Bench rests with a vice, when shooting for "zero"

[Mr Blu]

Is there a bench rest/vice grip setup that one could use to lock down the rifle on a bench at the range, in order for the rifle to have minimal movement when fired???

I know it's kind of a lazy way of getting a zero, but I'm getting frustrated at the range. I can't seem to be able to confirm a zero. I either screw up my fundamentals because I'm tired after having been at the range for 5+ hours, or I run out of ammo before I've accomplished the goal.

Is there a way of "locking down" the rifle so all I have to do is load the round, aim the cross hairs, then pull the trigger???

I apologize if this seems like a "noob" question, but I feel like I'm getting nowhere and fast.



EDIT :

WOW. I just reread my original post and I completely forgot to mention hand loads.

What I'm trying to do is find a way of testing hand loads, with the least amount of input from me. That way, when I find the load my rifle likes, I can get back to the fundamentals. Knowing that if anything goes wrong, it was my fault.

I apologize for the misunderstanding.

I have plenty of shooting knowledge. I was an 11B for 8 years. The problem is that I'm reloading for a bolt action for precision shooting. As a result, almost nothing I learned in the Army, other than basic shooting fundamentals, crosses over.

[baih777]

yes

[Mr Blu]

yes

OK.

What is it and where can I find it???

[Merc1138]

OK.

What is it and where can I find it???

Start looking here:

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?sortby=1&itemsperpage=24&newcategorydimensionid=3941

You don't need something that actually locks down the rifle. A basic front rest and a rear bag will be plenty for a zero. You mention being at the range for 5+ hours... getting your zero takes a couple of minutes.



You can do this even off of just a basic front sandbag, or even a block of wood if your forend is shaped in a way that would let you do it.

[baih777]

OK.

What is it and where can I find it???

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=shooting+rest

[NorCalFocus]

I use a Bi-pod and a rice bag for the rear. Honestly if you can't zero your gun off that......

What else are you doing leading up to trying to zero the gun? Is it new? New scope? What are you shooting off of now?

[kcjr1125]

I use a Bi-pod and a rice bag for the rear. Honestly if you can't zero your gun off that......

What else are you doing leading up to trying to zero the gun? Is it new? New scope? What are you shooting off of now?

Rice bag? Was this a typo or for real? Not being sarcastic or anything just want to know if this would really work or not. Thx

[Gun_Smoke]

It's a bad that molds to the gun but also is sturdy enough to support it.

If you are spending 5+ hours zeroing your gun you are either doing it wrong our have the worst case of trigger jerk in the world.

If you aren't getting impacts on your target move it in 50 yards and take a 3 shots if you still dont have impacts move it into 25 and take 3 shots. From there make corrections then bring it back out to 100. You shouldn't need anything more than a bag to rest the gun on to get a zero a vice is way overkill.

Where are you located? I am sure someone would be happy to teach you how to zero your rifle, if you are in So Cal you can pm me.

[russ69]

You don't want to use a clamp device to zero a gun. Your gun's zero will depend on how it's supported. In fact the gun doesn't have a zero, you have a zero (but let's not get into that). Sandbags are the easiest support to use for establishing a working zero for a rested gun.
You sound like you are new to shooting. I think this is a case where you could use some good instruction. Next time you go shooting at the range, look for a guy that is shooting really small groups and ask if he can help you out. Most guys will stop shooting and get you started on the right path. I get asked all the time, it only takes a few minutes to get a guy going.

[Mr Blu]

You mention being at the range for 5+ hours... getting your zero takes a couple of minutes.

Not when you're trying to find a load that's consistent for the intended purpose.

That's why I want the bench rest setup, so I can remove any/all outside impact on the rifle before firing.

I'm worried that I've actually found the load I need, but my damned body keeps screwing it up some how because my precision shooting fundamentals aren't "built up" enough yet.

Once I find the load I need, I can get back to the fundamentals.

I would use factory/store bought ammo, but the only ammo available is either crappy ball ammo or really expensive ammo online like Lapua or something like that.

