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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15718 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:46 pm Post subject: Your Shooting Rest |
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Saw Bushy's pics of his inexpensive, but effective, shooting rest in the Guns and Firearms section and thought..hey, why not start a new thread where we can all show off our shooting rest, and workmanship if we built it ourselves.
It don't matter if your have the latest and greatest, you beaut, all singin' and dancin' commercially made rest or something as simply as a backpack (which most of use make use of in the field). Take a pic and stick 'em here so that we can all have a look and maybe the beginners or learners in here can gain some insight and ideas to help improve their enjoyment of our sport.
Cheers, Vince
_________________ Cheers, Vince
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
(Without Commitment, Nothing Gets Done) |
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15718 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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I've seen and used a few commercially made rests and figured that I could make something similar, maybe not as flash, but certainly as effective. Consequently, I sat down, had a look at the bits and pieces I had lying around my shed, went out and bought a couple more bits, and came up with the rest below.
The threaded centre post is a piece of 5/8" threaded bar long enough to give me plenty of height adjustment. The three short threaded legs/feet are the same threaded bar, again long enough to give me enough adjustment for uneven surfaces. The centre nut that the thread bar goes through is simply a long nut that is used to join lengths of threaded bar (don't know the correct name for them). I also used these nuts for the adjustment of the three short legs/feet.
I used an ordinary nut with three short "handles" (1/4" rod) welded to it that acts as a lock nut on the centre threaded bar.
The support for the rifle is a piece of scrap steel (1/16" thick x 2 3/4" wide) that I bent to shape and welded to the top of the centre threaded bar.
The three main legs are made from some scrap 1/2" square tube that I saved for an "important job".
The bags for the rifle support on the rest and another for the butt are hand sewn from heavy canvas. Initially I filled them with wheat...not a good idea cause the bugs found out and had a feast (notice the tiny white marks where they burrowed in). They are now filled with sand, which is heavier and makes things more stable.
So that is my rest that I use at the range. Cheap...I reckon all up it cost me about $15...and it works a treat. When in the field I use a back pack if I need a rest.
Cheers, Vince
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_________________ Cheers, Vince
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
(Without Commitment, Nothing Gets Done) |
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Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11393 Location: Ava, Missouri
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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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A little better picture of my very simple rest made from scrap found around the house. It is fully adjustable by dowel and wedge. The rubber pad is replacable...
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_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
DEMOCRACY Two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for lunch...
LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
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gelandangan Super Member
Joined: May 07, 2006 Posts: 6398 Location: Sydney Australia
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:42 am Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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_________________ A straight line is the shortest distance between two points.
A smile is the shortest distance between two people.
Do - Not try!
gelandangan.weebly.com/ |
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SingleShotLover Super Member
Joined: Dec 26, 2007 Posts: 1005 Location: Illinois
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:31 am Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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I know that a lot of people use and enjoy the various types of rests and I certainly don't intend to try to tell them that they are wrong if they work for them, but I have never been able to get comfortable with them.
Rather than manufactured or purchased rests, I have always had the best luck with just plain "sandbags". I was lucky enough many years ago to acquire a quantity of very tightly woven, but flexible, canvas bags that range from a nominal 5 to 25 pound sizes. These were originally laboratory seed bags and have a thick, but soft, plastic liner. Partially filled with kitty litter (unused of course ), stitched and sealed, they are wide enough to be able to stack securely for any height I need and weather proof enough to take casual rains. Fine adjustments are made by merely "pinching" the bag supporting the toe of the stock.
I have found that kitty litter (the dust-free kind) makes a great filler since it is much lighter than sand and stays softer as it doesn't compact if kept dry. The lack of compaction helps prevent my rifles from bouncing off of the bags and affecting accuracy with each shot.
Just my 4-cents worth (inflation, you know ).
_________________ If you can't hit it with one, you probably can't with two either!
The biggest problem with a closed mind is that it never seems to come with a closed mouth.
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shrpshtrjoe Super Red Neck Member
Joined: Jan 26, 2005 Posts: 2965 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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Mine look very similar to vince's pic mine is made by Hoppes I believe. It's adjustable and I use the " saddle type sand bags " have used it for quite a few years they seem to do fine .
Joe
_________________ "MOLON LABE"
P E T A
People Eating Tasty Animals |
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Wicky Member
Joined: Apr 06, 2008 Posts: 76 Location: Alice Springs, Australia
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:43 am Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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I still use a Hoppes rest for some of my shooting but found it a little small in the legs. I knocked one up out of inch RHS and some 'C' channel. I made the feet with a masonary nail fitted in the end of the adjusting screw as we have carpet on out benches and the nails go through to the concrete top and stop any wobbles. The bags are bought ones - had some made but they were pretty crappy.
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_________________ Do, or do not. There is no try.
Yoda |
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RePete Super Member
Joined: Aug 15, 2005 Posts: 1035 Location: Gods Country
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 5:02 am Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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Here are 2 pics of mine.
It started life as a Hoppes BR. I found that it would rock back on recoil, even with a leg pointed to me, so the changes started to happen.
