Shooting rest
 

I purchased a new Omega Scope for my T/C and was wondering if I must have a shooting rest in order to zero it in or can I do it by just using sand bags or the cheaper gun rest bag sets they sell for 20 bucks. As I get ready for deer season I want the gun to be spot on if this is possible without buying a 100 or 200 dollar gun rest? You know what it is like geting just the basics together needed for Bow and gun seasons. So if I can get it done cheaper I'll try if not I'll buy the Gun Rest like a Led Sled by Caldwell.

Sand bags will do the job nicely - one up front and one at the rear.

All you really need is a couple of old socks filled with sand, or rice, or beans, or styrofoam peanuts. If you use sand, put a plastic grocery bag inside the sock before adding the sand. Add a dozen ten-inch squares of old carpet to put under the sock bags to make height adjustments and you're good to go.

A little research on how to use them to best advantage if you don't already know and sand or rice bags [I like the rice myself. I would advise against the cheaper rests I tried several and can do much better without them. I have shot against all kinds of fancy rests and beat them in competition with simple home made table and bags.

a quality gun rest is really nice to have but you can get the job done with sand bags.

A really affordable rest is the Caldwell tack driver rest. It runs $40 unfilled and $80 filled. You add a sand bag to the rear of the stock and its a real solid shooting rest.


And if you want a really nice rest, but one that hurts your rear end when you pay the bill is the Caldwell CFX Lead Sled. This runs quite a bit over $300

at our shooting range we have lots of sand bags and i carry enough junk to the range so i like to keep it simple ..i like sand bags because the barrel does not lift up ..

Bags of rice or even beans work well and then you can cook them for supper.

I just old shot bags filled with sand my self or my home made rest.

:D Al

Beans and Rice
 

I was going to sight my Optima in,in the next few days.And was in need of a gun rest myself.I liked the idea of rice,just happen to have a couple of bags in the pantry collecting dust.Better than a rolled up blanket.Thanks Guys.:fighting0007:

Rice works real good and its reasonable. Plus two years down the road if you get a better rest, and you are hungry you can eat your rest. I purchased some of them Caldwell bags and filled them. They work real well.

Never was much for bird food which is why they were collecting dust. And the guys I shoot with are gonna raze me for putting the rice in my socks.Didn`t know I had to take them off first.:D

A 50 pound bag of corn works as well...After you are through, spread it where you want to hunt... :)

I bought the Caldwell Lead Sled Plus last fall and really like it. It can hold bags of lead shot or two 25 lb iron weights which is what I use.

I have been sighting in my newly scoped .22, a TC Encore and Knight Revolution black powder guns and retesting my 30-06. I can shoot all day and not even know it. Like you, I want to make sure my guns are dead on whether I am or not. :)

The best shooting rest
 

Forget the sand bags(used them for years) forget the Lead sled(mine is now for sale)Forget the Caldwell bags and go with the Bulls Bag. I was using my friends Bulls Bag and I shot the best group of anything I have ever shot. This was with a new to me rifle. Did some checking on line and found one to purchase for my self. The kicker was that this bag has a 100%lifetime guarantee. If you are in Vermont and want to come try my Bulls Bag PM me.

Bags are easily my choice, and you can make your own sooo cheap. They're quick, handy, and don't stop me from shooting great groups. I don't doubt a good high-dollar rest could take an eighth inch off of my groups at times though. Throw a sweatshirt or something over your stock to take your breathing and heartbeat out of the equation more easily. With a solid rest, the most important part of shooting is pulling the trigger cleanly.

You don't need anything fancy.Just try to keep the gun/scope as level and steady as possible.I got this on sale and it works great-
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=312090
Even shooting heavy 3" 12g shells and slugs are no problem with some weight in the compartment.

i use an adjustable front rest and a rear rabbit ear bag. Works for me.

I bought the RedHead 2-bag combo, a BIG bag of cheap rice and an oil funnel to fill the bags. A lead sled would be nice, but bags are all you need if you have good control with your trigger finger. Just watch all your shots closely and you'll know whether or not you were on target when the gun went bang. For me, the biggest thing to remember when sighting in is that it should SURPRISE you when the gun goes bang. I know that it is GOING to happen, but not the precise moment.

http://www.basspro.com/RedHead®-2Bag...81311/-1275348

I'm of the opinion that shooting from bags or an adjustable front rest and rear bag is better for building shooting technique than are full rests like the Lead Sled. Those full rests are fine for sighting in or checking a load's accuracy, but are just too far distant from real world field shooting for my taste.

I really like the bulls bag x-7. It's about $100, but it is very versatile.

as much as i love my caldwell, it keeps breaking the recoil pad on my Optima. After i order a replacement, that will be recoil pad #3

I hate hurting my rifles like that :(

Don't you think that's telling you something about the forces that are in play when you anchor a gun down like that? Can't be good with constant use.

but its only 23lbs. i dont put any lead on it!

Does the rest move (slide back) on the table when you shoot? Have you ever broken a recoil pad with the gun against your shoulder?

I'm in the film production business and I use sandbags on every shoot. An inexpensive and durable way to have some versatility in having a stable rest is to use sandbag made for the video & photo world. They have straps for carrying as well.

Here a link to Amazon with a number of choices.
http://tinyurl.com/gunrest

I use mine all the time in different configurations. Some times I lay a small one across the barrel to prevent barrel jump.

You can fill them with anything you like sand, lead shot or rice (which I don't recommend, since it is subject to humidity and moisture.) Non-Clumping Cat Litter also works.

If you want a lighter weight bag use Sandblasting Glass Bead Abrasive. It's about $40 for 50 lbs.

Sand and Cat litter is cheaper.

__Thom

Same here. i've seen scopes ruined and stocks cracked from lead sleds. Often the zero obtained when shooting from a lead sled is not viable when shooting from the shoulder.

Those are pretty neat Thom, especially the one with the carrying handle. Thanks for posting.

My wife sews. I know she can make a couple of those in a flash.

Good tip. I bought a 50 lb. bag and it was a lot lighter than a 50 lb. bag of corn. :s2:

(I know what you mean. ;) The weight/bulk ratio is nice.)