Recommendations for a pistol rest for sighting in, bean bag or otherwise.

[ChicagoRonin70]

I am looking to get some recommendations for easily portable pistol sight-in rests, especially bean bag style but any other recs that people have had very good results from are definitely welcome.

 

I use MeproLight adjustable sights for the most part, except on a .460 Rowland® Conversion which has a left-right driftable weighted sight called the Rowlanator. What I need is something that I can get repeatable sight holds on that will be identical to my free-hand holds (or close enough) so I can maximize the point of aim accuracy with my carry rounds.

 

I have used bean bag rests in the past, which is what I am familiar with and it does allow for your hand to fit the firearm pretty close to free-hand hold, but maybe there is something else that works better. Or, someone knows of a really stellar bean bag rest that they've had great results from.

 

All recommendations are welcome, and definitely say what the pros and cons might be.

[luckydawg13]

well i use my rifle rest https://www.amazon.com/Protektor-Model-Front-Metal-Rest/dp/B008AXRCO6/ref=sr_1_9?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1515678810&sr=1-9&keywords=protektor+shooting+rest+pistol

and rest the but of the pistol on my rear bag but will add this in the spring https://www.midwayusa.com/product/119856/protektor-rear-bag-attachment-for-rifle-and-pistol-rest-steel-black

[Squints08]

I use this product for a shooting rest when sighting in pistols and a rear bag when shooting rifles. It's not expensive and is built pretty tough. I would recommend it.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Wiebad-Mini-Range-Kryptek-Highlander/dp/B00MNNGN30/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1515695953&sr=8-12&keywords=shooting+bag+rest

[DD123]

Some of the cheap plastic Menard's rifle rests also have the ability to be taken apart and using the front half as a pistol rest. You can adjust the muzzle height, and there's a platform to rest the magwell on.

[ChicagoRonin70]

Those are some good suggestions. I am definitely going to check those out for lower-cost options.

 

I got a recommendation from the most serious shooter I know for the Target Shooting, Inc. Model 1500 Pistol Rest, as the high-end, end-all-be-all of pistol shooting rests. It is around $440, which would make it a tax return indulgence purchase. A bit of a hassle to transport to a range, and I don't know if it will fit on most of the lane shelves at indoor ranges, so it would likely be a specialty acquisition.

 

[DD123]

This is the one I have.

 

Caldwell Steady Rest NXT Shooting Rest https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VZ1IJG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_lo9vAbD919325

[ChicagoRonin70]

This is the one I have. Caldwell Steady Rest NXT Shooting Rest https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VZ1IJG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_lo9vAbD919325

 

Hah! I have that exact one, as well as this one . . . Caldwell Pistolero Handgun Shooting Rest . . . bookmarked in my Amazon account as possibilities. I don't shoot rifles much presently, but the option for that is definitely a plus. The price is fantastic, too.

[ragsbo]

I have used a sand bag I have for working out as a support for rifles, shotguns and pistols. You can fluff it up and into different configurations to fit what you want. Plus you can also work out with it.

[skrapyard]

The bag and sled type rests work well as long as you trust that you arent pulling shots off target with bad trigger control or a flinch (dont flame me I'm not saying that you'll do that...lol).

 

For me, my girlfriend sewed up a couple of canvas bags with zippers on one side. At first I filled them with a plastic bag full of sand, which works, but eventually leaked sand all over my range bag. And then I filled them up with plastic HDPE pellets that I had around for rock tumbler filler. The plastic pellets dont leak out of the bag and it works fairly well. The plus side is it didnt cost me anything!

 

If youre going to drop a lot of coin on something take a look at the ransom rest.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015273478/ransom-master-series-machine-pistol-shooting-rest

 

Ronin, I checked out that Model 1500 rest that your friend recommended and I cant understand why someone would purchase that over a Ransom rest.

 

While it is true that if you go with a Ransom rest you will have to purchase or fabricate panels to hold each type of gun you want to test in it, but it practically guarantees that there will be no outside forces effecting your shots.

