Best rifle rest for the range

[Jon54]

My family gave me a membership to our local gun club for Christmas. I've not been able to use it yet because of tax season. Well that ends tomorrow!!!

I need some sort of gun rest to sight in my rifles and I'm looking for suggestions. I've got everything from a 22 to 7 mag.

 

[TNRifleman]

Personally I would stay away from any that have recoil suppression. I use a Caldwell front rest that is adjustable and/or sandbags. I always want the gun on my shoulder and with a cheek weld that is the same when I am hunting.

 

[MUP]

I agree with TNR. I have been using a cheap little rest from sportsmansguide that utilizes a little sand bag on the front and a u groove support in the back, with an elevation adj knob. I think they sell for less than $20 now.

 

[DaveB]

The shooting rests retail from around 209 bucks up to the ones with micrometer adjustments.

This is a nice one
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... armint-Bag

and here is a wide selection. The Shooters Ridge stuff looks good.
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/D ... acc-point-

 

[EastTNHunter]

I make sand bags out of old pants legs and play sand. Rear squeeze bag is a sock and airsoft pellets. Never liked the lead sled or mechanical rests, plus I save money

 

[Stykbow]

I make sand bags out of old pants legs and play sand. Rear squeeze bag is a sock and airsoft pellets. Never liked the lead sled or mechanical rests, plus I save money

I do the same thing.

 

[280longshot]

Personally I would stay away from any that have recoil suppression. I use a Caldwell front rest that is adjustable and/or sandbags. I always want the gun on my shoulder and with a cheek weld that is the same when I am hunting.

There's your answer!
Personally I've seen so many people shooting from a recoil suppression rest only to shake my head and wonder how far off they'll be when they shoot from a normal situation.

 

[smalljawbasser]

Caldwell Rock br and a rear bag is a good setup.

 

[7mm08]

Caldwell up front and a wool sock filled with rice for the rear. You can make fine adjustments with just a little squeeze AND IF you get hungry.........

 

[Deer Assassin]

sand bags

leather sand filled rabbit ear rear rest

 

[MUP]

Is it cheap, yes. Does it work, yes.

 

[mr.big]

my front rest and rear bag progress over the last 5-6 years,,it just depends on how much you want to spend to get where you want to be,

the SEB is considered the best by most people though lots of people prefere the Hart /Sinclair type pedestal rests,,I am using a Farley Co-ax II now with a Protector Dr. Flattop rear bag with heavy sand,,Farley front rest is about 28 lbs and the Dr rear bag weighs about 30,,

 

[Bad habit]

I am running the exact same setup as in Mr. Big's 5th picture. Hart rest. Bald Eagle rear bags. It is miles ahead of the little Hoppes rest I used to use which is still better than nothing. Had mine 25 years now...

 

[Hunter 257W]

I mostly use sand filled leather bags. I also have the large size "Bulls Bag" but have not used it as much since while it does squeeze the forearm and hold the rifle steady, I find that I'm always fighting it to adjust the crosshairs a bit before a shot. I also have a Caldwell Rock but since I find myself shooting off the hood of my truck at various places on the farm, the little pointed feet on the Rock aren't acceptable even on my truck as rough as the paint job is. One comment about The Rock is that mine was definitely a mistake that got past the Quality inspector. One of the threaded holes for the pointed feet had half the threads drilled out with an oversized drill. Also the main shaft holding the rest is either bent or the top machined surface of the base is not perpendicular to the centerline of the hole because when you turn the shaft to adjust the rest height, it will make you drunk to watch it dancing around like a hula dancer. Once adjusted it's as steady as if these problems didn't exist so I just use it "as-is" when I do use it. Not sure how many Caldwell let out like this one as I've never heard of anybody else getting one like this.

 

[TraumaSlave]

Old school shot bags, the cloth ones, filled with saw dust. Much lighter than sand.

 

[Dover_Mike]

I have a Caldwell Rock BR, works good but most of the time I shoot bipods and sandbags

 

[gustaf]

I prefer bag-type rests because I believe the mechanical rests remove the shooter too much from the process, and are used as a crutch by people not wanting to work at their bench technique. If you are recoil shy, use a PAST pad or make a thin bag and place it between the rifle butt and your shoulder.