Rest to Rest, or Rest to Bag, Alignment

[Terry]

I'm looking for ways to align the Front Rest with a rear rest or bag. I'm not looking for the typical bolt together Heavy Gun setup. Please include pictures.

Thanks!

 

[ngb1787]

Seb has a small hole in the very front stop where u put in a string and pull all the way back over front rest to rear sand bag for alignment, it works pretty darn good.

 

[dkhunt14]

Guys have made wooden templates to fit over rest and bag. After they are lined up with target they remove them. It would make sure you are straight and the same distance. Sorry no pics. Matt

 

[rardoin]

I'm looking for ways to align the Front Rest with a rear rest or bag. I'm not looking for the typical bolt together Heavy Gun setup. Please include pictures.

Thanks!

I assume you are talking about something like this: https://fieldandcaveoutfitters.com/products/alignment-tool-for-benchrest-set-up

The string Nick describes accomplishes the same task, it just originates from a fixed point on the rest.

 

[kshan]

This sounds dumb but I use a piece of foam core, cut out my distance and alignment, it costs $1, use it and if it gets ragged throw it out and make a new one as you can make a few from one sheet.

 

[BoydAllen]

For those that do not want to lug more stuff to the range, you might try this. After centering the travel of your windage top, set up on the target as normal, then with your usual side tension on the front bag, pick up the butt of your stock so that it is slightly above the ears of your rear bag, and move the butt from side to side, noting the distance from the center of the rear bag ears that it moves before feeling resistance. If there is a difference, rotate the front rest on the vertical axis of the center of the front bag so that things are even in this respect. Then, turning your attention to the rear bag, while looking through the scope, rotate it on the vertical axis of the center of its ears noting the vertical motion of the cross hair intersection. When the bag is straight, the cross hairs will be at their highest, and as you twist the bag out of alignment, they will drop as the but rises because it is being forced up the sides of the ears. I do not use a gator rear bag and usually perform this maneuver with both hands on the base of the rear bag, so that I can easily control its rotation. The whole operation takes less time to do than to read.

 

[Terry]

I assume you are talking about something like this: https://fieldandcaveoutfitters.com/products/alignment-tool-for-benchrest-set-up

The string Nick describes accomplishes the same task, it just originates from a fixed point on the rest.

I'm just trying to learn. With that, considering my current practice to what could be done.

Thanks!

 

[gme]

if your rest doesn't pivot on the vertical axis, it's important to get it aligned before setting it or you'll be pulling it up and re setting it, if your rest can pivot then you dont really need to mess with it...

 

[mr45man]

Cleaning rod, easy peasy.

 

[jghoghunter]

PM gunnermhr and ask him to send you a pic of the jig he uses. Its very simple and it put every thing in alignment with front rest and rear bag plus the target. Works real well and nothing to it.

 

[memilanuk]

Cleaning rod, easy peasy.

I recall seeing one guy using what would be called a 'story stick' in wood working. Basically a long dowel, butted up against a reference point on the front rest (usually the front stop), with marks for where various other points should be in relation to that, such as the front and back of the rear bag. Apparently it also aided in visually aligning everything with the target board as well. I've also seen people do similar things with a piece of knotted string looped over the front stop, with knots for where the rear bag should be.

 

[dkhunt14]

By just using a string and your front rest is not straight with your target it will change your sandbag position. If you align up everything perfectly and then make a template with cutouts for front rest and bag it will always be straight. You sit the gun on and put scope on target and remove jig. Perfect alignment everytIme. Matt

 

[memilanuk]

Matt,

For reference, this was for international F-class. There is a limit to what you can haul on a plane, even for the F-Open guys. And there is a limit to how much time you can spend f-ing around setting up your gun. Two minute warning, before which you can't even bring your stuff to the line - which is on the ground, and usually not level. Three minute prep time, during which you can actually have your gun out of the case on the line. Then if its pair fire, you've got 45 seconds to shoot your shot, then your partner's turn, then yours again, then his. The need to set up a gun as consistently as possible, and in a timely manner, does exist outside of BR.

YMMV,

Monte

 

[dkhunt14]

Matt,

For reference, this was for international F-class. There is a limit to what you can haul on a plane, even for the F-Open guys. And there is a limit to how much time you can spend f-ing around setting up your gun. Two minute warning, before which you can't even bring your stuff to the line - which is on the ground, and usually not level. Three minute prep time, during which you can actually have your gun out of the case on the line. Then if its pair fire, you've got 45 seconds to shoot your shot, then your partner's turn, then yours again, then his. The need to set up a gun as consistently as possible, and in a timely manner, does exist outside of BR.

YMMV,

Monte

Yes but Terry is a BR shooter and is talking heavy gun. In order for a heavy gun to track dead nuts, it has to be set up straight. The rails rely on the bags to run true and track. Then they pound the points into the woods tops so they don't move. It can be shot with a mechanical rear rest or a bag. If I was shooting a bag it would be in a retainer and points pounded into bench. It is better to have a mechanical because small adjustments can easily be made for tracking or holding off.

40 to 100 pound heavy guns can be a blast to shoot if they are really working good. MATT