Benchrest for Load Development

[HK Dave]

Any suggestions on a decent benchrest setup for load development?

Been thinking about taking me as the shooter out of the equation.

The setup would ONLY be used for load development as I don't shoot BR style.

*edit*

My rifles are all sub 1/2 Moa and some sub 1/4 Moa rifles. While I may be able to shoot those groups prone on a bipod and rear bag, it gets really tiring to do so, and i become a variable which causes consistency problems.

I want easiest. Thanks

[NorCalFocus]

Bi-pod and a rear bag. Takes most of you out of it.

[LynnJr]

Pull your front sling swivel out and put a 3 inch wide piece of aluminum on your forend and use a countersink so nothing is sticking out. This will remove any torquing and it will allow the rifle to recoil back without hitting the swivel.

You can do the same for the rear but if it has a lot of taper you should make it look like a keel.

If you can make them parallel and perpendicular that would be a huge improvement.

For load development a 2 ounce trigger and a 45 power scope will allow you to dial everything in to the nth degree.

For a front rest stack some 1x6 onto a slab of plywood 5 or 6 pieces high so it holds the aluminum nicely.
It doesnt need windage or elevation as you can do that on the rear bag.
Look at the picture and notice the rest is bolted to a plate. Your plywood would look like the plate and your 1x6 would be the height of the rest in the picture but without the front bag. Simply staple and old T-shirt onto the wood so the aluminum can slide.

[bsumoba]

Do not buy the ones that actually fix the rifle buttstock with the rest. Use something like a tripod rest and a rearbag. IMO, the ones fixing the buttstock to the rest or prevent the stock from recoiling back is no bueno.

This is a good value tripod rest.

http://www.bullets.com/products/Triangle-Rest-Cast-Iron/BE1152

IMO, a sturdy bipod and rear bag is fine as well. When doing load development, I try to do the development in the manner which I am going to predominantly shoot it, meaning in my tactical rifle, it will be bipod and rear sand bag. In my F-Open rifle, it is a tripod and 3/4" bunny ear rear bag.

[CK_32]

I just picked up a bunch of sandbags, my bi pod and my read bad and some string and wood.


I'm right with you OP, I'm looking to make a system that can use the sand bags to replicate my shouldure with tention and stability but give some for recoil, hold the rifle true, and centered. And the string to take my finger out of the equation. But I'm still in testimonials because when I hook up my scope cam to watch the reticle sometimes the string binds and pulls the rifle, sometimes the tension isn't right and the rifle flops around inconsistently.

After my 4th load of my 4 rifles and 4 more loads to test im tired of the standard process lol

I want to make it automated if you will because my time and joy of load testing is worn or limited. If I make a break through I'll keep you updated. But the half filled fine sand sand bags do help a lot. I noticed it cut my flyers from fatigue and time down a ton.

Maybe give that some thought. But a rear bag and bipod or pack is pretty much a must for the process.

The tie down rests are a pain and like Sumoba said can throw the rifle off the way some bolt the rifles down.

[LynnJr]

Here are a couple rest systems used by benchrest competitors. The Aluminum one is owned by the poster here who goes by the name SwitchBarrel who happens to be the NBRSA 2014 1000 Yard National Champion. The red one was mine and is now owned by Lou Murdica.

The big aluminum plate is the correct platform for making your own rest. I have them made out of plywood and they shoot as good as the big aluminum monsters costing 20 times as much. I am all about functionality.

Picture that big aluminum plate with two 4x4's mounted in front and screwed down. Now picture the top 4x4 with a slot cut into it that fits your stock and covered with a soft fabric.

[russ69]

Lynn, the guy doesn't have a simple Hart rest and you want to show him a machine that costs more than his rifle? BTW how much is a set-up like that?

[HK Dave]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I was originally thinking something like this would work...

http://www.bullsbag.com/Bench_Shooting_Rest_Rifle_Field_Shooting_Rests_Bulls_Bag_s/2.htm

With a rear bunny ear bag.

Do you think a tripod system will take more of the shooter out of the equation than something like a bullsbag?

[HK Dave]

Do not buy the ones that actually fix the rifle buttstock with the rest. Use something like a tripod rest and a rearbag. IMO, the ones fixing the buttstock to the rest or prevent the stock from recoiling back is no bueno.

This is a good value tripod rest.

http://www.bullets.com/products/Triangle-Rest-Cast-Iron/BE1152

I've never shot off a rest like that... looks quite affordable at $300 with the bags.

Think it'll do better than the simple sand bag I listed above?

[killshot44]

Shiraz bought out the guys who used to make these, made them better and sells them for less!


Here's a windage adjustable rest with a very stable footprint for $165. Add a $50 front bag and any number of rear bags.

http://www.bullets.com/products/Rest-Slingshot-Aluminum/BE1005

[ratled]

This will serve that purpose and is actually useable other ways.

http://www.hogsaddle.com/

ratled

[bsumoba]

I've never shot off a rest like that... looks quite affordable at $300 with the bags.

Think it'll do better than the simple sand bag I listed above?

In general, yes. The rest I mentioned will move very minimally, if at all and the one you mentioned will probably require repositioning.

The rest I mentioned will probably just require one major setup on the bench as well and you would be able to get back onto position very quickly.

[Switchbarrel]

Lynn, the guy doesn't have a simple Hart rest and you want to show him a machine that costs more than his rifle? BTW how much is a set-up like that?

Looks like it's about $1150 right now

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3865392.0

I add about 70-90 lbs on top of my rest when shooting my heavy gun...just to make sure it does not move (at all).

-Rick

[CSACANNONEER]

The easiest would be something like a leadsled. The best would be more along the lines of what Lynn explained and pictured. I use a separate front and rear rest system that works for me.

[HK Dave]

Shiraz bought out the guys who used to make these, made them better and sells them for less!


Here's a windage adjustable rest with a very stable footprint for $165. Add a $50 front bag and any number of rear bags.
http://www.bullets.com/products/Rest...luminum/BE1005

Looking into this has opened me up to a whole new world of shooting. I've been watching videos of benchrest shooters and it is absolutely fascinating to see some shooting free-recoil.

It's so different from the way I learned to shoot.

So I pick up something like on the link killshot44 posted, setup my rifle on it like so...

http://youtu.be/yTHjjCcr_44

And just let it free-recoil?

Pretty cool.

So the rifle is connected to the tripod and the rear bag and just slides back and forth on it? Is there some additional mechanism I need to attach to my rifle stock on front and back?

How does the tripod stay on the concrete bench on those tiny little pointy feet without moving?