Shooting rests?

[hanover67]

I've been thinking about buying some front and rear bag-type shooting rests but have been put off by user complaints about quality, durability, and usefullness. So, I thought I'd ask my fellow Calguns members what they use and what might be the best buy. I don't want a rigid, benchrest type frame, but rather separate front and rear "rabbit ears" type bags.

[Izzy43]

Here's some info for choosing shooting bags. http://blog.sinclairintl.com/2009/06...sing-sandbags/

I use a Protector leather rear bag with bunny ears. It's important that the rear bag have a flat bottom. Some inexpensive ones have rounded bottoms that tend to let the rifle rock side to side when shooting, not good. I can't help with a front bag as I use a Caldwell Rock BenchRest in the front. I do know that the Caldwell shooting bags such as they have at Turners are OK for casual target shooting but will not work well for precision shooting, especially if you are shooting for bughole groups.

Here is one front bag: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/227...her-tan-filled

Here is a rear bag:http://www.midwayusa.com/product/433...her-tan-filled

The rear bag does not have a flat bottom so you may experience some rocking of the butt end of the rifle. This can be minimized by removing some of the sand. The Protector rear bags with a hard bottom run about $100.

Here is one example: http://www.sinclairintl.com/shooting...9101725_d_5691

[Yoteman]

I have the set up that Izzy43 shows from midwayusa.
I shoot 22-250 Target Varmint Ruger 77 MKII. and lots of bolt, pump and semi .22's
I also like my Hughes Ballistic Bag but that's not what you're looking for.

[BSlacker]

I've been thinking about buying some front and rear bag-type shooting rests but have been put off by user complaints about quality, durability, and usefullness.

The Protektor and Edgewood bags are the best quality. Unlike the simple bags by Caldwell and others these have many features that help shooters steady their firearm when used with a solid front rest.
Depending on what type of surface and style you shoot from, seated bench, prone from the ground, etc. You will want to consider the front rest being more adjustable, and solid. Like the Caldwell "Rock". The rear rest is more of a "bag".
If shooting from a bench at your favorite range take a measurement of the bench height and any slope out to the target. Set that up at home and get your bag/target height worked out. The rifle should be level when lined up on target. The better bag companies will list the height in some way. You want to be able to get behind the gun with comfort. Everyone is different in seat height and height above the table surface requirements. Short bags maybe to close to the table tall bags maybe to far away so mock it up off range and check out the bag heights before you spend the money for quality bags (EdgeWood is quality stuff ).

I don't want a rigid, benchrest type frame, but rather separate front and rear "rabbit ears" type bags.

There are different width between rabbit ears as well as different height ears. Front bags work well for casual/plinking and some position shooting but for more serious shooting a solid front rest with adjustability will work well.
Look at the options at EdgeWood. Get a elbow rest as well. Fill with crushed walnut shells. Sand tends to leak out and get on the rifle from the cheap bags. Rice filling will attract rats in your house or garage. Plus your bags will smell nice on a warm day, think walnut cookies.

http://www.edgebag.com/

[hanover67]

Thanks for the info on shooting bags. I checked out the various types mentioned and I think the Protecktor line is more my speed that the more expensive models. I need bags for sighting in/zeroing my rifles, so something simple, but well made is the what I want. Now I have to figure out how to tote 20 or 30 pounds of sand with all the other gear to the range.

[Capt.Dunsel]

Thanks for the info on shooting bags. I checked out the various types mentioned and I think the Protecktor line is more my speed that the more expensive models. I need bags for sighting in/zeroing my rifles, so something simple, but well made is the what I want. Now I have to figure out how to tote 20 or 30 pounds of sand with all the other gear to the range.

Fill em with walnut litter from your local pet store , the kind you get for reptiles or use in a tumbler.Its lighter than sand and works great. And doesn't weigh 20 or 30 lbs.

[BSlacker]

Now I have to figure out how to tote 20 or 30 pounds of sand with all the other gear to the range.

You don't need that much weight for one bag. A large Caldwell Tack Driver bag which is about as big as they come, so big you may not need a rear bag, will weigh about 16lb filled with ground Walnut shells. The next smaller bag from Caldwell will weight about 8lb filled. 24lbs and you have two bags ready to go. Sand bag is a generic old term don't use sand.

[Yoteman]

Dump the sand! Lizard liter walnut, corn media, or my favorite....... poly beads.