I was wondering if someone could tell me the best set up for sighting in a rifle. I was using a vice today (with both the front and rear of the stock locked into a solid position). I zeroed it in with this set up, and then I took the front end of the vise off and replaced it with a rest which kept the barrel free but solid. With this set up I shot my groups 2" higher than when in the vise. Does having the barrel free have something to do with this? When shooting in the field, obviously the barrel is more free than it would be in a vise. Should I zero it in from this style?
Gun Vise, sand bags, or bench rest?
- Thread starter Rem 700
- Start date
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,607
- 9,786
If you sight in from a vise or lead sled, it will shoot higher than off sand bags. I use sand bags for load development and sighting in and then practice from field positions.
JD338
JD338
bullet
Handloader
- Dec 26, 2007
- 4,975
- 18
Sand bags for load development.
Desert Fox
Handloader
- Aug 14, 2006
- 1,965
- 3
Sand bag for load developement, Bi-pod for fine tuning and sighting since I use them for hunting.
Charlie-NY
Handloader
- Mar 11, 2005
- 1,442
- 918
Desert Fox +1
YoteSmoker
Handloader
- Oct 3, 2006
- 1,602
- 0
I've tried a couple different things but I have settled on a caldwell "rock" front rest with sandbag and Protector rear leather bag. Works well and adjustment is much easier than the cradle set up I used before.
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,458
- 3,534
Leadsled for the bench. Personally I need to know exactly what my rifle is capable of.
I use a Wichita front rest and rabbitear bag rear sandbag. I used the same rig when I shot benchrest, but I wore out the bags and am on the second set now. I use the pattern maker heavy sand from Sinclair to fill them.
Once you learn bench technique, I don't think you need a machine rest. I do have one for .450 class rifles for load development.
Here is the rest and my ULA M90 ML rifle before I sent the rest back to Wichita for rehab and deployed the new bags.
jim
Once you learn bench technique, I don't think you need a machine rest. I do have one for .450 class rifles for load development.
Here is the rest and my ULA M90 ML rifle before I sent the rest back to Wichita for rehab and deployed the new bags.
jim
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,871
- 6,457
I usually just go prone, hold the rifle myself, steadied with a sling. Sometimes I'll rest it across a backpack or use a bipod. Seems to work well enough for good groups out at 600 yards here on the NCW range.
Perhaps not the "best" method - but it works well.
Perhaps not the "best" method - but it works well.
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