sorry about all the posts my computer flipped out. see yaaaa

maybe try a bipod. that way you don't have to lug a sand bag around out in the field.

Thanks for the suggestion. I intend to get a bipod at some point, the sand would just be for the trips to the range - sighting in, developing new loads, etc.

As an avid varmint hunter, I have used bi-pods with varying degrees of success. If you know exactly where the animal is going to come from, they work well. I have come to really like the shooting sticks, to be perfectly honest. I made my own, but you'd probably be better of buying a decent pair. In my opinion, you'd be best off getting a pair that has adjustable legs so you can go from prone to sitting to standing positions and that way you can adjust to the situation. I'm a huge fan of bi-pods and still have one on my primary varmint rifle, but I was just trying to give you another option besides bi-pods or sand bags. I would counsel to stay away from sand bags though. With predator hunting and the constant moving, sometimes walking for miles, those bags will end up getting REAL heavy as the day goes on.

go to varmint Al's web site and check out his home made shooting sticks.

oops... I didn't look closely enough at your question. You wanted to know about BENCHREST shooting. Sorry, I'll amend what I said. For benchrest shooting, I use something similar to The Varminter rifle rest (they can be found in the pages of Cabela's). The one I used was a homemade job by a guy I knew. It's AWESOME for sighting in your rifle! It has two micro-adjusters that allow me to "dial in" the crosshairs so I know I'm dead on the 10 ring. The three point legs can also be adjusted easily to at least get you REAL close, then you use the micro adjuster to get dead on. Hope that helps.

Congratulations, I too have a Savage 12 bvss .22-250. You will not be disappointed. That gun is extremely accurate at the range. I have a harris bipod on mine which i use for hunting, but at the range, I use sandbags. You can't beat sandbags at the range, they work well. The savage 12bvss with the 26 inch barrel and laminated stock(i'm assuming that's the gun you got) has a very fat forend. I'm not familiar with the bags you're talking about...i made my own ,and they work great, but you might want to go with wide. Enjoy your new rifle!!

I have the same Savage and go with The Bench Master Rifle rest. It's nothing fancy but holds that heavy Savage nice.
I find bags a little to heavy to tote around and not as stable as a rifle rest. The Bench Master is lighter than the rifle and can be carried in the field if need be.