Pistol Shooting rest, what to buy

[MGMIAM]

Any input greatly appreciated. Looking for a good pistol rest for sighting in , zeroing pistols
anywhere from .22LR to 10mm

thanks in advance
MGM

 

[K22]

For purely testing loads, there is nothing more precise than a Ranson Rest. However, it's expensive and must be set up on a proper solid base to provide reliable data. Some of the clubs that I have belonged to had them for loan to their membership, especially clubs with competitive pistol teams. This should be used only for testing ammo / loads - not for sight for use of the pistol. Also, this device is mostly suited for precision pistol competition where pistols have to be verified to hold an "X" ring at 50 yards to be competitive.

With that said, the best method I have found to sight in a pistol for general use is in a comfortable sitting position, off the bench with sandbags, a two-hand hold, with the hands resting on the bags WITHOUT the barrel touching the bags, i.e., free recoil. This, in my experience, will give you the best sight in, representative of how you will shoot the pistol. I like 5 to 10 shot groups before making sight adjustments. You have to have a grouping of shots to make a meaningful sight adjustment.

As you become a proficient pistol shooter, you will be able to refine the sights after a series of strings shooting in your normal mode of shooting the pistol. One of the most important aspects is the ability to call your shots and diagnose why the shot went awry. There are charts that will explain shot placements and the causes. Adjusting the sights without having a clear trend will create chaos.

Also, if you are shooting precision pistol with open sights, changes in light, i.e., overcast versus full sun can change your sight alignment / sight picture perception thus change the point of impact. You will soon learn how to adjust for this issue. This is not a big issue for defensive pistol craft.

 

[Raydee]

Hyskore is the one I use to sight in my pistols. Its not super fancy but it gets the job done and doesn't break the bank.

 

[Intheshop]

Here's a cpl of the more obscure nature...

 

[JSH]

I can’t say there is a good or bad one, anything from shot bags full of sand to the Ransom, have used most all at one time or another. They are OK to get on paper and close.
After that sighting should be done the way they will be used. There can be small changes or huge changes.
See the same thing with rifles, especially when the “orange army” arrives every year. More gidgits and gadgets than I ever dreamed of, assortments of clamps, straps, rods and even hydraulic cylinders designed to make magical groups with an assortment of ammo and poorly set up rifles. Then only to find out once unbound from all the apparatus “it’s still off”.
Shoot it in a field position or positions it will be used pistol or rifle.

 

[Brians356]

I shot the group below from an inherently inaccurate Ruger LCRx while standing (in the wind), leaning over the hood of my truck, with the lug under the 2" barrel (and front of the trigger guard) resting on a Caldwell DeadShot front bag.



The hardest part (even sitting at a bench) is not bracing the pistol, but supporting my elbows. The pistol rest needs to be high enough to allow the elbows to form a stable base, resting on some kind of pad. This creates a three-point brace. If your elbows are dangling free, it's hard not to sway. If the pistol rest is too low, the elbows are splayed far apart, and it's awkward to grip and aim the pistol.

Five shots, 32 S&W Long, @ 7 yards (nickel for scale).


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