1. I increased the footprint by adding longer legs. Remove the pointed bolts, bolt in 1/2"x1"x10" steel bars, drilled and tapped at the ends for the pointed bolts, and bolted from underneath into the BR.
2. The cavity on the underside was drill at angles (random) rollpins installed and molted lead poured in on three different sittings. (Note - I forgot about shrinkage hence the hose clamps). The BR now weighs in about 18lbs.
It will not move under recoil even from my .338LM rifle.
_________________ Proud member of the WTFDTSG Club.
Stercus Accidit = Sh*t Happens in Latin.
Nice try = You Suck spelled different.
My parents spanked me as a child. As a result, I now suffer from a psychological condition known as RESPECT FOR OTHERS. |
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OntheLasGallinas Super Member
Joined: Aug 23, 2007 Posts: 1042 Location: South Texas
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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Gosh, you guys are fancy! I use a forked stick or a fence post.
I need to run take a picture of a fence post and include it!
Have a great day!
Cary
_________________ Rancher/Environmental Scientist |
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Dimitri Super Member
Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:26 pm Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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Cary,
Don't feel bad, I normally use sling supported positions or at the most my buttpack filled with not so "even" stuff (ie Food and water supplies).
Dimitri
_________________ A thousand hills, but no birds in flight, ten thousand paths, with no people's tracks. A lonely boat, a straw-hatted old man, fishing alone in the cold river snow. |
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OntheLasGallinas Super Member
Joined: Aug 23, 2007 Posts: 1042 Location: South Texas
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Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 4:25 am Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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Oh, I don't feel bad; I'm perfectly satisfied with my methods. My brother has all of the fancy shooting apparatus. He comes out occasionally, and does some target shooting with all his gear. I'll normal move my cows out of the pasture (In South Texas we call woodlands pastures, if it's cleared, it's a field) he's firing into. I don't have a bermed back stop, just lots of unoccupied woodlands. That's pretty much the way every rancher I know does it. I suppose it would be good to shoot into a tank (pond) dam.
Anyway, the reason I started using the forked stick method is that this was my grandfather's method of hunting. He always sat on the ground, on a rock or log with a forked stick for a rest. If I decide to walk, instead of hunting from a deer stand, I'll sling my rifle over my shoulder and walk with a staff that has a forked top. When I see a deer, or hog, I'll set my rifle barren in the fork, and have a perfect shooting rest. It works very well. Try it for target shooting and you'll see.
Cary
_________________ Rancher/Environmental Scientist |
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Deleted_User_2665 Super Member
Joined: May 06, 2006 Posts: 380
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Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 5:26 am Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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Made this one a while back, solely for load R&D.....
I've since modified it a little as the original blueprint shown here had a hitch or two that needed addressing. The rear bag holder has been cut down some to limit the bleeding from my left wrist/forearm, being the major mod done.
It's elevation adjustable both front and rear, it's windage adjustable via a front side screw, the front bag swivels 360 for righty or lefty use of the windage adj., and all adjustments have a lock down feature. The rear bag is loose and the front is fixed. On most rifles it'll support the sweetspot just forward of the front action screw.
The original plan was maybe a nylon belt that saddled the recoil pad in effect making it a lead sledish type unit. Didn't go there though as I'm not really in need of any sissyfied gear such as a lead sled....
It weighs a tad more than a 20 pound turkey, and used in conjunction with an adjustable office chair on wheels, makes for Rock Solid and comfy load R&D.....
All welding I did with a TIG, will probably tear it down and powder coat it one of these days, when I see a lull in the R&D....
If I recall correctly, it cost me most all of nothing, to build...........
Any other rested shooting is done via 'pods and/or prone over a backback, rock, log, or stump......
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Pumpkinslinger Super Member
Joined: Sep 22, 2007 Posts: 5002 Location: NC foothills
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Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 9:41 am Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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The range I belong to has a number of nice concrete shooting benches and keeps some carpet scraps handy. I bring a Hornady "Delta Rest" with some sand in it, some home made sand bags and a closed-cell foam pad. I put the carpet on top of the bench, position the Delta Rest as needed and put a sandbag and the foam pad on top of it. Other sand bags go under the butt of the rifle.
My current batch of bags are showing a lot of wear so I'll be making more soon. This time I plan to fill them with plastic beads. Will be much lighter, no dust and can't absorb any moisture.
_________________ Mike
"I ain't no better than anybody else, and there ain't nobody better than me!" Ma Kettle |
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Duce Member
Joined: Mar 01, 2008 Posts: 124 Location: Kentucky
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Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:10 am Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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You guys must be rich? Here in Kentucky we stuff what-ever we can get down the end of the barrel and find the biggest tree we can get to support us and fire away. Works well for me...................
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Crackshot Super Member
Joined: Oct 23, 2005 Posts: 1693 Location: Mich
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Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject: Re: Your Shooting Rest |
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Harris bypod and good ole mother earth. For my Sharps and 1886 Winchester, I have some classic shooting stixs a freind made me wrapped with leather.
_________________ The human mind is the weapon, the gun is just one of its tools. |
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