Recommendations on Shooting Rest

[grin&dull]

Due to a number of reasons (mostly health) I find myself pretty much unable to shoot a rifle very well. Me and my shotguns are getting along fine (good thing I enjoy skeet) but trying to hold a steady hold on a target and squeeze off a shot is kicking my butt. So while I’ve given up all dreams of winning Camp Perry I’d still like to see how well a rifle could perform if I take my limits out of the equation.
So I’m thinking about a shooting rest and am looking for suggestions. There are a few things that may or may not effect the choice: 1st of course is cost I’d like to keep it within a hundred dollars, 2nd is I’m left handed / master eyed, 3rd is of course it needs to be AR friendly. Oh and hand gun compatible would be nice but not the biggest issue.
OK what’s good and in use out there? Thanks in advance for you time and inputs.

[Michael]

Are you looking for hunting or benchrest?

[grin&dull]

Pretty much just from the bench I don't hunt any more and the son is young and fit enough to hold his own in shooting / hunting.

[Michael]

I have a Calwell Lead Sled Solo for chrony and zeroing. Can shoot magazine fired weapons like the AR family. No complaints.

Hope this helps.

[VASCAR2]

I normally use a Harris bipod with a sand bag under the but stock or pistol grip. Buddy has an adjustable front rest that has 3 legs. There is a threaded tube that raises the padded rest. The legs are fixed so you need a fairly level service. I think this rest was made by Caldwell and purchased at Midway. Pretty inexpensive and durable for being mostly polymer.

This a newer version but basically the same. The one I've used is at least 10 years old.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/682659/...oting-rest

[grin&dull]

1st thanks for the inputs.
I looked hard at the Calwell Lead Sled Solo and was leaning towards it but there was one review that ate at me about being impossible to use left handed and another one that said it could be used left handed but had some problems.
I really wanted the full rest style for myself at home but the front rest only might be useful for the field / the son so I think I’ve found a system that might work. I saw a Stoney Point Shooting Rest with Bench Anchor set up at about the same price as the Calwell with free shipping it came to $67.99. The tripod front can be used alone or you can have the whole thing together. The reviews looked damn good with the only con given was the way it goes together seems to be a pain in the butt to do.
So I ordered one and once I get it I’ll post a review here (be a little while with the free shipping, it’s free but not fast) and then at long last hopefully a report on my rifles’ group sizes. Like I said at first on this post I found it’s a lot easier for me to hit a fast moving clay right now with a bead on a shotgun than a piece of paper that’s stationary with a scope on a rifle.

[grin&dull]

A short review of the rest:
For starters I shot 1,000% better with it than I could without it. There are a couple of things I need to address for getting the most out of it. 1st I need a good bench or table top to support it, for today's run I used a B&D Workmate that did OK but I left the rubber tips on the rest and they cause a little wobble. 2nd the bag on the front of the rest is loose, it's held by 2 Velcro strips to the support but it can slide around. I'm going to add a strip to the bottom of the bag and the top of the support to stabilize it better. The butt plate support end is pretty wide and it fit the Tapco rubber pad on the 5.56 carbine stock perfectly on the Grendel's A2 stock I put some folded paper on each side to lock it in better. The up and down wheel was smooth and would make very fine adjustments. Should note that you can't use the longer mags like 30 rounders, 20s work fine. I'll flesh this out more after I address the table and the bag changes.

Couple of side notes on ammo:
One the Grendel / .264 LBC shoots great and this was with the 120 Wolf MPT ammo I was able to keep a 5 shot group on a 1 inch dot at 60 yards pretty much every time. I'm saving the Hornady for finial testing once I've got a little better set up.
On the other hand the 5.56 Wolf ammo (55 gr. steel case) and my carbine did not love each other and I was thinking I might need to move it along to a new owner till I took out some of my very limited supply of M855 and some 223 Hornady ammo. Both of those shot fine 1" groups out of the carbine, my old Bushmaster rifle with the 20" barrel always did fine with the Wolf but this DPMS 16" carbine has no real love for it.

[tirador]

My Rule #1. Never get rid of any weapon untill you have exausted every way to test accuracy. Every time I'VE SOLD OR TRADED a gun I wish I hadn't later! Try different bullet weights with your DPMS. It may have a different barrel twist rate, and built to shoot lighter or heavier bullets. Good luck with the rest!

[Joseph5]

I wouldn't count on the M855 being super accurate. I think the contract specs on it are only 3 or 4 MOA for an accuracy requirement. The Hornady on the other hand has been the most accurate ammo I have used irregardless of caliber or rifle. It has always brought out the best in everything I have shot it out of. The only way I have beat it's accuracy was very careful hand loading.