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Another Hellbender creation

wheelchairman

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 5, 2008
119
0
Lebanon Mo
I have met several of you at local shooting competitions and been friends with Hellbender for the last few months. For those that don't know me, I'm Keith and use a wheelchair for distance due to a spinal cord injury. I'm actually fused from my pelvis to my skull. Due to this, I can not go prone. This has led to various adaptations to shooting style and aids. All of which Brad aka Hellbender has been instrumental.

To begin with, He assembled my upper while I supplied the food. Got a sweet shooting stick.
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Then we went to a match at Big Piney Sportsmans Club. Met several of you and knew that to do these shoots, I must modify the Polaris Ranger. Way to far to walk and mud/holes were not good on a wheelchair. Brad initially thought up an idea based on a rough idea of what I thought I needed. Here came the Polaris Ranger shooting bench. I can only claim the idea of where to brace to.
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This worked great for one match shot a 302/400 from 100 to 600 yards no wind. (Target shown above) Match #2 He rigged up a brace under my pistol grip to give rear support since a rear stock bag was out of the question. Solid solid invention. I'm not sure I'm allowed to picture it yet. We also needed a way to keep the gun secure while pointed safe going from station to station. In comes the floor mounted muzzle holder.
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This past weekend we had a match and had one heck of a time fighting sandbags up front. They were either too high or too low so I had to lean alot to get on target this also forced me to tilt the gun a bit throwing my long shots off. This got Hellbender and several of us at the match discussing a height adjustable front rest. I didn't want anything that would take all the user out of it like a benchrest shooter so I basically only wanted height adjustment.

Here is quite possibly the Hellbender masterpiece. He came up with this with things laying around the shop! When you turn the handle either by hand or by drill, the top half slides giving you adjustment from around 4" to around 7.5". To solve the tilt, he took a set of scope rings and mounted the bottom half upside down of a 4x6" piece of steel. This will attach under my pic rail to serve as a sled, no tilt.
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Anyway, just thought I'd show ya my setup and maybe it will give you an idea of how to setup an atv to go shooting. Also a big THANK YOU to Hellbender for everything he has done to help me out.
 
Re: Another Hellbender creation

Great to see that you are enjoying the sport and that you have found a way to overcome obstacles. Looking forward to seeing more posts from you about your take on precision shooting and seeing how you progress with the sport. Good luck and all the best.

Cheers!
 
Re: Another Hellbender creation

My hat is off to you. Adapting and overcoming at its' finest. The UTV shooting rest is nice. I could use that myself. I have been standing in the bed and shooting off the roof of my Mule.....would be a whole lot easier and quicker from a bench like yours while I ride around looking for targets.
 
Re: Another Hellbender creation

Keith,

I've heard about and now I get to see you and maybe someday I'll get to meet you! Hellbender is as good as they come and count yourself fortunate to have him as a friend. I am convinced they guy does not sleep but rather spends his time in "Wonderland" coming up with great ideas...

take care,

Kasey
 
Re: Another Hellbender creation

Absolutely fantastic to see. Believe me when I say, I hear you on the 'overcoming injuries' to get out there. You've had a heck of a support team, to which they are ALL commended, as well.

And as for any others out there, who're "sitting on the sidelines", by all means let this man be an inspiration. And go and check out the thread in "Advanced,,," titled:

"Shooting Wrong-Handed"

Keith, I hope to see you at the range with me one day, too.
 
Re: Another Hellbender creation

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kasey</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Keith,

I've heard about and now I get to see you and maybe someday I'll get to meet you! Hellbender is as good as they come and count yourself fortunate to have him as a friend. I am convinced they guy does not sleep but rather spends his time in "Wonderland" coming up with great ideas...

take care,

Kasey </div></div>

Yeah, there is a little over a month until the next match so I figured I'd run out to his place and help figure out the elevating rest idea. I was stunned when he called only 2 days after the match saying he was dropping off the rest! I told him I really have no idea how he comes up with this stuff!

He has said lots of good things about you and is always showing off that Atlas. At the last match, he was showing a guy and they dude asked if he had seen the Hellbender mod to which he replied, "I am Hellbender".

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That is awesome. I'm glad to see shooters have more respect for people with big brass ones than the PGA had for Casey Martin.</div></div>

I truly believe that the shooting community has some of the nicest people. The "sniper" matches have people shooting off and under obstacles where I'm at my normal position. Nobody has said anything and it may just be the match is just to have fun, they are shooting better than me anyway or just understand and rock on. They have the advantage of prone on the F class match.

Some of the hide members I have met would be gunrunner, poorboyshooter, hellbender, bpsc, gubbinca, viper225, and probably 8 more that I don't know their usernames. I don't have a bad word to say about any of them and truly they are great guys.
 
Re: Another Hellbender creation

Very cool, I love that setup! Glad to see you get out there and have some fun. Wishing you and hellbender all best at your next match.
 
Re: Another Hellbender creation

It really is a cool setup. I always enjoy shooting with you. Advantage or disadvantage...probably works out in the long run. If anybody ever has a problem with you shooting off the Ranger, send em my way. You inspire me to be a better shooter and to shoot more, in any conditions. I am always willing to help any way you may need. I love seeing people get into and progress in this sport and you exemplify this. Hellbender really is the man, give him a challenge and he will figure it out.