Benchrest for Load Development

[HK Dave]

Yap, gonna have to measure out my stocks to see the size I need. I bet the sizing is gonna be all over the place.

[LynnJr]

You can get one made out of PTFE or Delrin from any Tap Plastics store. Just give them the dimensions you want and they will router you one in a couple minutes time.
Edit: They are cheaper than the store bought models and will fit any stock you can come up with.

[HK Dave]

All my rifle stocks are almost exactly the same width, lucky me... all are around 2" to 2 1/4" so I think i'll pick up the 2 1/4" front bag they have.

Question is, what rear bag would i get? How does one go about selecting that?

[LynnJr]

If your buttstocks are thin get a rabbit ear rear bag with the tall ears as it will keep your rifle from torquing in the bags.
If your buttstocks are thick and shallow get the wider spaced short bunny ear rear bags.
The protecktor rear bags are generally square and with a soft bottom. If you get one of that style you don't pack the bottom portion solid with sand you just fill it up.
If you get there DR bag which has a hard bottom so the bag doesn't bulge or round out you would fill it tight with sand.
If the ears are short like bunny ears are you pack them tight with sand.
If your ears are tall like rabbit ears are you pack them so they best fit your stock.

Edgewood bags are square long and alligator in length.
If your a rear bag squeezer you get the square bag. If you shoot free recoil with a light recoiling rifle you get the longer bag so it doesnt move on the bench because it holds twice as much sand.
If your shooting a big bloomer you get the gator bag which holds about 20 pounds of black heavy sand or more do to its very long length.
If you can get Zircon sand for your bags get it. It is heavier than playground sand and non clumping if it gets moist or wet.
If your not competing you can fill your rear bag with lead shot.
If you buy a bag and don't like how it fits your stock the ears can be removed from the lower section and adjusted to the width you prefer by splitting them in two and reattaching them with shoe goop.
A solid shooting platform will improve your groups.

[HK Dave]

Thanks Lynn.

Being that the 3 stocks I'm primarily using are an AI AT stock, JAE 700 Stock, and a Manners T6A, they are 3/4" or more. I'll pick up the Bald Eagle 7" 3/4" slot.

Will also find some shot locally and fill them with shot instead of Zircon.

[LynnJr]

HKDave
Are your buttstocks 3/4 inch wide?
I shoot the Shehane ST1000 stocks that are 3/4 inch wide and they require an Edgewood bag.
In looking at the Manners T6A it looks like a copy of Dave Tooleys Tooley MBR from McMillan which takes the standard rabbit ear rear bag.
Also if your for ends are rounded and not flat the front bag is called the rdius bag.
On the Bald Eagle rest top you order it by the forend width and they will allow for the bag width.
So if your for end is 2 1/4 inches wide the top will be about 5 inches wide so it can hold several different bag sizes.

[HK Dave]

The Manners T6A rear is 3/4" wide at the bottom then tapers out to about 1" or more as it goes up.



The AI and JAE Stocks are both closer to 1" at the rear.

They are all flat bottom... sort of... the AI and JAE stocks were obviously never intended to use on a rest by the design from what I can tell. When I shoot tactical style, I run a simple TAB gear at the rear so I never have given that part much thought except that I like a hook. They are not exactly flat but they are more flat than they are anything else I suppose.

Here are a couple of photos of the AI and JAE stocks.

This is the rear of the JAE Stock:



This is the rear of the AI Stock:



This looks to be the correct front bag right? Being that all three stocks come in at around 2" at the forend.

http://www.bullets.com/products/2-1-4-Front-Bag/BE1123

[thomashoward]

all I've ever needed for bags. Not a competition shooter.These bags work well for target as well as varmint. heavy, filled with shredded plastic stable on the bench
http://www.dog-gone-good.com/Bags can be shipped empty, or filled at the factory for a small fee. Filled bags also require an extra $5 packaging fee. The bags can be filled with polypropylene regrind which can be found where plastic is recycled (check yellow pages under plastic). Large bags will weigh about 22 lbs., medium bags about 13 lbs, small bags will weigh about 10 lbs. Ground walnut tumbling media will weigh about the same as polypropylene. Sand will weigh 60 lbs. in the large bag and about 45 lbs. in the medium, and the small bag will weigh about 30 lbs. For a light weight filling Buckwheat hulls can be obtained at a feed store and the large bag will weigh 6 lbs., and the small bag will weigh less than 3 lbs.

[LynnJr]

HKDave
I must have been looking at the wrong stock. The Manners T6A I looked up didn't look like that.
The best rear bag for a 3/4 inch rear is the Edgewood with the Shehane ST1000 spacing.
It looks to me like you have it all right. Let me know how it works out.
Setting up a rest system is very important to great accuracy and you are headed in the right direction.
Lynn

[HK Dave]

all I've ever needed for bags. Not a competition shooter.These bags work well for target as well as varmint. heavy, filled with shredded plastic stable on the bench
http://www.dog-gone-good.com/Bags can be shipped empty, or filled at the factory for a small fee. Filled bags also require an extra $5 packaging fee. The bags can be filled with polypropylene regrind which can be found where plastic is recycled (check yellow pages under plastic). Large bags will weigh about 22 lbs., medium bags about 13 lbs, small bags will weigh about 10 lbs. Ground walnut tumbling media will weigh about the same as polypropylene. Sand will weigh 60 lbs. in the large bag and about 45 lbs. in the medium, and the small bag will weigh about 30 lbs. For a light weight filling Buckwheat hulls can be obtained at a feed store and the large bag will weigh 6 lbs., and the small bag will weigh less than 3 lbs.

This was my original idea actually, but after talking to Lynn, I think I'm going to go with the tripod idea and make the sucker as heavy as possible.

Appreciate your input though.

[HK Dave]

HKDave
I must have been looking at the wrong stock. The Manners T6A I looked up didn't look like that.
The best rear bag for a 3/4 inch rear is the Edgewood with the Shehane ST1000 spacing.
It looks to me like you have it all right. Let me know how it works out.
Setting up a rest system is very important to great accuracy and you are headed in the right direction.
Lynn

Appreciate it Lynn. Going to order it all up and try it out. Looking forward to it.