Just wondering what you use (and why?) off a bench for Prairie Dog shooting.

I use a bipod for my 204 and 223cal H-Bar, but a front rest for my 7mm Rem Mag....all using a rear sand bag as well.

I am thinking of getting rid of the bipods and only use the front rest, since the bipod guns seemed to jump or bounce on firing. It also seemed easier to level the reticle when going from one target to the next.

What are your thoughts??

I use one of these:

Caldwell Tack Driver

Had it for about 8 years. Just about ZERO recoil even from a .338WM. Several other makers, Bulls Bags , etc are virtually the same thing. Buy it filled (if you aren't going to have to pay for shipping)

I used about $12 of dried barley from the bulk section to fill mine. Has a consistent texture. Rice is ok, too but it draws moisture worse than dried barley does. Don't use sand.

Almost forgot "Why do I use it?"

Never found a firearm that didn't fit it well. Bi-pods work in situations were you have to be mobile. Shooting sticks work as well or better than Bi-pods in that situation and pods and sticks are both lighter than a bag. Mine weighs 25 lbs filled.

quote:

Just wondering what you use (and why?) off a bench for Prairie Dog shooting.

How many benchrest target shooters have you seen using a bipod?

Sandbags are the preferred rest. If you need to save weight, then filling "sandbags" with whole grain, ground corncob like used in tumblers, dense poly beads, or some similar lightweight media will do about as well.

You'll shoot much more accurately with your rifle supported both front and rear, not just in the middle as with a "bull's bag" or something similar -- but the "bull's bag" is probably superior to a bipod, anyway.

I use a couple of different devices, depending on the circumstances. For instance, a simple 1x4 board of about 30" length (or whatever protrudes from the rear of the bench an adequate amount) attached at a single point at the front of the bench which allows it to swivel will provide an instantly adjustable (horizontally) platform for both your front and rear bags. This allows you to rotate for targets within about a 60-90 degree range, or 30 to 45 degrees each way from the direction the bench is facing. Very little change in elevation is usually needed in typically flat prairie dog towns, so you adjust elevation mostly by squeezing the rear bag under the toe of the stock or sliding the rifle fore-aft a bit to raise and lower the muzzle.

I use a Caldwell Rock Jr. front rest. I find the height adjustment feature useful when changing your shooting angle for up or downhill shots. Using a fixed height sandbag caused me to have to raise and lower the rear of the rifle where I was not comfortable with the steadiness of the hold. Using the Rock Jr, and adjusting the height up and down as needed lets me use a rear bag all of the time for a steady hold.

like stonecreek said - i use a little tripod stool,, an ironing board and a couple 25# shot bags filled with styrafoam beads

This mobile set-up can be effective on easy ground

Front rest and rear bag from a portable bench/table etc. is my favorite method.

Growing up in N.D. and shooting PD's most of my years there, bipods were by far our most favorite way to go. Light and very portable, especially when bushwacking over the hills, which makes for a fun hunt. If shooting a .204 or .223, use a solid non-pivoting pod. You will be able to maintain a sight picture with them. Not so with the pivoting pods.