Bipod/squeeze bag or sled for field setup?

[buttonbuck]

I made a post last week about a shooting bench we can move around some fields to stretch out to 1k.  Settled on a bench design and will make it as soon as the sawhorse legs get here.  

I'm going to make the assumption I will probably never have a perfectly level setup in the field.  Close, but not bench rest squared up.  We all have pivot bipods with pod locks and squeeze bags.  Is that the best option for 'mobile benching'?  Would we be better off investing in a lead sled?  Seems like a bipod with pod lock and a squeeze bag might give us the best shot at squaring things up?  

I know there are plenty of folks here who have been there and done that.....thanks for the input

[DNP]

No great input on the bipod, but for the bench-take your time in thinking about how to build some adjustment into it. The level ground situation can be a pain in the ass. We bought a bench with some adjustment built in and even then we had trouble in some of the fields we shoot in. I've been looking at designs to build one and aside from stability, that is my number 2 concern. 

[buttonbuck]

Yea it's a potential day wrecker for stretching it out.  Oddly laying prone takes care of all that, but it's so stinking wet here in FL in the summer when this will happen that....well...I'm just not that dedicated to lay down in the mud to shoot longer.  

[survivalshop]

5 minutes ago, buttonbuck said:

Yea it's a potential day wrecker for stretching it out.  Oddly laying prone takes care of all that, but it's so stinking wet here in FL in the summer when this will happen that....well...I'm just not that dedicated to lay down in the mud to shoot longer.  

What area in Fla. you at , I would like to stretch my legs a little , no where in my area that has anything much more then 200yards . I'm in St Augustine .

 The BiPods & bags should take care of any slight adj. you may need , I would think . I alway put a folded rag or a small piece of carpet under the legs of my Bipod , when shooting from a Bench , wooden benches are not that bad , but the cement ones will give feed back when shooting .

[jtallen83]

I have a lead sled but find myself using it less and less. Really only use it now for break-in, makes the frequent cleaning at the bench easier.

[98Z5V]

6 hours ago, jtallen83 said:

I have a lead sled but find myself using it less and less.

^^^ This. A lead sled is awesome for determining the mechanical accuracy of a rifle or optic setup, or for determining handload comparison accuracy.  Otherwise,it's a pain in the ass.

I have one also, and it doesn't get used often - except for the two reasons listed above. 

[98Z5V]

I use home-made shiit as a rest, most of the time.  Some 3/4" plywood cut into 12" squares, some 4x4" wood, and carpet. Set it up right, and you can have multiple heights for different rifle setups, for whatever works for that rifle. Just rotate it.

 

[planeflyer21]

4 minutes ago, 98Z5V said:

I use home-made shiit as a rest, most of the time.  Some 3/4" plywood cut into 12" squares, some 4x4" wood, and carpet. Set it up right, and you can have multiple heights for different rifle setups, for whatever works for that rifle. Just rotate it.

 

I'm glad you included a description with the photo.  Otherwise I would've thought you were making cat towers/scratching posts.

[sketch]

1 minute ago, 98Z5V said:

I use home-made shiit as a rest, most of the time.  Some 3/4" plywood cut into 12" squares, some 4x4" wood, and carpet. Set it up right, and you can have multiple heights for different rifle setups, for whatever works for that rifle. Just rotate it.

 

Damn 98! That right there is a great idea ?

[98Z5V]

Cut the 12x12" plywood sides, and put the 4x4" section 2" in from one edge, and 3" in from another edge.  Cover the 4x4 with cheap cut-off carpet from the big-box stores. That gives you shooting heights of 10", 9", 7", and 6", not counting the thickness of the carpet.

The 4x4" widths are 15" with one that's 10", for small people and small rifles. 

Edited February 8, 2017 by 98Z5V

[sketch]

Bro im gonna do this for my range!! Thank you!!

[98Z5V]

[planeflyer21]

9 hours ago, sketch said:

Bro im gonna do this for my range!! Thank you!!

Seal it back in your area.

[sketch]

3 hours ago, planeflyer21 said:

Seal it back in your area.

Im thinking treated 4x4 and sealing the ply edge ?

[Sisco]

Good ideas get stolen. I was going to replace the sand bags at our local range. This makes more sense. Consider it stolen. Thanks 98 .

[planeflyer21]

33 minutes ago, sketch said:

Im thinking treated 4x4 and sealing the ply edge ?

Or maybe even use the new plastic "wood" made for stuff like patio furniture.

[sketch]

Collective juices are flowing!!

[Matt.Cross]

9 minutes ago, sketch said:

Collective juices are flowing!!

That just sounds nasty...

[jtallen83]

3 hours ago, Matt.Cross said:

That just sounds nasty...

Great minds think alike first thing I thought of was that cheerleader that got talked into letting the whole offensive line rotate through.....

[blue109]

Video?

[jtallen83]

1 minute ago, blue109 said:

Video?

We called it film in those days, and no filming done, I was just happy to get my turn!

[shepp]

47 minutes ago, jtallen83 said:

We called it moving pictures in those days, and no filming done, I was just happy to get my turn!

Fify

[98Z5V]

Have at it guys - steal away.  Hell, I stole the idea from the Sierra Vista Shooting Range years ago. 

[sketch]

You guys know what i ment! Shits! Haha!! going to start now.