Some of your favorite gun vise/rests for sight in?

I use the Sinclair Varmint BR rest with edgewood bag, with the windage top and a Protektor bunny ear rear bag. Almost a competition rest, not quite, but also doesn't come with the pricetag of a competition rest either. I've never noticed that anything more rigid, ala Lead Sled, could actually hold any more solid.

I have a Caldwell Rock BR rest also, after a quick parts exchange to tighten things up, it's pretty solid. The windage adjustment is worthless, there's too much slack and it's really inconsistent. For the price, it's not a bad choice, but it's definitely nothing fancy.
 
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeOriginally Posted By: fw707A front bipod works pretty well.

Yep and a bag for the back.

Yep.
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I have the Caldwell DTF Leadsled and I use it when initially dialing in a load etc., especially on my larger caliber rifles. After that it is a Harris bipod on the front and sandbag in the rear.
On my varmint rifles, it is usually just the bipod and sand bag. I have found I can be just an solid with sand bags and a bipod as I can with the leadsled. The leadsled sure is nice when dialing in a larger shoulder thumper however!
 
Front bipod and good rear bag is my favorite. Learn to "preload" the bipod. Most people try to touch the gun as little as possible when shooting for groups, not the best practice. Lean into your rifle stock and learn to press the gun directly towards your target without your trigger hand on the gun, when you have a significant amount of pressure into your gun and the crosshairs are where you want to aim then get your hand on your gun and pull the trigger.

It helps a lot to have something in front of your bipod to keep it from scooting forward when you lean into it.

http://www.6mmbr.com/TacticalFroggyA1.html This guy has great advise about shooting from a bipod.
 
Man O Man Rock... that is exactly how I do it...AWESOME TECHNIQUE... and... creates a shooting form and natural habit for hunting in the prone position.

GOTTA PRELOAD HER

I have a preload board mounted across my portable shooting table to prevent the bipod legs from being pushed off the front. When I go to a range, I C-Clamp a 2x4 across the front of their bench.
 
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I bet you're a great shot too!

I can't see myself ever buying a lead sled to shoot from a bench and certainly NEVER a $700+ front rest.

Properly preloading a bipod will make a very stable shooting platform. The step after understanding that for me is to make sure your trigger hand has no influence on your aim, that will(in my opinion) negate most needs for super fancy triggers, dry fire practice is great help.

The touchier part for me is fiddling with the rear bag so I don't need to be squeezing it or pressing on it with my off hand to hold my aim where I want it. If you are doing everything right the crosshairs should stay on target with no hands on the gun. After that your breathing and heartbeat is going to be the only thing influencing the crosshairs, good luck stopping that, you just need to practice your timing.
 
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I have to agree with Both Wyobull and Rock Knocker I have a friend that has a Lead Sled and we did use it before. It saved the shoulders for the lighter kicking rifles. I use a Bipod and Bag, or even two bags depending on the rifle. If possible read the link about Froggy. I have known about him for a long time and read that article a couple of times. A few things to remember if possible is to get that rear bag under your cheek so that pressure is even and correct. Its sort of like three point VS two points of pressure. You can even use a dryer sheet, between gun and bag, to allow the gun to slide a little if you are using two bags. I have found something that (Bench rest shooters) some shooters use and that is to bring your own stool out to the range IF, it is adjustable. This places you in a much better position for shooting rather than a one size fits all deal. Such as some plastic chair provided by the range. Do you have to get Fancy? No, I have a 4"X 4" with a piece of plywood screwed to one side and I set my front bag on it. Using the dryer sheet if necessary, so bag does not want to topple so easy. I have a couple of extra pieces of plywood so that I can get my rifle as level as possible with the rear bag placed were it needs to be. Heck I have seen guys buy bags of lead shot. Sinclair INTL sells some good bags. Set things up as best as possible so that you can tell the potential of the rifle and load.

I tried doing this also, so that I do not get worn out, or waste money, time, and components. Instead of shooting a ladder load I try to get the optimum weight charge, and just shoot one bullet of each load. Aim at the center and mark each shot. This can tell you where the load is going to be and then you can load up 5 rounds. If it still looks promising, then you can play with the COAL. But this all begins with good bags or good bipod and rear bag.edit Rifle needs to be sighted in already to do this.
 
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Absolutely nothing, i use a tupperware container and a thermal foam butt pad. Just lay rifle on top and use a shirt for the rear. Never felt the need to spend $ on rests, benches etc.
 
Originally Posted By: Rock Knocker
I can't see myself ever buying a lead sled to shoot from a bench and certainly NEVER a $700+ front rest.



Not the lead sled, but I have spent ridiculous $ graduating up the line of joysticks & the mechanicals before. Still 90% of my shooting is done from bi-pods. You can get VERY stable from a good set of bi-pods & decent rear bag.

However, when you've got a good set-up with a joystick rest; NO WAY you can send a string anywhere near as good with a bi-pod (add time & it can be very close, but add time & you add change in conditions). But for 99.9% of the shooting community. A 6-9" Harris bipod, a rear bag that wont roll side to side, & good form will do all they ever need. The lead sled & the like are junk & gimmicks. A simple bi-pod is much better than some of the mickey mouse mechanicals I see.
 
I have the older style Caldwell LeadSled..... Works great at sighting in any of my Rifles and then I shoot free hand on a rest to make sure I can do it on my own!
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When I sight in, I just either get a chair and rest on the edge of my verandah or just rest on a table with a large thick coat and the rifle pouch to hold it up- whatever works is what I will do
 
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