Author Topic: Bench Rest/Shooting Rest need advice on what to look for.  (Read 1210 times)

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Offline shoots4fun

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Bench Rest/Shooting Rest need advice on what to look for.
« on: August 22, 2005, 05:27:00 AM »
I'm wanting to buy a bench rest/shooting rest and would like some experienced user input.  I'm hoping I can find one rest that will work for rimfire, centerfire and shotgun.  My young boys will be using it as well and don't know if that would matter in a particular model as well.

Rod

Offline Jose Grande

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Bench Rest/Shooting Rest need advice on wha
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2005, 07:57:08 PM »
I use regular old sandbags but there are very nice leather rests out there with metal adjustments that work very well. It sorts depends on exactly what you will be doing. Some of the other guys on here will doubtless chime in & tell you about some real good equipment you can buy to suit your purpose.
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Offline PJ Smyth

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Bench Rest
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2005, 02:33:16 AM »
Are you planing to compete or use it for sighting in and the like. If you plan to compete buy a Farley they are the best I Have seen  Sinclairs have some to but not in the farley Class You will find then at benchrest.com regards Phill

Offline coopershooter

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Bench Rest/Shooting Rest need advice on wha
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2005, 03:32:02 AM »
when i started shooting small bore bench rest, i shopped around and decided that the wichita was the best for the money. i think i paid just over one hundred dollars for mine. i have used cheaper rests. and i have used more expensive ones. hart, sinclair, bald eagle.
  its my opinion, that the wichita is the cheapest rest that will compete with the big boys! you will notice a big diffrence from the sand bag set up that most of us started on. repetable, is the key word! you will need to buy a frong sand bag that fits the rest, and the type of fore arm your shooting off of it. and you will need a good rear bag. spend the money one time and they will last a life time. dont put cheap bags on a good rest!
  if match accuracy is what your after, dont waste money on plastic or cast aluminum, get a heavy cast iron rest!
  also the type that holds the whole rifle are not great for cutting edge accuracy! and you cant compete with them.
  try to shoot off of someones bench rest set up at the range. listen to how they tell you to get set up, it's awkward at first but you will notice your groups will be easier to keep tight than when you shoot off of sand bags.
 good luck!

Offline cal sibley

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Bench Rest/Shooting Rest need advice on wha
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2005, 11:21:29 AM »
I use a Hart Varmint rest (very heavy) with an adjustable Sinclair top.  You can adjust the sides on the Sinclair to get a nice snug fit, and the weight of the Hart rest will assure stabiity.  You won't need a front sand bag as it's built into the Sinclair top.  I think I'd suggest a double bottom Protecktor rear bag for firmness.  Rifle rests don't change too much.  You might find a good Harts rest at a gun show.  Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal
RIP Cal you are missed by many.

Offline cal sibley

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Bench Rest/Shooting Rest need advice on wha
« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2005, 01:02:08 PM »
Many of the front end rests also come with a forend stop which some shooters like, some don't. The stop consists of a rubber covered bumper that limits how far forward the rifle forend can go.  The idea is it helps to return the rifle to the same position for each shot.  You might want to consider removing the stock swivels before shooting from a bench rest.
Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal
RIP Cal you are missed by many.