AR Service Rifle From the Bench

[Artimus]

Hello! Can anyone tell me your best method to shoot an AR-15 Service Rifle (Not tubular handguard) from a bench for groups to test loads. I have yet to find a consistent method trying my Sinclair Front Rest or just sandbags, the service rifle handguard tracks poorly plus the front non-removable sling swivel always gets in the way.
Thanks!

 

[Greg Culpepper]

Artimus,

I've gotten the best results shooting ARs with both standard hand guards and floating tubes by supporting the rifle on the rest very close to the mag well. I turn the rest backwards so the mag will fit between the legs and pull backwards on the mag and into my shoulder. It feels as if the gun is too close to the balance point with too little weight on the butt but it really reduces vertical for me. The same rest position seems to work for full stocked military rifles as well.

Greg

 

[Artimus]

Thanks Greg that sounds like it will really help. Do you use a rear bag or just the butt in the shoulder?

 

[Greg Culpepper]

I use a rear bag. You can set it just in front of the rear sling loop or you can remove the loop with one screw for more room. I've got one butt stock made from two that is flat on the bottom like a BR stock. It can be moved from rifle to rifle as easily as any AR stock.

Greg

 

[Roy Allain]

One stock from two???

I use a rear bag. You can set it just in front of the rear sling loop or you can remove the loop with one screw for more room. I've got one butt stock made from two that is flat on the bottom like a BR stock. It can be moved from rifle to rifle as easily as any AR stock.
Greg

Greg, how did you do that? I really would like to try it out.

Roy

 

[Greg Culpepper]

Roy,

I cut the bottom off one stock, turned it around, taped it on with duct tape and poured epoxy into the groove from the open end. If I did another I'll make the bottom piece a little longer and put a little more draft in it for elevation adjustment. Some polyester filler and paint wouldn't hurt either.

Greg

 

[Roy Allain]

Very good.

Roy, I cut the bottom off one stock, turned it around, taped it on with duct tape and poured epoxy into the groove from the open end. If I did another I'll make the bottom piece a little longer and put a little more draft in it for elevation adjustment. Some polyester filler and paint wouldn't hurt either. Greg

I attempted that, but with laminated balsa. A real pain sanding a grove to fit the bottom of the stock. But it probably would work if I had come up with a way to a to attach it. I finally bought the 2 gizmo's from EGW. They work great, except for the cost.

I wish I would have seen this first. Some filler and sanding and it would look real good.

I've talked to a number of stock makers, but no one was planning on doing either a new flat stock or an attachment as such.

Many thanks.

 

[holl]

If you have a free float tube under the handguards on your AR you can pop off the handguards and shoot with the free float tube on the rest. A 5 round mag is best.

 

[amamnn]

This works quite well for me


http://store.magpul.com/prod_detail_list/84

 

[DDriller]

This is what I use for mine.

http://egw-guns.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=53&products_id=295

 

[muldoon9]

Compass Lake Engineering makes an aluminum bed that is flat like beavertail.
It attatches to the bottom of the AR 15.

http://www.compasslake.com/parts.htm

Last item on page.



Michael

 

[VaniB]

Artimus, I don't compete, but still do try to shoot the best groups I can when trying new loads. Initially I was frustrated like you and proceeded to make a plastic detachable sled to fit my RRA NM handguard to slide easilly in my rounded sinclair rest. This sinclair rest is the brown leather bag they sell that fits in their adjustable top. (I also have a seperate flat black leather bag in a Sinclair adjustible top that I use for my AR15 rifles with square shaped rail hand-guards) But between my RRA NM, my Colt M4, and my DPMS 308, I got tired of trying to set up each rifle with it's own special equipment or add-ons. Not using these rifles in formal competition, I decided I want them to be in a more natural and ready to use state the way they were designed to be used in their military roots and maintain the same shooting charachteristics when used off of a sand-bag or bi-pod. This means, I want them to shoot accurately without any special made add-ons. I ultimately have discovered that the way I hold the rifle is more important then how the handguard slips through the leather rest. Unlike my precision bolt action rifles, I get the best accuracy when I "lock" the rifle and hold it firm to cradle it and prevent it from moving. I pull it firm against my shoulder and lock it down firmly against my cheek.

In order to use my 3 leg Hart rest, and make sure that the back leg positioning does not interfere with the magazine, I have loosened the post on the sinclair rest-top and retightened it cocked slightly to one side. This way the rifle and magazine pointing strainght ahead will now position itself just off to the side of the leg of the Sinclair rest. I use one of the more standard deep rabbit-ear protektor sand bags for the back reast. But found it doesn't quite elevate the rifle butt high enough. So, I simply made my own low and flat sand bags to add about 1" more or so of height. You can buy ready made low/flat leather sand bags. Or, I just use a leg or shirt sleeve off of an old pair of pants or an old shirt to make a low sand bag; Pour some sand in the pants leg and tie nots on each end of it to trap the sand in it.....same with an old shirt sleeve.