Which gun rest for AR?

T

timbertiger

New member
Just curious which rest you guys might be using at the range. I was going to buy a lead sled one day only to see a picture of a special order one just for AR's. Just curious what else is fairly compatible since the mags hang down a bit.

Lead Sled Solo
 
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the recoil is sooooo limited with an AR that a lead sled seems a bit over kill.
My cousin uses Caldwell Tackdriver bags but I really dont like using them personally. My stock is a CAA SRS Sniper Stock that has a built in monopod and i have two different length quick detach Harris bipods.
When at the range, or target shooting from a bench or even prone from short grass...I just use my bipod and monopod. It gets me used to using it for hunting situations.
The longer 23 or 25" bipod is strictly for field use in longer grass or on decline slopes.

ANYWAY. I guess the short answer is...the only rests I use are bipods.
 
I use one of the original Lead Sleds and just use a 5-10 rd magazine with no problem as long as I elevate the buttstock with a piece of foam to give it an additional one inch..

I strap the sled down to the shooting bench and then the rifle to the sled... This is almost like using a Ransom Rest for a handgun and helps eliminate much of the 'human element' out of the equation when I'm testing loads for a particular rifle...My concern is not for the recoil, but the solidity of the rifle at the time it is fired..

GroupTestingSetup.jpg


That way, all I have to do is insure that my Point of Aim is the same and gently trip the trigger... Once I get the load selected, then I can practice on my shooting skills...but if the load isn't working, my skills won't matter..
 
Originally Posted By: OldTurtleI use one of the original Lead Sleds and just use a 5-10 rd magazine with no problem as long as I elevate the buttstock with a piece of foam to give it an additional one inch..

I strap the sled down to the shooting bench and then the rifle to the sled... This is almost like using a Ransom Rest for a handgun and helps eliminate much of the 'human element' out of the equation when I'm testing loads for a particular rifle...My concern is not for the recoil, but the solidity of the rifle at the time it is fired..

GroupTestingSetup.jpg


That way, all I have to do is insure that my Point of Aim is the same and gently trip the trigger... Once I get the load selected, then I can practice on my shooting skills...but if the load isn't working, my skills won't matter..

great now I'm thirsty.... Haha

~Bryan
 
Good answer Turtle. I'd agree that it would be nice to use one for load testing. But I dont really load test that often. I have one rifle and right now i have one load to match it. I'm trying to use a better 105gr bullet but so far, cant get them to group like the smaller ones.
one day when i get a few more boom sticks, a sled might be in my future too.
 
I was considering buying a lead sled tomorrow. Old Turtle how steady can you get the rifle to hold? being laid off i have been trying alot of different load development and having some troubles keeping steady with my lighter guns using sand bags.
 
The way I strap it down, it will stay pretty steady,,,
Two of my ARs are free floated and I try to keep the downward pressure on the buttstock just a little tighter than if I were holding it.... Even on my bolt actions, I don't want excessive downward pressure to the point that I might deflect the action/barrel..

The key to using the sled is the consistency of pressure on the rifle for each shot, which is hard to maintain by shouldering it and using sandbags. Something will usually change from one shot to the next...

By using the sled, I try to eliminate that variance..
 
I bought it from Cabelas and I'll let you know what I think of it. I'm currently still working on my load development and the only time I use a benchrest is during development so....time will tell!
 
I got one from Inventive Technologys, its main beam is offset so the AR magazine doesn't have any problems clearing . Pretty nice rest for the money.
 
SO I took the Lead Sled Solo to the range this weekend. I really enjoyed it. Used a bag of shot which I probably didn't need but...........still had room for the 30 round mag without a problem. Craftsmanship was excellent compared to the previous couple of more expensive rests I've purchased at Cabelas!
 
Sand bags.
Lead sled ever wonder where all that energy from recoil goes when the firearm isnt allowed to well recoil? Ever wonder what makes stocks split?
A Ransom rest for handguns is a little different the handgun is still able to recoil upward dissipateing recoil energy.
If useing a Lead sled I dont think I would add any additional weight to the sled I dont think it would add anything to accuracy and would only beat the firearm up needlessly IMHO.
 
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3807patriot, I think it depends on what you are trying to accomplish with the sled....We were talking about using one with an AR,,, very little recoil, and if you've never used one, there is a soft and flexible rear support that allows some of the recoil that does exist to be absorbed in that pocket...

While if I were shooting a .375 H&H Magnum, or any type of high recoil rifle, your concerns about stock splitting may be valid..

Using a Lead Sled, still allows recoil to take place, it just assists in taking much of the human element out of the shooting process, thereby allowing more consistency between shots..
 
Yep not much recoil to a AR but energy has to go somewhere.
perhaps extra wear on the recoil buffer and or springs.
I am not saying I am just giving something to think about.
And I did say I didnt think adding any additional weight to the sled would add to the accuracy.
 
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