Looking For Mechanical Rest For Sighting In Rifle

I was thinking about the same thing, but ended up buying an adjustable front rest with sandbag and rear sandbag. On a good bench it is rock steady, fast to adjust, and fits all lengths of guns as you can slide the components together or apart. I used a Coldwell lead sled, and personally think the rear bag and front adjustable rest is better and more consistent.
 
I don't think you are going to find a $200 dollar mechanical rest makes it any better. If you are flinching, you need to cure that. A bunny eared front and rear bag are just as steady as a $200 coldwell, and IMO, more steady on a solid bench.
 
I've thought a fair about this topic. I've got a caldwell BR tripod rest (15 lbs) with protektor cordura front bag and bumblebee rear bag (got the bags from sinclair).

When I'm actually shooting, after getting the initial adjustment set up, I don't use the knobs on the tripod to adjust elevation and windage. I like to move things around manually, while keeping some downward pressure on the rifle to keep it all steady. To adjust the elevation I slide the rear of the stock a little bit forward or rearward on the rear bag, which changes the tilt of the rifle.

On my last outing I was able to shoot a couple 0.6 -0.7 inch groups with this system, which isn't bad I guess. The only thing that's bothered me about this system though is that even with silicone lube my laminated stock feels a tad sticky on the cordura bags. So I bought some slippery teflon tape from Lee Valley and put it on the stock where it contacts the bags. The amount of force to start it moving is now noticeably less (what I mean is the static coefficient of friction is lower, although the kinetic coefficient isn't much different from that of the laminate). This should help me position the rifle more easily, and will allow it to ride the bags better during the admittedly low recoil of a 12 lbs .223!
 
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Front adjustable rest

with bag and rear bag is the ONLY way to shoot. If you are still seeing movement there is a issue in a setup.

It is amazing how many people do not have a clue about shooting on bags. They think they are supposed to be sticky.................. WRONG.

You want the gun to slide freely. Dusting with baby powder or even better powdered caranuba wax makes for a very slick surface tht your gun will slide on freely.
 
"...use knobs to adjust the elevation and windage on the rest..." That'd require a mechanical recoil absorption system.
A solid rest, like a sand bag, under the forestock will do. Where the rifle sits on the rest is important. As close to the balance point as possible is best.
 
The way everyone is talking about bags, the rest isn't worth getting....................

Even with bags I can't hold the cross hairs steady enough to sight the rifle in. Most of my "off" shots are me. So I can't get my rifles dialed in so I KNOW they are bang on. Anything after that is me.
 
Max Owner said:
I can't hold the cross hairs steady enough with a rear bag. I have no doubt that I throw a few shots.
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Simple advice from one of my coaches: get a good night's sleep the night before the match; don't drink coffee or Coke before shooting; don't smoke; concentrate on the task at hand; avoid strenuous walking or exertion, and let your pulse settle before sitting behind the rifle.

If you can, do some relaxation exercises to "centre" yourself to the one-shot match you are about to perform. As another fellow suggested, find a way to quiet the chattering monkeys that are scampering through your mind.
 
"...Even with bags I can't..." You're doing something wrong or you've had too much coffee. How solid is the bench and the chair/buttock support device? That can cause movement too.
When using sand bags, a few bags is better than trying to juggle the rifle on top of one. Put them down flat and build up the height. A bit less sand in the top one is better than completely full and hard. Then smack a depression in it for the forestock.
The sand bags don't need to weigh 50 pounds. Five pounds is plenty. A bag made out of cut off pant legs(or about that size) is enough. They don't have to be filled with sand either. Although sand is usually easiest to come by on a range. Cat litter, rice, oatmeal, etc will do. Don't get a rice or oatmeal filled bag wet though.
 
Any of the rests that clamp or hold the rifle completly are not going to be any better than a good front rest/bag and rear bag set up (as in BR) .
The Lead Sled is a POS, bought one to test it, and did so.
You simply cannot positioon thhe rifle the same way every shot because of the amount of movement in thhe whhole system.
With a good frront rest and proper bag, the rifle will not move.
The rear bag should be supporting the buttstock withh the thumb and index finger of tthe offhand controlling the vertical movement unless you are using a particularly heavy kicker, then set it up and hold the forend withh the offhand.

Pay attention to sight pictture, follow-through , etc and getrdun.
If you are seeing movement inn thhe crosshairs while aiming, try turning your scope down if you cannot take a lighter hold.
Check the zero of the riflees in huntiing postions after as well.
Cat
 
Can you describe to us better the problem you are having with shooting.

Do you find it difficult to hold the sights steady on the target

a) All the time or
b) While squeezing off a shot.

How big is the problem? What kind of target and range are you experiencing difficulty with, and what are your goals? I'm wondering if you are having trouble hitting a 3" bullseye at 100 yard, or a 1/2" dot consistently.
 
well if you are going to shoot sled guns, then go all out, otherwise it won't make any difference if you get a robot to zero your gun, you still won't be able to shoot it worth a ####, compared to the robot. So, that means zero it yourself, as good as you can, and get to be a better shot, thereby increasing your ability to zero it. make sense?
 
I have seen the type of rest described wherein the rifle was strapped to the rest which was clamped to the bench and then the rest adjusted to center the rifle on the target. I was able to outshoot the rest using my standard bag setup. In addition, the point of impact was different when using the mechanical rest.
Get somebody to help you establish good bag technique. It will pay dividends. Regards, Bill.
 
I guess we

need a little more info when you are talking all in the X and touching. Strictly factory gun or build? Off the shelf ammo or reloads?

There are a lot of factors that factor into the equation when asking for them all to go into the same hole or nearly the same hole........................
 
look up the Texas Shooting Warehouse, or whatever it was called, they describe some pretty neat rigs in that story.
 
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