Spike Camp

Made this adjustable rest - it works

Made this adjustable rest - it works
« on: April 15, 2023, 11:52:05 AM »
A couple days ago, I had this fabricated where I work (out of .125" 5052 aluminum, two of them). I glued a textured piece of 3/16" rubber on the top and put small rubber feet on the bottom. Using a bi-pod under the barrel, you just rest the grip (AR grip here) on it and move the rest forward or rearward to adjust the elevation. By moving the rest like this and varying the bi-pod height, there is a range up to about 30 feet of elevation adjustment possible at 100 yards. The rifle sits solidly very nicely and with little recoil, this works very well - very fine adjustments are easy. It cost me nothing, so it was a great alternative to an expensive sled or rest system. Posted a couple pictures I took on my little "sight-in range" behind the house.
« Last Edit: April 19, 2023, 08:40:13 AM by TexWeatherby »
Come and take it.

Grouchy

  • *****
  • 8112
  • Life is too important to take serious" Groucho
    • View Profile
Re: Made this adjustable rest - it works
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2023, 12:29:41 PM »
Great idea! 

Re: Made this adjustable rest - it works
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2023, 01:26:51 PM »
Thanks Kevin. My first idea was to build something with height adjustment bolts, but then I realized I was overthinking it and came up with this "ramp rest" idea. Sometimes simple is best - it really works well and is very easy to transport. Thought I'd share the idea.
Come and take it.

Grouchy

  • *****
  • 8112
  • Life is too important to take serious" Groucho
    • View Profile
Re: Made this adjustable rest - it works
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2023, 01:36:57 PM »
My neighbor used to work for Pratt & Whitney as a machinist.I asked him about making one. He said he could make one out of wood easier. He is a cabinet maker now. That would lose the weight advantage but would work.  :)

Re: Made this adjustable rest - it works
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2023, 05:10:14 PM »
Just wait, Midway will be selling them next week. ;)

kmoore

  • ***
  • 177
    • View Profile
Re: Made this adjustable rest - it works
« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2023, 09:34:50 AM »
A wedge at the rear of a rifle stock or under the pistol grip is prefect. Shooting off a bench I use front rest under the forend of the stock of course. Adjust it up or down. Last 10 years or so I added a soft wedge shape bag under the rear of the stock and adjust it up or down. Before I didn't use any support under the rear area of a stock. Using rear support has helped limit vertical group spread.
kmoore

Re: Made this adjustable rest - it works
« Reply #6 on: April 16, 2023, 11:32:13 AM »
Me too. Even using a bi-pod with a rifle mounted to my shoulder, I find I still see a little movement and it goes without saying that for the best accuracy a rifle can get, absolute zero movement is a must. This little rest brings movement to zero.
Come and take it.

Re: Made this adjustable rest - it works
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2023, 06:51:37 PM »
Pretty cool !   I wonder  how you could make an adjustable sliding rear rest  for a regular rifle stock with a small bag rest.  When using a bi-pod I am forever trying to adjust the rear for up and down shots mostly range work and not always shooting  in the same place.  currently I carry small flat squares of wood to adjust the rear sand bag for this reason and it's a pain.   got to be a better way. 

Re: Made this adjustable rest - it works
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2023, 07:34:46 PM »
I think it would be feasible to build something similar to what I did, except it would be turned facing the opposite direction of the way mine is placed in the pictures, so the angle of the wedge corresponds to the angle of the underside of the stock (and shorter in length than the one shown). I have rubber glued on top, and this could be done the same; if a wood stocked rifle, a small cloth could lay over the wedge to protect the finish. The stock would recoil away from the wedge, so it wouldn't hurt the stock. The angle and height would be determined by the stock and the bi-pod you are using. Mine was designed so the rifle sits level when the grip is positioned right in the middle - moving forward or backward from the center raises or lowers the POA as needed. I am fortunate enough to have access to a precision metal fabrication shop (I work there), but you could make one of these out of wood. I posted a closeup so you can see it better.
« Last Edit: April 17, 2023, 07:37:18 PM by TexWeatherby »
Come and take it.

Re: Made this adjustable rest - it works
« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2023, 07:37:31 PM »
Thanks ,  good idea,  i can make one up out of wood.   one of my old metal rests I had to watch how close the grip cap on some rifles came to hitting the back metal rest,  knocked a few grip caps off before i retired that rest. 

Re: Made this adjustable rest - it works
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2023, 08:22:01 AM »
Yep, your shoulder still needs to be there to soak up some of the recoil. A fairly short rest with a foam cushion glued on at the front end would hopefully eliminate that issue. I sketched a rough drawing here. I drew it really fast (I'm "working"), so no laughing please!
« Last Edit: April 20, 2023, 08:27:07 AM by TexWeatherby »
Come and take it.

kmoore

  • ***
  • 177
    • View Profile
Re: Made this adjustable rest - it works
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2023, 09:06:39 AM »
Your drawing explains it well and looks like the design is good.
kmoore

Grouchy

  • *****
  • 8112
  • Life is too important to take serious" Groucho
    • View Profile
Re: Made this adjustable rest - it works
« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2023, 09:49:54 AM »
Would a piece of carpet work?  There is a carpet store around the corner that always has scraps in a bin. I carpetted  the walls and floors of my closests this way.

Re: Made this adjustable rest - it works
« Reply #13 on: April 20, 2023, 11:35:23 AM »
I think carpet would help, although a piece of dense foam glued on would provide a lot more cushioning. Carpet might be really good to put on top for the stock to sit on.
Come and take it.