a decent rifle rest is a tool you can buy or fabricate

[Grumpy]

a decent commercially made bench rest rifle rest will cost you about $50-$250 for the more common versions, and obviously the design's differ a great deal .
the green, caldwell design pictured here, below, is designed so you can lay a 25 lb bag of lead shot on it to add weight, this weight, aids considerably in reducing the rifles felt recoil impulse.
too accurately sight in any rifle it must be free too move
,in a similar way as it will when held by a person
but to be sure its sighted in precisely, it must have the rear of the stock supported, and up against a surface that resists , but moves rearward, simulating movement similar to a shooters shoulder.
and the front of the forearm stock area ,(BUT NOT THE BARREL) must be supported,
also, simulating a person holding the rifle.
using a sling also helps, but if the rifles clamped firmly into place it drastically changed the vibration or harmonics,
and the bullet will surely not impact at the same point that it will,
if properly held by a hunter, making the bench rest sight- in process a waste of time, as the rifle will not shoot to the same point of impact that the rifle will shoot to in the field while hunting.
if youve ever watched high speed photograph you,ll know a rifle barrel vibrates quite a bit when the rifles fired.
many guys use several "sand bags" many use bank coin bags, or just cut old dungaree legs off, fill them with something like plastic beads or un-popped pop-corn and firmly sew closed both ends ,
but of course there are dozens of adjustable rifles rests commercially made.

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmrecoil-5.1.cgi

http://kwk.us/recoil.html

https://www.amazon.com/Caldwell-336...033128&sr=8-3&keywords=caldwell+shooting+rest

here is a couple pictures of adjustable rifle rest designs guys made from available materials, they had on hand

http://www.vibrationmounts.com/FootMountsPoly.htm

anyone who reloads knows what a P.I.T.A. it can be to look for and collect your brass,
and having a way to easily collect the fired cases,
and not have them bouncing of the guy in the next shooting bench at the range,
makes it much more pleasant.
http://8541tactical.com/2013/06/07/3bucc-brass-savr-brass-catcher-review/

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/09/24/brass-wrangler-ar-15-brass-catcher/

https://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/the-gun-nuts/gear-review-caldwell-ar-15-brass-catcher

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/5...atcher-ar-15-picatinny-rail-mount-nylon-black

http://www.gracomodels.com/bigcatcher.html

https://ads.midwayusa.com/brass-catchers-deflectors-and-pouches/br?cid=19758&cm_mmc=ps_google-_-google-_-ST_Range_Supplies_Equipment_Beta_G-_-brass+catcher&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=ST_Range Supplies Equipment_Beta_G&utm_term=+brass +catcher&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxcXy37v72AIVVbnACh07yA1vEAMYASAAEgKISfD_BwE

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/610698/caldwell-tackdriver-shooting-rest-bag-nylon-green-filled
Ive shot most game, while sitting using a sling, with a 13"/27" harris bi-pod
https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/2...MI-YK985jm2QIVDksNCh0klghpEAQYAiABEgKZZvD_BwE
for many, sitting using a sling, no bi-pod, but several standing shooting offhand while using a sling.
I can generally hit most shots more than 70% in a coke can size target,shooting offhand with a sling out to about 100 yards,(3.5"-4" circle)but cut that group size in 1/2 sitting with a sling, and a bit better with a sling and bi-pod.
most of the game I've shot has been dropped at under 250 yards and mostly in thicker timber or narrow canyons, where ranges are generally not excessive
related info
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/printable-targets-and-sighting-in.4560/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...hooting-from-field-positions.9380/#post-71169

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...uys-have-fabricated-a-custom-rifle-rest.9436/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...y-you-don-t-sight-dead-on-at-100-yards.14018/

 