[ChicagoRonin70]

The bag and sled type rests work well as long as you trust that you arent pulling shots off target with bad trigger control or a flinch (dont flame me I'm not saying that you'll do that...lol).

 

For me, my girlfriend sewed up a couple of canvas bags with zippers on one side. At first I filled them with a plastic bag full of sand, which works, but eventually leaked sand all over my range bag. And then I filled them up with plastic HDPE pellets that I had around for rock tumbler filler. The plastic pellets dont leak out of the bag and it works fairly well. The plus side is it didnt cost me anything!

 

If youre going to drop a lot of coin on something take a look at the ransom rest.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015273478/ransom-master-series-machine-pistol-shooting-rest

 

Ronin, I checked out that Model 1500 rest that your friend recommended and I cant understand why someone would purchase that over a Ransom rest.

 

While it is true that if you go with a Ransom rest you will have to purchase or fabricate panels to hold each type of gun you want to test in it, but it practically guarantees that there will be no outside forces effecting your shots.

 

I have used polymer pellet-filled bags in the past, for the most part, but I don't find that it is as dead steady as I'd like it. It works fine, but I want to find something that is ideal for sighting while holding.

 

That is my problem with Ransom rests, actually. I have access to one with the proper inserts for my firearm, and while it is ideal for grouping accuracy, I can't get down behind them and get my grip on the firearm the way I want using those, so that it exactly mimics my free-hand hold. They are definitely the gold standard for determining mechanical accuracy of a pistol without any outside factors affecting it, but the Model 1500 I think will work better for me for "hands-on" sighting in. That way, I can get in as close as possible to my actual shooting position, but have that steadying my hands and the firearm rock-still, so my sight picture is exactly the way it would be when I am holding it. I can't do that with the Ransom, I have found, and my sight picture for my hold is different than my sight picture while in the Ransom.

 

Same thing with rests along the lines of those that DD123 recommended, or an adjustable bag and stand rest. They will allow me the "real world" sight picture I want to get.

 

Does that make sense?

[skrapyard]

 

Does that make sense?

 

 

Sure does.

 

I do something similar, just not stabilizing my arms like the 1500 would. And I sometimes find myself questioning the accuracy of my method.

 

Personally when Im putting new sights on a gun I use a cheap universal laser bore sight to get the sights close to where they should be (as close as the cheapo bore sight can). And then I shoot off of the bags at the range and make minor adjustments to accommodate for my hold, sight picture, and however far off the bore sight was. Then I will shoot a few groups at 10 and 25yards to see how it all worked out.

 

I consider myself a mediocre pistol shooter and can usually keep a 6-10" group at 25yards on a good day. But knowing the pistols I own should be able to group better than that always leaves me wishing I could check the mechanical accuracy of the gun with a ransom rest at that distance and adjust my sights to that first.

[ChicagoRonin70]

 

 

Does that make sense?

 

 

Sure does.

 

I do something similar, just not stabilizing my arms like the 1500 would. And I sometimes find myself questioning the accuracy of my method.

 

Personally when Im putting new sights on a gun I use a cheap universal laser bore sight to get the sights close to where they should be (as close as the cheapo bore sight can). And then I shoot off of the bags at the range and make minor adjustments to accommodate for my hold, sight picture, and however far off the bore sight was. Then I will shoot a few groups at 10 and 25yards to see how it all worked out.

 

I consider myself a mediocre pistol shooter and can usually keep a 6-10" group at 25yards on a good day. But knowing the pistols I own should be able to group better than that always leaves me wishing I could check the mechanical accuracy of the gun with a ransom rest at that distance and adjust my sights to that first.

 

 

That's exactly my process, as well. I like to get the sights as close as possible, so that even if my actual aim in a situation is a bit askew, the error isn't magnified or trackable.

 

Another issue I have with the Ransom rest is that it needs to be bolted down to something extremely secure and immobile, and I don't have access to a place where I can do that. They are definitely the gold standard for making sure the mechanical accuracy is spot on, though.