Range rests...sandbag or clamp?

[Kilo Charlie]

I've always just used a sandbag as a rest at the range, ie one of those boy scout 20-lb. things for your car. Nothing else. I want to try for tighter groups and to that end I want to get a better rest. I like the traditional owl-ear front bag on an adjustable rest and a rear bag, which are a bit pricey compared to some of the clamping stands made by MTM and others. What's your opinion? Do the plastic stands hold up? What other alternatives do people use? Thanks. K.C.

 

[Gatehouse]

I use a tripod (from Caldwell) and bunny ear rear bags, supported by other sandbags.

I aso will use abipod at times.

There are a few other options, the Lead Sled looks great, but I am not too keen on the plastic ones for shooting. Working on your gun, sure.

 

[geologist]

I tried a lead sled (one of the guys at Ridgedale has one) and wow does it ever shrink my normally mediocre 1.5" 100 yard groups off of sandbags.

 

[Mudpuppy]

$18 in materials and some time playing in the shop, weighs 17 pounds.

 

[BIGREDD]

I use a Caldwell lead sled... had to get something to soak recoil cuz we sight and test way to many guns....
It is the best I have found for recoil reduction and ease of use.
It eliminates about 99% of human error when testing for accuracy.

http://www.nexicom.net/~yorky/#####.jpg

 

[tiriaq]

Mudpuppy - Yours is fancier than mine - I didn't make a windage adjustable top unit. Used a piece of heavy channel iron for the top, to cradle the bag, and a large bronze valve stem for the vertical. Nice Browning, by the way.

 

[stubblejumper]

Be aware that any type of rest that clamps to the stock can effect the point of impact compared to shooting offhand or off of sandbags.I have seen differences of a few inches at 100 yards with some of these clamp type rests.

 

[bogie]

range rest

question is what have you done to the rifle to improve accuracy? has it been bedded and have you tried different brands of bullet and different loads to see what the gun shoots better?

 

[Unregistered]

Where can you buy one of these lead sleds?

 

[Kilo Charlie]

Bogie:
I have an A-Bolt in .280 Rem, all stock, nothing done. I can get 3-shot groups of a half inch but not consistently. Usually 3/4 to an inch.
Win 70 .257 Roberts...free-floated the barrel, otherwise stock. Shoots almost as well as the A-Bolt but I find it even harder to shoot consistently. It can shoot 3/4 inch groups but I usually shoot 1.5 inches or so.
Stock Savage 99 Takedown. Shoots 3 shots to around 1 or 1.25 inches, and pretty consistently.
The one I shoot worst is the Win 70 featherweight. The forend profile feels great in the hand, but I find it hard to settle it down when shooting. Partly it's technique; I'm no great shooter. But partly, I think, it's equipment, especially a rear bag to hold the buttstock steadier.

 

[Levi Garrett]

I fill up some old hot water bottles with fine sand
Frank

 

[Kilo Charlie]

Now that sounds original....and cheap, too!