Front support: sand bags vs. rifle rests

[Jayjay1]

Hello experts,
to sight in scopes or finding the best load for a rifle, I want to exclude other factors as much as possible.

There are no bipods on my hunting rilfes and I´m using sand bags at the rear.

What is the better option to get the most stable position at the front, a bigger sand bag or a rifle rest?

 

[Snuby642]

I bag front and back is a squeeze type.
Rock solid.

Work up a good practice load.
Use that load to learn how to run a bipod, it's a skill set.

I'm not particularly good at it.

I don't like rifle rests.

 

[Jayjay1]

Which front bag do you use?

I have bipods on my non-hunting rifles, but don´t use them when hunting.
So I need another propper front support for them.

 

[Snuby642]

Nothing fancy.
The foam block can raise a small bag, the neoprene pads for smaller adjustments.

These are pretty much cheap bags and I think my sons ran off with my homemade pants legs filled with actual sand.

You have to test and see how tight you want them filled to suit your preference. Despite being cheap and mismatched I can shoot to sub half moa from them with a couple of guns.

These are not any good for shooting off barricades etc. except the little leather one works in a blind well.

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

I think it really depends on the rifle balance and you.

Personally I can shoot more stable off a bag than with a bipod and rear bag. I get less wobble but the gun needs to be balanced.

The stability of whatever platform you shoot off will determine if you can bag something or will need bipod/bag. A rock solid platform allows you to just use a bag.

But it's all personal preference and how you can get as stable as possible. Everyone is different.

 

[TonyAngel]

Hello experts,
to sight in scopes or finding the best load for a rifle, I want to exclude other factors as much as possible.

There are no bipods on my hunting rilfes and I´m using sand bags at the rear.

What is the better option to get the most stable position at the front, a bigger sand bag or a rifle rest?

It depends on what you're calling a front rest.

If you're using a rest intended for something like precision shooting, then I'd say that's the most stable. If you're talking about the type of rest that you'd buy at a sporting goods store, then you'd be better off with bags.

 

[max1840]

All I use for scope adjustments or load development is a front rest. Probably because that’s what i started with a long time ago.

 

[Ronws]

I think it is matter of personal preference and job description. Train how you will shoot. If it is hunting, then that. If target shooting, then that.

And yes, I have received a field promotion to Captain Obvious.
o7

 

[roostercogburn98]

Mostly bags with a few chances of bipods thrown in there. I usually shoot off the hood of my gator, so a bag fits better.

 

[Emerson0311]

It depends on what you're calling a front rest.

If you're using a rest intended for something like precision shooting, then I'd say that's the most stable. If you're talking about the type of rest that you'd buy at a sporting goods store, then you'd be better off with bags.

This. Proper BR front rests can cost several $K. Most non-BR shooters use a bipod and rear bag on the bench. Bipods also have several solidity levels, usually depending on price, but also on intended use. Common PRS bipods have a lot of slop in them compared to the capabilities of bench rifles.

 

[carbonbased]

I have a Bald Eagle entry-level front bench rest and a Protektor rear rabbit ear bag.

Never could get on with that combo. They sit forlornly in the corner.

I like a large, 14lbs x-shaped front rest and a rear squeeze bag from @Enough Said (Mark Taylor).

It’s about the size of the medium version here:

https://armageddongear.com/product/armageddon-gear-bench-rest-bag/

Armageddon picked up the design from the fellow (Dog Gone Good) after he retired. Mine is filled from the factory with plastic stuff. Doesn’t stay wet.

I use lightweight but firm-ish garden knee pad blocks to adjust the height at the range.

However, I have found I can shoot just as well with a bipod. It has taken quite some practice.

The vid that unlocked my bipod’s secrets:

 

[memilanuk]

This. Proper BR front rests can cost several $K. Most non-BR shooters use a bipod and rear bag on the bench. Bipods also have several solidity levels, usually depending on price, but also on intended use. Common PRS bipods have a lot of slop in them compared to the capabilities of bench rifles.

I do most of my early load work off a bipod, from the bench. Later stuff still from a bipod, but from the ground.

Ive had and used various front rests over the years, from an old orange Hoppes to a SEB Neo. The right front bag fit to your stock makes a huge difference. Then the rear bag size/shape matters as well .

If the fit is right, it makes shooting groups so much easier. If it's bad... you're far better off using bean bags or bipod.

 

[SRPowah]

For zeroing, I tend to use a bipod + rear bag because that is the vast majority of my shooting. Practice how you play.

It might not be as important for modern bolt guns, but you can find yourself chasing your tail on some platforms like ARs if you zero with a bag but then try and perform with a bipod loaded differently.

 

[Jayjay1]

Guys,
like I wrote in post #1, NO BIPODS on my hunting rifles.

I want just to eliminate everything else but the rilfe and the ammo, to test loads or zero scopes.

 

[Snuby642]

Heavy bags front and rear, no sled nada make sure nothing touches barrel.

 

[6.5SH]

Another vote for front bags with "hunting" rifles if not using a bipod. With a benchrest it then turns into bunch of extra money finding the right front bag shape or an adapter like the old Hart "accuracy asset" to make it sit flat.

If you need some finer front elevation adjustment Lyman does sell a front "bag jack" that is larger than the typical Amazon lab jack.
Wood or horse stall mat is the cheap/free coarse adjust method.

 

[carbonbased]

Guys,
like I wrote in post #1, NO BIPODS on my hunting rifles.

I want just to eliminate everything else but the rilfe and the ammo, to test loads or zero scopes.

I took your question as asking about testing your hand loads at the range. Are you wanting to test your ammo with a setup that you also bring hunting? (Doesn’t sound that way)

Or are you reluctant to attach a bipod to a hunting rifle for some other reason? That’s ok.

I think what some of us are getting at is when at the range, the differences on paper between using a bipod or a heavy sand bag can be zilch (regardless of the rifle type). You don’t hunt with a 14lbs (or prob even a 5lbs) sandbag either.

If you really want to limit outside input on the rifle, then go BR mechanical front rest and a rabbit/bunny ear bag and then learn BR technique of not touching the rifle too much.

 

[Mike_in_FL]

I used to just use a taller pile of sandbags, which were old birdshot bags, in the front and however many in the rear. I used to make as little as possible contact with the gun. Since you're almost free recoiling that gave it a better run at you so it kicked. That produced the steadiest I've ever used but I come pretty close with bipod and rear bag now.