[Grumpy]

lots of guys prefer to use "SAND BAGS" for a rifle rest , these can be fabricated cheaply from old dungaree legs,
or bank coin bags if you have access to a sewing machine and you have minimal skills using it.
(yeah! ideally the wife or girl friend who may be more skilled with a sewing machine can help)

youll need a brass catcher

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/001011081240/brass-catcher-with-picatinny-rail-mount


commercial sand bags, for rifle range use,
tend to be expensive and many people
buy them without realizing most are shipped empty.
most guys are reluctant to fill them with actual sand,
because its both heavy and it absorbs and holds moisture,
almost insuring that mildew/mold over time ruins the bags, or they can leak sand in your home, car, or storage area.
yes I'm well aware that many guys fill zip lock plastic bags,
then, double bag and insert the zip lock sand bags inside the canvas coin bags, to reduce the tendency,
some guys use uncooked rice
(this can attract vermin)
or packing peanuts
(too light and compress over time making the bags nearly useless)

the larger 12"/19" bank coin bags tend to work rather well as a 3/4 filled bag (or several) can be re-formed manually, or stacked, too match the desired rifle support height and support a rifle solidly

theres several sizes available
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/mm...MInavK9J-F2QIVyLfACh1q5gqvEAYYAyABEgKehfD_BwE
12" x 19"

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Canvas-Bla...in-Sack-Bags-6-5x9-5-Tie-String-/201031030561
6.5" x 9.5"


this might save you a few bucks at the range in equipment

stuff the bank bags with rubber mulch filled zip lock bags with a 2.5 gallon zip lock bags ,
filed with rubber mulch ,
which is basically finely shredded, and ground up old tires ,
and you have bags of the correct weight, firmness and these won,t attract vermin when stored,
get the correct fill percentage that allows the contents to be partly redistributed, the contents,
so you can manipulate the height/thickness and then fold the open end of the canvass coin bags and sew or staple shut.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-0-8-cu-ft-Cedar-Red-Rubber-Mulch-HDVCRMN8CB/203714941

[/IMG]

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...-shooting-rest

if you cam borrow or purchase a rifle rest like this and throw a 25 lb bag of bird shot on the tray, put in ear plugs and wear ear muffs ,
and then try shooting a couple groups you can eliminate recoil and muzzle blast as potential sources for flinching as both the recoil and noise will be eventually eliminated
a significantly cheaper but less effective option,
lots of guys prefer to use "SAND BAGS" for a rifle rest , these can be fabricated cheaply from old dungaree legs,
or bank coin bags if you have access to a sewing machine and you have minimal skills using it.
(yeah! ideally the wife or girl friend who may be more skilled with a sewing machine can help)

commercial sand bags, for rifle range use,
tend to be expensive and many people
buy them without realizing most are shipped empty.
most guys are reluctant to fill them with actual sand,
because its both heavy and it absorbs and holds moisture,
almost insuring that mildew/mold over time ruins the bags, or they can leak sand in your home, car, or storage area.
yes I'm well aware that many guys fill zip lock plastic bags,
then, double bag and insert the zip lock sand bags inside the canvas coin bags, to reduce the tendency,
some guys use uncooked rice
(this can attract vermin)
or packing peanuts
(too light and compress over time making the bags nearly useless)

the larger 12"/19" bank coin bags tend to work rather well

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/mm....yABEgKehfD_BwE


stuff the bank bags with rubber mulch filled zip lock bags with a 2.5 gallon zip lock bag filed with rubber mulch which is basically fine ground up old tires ,
and you have bags of the correct weight, firmness and these won,t attract vermin when stored,
get the correct fill percentage that allows the contents to be partly redistributed, the contents,
so you can manipulate the height/thickness and then fold the open end of the canvass coin bags and sew or staple shut.
a couple of the larger size coin bags , (bags of the rubber landscaper mulch) used to support the rifle, , under the forearm, one partly under the butt stock, with most of it between your shoulder and the butt stock, to spread and absorb recoil, will also mostly mitigate recoil
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-0...N8CB/203714941