sighting in with a bench rest

[Bill Allen]

I have been using sandbags to sight my rifles in at the range but I am sure that a suitable bench rest would make the job much more accurate as well as easier and quicker. What rests do you guys use?

[Evan03]

sand bags or bipods

normaly i site in laying on the ground with bipods, just like in a shooting position on game.

[Jack]

After 40 years of using sandbags and whatever rest was at the range, I splurged for a benchrest front rest.
www.sinclairintl.com has a bunch of models. Cost a fortune, but the thing is great!

[Bill Allen]

WOW, JACK!!! Those rests really are expensive! Do you think that having only a front rest is the way to go? I was kind of leaning towards the ones that cradle the whole gun, but I don't have any experience with any of them.

Evan, I hadn't thought of a bi-pod. Does that work pretty well?

[srab]

Bill>>

I'm no competitive shooter, but I do shoot often. I'm into
reloading for my rifles, my dad's rifles, and, not uncommonly,
for friends' rifles [who are interested in a more accurate
load].

I've tried a number of different rests, including the ones that
cradle the whole rifle. For me, nothing beats a good,
solid, tripod, metal-based front rest topped with a sand
bag, combined with a rabbit-eared rear sand bag rest.
With the front rest, it is easy to crank an adjustment for
elevation. With the rabbit ears, gently squeezed by my
non-shooting hand, it's easy to fine-tune the rifle position
to bring those cross-hairs right on target.

That said, there are less-expensive front rests available.
Midway offers one made of aluminum, from Caldwell, for
$75 (without bag). Hoppe's also makes one, which you
can also get through Midway, for $52. I've used both,
but I prefer the Caldwell. Since neither are iron, they
are significantly lighter, and therefore, probably a little
less stable than the more expensive rests. They are
probably more fragile, too, but I've not yet dropped one,
and hope not to, so I don't know how they'd hold up.

To offset the lighter weight, I add #9 lead shot to the
front sand bag and to the base of the rear sand bag,
(probably illegal for competitive shooting, but a non-issue
for me).

I've practiced with Harris bipods as well, which I'd strongly
recommend. I use these regularly when hunting, so I
like to be comfortable while shooting with them. But,
I don't use them when fine-tuning a load because I
don't believe that a bipod is as stable or repeatable
a platform as the afore-mentioned rests.

Anyhow, that's my take on the subject.

[Bill Allen]

SRAB, You now have me thinking about using the tripod. I am really only interested in functionality and price doesn't really enter into the picture. I figure it is a one time expense so I am looking for what will work the best for me and not a "deal". I hadn't considered the tripod previously, but I am now. Thanks...

[Jack]

I shoot from the bench just as srab has described- front rest and rear rabbit ear bag.
Have used the Hoppe's, but not the Caldwell. Didn't think much of the Hoppe's, personally- maybe better than sandbags, but not much, IMO.
The Harris bipods are excellent in the field, and not bad at the bench, either.

[MarkL]

I have the Caldwell/Midway product and I think it's just fine. There's a gross adjustment for raising/lowering the main ram. Each foot also has a screw adjustment. By turning the one closest to you, very fine elevation adjustments are possible.

What I wish I had was some kind of fine windage adjustment. You can get front rests with that, but they're awfully expensive. I've been trying to think of something to put under the rear bag with some kind of screw adjustment. Anybody know of such a thing?

[Andy L]

When I go to the gunclub, with concrete benches, I use a front rest and a bag under the back, I can pinch in different directions to get the gun steadied with no help from my hands on the gun.

At home on my little range, I use the tailgate of my truck. Just drop the tailgate and sit on a bucket or cooler. Use a big bag in front and small bag in rear. They can both be manipulated in various ways and shoot just as well as the front rest. Just takes a little patience to find the right combo each way.

The tailgate bench works very well though.....

Andy

psssst. (Be sure to use hearing protection. It does echo pretty good out of the bed of the pickup. )

[Cal Sibley]

I've been using a Hart Varmint rest for quite a few years. It's very heavy which I like. I put a Sinclair side-adjustable top on it
and use the Protektor double bottom rear bag. This is about as good as I can get without going to a full benchrest rig. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[Bill Allen]

I haven't used front rests before. How handy is the windage feature? It seems to me that with the elevation adjustment on the front rest and a bag at the rear, a windage adjustment would not be necessary. Am I thinking right, or do I need the windage adjustment feature? I will be using the rest to sight in my guns.

I am considering the Hart and the Sinclair rests. I am trying to narrow it down to which one would work the best in my situation.

[Jack]

Bill, I have the windage top on my rest. I only use it constantly.

[Bill Allen]

So, I need the windage feature. Suggest some exact models for me. Which rest do you recommend, Jack? SRAB, if you read this, which Sinclair rest do you think I would need? They have several models. Cal, I didn't see the Varmint rest being offered on Hart's site. Which current model do you think would work best?