Bench rests

[Magnum]

I have a Caldwell plastic rest which I thought  worked  ok and a $20  bag rest.. until I tried Tcups big heavy front rest!! now i need/want something better:)  Since looking I have seen too many choices tables rests etc.. Iam thinking I need a rest possibly to use as front or front and rear combo :)  What do all you bench experts suggest I should do any thoughts  on this subject is welcome , Tony.

[TCups]

Tony:

I significantly improved the performance of my smaller Shooter's Ridge rest by doing two things.  First, I rotated the metal plate holding the leather bags so that it was at right angles to the rearward facing leg of the tripod.  Loosen the set screw and whack the head of the rest with a 2x4.  Second, I apply talcum powder to the rest every time I shoot.  I think Natches Shooters Supply has these on sale now for $50 bucks.  The rear bags aren't much use for shooting air rifles, but a  solid rear bag can sure help when you want to sight in a scope.  

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=SE40874

[ac12basis]

Generally the rear sandbag won't be very good for springers, cuz you want the rifle to recoil and vibrate naturally, and the rear sandbag won't let it do that.  Now if all you are going to do is shoot off a rest, then it is OK to use a rear sandbag.  Switch to SSP, CO2 or CA/PCP the the rear bag is OK to use.

As for the rest itself.  All it needs to be is STEADY.  If a plastic rest w a sandbag is steady, then that is OK.  You can always put lead shot into the front sandbag, and that will add mass to the front rest to steady it up.

[JQR]

I have 3.

I bought a leather bag with the weighted side flaps thinking I could slip it over the fence rail or a 2x4 on edge... I was wrong. But I did find that an old scissors style car jack makes an infinitely adjustable rest that these bags slip over quite nicely. Not the most stable rest though. I just leave it with my overbuilt too heavy to carry around duct seal trap back in the woods at dads. So - this would be the one I'm using to shoot the 30y Non-PCP Bench Match. Little fuzzy but you can see it here.


I picked a cheap long one on sale a t Dick's. If I swing the leg to the right I can use the front as a rest. I like this one best as I can just leave the rifle on it during breaks. There is NO weight to this one at all but it is very stable.


I also have one similar to TCups' that I use the same way except that I've been using a small piece of fleece between the gun and pad instead of powder. I think my results are about the same between this and the long one above, but the long adds an easy plce to sit the rifle down.

And I suppose that my bipods count as a front rest for my AF rifles. They are not as good as a seperate rests, too easy to induce twisting forces to the frame but I use them anyway.

[Gene_SC]

Since I have built a deck on the back side of my house I love shooting from there. It is flat and now very stable since I have put more supports under it. I have built several shooting rests in the past years but finally have one that suites me fine. It is not as portable as the what Tommy has but for my shooting here at the house it worked great for me. It is adjustable up and down and it can turn 360 degrees if need be. I built several of these tables and ended up with one that fits me just fine..:)

[Magnum]

Many thanks to ALL  for some great suggestions and ideas:) Your experience has really helped me out, Tony.