Benchrest for Load Development

[HK Dave]

Now I know why benchrest stocks look the way they do... I just thought it was a hot rod look or something. lol

It's so they can slide back and forth on the tripod bag.

It's so dangerous finding new shooting disciplines that look interesting... it usually means it'll get really expensive. :/

[LynnJr]

Russ69
I didn't want him to buy a $1150 rest I wanted him to make a solid platform out of plywood.

HKDave
I also add a 100 pounds to my rest system to keep it from moving.You don't have any rules when doing load development so you dont want two seperate pieces.If you look at the two rest systems they have what is called a bridge plate in the middle that must be removed before you can compete. It is there to keep the front and rear bags from binding up the stock.

If your rear rest is offset from your front rest it will bind up. On a rest system the front windage top is centered up as is the rear windage top. The bridge plate holds the two sections together while the entire rest gets adjusted so it is straight with the target then it gets removed.

If you just set the front and rear rests on the bench and they are out of line with each other your gun wont shoot.

I will post some pictures of my Bald Eagle rests before Bill Gebhardt sold his design to Shiraz.

If you use a front rest and rear bag set up you align the front rest as best you can to your target then you place the gun in the front windage top. You lift the rear of the stock up and move it to the left and the right so you can feel its center point. The rear bag is placed under the buttstock and you make sure the gun is aimed at your target.

The front rest usually has to get shifted left or right to keep it from binding up.

The rifle should move like it is on ball bearings and it should not lean over when sitting on its own.

I will post a picture of a newer front rest showing how the bags are encapsulated. If your gun weighs 70 pounds it will want to pull the bag backwards when fired. By encapsulating the bag this cant happen.

In your situation were you have no rules I would make a 1 piece rest that has both the front and rear permanently hooked together.

I would use wood and cover it with a thin material either glued or stapled down as your bag. Again you dont have rules to follow so this would replace your encapsulated bag.

I would shape the front and rear so they closely mimnick your rifles stock.

I would screw the front down permanently then try the rear until it is well centered up and non binding then screw it down as well.

You want your rifle to slide straight back or to go lower in the buttstock. You never want it to slide upwards.

You can drill three holes into your plywood rest and install what is called "T" bolts. They are simply the equivalent of a helicoil or threads for wood so you can use some all thread or threaded rod for elevation control.

This isn't about winning a beauty contest it is about getting the best possible platform for load development.

Notice in the pictures that several of the rifles have aluminum or delrin tracking rails added to the stocks. If you have a Tap Plastic Store nearby they will make them for around $20 and it keeps the gun from torquing in the rest.

[LynnJr]

HKDave
They limited me on pictures so here is one of my 80 year old father using a Sinclair front rest and Edgewood rear bag. Notice he is using 25 pounds of lead on the rear leg of the rest.

After you fire you push the gun forward against a mechanical stop and you dont want the rear leg of the rest to jump up on you. Adding the weight keeps this from happening.

SwitchBarrel
Hey Rick did you happen to notice who owns my rest system? After he cheated me out of 5 Hall Of Fame points he had a friend of his buy my rest system and now he is selling it at a loss. Gotta love him.

[eric n]

Lynn, thank you for taking the time to post your knowledge and experience.
Sounds like Dave and I are in the same position, and your posts are a great help for me as well.
Are you going to the dark side Dave? Free recoil, rests, 2oz triggers, lr stocks?

[LynnJr]

Eric N
I load and test the same way for my hunting rifles as I do my bench guns.
I use 2 ounce triggers in most of my guns because I am used to them. They also keep you from jerking the trigger a d disrupting the gun in the bags.
The biggest mistake I see on these forums is the shooters buy too much unneeded reloading equipment and they don't listen to the guys who can help them the most.

The high power scopes allow you to aim your rifle very precisely each shot.
A heavy duplex scope at 12 power covers up way too much of the target to shoot accurately.
I turn the necks on my hunting rifle brass and do my load work up with very simple equipment.
Don't vet me wrong I own three of everything ever made but none of it gets used.
It is very hard to beat a solid rest system because it takes the shooter out of the equation.

[HK Dave]

After reading everything you said Lynn, a few things come to mind.

1) So basically, just build a dedicated setup for load development... built a platform and permanently mount the front and rear rests to and just have at it?

2) I figure I can pick up one of the Bald Eagle rests, I'm guessing the cast iron would be better since it's heavier than the aluminum? Stick with the bags they sell specifically for them?

3) I have a few rifles I plan to load develop for, at least 4, so I'm guessing the idea of making the bag match up with the rifle stocks won't work since they're all the same. I wonder if they make something that wraps around the rifle stock and but has exterior dimensions to perfectly fit on the front rest.

