limber yards carry sand blasting sand. Normaly in corse, Medium, And fine. Fine works best for me when I wont to pack a bag very tight For bench rest. My truck bags are packed with corse for quick conforming. All blasting sand will be dry. So it won't clog blaster. About $3 for 90 Lbs.
The most important things, Are not things.0 -
I can't recall exactly what the "notched" bipod's are from Harris. I have an old ~11" model, a BR model that I use with the accu-shot, and the 25C-S model that I used to carry varmit hunting. It is very handy as it weighs only slightly more than my ~11" model, but will go that extra bit higher that will allow me to shoot over tall grass when required. Retracted it is a little over 13" tall, that is great for prone work in most situations.
Harris (IMHO) has the best quality bipods bar-none. Others have neat features and other "claims to fame", but after trying most of them Harris is the only thing hanging on the front of my rifles.
A good shooting bench would be the only other alternative to me. If you weld, you can custom make your own for 1/3 the price of what the cost. My brother-in-law made a real nice one, but they just aren't practical for me to lug around.0 -
The difference in the Harris bipods with the notch is that the legs have notches at various intervals to adjust the highth. The original Harris had a system where you pulled the legs out and twisted a small dial to lock the leg in place. This was excellent because you could decide EXACTLY where you wanted the legs. Of course you can just pull the legs out all the way and they locked automatically. I don't care for the swivel type they make, but thats just me, there is nothing wrong with them. Harris is by far the best, anything else is a waste.
"SOCIETY PREPARES THE CRIME, THE CRIMINAL COMMITS IT"0
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