Author Topic: Rifle Rest (Read 1284 times)

handirifle · « **on:** June 15, 2004, 05:49:47 PM »

Here are some pics of my rest. It's about 90% finished. I still need to add the adjustable legs, and front and rear stock supports. I will not be placing a pad (maybe a thin foam pad) since that is something you can supply to your personal taste.

There are 5 pictures. In fully open position it is 28" from rear rest to front. Overal length at that point is 32". In fully compressed mode it measures only 21" long. I forgot to measure how much it raises but I am guessing at this point about 7". Adjustment is done at one point, once leveled, and can be done with one finger (as seen in pic.).

It will have 3 legs and all three will be adjustable for height about 1" in front, mostly to level it. It will have about 2" in rear.

Question for those that have something similar. How high is the rear rest setting where the rifle stock touches the support?

It weighs approx 5lbs and will be painted. If someone wants powder coating it will cost extra. As I promised I'll sell for $55 plus shipping, guessing about $15. I'm not making any money on labor, just a little over material costs at this point.

I do believe this design could be adapted to sit on its own 3 legs free standing for those with no bench.

handirifle · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2004, 05:57:29 PM »

Finally!

handirifle · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2004, 06:16:27 PM »

Also my welds have not all been cleaned up yet on this one.

mag41vance · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2004, 12:26:50 AM »

Looking good.

lik2hunt · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2004, 01:54:29 AM »

That looks pretty good so far. Post some more pics after ya get the legs and front and rear supports on. Looks like just the sort of thing I've been looking for.

stuffit · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2004, 02:27:47 AM »

Good progress. My interest remains keen. Am eagerly awaiting .jpgs of the finished project. Your projected charges seem reasonable.

stuffit

Wlscott · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2004, 03:47:54 AM »

Looks good handi. I'm still interested too, so keep us posted on your progress.

handirifle · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2004, 05:03:04 AM »

Thanks to all. Will keep you updated.

Anyone interested in the free standing idea? That one I'll work on next if there is interest. That model will cost a bit more, something in the $75 to $90 range. Just a guess at this point, but it will be a total free standing system. You would need a chair or stool of some sort. If you have a ways to go maybe a fold up three legged stool. In my mind I see this thing being adjustable from about 24" to 42" height. The legs will be removable to store for packing and easily assembled in the field, no tools required.

marlinman93 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2004, 05:21:40 PM »

Just one small suggestion. Put a wingnut on the threaded shaft, so that once it's adjusted, it can be locked in place, keeping the adjustment from changing while shooting.
Looks very good to me so far!

handirifle · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2004, 06:57:36 PM »

Marlinman
That thought has crossed my mind many times. Was wondering where to put it and have decided to put it between the handle and the first bracket.

handirifle · « **Reply #10 on:** June 16, 2004, 07:05:02 PM »

One more item. I'll not post any more info regarding sales so if interested PM me and we can talk that way. Got deleted from another board for "commercial selling" without paying, didn't realize I was breaking a rule. No problem, rules are rules and I don't want this one to go away.

I'll post pics of the finished product soon, probably this weekend. I don't really consider this a commercial venture, cause if I was trying to make money as a business, I'd charge more. I guess technically it is, but I just want to give someone a good product for a fair price. I know I'll never pay $150 for a rifle rest, no way.

If I factor in even a modest labor rate, I'm losing a lot of money, but to me my time is a donation to the "cause" of keeping shooting friends, shooting!

handirifle · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2004, 09:08:01 AM »

This a copied from another forum (a predator hunting forum, not Graybeards) and wanted to share it with you. I posted it and it will apply here too. I do NOT wish to get into any beefs with Graybeards, since I feel this is the best forum out there. That is why I brought it here too. I will still get PM's here, but I'll not sell from this site or any other. Too many people get their panties in a wad over it. Again, Graybeards has NOT done or said any of this to me, yet, and I don't want it to get to that point. I enjoy posting here too much to jepordize that and cannot afford to pay to advertise it. I never intended to lose money, just hoped to break even. Sorry to all and I'll continue to help with ideas and share info if you're interested.

By the way, it's about 99% done. I need to make the adjustment legs and finish painting and I'm done.

*************************************************

Well I have given this MUCH thought. This idea started as a self project and developed into a way to help others get something for what it was really worth instead of an over inflated price. Basically helping friends and fellow varmint hunters by doing something at cost.

I've been advised by the moderators that my "project" turned commercial and was deleted because I didn't pay to advertise and it wasn't fair to those that do.

Just for the record, this was, and is not, nor will be a commercial venture. Consider the fact that there is about $30+ in parts, plus gas @ $2.30 a gallon for running around getting the parts, and about 5 hours to build the darn thing, it just isn't worth the hassle to have to pay $144 a year for.

I never dreamed of making ANY money on this, but I guess to the letter of the description of the word "commercial" it would have been.

Factor in the time it takes away from other home projects and I'm in the hole.

