Shooting rest
#1

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.
#2
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
Posts: 10,917

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.
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.
#3
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,585

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.
#4
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Boncarbo,Colorado
Posts: 9,186

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
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

#7

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.

#8

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.