The way I'm looking at it, I could either spend lots of money on quality range ammo for fundamentals, thus taking the chance of "compensating" for a load my rifle doesn't like (building bad habits or have a bad zero in the process) and still not know what load my rifle likes, or I can figure out what load my rifle likes and then work on fundamentals, knowing that anything that goes wrong is my fault.

Simply put, this situation is a "puzzle/problem" I'm trying to solve, with the most efficient means possible.

I hope that describes my situation much clearer.

[Raralith]

I've got a Caldwell Lead Sled that works pretty well for 22LR up to 223, but will jump when shooting 308. It works very well at taking the human factor out of the equation so it's useful in zeroing in a scope, but also load development since I reload. I've stopped using it since it's just too heavy to lug around with my rifles, and I shoot just as well with a bipod and sandbag for the rear.

Also, it seems like you are having a lot more problems than keeping your rifle at zero. Get a target that has MOA 1/4 click ranges that is based on your yardage. Shoot 3 rounds, find the group, and dial in from there. Beyond that, it seems you have a lot of "fundamental" problems like how to look through a scope, proper breathing, jerking the trigger, or a number of other possible problems. I'd maybe consider taking a class? Asking for some help?

[Mr Blu]

I use a Bi-pod and a rice bag for the rear. Honestly if you can't zero your gun off that......

What else are you doing leading up to trying to zero the gun? Is it new? New scope? What are you shooting off of now?

I'm using a bipod/sand bag setup, but I'm trying to find a load my rifle likes. What my problem is, is that my precision shooting habits aren't built up yet. As a result, me not being focused enough could be screwing up my shots.

The end result could be me having already found the load my rifle likes, but because I was either too tired to focus right or I simply got "spooked" by something while at the range, I haven't noticed.

I'm on paper with a 1.25" MOA, but I've seen myself do better, but it was with a factory sniper load I found in Washington. This tells me that my shooting style isn't working and is detracting from my load tests.

That's why I want the bench rest setup. It's so I can find the load my rifle likes and then work on the fundamentals later, knowing that if anythign goes wrong it's my fault.

[Mr Blu]

It's a bad that molds to the gun but also is sturdy enough to support it.

If you are spending 5+ hours zeroing your gun you are either doing it wrong our have the worst case of trigger jerk in the world.

If you aren't getting impacts on your target move it in 50 yards and take a 3 shots if you still dont have impacts move it into 25 and take 3 shots. From there make corrections then bring it back out to 100. You shouldn't need anything more than a bag to rest the gun on to get a zero a vice is way overkill.

Where are you located? I am sure someone would be happy to teach you how to zero your rifle, if you are in So Cal you can pm me.

I know how to zero. My problem is that I'm trying to find a load my rifle likes and I'm worried that my lack of "precision shooting" habits aren't built in yet. All my shooting habits are from infantryman training, which is AR style shooting while on the move.

TOTALLY different situation. I'm not worried about hitting something past 100m on any regular basis, so the long range habits for a bolt action aren't there.

[CSACANNONEER]

Any quality front and rear rest (not just bags) can be used for a one shot zero at any distance. Lead sleds are one of the simplest and inexpensive set ups. Also, it's not lazy to use a rest system, it's flat out smart. If done properly, you're taking more variables out of the equation.

I use a Bi-pod and a rice bag for the rear. Honestly if you can't zero your gun off that......

What else are you doing leading up to trying to zero the gun? Is it new? New scope? What are you shooting off of now?

Ignorance is bliss, isn't it. Sorry, but wasting time and ammo zeroing a rifle off a bipod is far from the best way to do it. Yea, it works but, it takes more time and more ammo than doing it with a front and rear rest system. Who cares what he's doing? I zero my rifle every time I shoot it at a different distance, location or switch loads. It only takes one round so, why not?

[M1NM]

Lead sled - but you do need to reaim after each shot. You can't just clamp the rifle in a vise without damaging the stock. You could also get some type of remote trigger release that would fix yanking the trigger.