Sled ? Bags ? Bipod? What do you get your best results with?

[Wreck-n-Crew]

From a bench I usually use a front rest and rear bag. Dealing with different ranges where a front back might not be high enough and you have to throw something under the bag is really awkward and unstable. And some benches at rangers might not be ideal for loading up on the bipod without it scooting.


From prone bipod and rear bag.

 

[Wolfshead]

When sighting in and I want to eliminate as much human error as I personally can, I use a Caldwell Lead Sled, with a 25 lbs. plate.
After I will shoot from, mostly shooting sticks, as that is what I hunt with.
Other times may be a bag or anything that may simulate hunting conditions.

 

[Armorer 101]

I use a Lead Sled with 75 pounds of shot at my bench window.

I bought various bags of rarely used, for reloading, shot sizes over the years, from locations going out of business.

Then I use the empty cloth bags for spent primers which make lighter but adequate shooting bags for support and are easier to move than lead to a far range.

 

[stillquietvoice]

My rear Caldwell ear bag now has duct tape on one ear due to a friend placing the flash hider in between the two ears, but here are my bags before the injury.

 

[Chuck R.]

Same here with the rabbit ear rear bag; have worked well for over 35 years.

Every time I think about "upgrading", I come to the conclusion that it's working....It's also small enough to fit in my range box.

 

[kalielkslayer]

Caldwell Lead Sled for load development.

I carry a Bog Pod shooting sticks with me hunting. When walking, they are attached to the back of my hunting pack. When sitting (like coyote hunting) the gun rests on the sticks.

 

[entropy]

Bags.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

Bipod and tactical rear bag that I can squeeze to control my vertical. Prone or bench.

Harry

 

[bigpower491]

The sled of lead has been my trusted partner for load development for quite some time now.

 

[Reloadron]

Wichita front rest and bunny bag rear.



Ron

 

[Russell13]

I ordered a new bipod today. This should work well for me.

 

[Walkalong]

And don't buy cheap Atlas clones unless you have lots of Loctite and don't care if they pivot.

 

[d2wing]

I decided to upgrade, bought a Rock Br and a protektor rear bag. Not sure I like the Rock BR. It has a little play in the base and it is heavy with the bag to carry to the range. It will probably be ok when adjusted and everything is tight. I tried to get to the range today but I had an appointment, by the time I got ready I ran out of time because a school reserved the range at 4 pm. Now I need a range bag with wheels.

 

[Nature Boy]

And don't buy cheap Atlas clones unless you have lots of Loctite and don't care if they pivot.

I have both an Atlas and an Atlas-knockoff. I’m 100% in agreement with walkalong. Save your pennies and get the real one.

 

[Walkalong]

I took out the rounded washer that the top pivots on, put red locttite on the threads, and tightened that part down hard and straight. I also did red LT on the screws holding the legs, adjusting them for firm movement. Also had to loctite the screw holding the quick release. Until I did all that it would get all loose and floppy, very frustrating. It should work ok for light recoiling range rifles now, I hope. Think .223 and .22 LR.

 

[Nature Boy]

I took out the rounded washer that the top pivots on, put red locttite on the threads, and tightened that part down hard and straight. I also did red LT on the screws holding the legs, adjusting them for firm movement. Also had to loctite the screw holding the quick release. Until I did all that it would get all loose and floppy, very frustrating. It should work ok for light recoiling range rifles now, I hope. Think .223 and .22 LR.

I took an easier route and gave my Atlas-like bipod to my daughter’s boyfriend

 

[DTL]

Some very impressive rigs being used, and great photos of them Thanks for the inspiration.

 

[BreechFace]

Gun's that are setup for my bipod:
Bench: Atlas bipod and squeeze bag in back.
Prone: Atlas bipod and offhand under rear of buttstock with elbow resting

Gun's without bipod setup
Bench: Bag up front, squeeze bag in back
Prone: Bag up front, offhand under rear buttstock

Hunting practice: offhand, posting on post, prone using backpack, knees up butt on ground with elbows on knees, shooting sticks with turkey seat backpack (coyote hunting)

In regards to what I shoot best with, prone with bag up front and offhand under rear of buttstock.

 

[ACES&8S]

Leadsled like Wolfshead shows with no more than 15 pounds of weight even with mags just to get it center.
Then sandbags my wife made for targets like paper or golf balls = love to kill golf balls'
Then standing with no rest to show how bad I really am, I have to use big targets now.

 

[webrx]

Bipod and squeeze bag, that’s all I use so I guess that’s what I get my best results from.
D

 

[dranrab]

If you are at the range with a hunting gun that may see longer shots afield, consider this. What kind of field shooting positions do you anticipate? Do your best to duplicate that at the range. The same gun/load fired in a lead sled may see appreciable POI/accuracy shifts if fired off of a bipod, backpack or over the rail of a shooting stand. It becomes more important with lightweight rifles.

 

[army_eod]

Bag, bipod or lead sled depending. For doing zero with a hard recoiling rifle the sled for sure.

 

[JFrank]

97 Chevy

 

[Picher]

I have three rests, a heavy Hart tripod front with leather bag and leather bunny rear bag. The ones I normally use for sighting-in and fun shooting are two Hoppe's orange tripods, one that I transport to the range and the other that sleeps in a plastic 5 gal. Home Depot covered pail that is kept under my 3-legged heavy bench that I created about 20 years ago and kept at my informal 100-200 yard range in the blueberry field way down back. Rear bag is either of two...a heavy Hart leather bag or a cheaper Hoppe's bag.

I've tried bipods from the bench and haven't had one that didn't hop or act weird, so I stick with tripod rests. Since the range switched to concrete benchtops, I use three metal/rubber adaptors under the front tripod.

 

[memtb]

I’m pretty cheap, actually was broke most of my younger life, and used the bare minimum! I use a typical inexpensive front rest similar to photo below.....which I didn’t get until I was probably near 50 yo. I use sand bags with “bunny bag” beneath the stock in rear.

Never tried the Lead Sled or similar, as my bench shooting is primarily for load development or zero checks. I’m sure that it would mitigate felt recoil, but have heard bad things about scope damage with high recoil rifles. Unnecessary for low recoil rifles, and I don’t want to chance scope damage just prior to hunting season during a zero-check! When shooting our (wife’s & mine) hunting rifles with recoil of only 39 ft/lbs & 59 ft/lbs from the bench ......we only use the PAST Recoil Shield. If we shot more from the bench or had higher recoil rifles.....we would have to re-access the issue!

The vast majority of our shooting is done as described in a previous post by “dranrab”. Familiarity with your hunting rifle by replicating (as closely as possible) field shooting conditions, or using them on the occasional varmint hunt.....will benefit greatly when hunting! memtb