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Front Rests

ScottVA

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 20, 2012
46
1
61
What type or style front rest are you guys shooting an M40A1 type rifle off of? I'm looking to zero this rifle and want a good steady front rest. Thanks, Scott
 
Re: Front Rests

You would be surprised how well you can drive a rifle from a front bipod and a good rear bag. Lots of rests to choose from and they can get very pricey. As far as rests go it's how far you want to dig down in your pocket for 1.
 
Re: Front Rests

The Caldwell Rock BR, is a very sturdy rest for the price. The key though, is in the front bag, get one to fit your stock.
All total, about $200.00.
Like the first guy said, I've shot my best groups with a Atlas bipod, and good rear bag.
 
Re: Front Rests

You should Zero the rifle how you will be shooting the rifle.
If you shoot from a rest, by all means zero from a rest.
If you shoot from a bipod then you should zero from a bipod.
 
Re: Front Rests

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You should Zero the rifle how you will be shooting the rifle.
If you shoot from a rest, by all means zero from a rest.
If you shoot from a bipod then you should zero from a bipod.
</div></div>

+1, trying to shoot the smallest group ever should be done with a rest, but like said above, if you shoot in the field from a bipod, zero from a bipod. My buddies rifle has a 1" poi change at 100 yards when switching from rest to bipod.
 
Re: Front Rests

So what is meant by 'drive the rifle from the bipod'?
 
Re: Front Rests

Fuck that. Eliminate as many variables as possible while trying to zero the rifle, even if you have to use a front rest and a rear bag. If you suck at shooting from a bipod, etc. then you know you need to work on your mechanics.

I think.....
laugh.gif
 
Re: Front Rests

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MH64</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So what is meant by 'drive the rifle from the bipod'?</div></div> It's like driving a car. Their are right ways and bad ways to shooting ( firearms ). Having a rifle built by APA, Mike Bush and so forth is great in having a rifle that is able to shoot those tiny bughole groups. But if you don't do your part in shooting ( driving ) the rifle it's not going to achieve those tiny bughole groups that it can do. I belong to a nice club that is geared to shooting all type matches ( rifles, pistols )and through the years have been blessed with having them to learn and gain knowledge from. I was always told that the one,s easiest to train and teach are the green one,s that have not picked up a bunch of bad habits. If you can join a club or get with seasoned people they seem to always go out of their way to help in any way they can.
 
Re: Front Rests

Then call up the BEST machinist out there and build a rifle version of the Ransom rest.

The QbQ is do you have the ability to shoot the rifle as tight as it is capable of being fired? This is not intended to slight you in particular and if you are asking these questions you would likely drive a 1/2 MOA rifle in the 1MOA range based on the initial question.

I would strongly recommend you consider getting some training to begin to realize the mechanical potential of your rifle.


LOVE YA PAPA......
 
Re: Front Rests

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
LOVE YA PAPA......
</div></div>

At least someone does.
grin.gif
 
Re: Front Rests

There's no need to get overly fancy, or spend a lot of $ if you don't want to. I personally get great results with just resting the rifle's forend on a sandbag, & grasping the rear sling swivel, using my hand as a support.
I've been shooting that way LONG prior to owning a bipod, with great results... 1/4 - 1/2 MOA. Both prone, & on a bench.

As long as your technique is repeatable for you, with whatever tools/assistance that you choose to use, you should get good results. Assuming you have the basics down to begin with that is.
 
Re: Front Rests

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the help. I am a former 1000 yard BR competitor and I am familiar with the various rests and techniques. My concern I guess is in the fact that an M40A1 is a hunting style rifle and very barrel heavy. I wasn't sure if the regular front rests have a wide enough base to properly support a narrow forend where benchrest rifles essentially are 3-8" wide. According to what I'm hearing, the mechanical rests will do fine. Thanks, again.
 
Re: Front Rests

It sounds like you already have a rest and what you might need and if so i would use it. You can take a small rest bag ( flat ) and fill it with sand but not all the way. Lay it over the top bag on your rest. With the weight of the heavy barrel the forend will sink into it and conform to your stock and make it stable and keep it from rolling side to side. For me the rear rabbit ear bag is a pain in the ass unless i am shooting for little groups and having alot less contact with the rifle. I just use a large sand bag. It sounds like you know whats going on and sure you will finds something to fill your needs.
 
Re: Front Rests

I use a Rock JR rest, but only to develop loads. I zero off the bidod, where 99% of my shooting is from.
 
Re: Front Rests

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ScottVA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks, guys. I appreciate the help. I am a former 1000 yard BR competitor and I am familiar with the various rests and techniques. My concern I guess is in the fact that an M40A1 is a hunting style rifle and very barrel heavy. I wasn't sure if the regular front rests have a wide enough base to properly support a narrow forend where benchrest rifles essentially are 3-8" wide. According to what I'm hearing, the mechanical rests will do fine. Thanks, again. </div></div>

ScottVA,
I have fired 2 different McM HTG/ADG's off of a Randolph with the adjustable top and they work and track pretty well. The HTG has a flat bottom so that is a plus as far as the "hunting" style stocks go. Of course they will not track as good as the wider flat forearms and if you have a hard kicker it will probably torque in the rest. A 6.5 Creedmoor I currently have in the HTG/ADG (Rem 700 SA with a Krieger VS contour) does not torque and tracks smoothly enough. It ain't a bench gun, but it thinks it is!
 
Re: Front Rests

Awesome I ideas, guys. Yes, I have some high dollar rests, both for my light guns and also for my heavy guns. But as y'all stated, those things are different animals. I use joystick rests now, but would prefer a mechanical rest for the Mcmillan narrow hunting stock. So, i though I'd pick your brains a little. Thanks so much for the advice and suggestions.