Bench Shooting Revolvers

[hporter]

A couple days ago I sat down at a shooting bench with a bunch of 38 S&W and 44 Special loads to chronograph and group. In 40+ years of shooting revolvers, I have only shot them from a bench maybe a handful of times.

With the 44 special loads, I had loaded 10 rounds each of a bunch of different SWC and WC bullets with the same powder charge. I wanted to compare and contrast the differences in groups and in POA/POI between my Ruger Flattop 5-1/2" and my Ruger Vaquero Sheriff with it's 3-3/4" barrel. Rather than shoot offhand, I thought I would shoot from a steady bench (mostly because I didn't trust myself not to blow my chronograph to smithereens shooting offhand).

I had my good rifle rest with me, but I did not want to get powder burns all over my nice leather pad. Nor did I want to lay the barrel of my revolver on the rest bare metal and no pad. The only thing that I had on hand that I was willing to sacrifice to powder burns was one of those rear rifle rest squeeze bag things.

But it was so roly-poly that it did not serve the purpose well. I ended up pulling shots so bad that my experiment was not as useful as it could have been.

So my question is, what do you expert handgun shooters use to fire your revolvers while sitting at the bench. Some sort of a rest, sand bags, technique or a combination of things? I plan on doing these types of experiments a lot more in the future as they are fun and very informative.

 

[Rick]

I use a rifle rest with a sheet of Suede leather covering it to protect the barrel. Have also used sandbags but depending on your barrel cylinder gap it's possible to cut holes in the bags. (evidenced by sand all over the bench) I put the same piece of Suede over the bags but this time to protect the bags not the revolver.

Technique . . . Consistency of grip/recoil is your best friend.

 

[Brad]

Get the rest high enough so you aren’t trying to crane your neck to line up the sights. A sore, stiff neck is not conducive to good shooting.

I use my rifle rest, the bags show some burns. I rest the frame on the rest, not the barrel.

Rick is right, it is all about consistent grip so the gun recoils the same every time.

 

[Winelover]

I have an old metal Lyman pistol rest.


Modified to hold revolver when cleaning.




Most of the time I just shoot seated, the way I hunt, off a camera tripod. Use this for rifles/carbines, also.



I have multiple options, made out of scrap aluminum channel. The one on the tripod is covered with a rubber insert that came out of Milwaukee battery operated drills, that came in metal boxes. Belt leather works too, as pictured.

 

[Rick H]

I shoot with both hands on the firearm and my wrists supported by a sandbag at the proper height. The only thing touching the gun are my hands. Might not be quite as accurate but nothing to change point of impact and accurate enough for me to know what my "system" is capable of.

 

[hporter]

Get the rest high enough so you aren’t trying to crane your neck to line up the sights

This!

That little roly-poly bag was so low to the bench that when I fired the little Vaquero with a load utilizing a 270gr bullet at around 850 fps it got my attention as the grip pivoted up and the butt went down toward the bench. Plus I was so hunched up squatting down to line up the sights that I probably pulled the shots from the discomfort of my neck being pinched up.

I really like the idea of the tripod mount. I have a bunch of heavy duty tripods for my large format cameras. That would be a handy thing to throw in the truck with the tripod for the chronograph.

Rick is right, it is all about consistent grip so the gun recoils the same every time.

I tried using the little bag I had with the barrel laying on it, and with the frame on it. It did seem easier to hold consistently with the frame on the bag. With the barrel on the bag, it sometimes felt like a teeter-totter - mostly because the bag was so short and having to crouch down in an uncomfortable position.

Thank you all for the feedback, this is the information I need to figure out what to try next.

 

[Rockydoc]

A couple days ago I sat down at a shooting bench with a bunch of 38 S&W and 44 Special loads to chronograph and group. In 40+ years of shooting revolvers, I have only shot them from a bench maybe a handful of times.

With the 44 special loads, I had loaded 10 rounds each of a bunch of different SWC and WC bullets with the same powder charge. I wanted to compare and contrast the differences in groups and in POA/POI between my Ruger Flattop 5-1/2" and my Ruger Vaquero Sheriff with it's 3-3/4" barrel. Rather than shoot offhand, I thought I would shoot from a steady bench (mostly because I didn't trust myself not to blow my chronograph to smithereens shooting offhand).

I had my good rifle rest with me, but I did not want to get powder burns all over my nice leather pad. Nor did I want to lay the barrel of my revolver on the rest bare metal and no pad. The only thing that I had on hand that I was willing to sacrifice to powder burns was one of those rear rifle rest squeeze bag things.

But it was so roly-poly that it did not serve the purpose well. I ended up pulling shots so bad that my experiment was not as useful as it could have been.

So my question is, what do you expert handgun shooters use to fire your revolvers while sitting at the bench. Some sort of a rest, sand bags, technique or a combination of things? I plan on doing these types of experiments a lot more in the future as they are fun and very informative.

I understand the need to protect your rest from the cylinder gap and muzzle blasts. I simply use an old golf towel draped over the rest. The rest is the same, it just has a covering that will eventually be discarded.

 

[RicinYakima]

I shoot with both hands on the firearm and my wrists supported by a sandbag at the proper height. The only thing touching the gun are my hands. Might not be quite as accurate but nothing to change point of impact and accurate enough for me to know what my "system" is capable of.

I shoot from Weaver stance off the rifle rest and with just left wrist on the bag. Solves two problems; height to not crick neck and gun in front of the leather bag.

 

[dale2242]

When bench shooting revolvers, I keep a piece of soft leather to protect my shooting, bags, rests, etc.

 

[L Ross]

I'm with Rick H. I pile up a few bags to rest my wrists on at a comfortable height commensurate to the height of the chair I'm in. The steadying effect of the rest helps to keep me from snatching at a perfect sight picture and encourages a proper squeeze. Almost as good is the EK sitting position with back against a solid surface, knees up, wrists braced on knees. Good for long range field shooting.

Now if I could just summon up the urge to shoot instead of fish. Something about fishing that makes my primer supply last and last.

 

[Winelover]

Those beach type chairs, that keep your butt only inches off the ground, are wonderful for field shooting........ like Ross alluded to above.

 

[L Ross]

Those beach type chairs, that keep your butt only inches off the ground, are wonderful for field shooting........ like Ross alluded to above.

Oh like those guys that shot "Lawn Steel" or something like that?

 

[Winelover]

I know they work. I've harvested more than one deer, using them in a ground blind. Comfortable and keeps your profile low, while keeping your butt dry.

 

[JustJim]

Unless I'm getting all Ransom-fancy, about the closest I get to benching a handgun these days is resting my wrists on top of a tire standing in the back of a pickup box.

But I do miss having the joint-ownership Ransom conveniently available when I want to seriously wring something out. I might have to keep an eye out for one to be jointly owned by me and the dogs.