I have blocked myself from getting any PM's so they cannot think I'm backdooring this idea. I'm honest, if nothing else and am not trying to go around any rules. If they want to block me from doing "commercial business" without paying to advertise, that's fine with me.

I apologize to any of you to whom I got your hopes up, but please DO NOT ask me to build one for you, any ANY price. That is why I stopped my PM so no one thinks I'm putting up a front.

Unless the moderators feel threatened, I'll be happy to post pics of the project (that hopefully won't get deleted) and provide you with details, but I won't sell them. If I paid $12 a month to advertise, I'd go broke no matter how many I sold. Like I said, this was NOT about going into business, but rather to help others out.

If someone has a beef with me, I cannot be PM'd so post it on this board. I'm a man and I can take it. We can work it out in public, I have nothing to hide.

Will the moderators allow this post that disagrees with their thinking? We'll see. Wonder if the First Amendment applies any more?

****************************************

Again, sorry to all.

scruffy · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2004, 09:17:14 AM »

Hey, since you're not going into business and selling them, can you give me the one you're making. :-D

Just kidding. I hope to see the finished product. I have a new welder and access to leftover steel so hopefully I'll be using a project like this to get accustomed to my new welder. If it doesn't turn out like I want I'll cut it back apart and weld it back together again. Either that or make a bunch of boot scrapers or something for welding practice.

later,
scruffy

handirifle · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2004, 10:54:45 AM »

scruffy
Nice try!

Be glad to help any way I can. I'm re-learning welding. I make strong joints just not always pretty ones. That's what grinders are for :grin: .

Do yourself a favor and get a 4 1/2" grinder for the small jobs and a 7" for the big ones. Got mine on sale at Harbor Freight and they work great.

Mine uses 1 1/4"X1 1/4"X 1/8" and 1" X 1" X 1/8" steel tubing. I have lots of suggestions for the rest and will gladly help.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #14 on:** June 18, 2004, 11:10:00 AM »

Handirifle, not that I have the time but I do have the welder. A great little 110 volt mig welder I got a great deal on at Sears after someone brought it back new in the box, a gift he did not want I guess. I was the lucky one who was standing there when they put it out at a ridiculous price with an upgraded welding helmet and then threw in some extra tips and a roll of wire!!! Sooo, what were you considering to use on your design to hold the front and rear rests? Would you post a picture of the completed project? Thanks for all your work, your honesty and character....<><.... :grin:

scruffy · « **Reply #15 on:** June 18, 2004, 11:11:17 AM »

That Harbor Freight is a bad store for me. I can't walk out without buying something. The last time was left handed drill bits, used for turning out broken off bolts. If it was something I used all the time I'd go to Northern Tool or something and get a better set, but for the occasional use, you can't beat the price! I have their 7" grinder, I still need to get the 4" one.

I'm hopefully heading there this weekend. I have a "welding cart" I have setup but need rubber tires to put on it so it rolls through the yard easier. They made a world of difference on my big generator.

When I start on it and need some help I'll drop you a line. But I know how it'll go. My wifes cousin will drop over with no notice with a pickup full of scrap steel and we'll spend the next however many hours having him teach me to weld the right way (he does it for a living). He wants to teach me how to weld up deer stands so I can hang them all over my place and he can come hunt. Sounds good to me! :wink:

later,
scruffy

handirifle · « **Reply #16 on:** June 18, 2004, 11:57:00 AM »

Sounds like a good deal to me too. Do yourself a favor and pay the extra bit for their 4 1/2" grinder. Lots more stuff available for that size than the 4". I made that mistake myself.

I took a welding class in college about two centuries ago, that's why, re-learning.

I have a close co-worker and hunting buddy that's also a certified welder and I too get pointers from him. I hope to post the finished product pics tomorrow.

I'm also working on a trailer to pull off-road behind my Jeep. It will be a self contained camper and still can function as a utility trailer when needed. The body is about 5' X 5' with an extendable tounge for when I put my canoe on top of it. That way it tows better and doesn't hit the Jeep. The frame is done just need to put the "skin" on it.

marv · « **Reply #17 on:** June 18, 2004, 11:58:45 AM »

Don't get a 4" grinder ! Go ahead and get 4 1/2 " grinder and you want be sorry. 4 1/2 does a better job and you want make a mistake and pick up 4 1/2" discs. Marv.

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #18 on:** June 18, 2004, 12:04:45 PM »

Handi, have you tried contacting Greybeard himself and asking about this? Your price seems like a give away to me, and he might just let you sell them from here. He sure seems like a reasonable person to me, and he might surprise you. It's worth a try. As my Dad used to say, you already have a "no" asnwer, you just might get a "yes."

-WH-

handirifle · « **Reply #19 on:** June 18, 2004, 06:44:04 PM »

Winterhawk
No I haven't, just kinda assumed he might be the same way. I really didn't intend to have it go the way it did on the other site.

How do you get ahold oh him personally?