Bought a new Howa Hunter bolt action with walnut stock in 6.5 Creedmor with Vortex 4-12X Diamondback scope and went to sight it in at the range and using my range bag for a rest but couldn't get very steady or comfortable. I once owned a REALLY heavy steel front rest but it was so darn heavy I got rid of it, then I bought a plastic type of rifle rest that was so light it was worthless. Also my sand bags would get a leak or the suede leather would get wet and moldy so I was wondering what rest other guys used to sight in their rifles. I'm not looking to win a benchrest shooting contest and don't need a Lead Sled for heavy kicking guns just something solid to sight in a scope and find an accurate load?

I find sand bags to be the thing. Just keep 'em dry so they don't mold! If they tear, be more careful. I shoot 1" MOA with my hunting rifle and handloads off a larger bag in front and a small one to the rear. Easy to settle into. The rifle is a Rem Model 700 in 30-06 with a Vortex V-II 2-6X, wood stock, early '80's - nothing fancy, but deadly.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

Instead of sand I started using these Poly Pellets. They will not absorb moisture like sand, rice or beans. They are small enough that they can be inserted into traditional "sand" bags with a normal funnel. These can be purchased at some hobby shops, fabric shops and I got my last 'large" bag via Amazon.

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I've yet to find anything better than a Hart pedestal front rest with a Protektor 1.5" wide leather bag. The rest weighs around 20 lbs. with the bag and won't move around on the bench. I use a Protektor bunny bag for a rear rest. I've used mine for more than thirty years. You won't outgrow this setup and won't wish you had something better.

I use cloth 25 pound shot bags filled with sand and tie the end with string. Larry

"The Perfect Front Rest", is an illusive unicorn!

I have 3 types of bipods, 6 to 8 types/sizes of sandbags!

3 totally different types of metal rests and about 6 little hags the fit the
front saddle!

One of the problems is what friends call "Back Blast". This is muzzle blast that reflects into the front area of the stock, rest, and barrel. It is totally different on wood and concrete benches (but is still there!) I have seen it mitigated if not overcome by, blankets, carpets and or foam pads. But I have yet to find any combination agreed on by two competent shooters!

When searching for the best combo for you, (Just like any scientific experiment) You will need a "Control". That would be a known rifle of a medium recoil and a large supply of reasonably well shooting ammo. A 308 or one of the 6mm or 6.5's should do fine. You'll need to record and keep notes on all the environmental, and other equipment variables, as well as how you feel.

I found the Sinclair Tactical Bipod to be most effective on grass and dirt surfaces when shooting prone.

But I never found a bipod that worked well from a concrete bench! Wood benches and tables have a lot of variables. I have been taking my own portable bench to the 200 yard state range because no two of their benches are in equal condition and there is no guarantee you can get the same bench twice!

In my 22 RF shooting, I had a 6000 round lot of "Federal Gold Medal Target" it is fair to better shooting and most 22 rifles will shoot it well. I record how every 22 rifle I own shoots that lot of ammo. and every shooting session starts with me shooting a group so I can compare Me to Me on a good day. If I'm having a bad day, no sense doing anything but fun plinking! at least until after lunch I will try again to see if I got any better. I have an AR and a Bolt gun in 223, I can do that with too. I keeps the "Me Factor" as a "known" instead of as a wildcard!

Ivan

Bipods are fine for some uses like hunting and very informal target shooting, but if you're seriously interested in evaluating your rifle's accuracy, a solid rest works far better. You won't see benchrest shooters using bipods.

Bench shooters sometimes use a Sinclair International "F Class" Bi-pod. the don't fold up! and both sides are independently height adjustable to obtain a "Level" gun on uneven surfaces. They run $225-250. The "Tactical Bi-pod" folds up and is adjustable on several axis' and runs about the same.

Harris bipods are very good in the models that "lock-in". The Caldwell copies are junk for informal usage and a total waste of time for serious sighting!

Remember: IN ALL THINGS SHOOTING, GRAVITY IS AT THE CENTER OF THE EARTH! KEEP AS CLOSE TO IT AS YOU CAN! Use the shortest bipod that fits the situation! I usually prefer to shoot prone to at a bench.

But if you are going to be hunting, you will need to be able to shoot a 3" group at distance standing up! unsupported! somewhere around 150 to 200 yards. Grapefruit, large tomatoes and cans of soda make great reaction targets for this! (my kids hated this part, until they saw how bad most people are, and they were good at it)

Long winded Ivan.

I have gotten some pretty good groups using bipods (Harris) on my rifles from the bench, and they have worked well for me in the field woodchuck sniping at longer ranges as well.

But day in and day out, in my opinion, nothing beats a good bag system from the bench for real accuracy. Using nylon bags with a leather face, as well as synthetic fill minimizes mold. A good, heavy cast iron adjustable front rest with a bag that fits your forend shape works well, but like you said, it is heavy, and can be a pain to carry to the range.

I have maybe 7 or 8 bags of various shapes and heights, and use them in various combinations, depending on the height of the bench, seat, and gun being used. I consider the set up good when the gun sits on the bags in close alignment with the target, allowing me to squeeze the rear bag for fine adjustments to scope alignment. Steady enough to give me 5 shot groups just a hair over 1 inch at 300 yards just yesterday at the range with my 6.5 cm Bergara.

Larry

6.5 Centimeter Bergara? A 2 1/2" Rifle? That sounds like a lot of fun! But how do you measure a 1" group!

Ivan

I have a heavy steel bench at my range. I have always made up my own sandbags from cloth shot bags, have dozens of them. They will last forever, I have worn out only a couple of them.

Being a welder, I built a heavy metal stand for the rifle stock and also for my pistols to use at the rifle range, off of the cement tables, that would not slide around .

All the pistol shooting trashed my carpet that I used to protect my rifle stocks and it will be refitted with a new section of carpet soon....... and I will protect it from the cylinder blast from the revolvers in the future.

Here is a picture of my unit w/o the carpet protection.

This is a timely post for me! I have just started to use some cheap bags rather than just a "rest" of sorts. What a humbling experience. I just bought a really cheap set of bags at WM, (where else?) and some of the plastic pellets shown in a post above.

We were going to the range this morning, but it started to rain about 7 am and hasn't let up yet.

Keep the "how too" posts coming!

Have a blessed day,

Leon

I've sighted in rifles over the hood of my pick-up truck. I've sighted in three rifles in a couple hours one day. You need a couple blankets or jackets. If you have a place to shoot where you can set something up all the better, as you mentioned you are not going for benchrest accuracy...minute of deer is more the order of the day.