Wide front rest w/ a narrow stock

[SS427]

I needed to limit the amount of stuff I take to the range, so I only take one front rest now, but it has a 3 inch wide bag. It doesn't work well with narrow sporter rifle stocks, or even my HS Precision and B&C varminter stocks.

Anyone have a creative way to solve this problem? I stuff a folded rag in there right now but there has to be a better way short of changing the bag when I change guns.

 

[Steve Blair]

I use the Sinclair Forend Benchrest Adaptor. It attaches to the sling swivel threads. It might be a problem if your sling swivel screws directly into the wood. I put machine thread inserts into all my sporter and varmint stocks. The H-S already uses them. With this in place, even my 788s ride my 3" Farley rest perfectly.

 

[SS427]

I should have been more specific. I don't want to use one of those if possible. I'd rather add something to the wide front bag that would make the narrow stock more stable. I know it isn't the best solution, but would be good enough with these factory rifles. I'm thinking a mini sand bag to take up that gap. I have to think I'm not the first one to face this problem so was hoping someone had already come up with a creative solution.

 

[Steve Blair]

Depending upon what rest you have, a second bag would probably be the least disruptive solution. I have not seen a bag designed to fit within another bag.

 

[bowzarrow]

I have a handmade long and narrow bag filled with rice that I use inside of my 3" bag.It has two "lobes" about an inch wide with a stitch down the middle. It is adaquite but I think the sinclair foreend adapter would work better. I just don't want to cough up the cabbage for one yet. times are tough you know? Shane

 

[SS427]

I agree the Sinclair adapter would work better, but I don't want to mess with it. I'm after a reasonably stable platform only for these rifles as none of them will ever give benchrest level accuracy. Right now I stuff a small hand cloth on one side of the rest to fill the gap, and that works okay. I'd rather make something like what describe though.

 

[tenring]

I solved this problem by purchasing a Caldwell narrow sporter front bag from Midway, #152-171, $12.99 page 65 in Master catalog #33. I placed it in a Hart cheapo front top, and I carry it with me to the range, linterchanging it with my Hart 3" windage top. The Caldwell is pretty narrow, but it will not allow you to return to battery like a good 3" flat bag will do.

 

[dreever]

If you don't want to buy the Sinclair foreend adapter there is an el-cheapo solution. Make your own. Just go to Wally World buy a cheap delrin cutting board in the kitchen section cut one out of it, drill a hole, use the appropriate threaded screw to secure.

Danny

 

[Laurie]

Small pillow sand bag, or simpler and cheaper still a folded towel placed on the front-rest bag. I've seen some very good short-range test groups shot using the towel.

Laurie,
York, England

 

[SS427]

The cutting board idea sounds like a fairly cheap alternative. For now I use what Laurie has suggested and might stick with that solution. Last weekend I managed three groups in the high 3s and one in the .6 range with a Savage .223 LRPV using the folded towel.

 

[nhm16]

I've got the Sinclair, the EGW bag rider for AR-15 tubular forearms and a Whidden track plate that mounts to an Anschutz style rail. Though none of my forearms are 3" wide, I'm lazy and this allows me to use the same 3" front bag with most of my guns. I would pay good money if someone made a Picatinny rail bag rider too, then I'd have a bag rider for ever gun I own.

Of the three I have, the Sinclair is the most awkward to use since it requires adjustment unlike the other two, most the bottoms of the forearms of the guns I use it on are not parallel to the bore so the gun rides the bags terribly (both not the fault of the Sinclair adapter), it raises the rifle higher than I'd like. In other words a less ideal solution than the EGW bag rider or the Whidden plate, but that's really because of the types of guns it was meant to be used on.

 

[4570sharpshooter]

I use a sand bag on top of the 3" top at our indoor range if I am using sporter style gun or the 52a or b marksman stock.45/70SS

 

[NorCalMikie]

I just pack a "extra" narrow bag for the thinner forend stocks and swap as needed. Works for me.

 

[SS427]

NorCalMikie - what kind of a system do yu have for swapping the bags? I don't want it to be a hassle or a lot of work. I've thought about velcro on the bottom of the bag, but I don't think that would give me the stability I need for the benchrest gun. The design of my rest doesn't lend itself to a buckle type system to really cinch it down tight like I would want.

 

[Steve Blair]

Otter,

What is your rest top? Tenring's suggestion is reasonable. Buy an inexpensive top, equip it with a narrow bag and swap when necessary.

I sometimes take an old Hoppes rest with a narrow bag for the bench if I am shooting other rifles prone and don't bring the Farley. I know that it is annoying to bring extra equipment, so that may not be acceptable.

You should see the collection of crap I haul when doing load development.

 

[SS427]

I have a Caldwell base. I will investigate Tenrings suggestion.

My collection of crap I haul to the range keeps growing and growing. I drive a small sports car to the range cause it gets better gas milage than my truck. The trunk is now totally full of four guns, a rest, spotting scope tripod, cleaning rod, and a collection of tools. The front seat is taken up with a piece of carry on luggage full of ammo, cleaning supplies, rags, towels, glasses, spotting scope, earplugs, targets, staple gun and a kitchen sink. Behind the seats I have a collection of cardboard backers. I look like a homeless person in transition.

I don't reload at the range. I will need a side-car when I do that.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Post in the Classified Ads, "Need more room.WTB Side car".

 

[fdshuster]

otter: You are correct! I drive a '08 Honda Accord Coupe, and while not a sport's car, is still on the smaller side. Takes me about 15 minutes to load up the trunk with much of what you mention, and it seems that quite often I still manage to forget something more that I needed.

 

[nhm16]

otter: You are correct! I drive a '08 Honda Accord Coupe, and while not a sport's car, is still on the smaller side. Takes me about 15 minutes to load up the trunk with much of what you mention, and it seems that quite often I still manage to forget something more that I needed.

I drive a VW GTI (5 door hatchback). Sadly nowadays I just keep everything but the guns and ammo in the back unless I have to transport my dog, in which everything has to come out and placed in a neat little pile inside my door to the garage. Otherwise I will drive halfway to the range and realize I forgot something.

 

[Steve Blair]

The nearest rifle range is 44 miles from my house so I make it worthwhile to go. The pile usually includes 3 to 4 rifles, rest(s), bag, tools, ammo, chrono, cleaning rods, range bag with various things I think I need, targets and spotting scope. It fits easily enough in the Suburban but is such a pain to remember everything that I have resorted to a checklist. Driving an hour with all that stuff and forgetting ammo will do that.

As for transporting the dog; that is the reason for the Suburban.