I was sighting in a new scope on my Mauser M03 .375 last night. I was just getting hammered at the bench. I remember seeing a picture of a double rifle shooter zeroing in using a standing bench rest, but I cannot find it.

Does anyone have any pictures of standing bench rests that they could post here or email me?

Thanks,

Al

I don't have it on soft copy but there is a great picture of one in the book on building double rifles on shotgun actions. I'm travelling at the moment so can't even even look at the spine to tell the you the name/author or page. It is in the chapter on "How to Regulate".

Basically, its just a frame that holds a cross pole at a height your comfortable standing up with. The uprights sat on his shooting bench and had several sets of holes so the pole could go up and down depending on how tall you (or your pals) might be. He covered the center pole (basically a broom handle) with some foam rubber and some old soft carpet. Not rocket science, anybody could make one easily.

Get your self a "pipe" type clamp used to span large projects and a3-4 foot piece of pipe. Slide a piece of pipe insulation over the pipe.

I clamp on the nearest post or small dia. tree at any height I want and have a nice solid rest.

Felt recoil can also be reduced by simply shooting from a kneeling position behind your regular bench. I found this by accident while shooting from a friend's bench set-up, where the chair was too high to allow a comfortable seat. Kneeling down behind the bench put my body into an upright position, similar to standing, giving me the stability benefits of the bench and the recoil-absorbing benefits of being able to "give" with the recoil. The position that works for me is with both knees on the ground (some padding is nice) and my body and upper legs in more less a straight line.

I find this method so effective that I have pretty much abandoned my earlier plans to build a standing rest. Give it a try. If your shooting bench is an appropriate height for it, the method works well.

John

I just bought a step ladder and cut the legs off to the height I wanted and put a sandbag on top when I use it. I use it around the house also so it's dual purpose.

There's a photo of one being used by an H&H regulator on page 185 of Graeme Wright's "Shooting the British Double Rifle, 3rd Edition."

quote:

There's a photo of one being used by an H&H regulator on page 185 of Graeme Wright's "Shooting the British Double Rifle, 3rd Edition."

Yes, that's the one I was thinking of as well.

I made an exstention about a foot tall. I used plywood and 2x4's. I just sit it on the bench and stand up behind it.

Its a lot easier to buy a good rest that sucks up recoil..I have an International Bench Rest and I have shot my 470 and 505s off it and you can't even feel any recoil..Some claim these will break a stock and perhaps some will but I have been shooting mine for about 15 years now and have not damaged a stock..

I suppose 3 stick with a butt support stick as in Cabellas Catalog is as close to a standing bench rest as one can find anywhere.

It would be simple enough to build yourself a standing bench rest much like a standard bench rest but only lighter and with folding legs..Wood, hammer, saw and screws should do the job..or maybe one out of aluminum.

Or you could just shoot off of sticks and kill 2 birds with 1 stone as it were.

Some years ago I bought a large photographic tripod of the kind that would be used for a 4x5" or larger view camera. Found it cheap on eBay. It has a center section that adjusts for height. I made a platform for the top.

Makes a rather nice standing rest that is more stable than sticks.

I put two seats atop the bench at our gun club and the sandbags atop that. PAST pad and a "sticks" stance, double ear protection, etc. and it's all good. (I'm 6'3", but you can work it out.)

For some reason I cannot shoot off the sticks, I actually shoot better off hand that has come from years of practice..The PHs I work with won't let me shoot off sticks..

I have tried at home to learn how and had some pros try to coach me..didn't work, and I have found out that its not that uncommon to find folks that cannot shoot well off sticks..

I'm not bothered by this, as I have traditionally always shot off hand or with a nearby and handy tree or rock for a rest if needed but just thought I'd mention it for what its worth to someone out there that has the same problem..I will add to this that those who use a tree or rock for a rest its smart to wear a buckskin glove on your left hand with the big bores.