4) My rifles range from 10 pounds to 20 or so pounds, but all run brakes, will this cause any issues with this setup we're talking about?

Thanks

[HK Dave]

Lynn, thank you for taking the time to post your knowledge and experience.
Sounds like Dave and I are in the same position, and your posts are a great help for me as well.
Are you going to the dark side Dave? Free recoil, rests, 2oz triggers, lr stocks?

Not going to into BR, just want the laziest way to load develop possible.

I sometimes miss the days of shooting all factory match, things were so much simpler then again, they were a lot more expensive as well. :P

[CSACANNONEER]

After reading everything you said Lynn, a few things come to mind.

1) So basically, just build a dedicated setup for load development... built a platform and permanently mount the front and rear rests to and just have at it?

2) I figure I can pick up one of the Bald Eagle rests, I'm guessing the cast iron would be better since it's heavier than the aluminum? Stick with the bags they sell specifically for them?

3) I have a few rifles I plan to load develop for, at least 4, so I'm guessing the idea of making the bag match up with the rifle stocks won't work since they're all the same. I wonder if they make something that wraps around the rifle stock and but has exterior dimensions to perfectly fit on the front rest.

4) My rifles range from 10 pounds to 20 or so pounds, but all run brakes, will this cause any issues with this setup we're talking about?

Thanks

I have seen many boards that get clamped to benches and have small index hole for front and rear rests. So, they do not need to be attached.

If you're interested and mechanically inclined, I have a very heavy homemade (I bought it) front rest that would work great once you design and fab up a clamping system to hold a front bag in place. If you're interested, I can take pictures of it tomorrow.

Like Lynn suggested, mount a front 3" (or larger depending on your rest) rail on each stock.

Brakes should not affect anything except for those on the benches next to you. LOL.

BTW, I personally don't like front rests with windage adjustments. I use to use one but decided against continuing using when I built the rest I'm currently using. I do all my windage adjustments with my rear rest (it's an Action Gun Works or Dierk's rest).

[LynnJr]

HKDave
You have it exactly right.
Make a dedicated set-up just for testing because it doesn't have to conform to the rules making it easier to build.
My Bald Eagles are both cast iron and we still use lead shot.
On the bags Edgewood and Protecktor both work and Protecktor will build any bag you want.
I use Edgewood bags and if they dont fit because the stock is something unusual I cut the ears off and take them down to a saddle shop. I have them spaced as I need them and sewn onto a piece of leather I then use Shoe Goo to attach the ears back onto the bag.
If you have sling swivels they make a product called an "accuracy asset" that lets you use one bag with all your stocks and they work very well.
I will try and post how I split the ears.Notice in the last three pictures that no matter what stock is used you can see the faint outline of clear stock tape. The tape allows the gun slide easier or break free easier from the bag. If the gun sticks you will get vertical in your groups.

[LynnJr]

csacannoneer
I posted a picture of my Dierks rest in an earlier post above and I also dont like windage adjustment on the front rest. You have to reach to far to make any adjustments.

[CSACANNONEER]

LynnJr,

What do you think of the new Protektor bags with the silver mat? I'm probably going to order one soon and run it dry instead of spraying Secret on it.

[LynnJr]

All the bag companys are making slicker bags now but I have not tried the silver mat.

I am using mainly Edgewood bags with powdered wax.

[Switchbarrel]

After reading everything you said Lynn, a few things come to mind.

2) I figure I can pick up one of the Bald Eagle rests, I'm guessing the cast iron would be better since it's heavier than the aluminum? Stick with the bags they sell specifically for them?

I did cast iron for that reason. I believe the bags they sell do have a "slicker" material vs. the Cordura bags you see elsewhere. Ask them if you place an order over the phone

3) I have a few rifles I plan to load develop for, at least 4, so I'm guessing the idea of making the bag match up with the rifle stocks won't work since they're all the same. I wonder if they make something that wraps around the rifle stock and but has exterior dimensions to perfectly fit on the front rest.

Something like this ?

http://www.rwhart.com/store/proddetail.asp?prod=RWH%2DN%2DAA

Or this?

http://www.whiddengunworks.com/product/track-plate/

-Rick

[HK Dave]

-Rick

Thanks for the replies... will call about their bags.

Those links you showed me are great... now that I know they exist, I'll start searching for some that will specifically connect to picatinny since all my rifles have pic instead of swivels.

[eric n]

Make sure you check the dimensions on your stock for the Hart asset, I have Sinclairs model and it will not fit on a manners t-2.