Bench rest for AR-type rifles?

[Dobervol]

As most of you know, the different configuration of AR-type rifles make some of the traditional, excellent shooting rests difficult, if not impossible to use, and the whole point is to make hitting the target easier.

I use a bipod for prone, but that makes up 20% or less of my shooting, so what do you folks with the AR-type rifles (I have the Stag Hunter 7 in 6.8 SPC) do for range/bench shooting?

A. Always use bipod only;

B. Front bag only;

C. Combo of bipod and rear bag;

D. Combo of adjustable front rest and bag rear;

E. Combo of front and rear bags;

F. Long rest w/lots of depth in the middle to allow the pistol grip and/or mag to clear;

G. Recoil reducing rest (for e.g., Caldwell’s “lead sledâ€); and/or

H. Something else

Please tell me what you use and why. Last, if you use one of the recoil reducing rests, how do you lug 25-75 lbs. of wt to the range along w/your rifle and the rest of your range gear?

I really appreciate any responses you folks can give me. If you’re like me, buying something like this usually involves a process of spending hundreds of dollars buying stuff you don’t like, won’t work, etc., before you find what you like, and I’d like to avoid it if possible.

[Guest Mugster]

D for me. I have a caldwell jr (i think thats what it is) adjustable front rest and just a regular sandbag for a rear bag. I carry about a 1' x 1' hunk of 2x8 to raise the rear bag up a little, and use a left hand squeeze under the buttstock to control elevation. The front rest has three legs on it and a bag attached with velcro straps. Can adjust it up/down by using a locking ring and it has a good range of adjustment. At the time, I ordered it sight unseen, but it works pretty good. It's pretty stable, but a true benchrester would chuckle at it probably. 20/10/5 round mags help, just don't use a 30.

My one word opinion of bipods is "useless" but they seem to sell a bunch of them. I use one occasionally at the range and I think I used it once for groundhog. I'd rather carry a sandbag or 2 filled full of corncob media, even on a long hike, if I was going to shoot prone from a blind.

For something usefull to shoot off from sitting or standing look at shooting sticks. They work great, easy enough to tote around.

[Westwindmike]

D for me too. Almost exactly what Mugster said.

Bipods are cool, but they bounce too much for me. I'd rather shoot over bags, or in the field, a backpack.

[Guest Matchguy]

D for me too. Works with rifles and carbines as well. I carry several plywood blocks of different thickness about 8" square to add elevation to either end as needed.....our ranges are slightly uphill and, depending on which range you shoot on, you may have to compensate for the grade with a block or two under the forend rest or butt bag.

JP

Edited June 10, 2009 by Matchguy

[Dobervol]

Thanks, guys. "D" is what I was already thinking, but at the range, you see a little bit of everything. Placed a Midway order for a Caldwell Deluxe front rest, a plastic carry case and a rear bag.

[Guest BillOfRightsFan]

I've only shot with option B.