Pistol Shooting From A Rest

[Mister Coffee]

Anyone here use a rest for pistol shooting? I'm not talking about a Ransom Rest. I'm thinking of something like a sandbag rest, a mono pod, bipod or tripod (don't even know if they make pods for pistols) or even a table and chair. Are there particular ranges that are good for pistol shooting from a rest? (I'm in SoCal.)

I want to shoot from a rest in order to take my own error out of the equation so that I can check out my ammo.

Thanks.

[uhlan1]

I do on all my red dots before a competition to ensure they are where they should be. Or whenever I change out iron sights.

[Mister Coffee]

Oaktree , as far as I know, isn't set up for shooting from a rest. Is anyplace else in SoCal?

[russ69]

I use a Protektor rear rifle bag (bunny ear). Works perfectly. If you shoot a wheel gun, you'll want to put a towel over the bag or it will get pretty dirty from the crap that comes out of the gap.

[Jimi Jah]

I often use my caldwell bags for pistol shooting. Sometimes you need to remove a variable to site the gun.

[1bulletBarney]

I'll shoot from a rest using a Caldwell bag when working up handgun reloads...

[CSACANNONEER]

Anyone here use a rest for pistol shooting? I'm not talking about a Ransom Rest. I'm thinking of something like a sandbag rest, a mono pod, bipod or tripod (don't even know if they make pods for pistols) or even a table and chair. Are there particular ranges that are good for pistol shooting from a rest? (I'm in SoCal.)

I want to shoot from a rest in order to take my own error out of the equation so that I can check out my ammo.

Thanks.

I don't know of any range that doesn't allow this. However, just shooting off a rest does not take the human error out of the equation. It can minimize it depending on the quality of the rest system and the techniques used by the shooter. But, if one does not know what he/she is doing, it can give false results due to improper use.

[MrSam]

Only to sight in an optic, if applicable. I believe amazon has a tripod/monopod rest that looks like it would work well for pistols.

[Khromo]

I use one of the big front rest Caldwell bags intended for rifles when I am working up accurate handgun loads. I rest my wrists on the two bumps on the top of the bag, so the gun itself doesn't touch the bag. Elbows planted firmly on the bench. The point of impact will be very close with and without the rest.

I can get good results using this method. I've used the Shooter's Ridge rest, but heavier loads don't seem to work as well with this rest. I believe it is because there is too much contact between the gun and the rest, and it is much harder to get consistent pressure and recoil when testing heavy loads. The Shooter's Ridge rest does seem to work fine with lighter target loads.

Resting wrists on a ruck might be the most effective method I've found. I've double checked results with a friend's Ransom and with a little work, the ruck can produce very good results. That's using the ruck to support the wrists and forearms, without contacting the handgun.

[Jimi Jah]

Once I was using my Caldwell front bag with my AR-15 7.5" pistol. I wasn't watching close enough and sure as sh*t, I fired through the top of the bag with a 5.56 round.

The fireball burned about a 2" hole in the front of the bag, the exit wound was .223 sized. I ended up dropping it in front of the checkout area at Iron Sites and I spilled a bunch of filler on the floor. I meekly exited the place.

[Khromo]

Well, Jimi, look on the bright side:

1. The Caldwell bag didn't cost much, and

2. Now you know what is inside those bags!

[Jimi Jah]

A little dirt and some duct tape and it's good as new, just looks like sh*t. Amazing what a 5.56 fireball can burn through.

[AGFNTB]

I have a Caldwell Steady Rest NXT that I use when verifying sights. It is cheap, but works. I've used it at FT3 indoor range in Stanton many times. It is convenient there as they have chairs to make it easy.

The pistol part looks like this

[ck475]

I have a Caldwell Steady Rest NXT that I use when verifying sights. It is cheap, but works. I've used it at FT3 indoor range in Stanton many times. It is convenient there as they have chairs to make it easy.

The pistol part looks like this

Looks good. Can you fill it with sand?

[AGFNTB]

Looks good. Can you fill it with sand?

It is hollow plastic, but stable. The grip rests on the black pad and the front of the frame rests on the adjustable stand. Very stable.