shooting rests any recommendations?

[VA_varminter]

Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone has some highly recommended shooting rests out there.

These are a couple I have heard of the MTM case guard ones, Caldwell lead sled and Caldwell The Rock, Shooting and I read the gunblast article on the Target Shooting Incorporated Gun Rest both models 500 and 1000 by wally brownlee.

I have never had a rest so am looking for recommendations whatever they may be....
sandbags in front and rear.....
front rest with rear sandbags.....
front bipods......
shooting sticks.......
one piece rests like the MTM.....

one pc rests like the Target Shooting Incorporated Gun Rest where the front swivels and can be used as a one piece front rest........

I am trying to zero in my rifles small and medium bore but haven't used anything besides the wooden window frames at the range and I don't know how accurate those results are. In any case I would mainly be using the rest for zeroing and varminting purposes (groundhogs) while sitting on a chair or bench.

I assume that in a walk and stalk or call (coyotes etc.) I would have to stick to a bipod, shooting sticks, my knee or a tree branch for a rifle rest.

Thanks in advance from a newbie.

 

[fdkay]

Caldwell makes several good shooting rests from the basic rock JR (about 35 bucks) up to the competition model (about 150). I depends on the range, how much room do you have on the bench? You need to look at the footprint of the rest. The case guard plastic one is a big beasties, although light. I have a bipod, don't use it much, they are quite expensive for marginal support. There are so many options out there, just look on the Midway site. There is nothing wrong with just a couple of good sand bags, but they only seem to come in two sizes for me, too short and too tall.

 

[Val]

I use a Wichita front rest. It's very heavy for stability and has a very fine adjustment for moving the muzzle up and down. I use a sand filled leather bag on the rear. I get some pretty tight groups using this rest.

 

[billt]

I purchased a Bald Eagle Windage Front Rest a few years back, and have never looked back. It wasn't cheap, but quality usually isn't. The rest is beautifully machined and crafted, and has almost infinate adjustment. I purchased mine from Precision Reloading, but I believe you can buy them direct. Bill T.

 

[huntley]

I've had a Sinclair Rest (http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=RIBBRICO&type=store) for about two years, and it's great. They make the top of the rest in both a Left Hand and Right Hand model. You would get the front bag with the rest, and then a Protektor Bunny Ear Bag is what I have for a rear rest. It's more money than the MTM, but you'll find that it's a better product (like the Bald Eagle). THe adjustments are smoother and easier to use. There are more adjustments, and it will likely be heavier, which makes a big difference. I've had a number of rests over the years, and I've upgraded over time. I've found that accuracy has improved every time I've done an upgrade.