As thrilling as it is, rifle shooting takes a lot of effort, along with precision and accuracy.
The gun’s quality is pivotal, but along with that, it’s imperative to use the best shooting rest to get the highest amount of long-range precision.
A lot of companies manufacture shooting rests, but not all are good at getting precision shots.
Selecting shooting rests is a significant decision, but we’re here with a one-stop buyer’s guide to provide you with the five best shooting rests.
Let’s get started.
Why a Shooting Rest?
It’s already hard enough for shooters to worry about environmental elements such as weather conditions.
Therefore, we should do everything we can to perfect the things we can control.
Let’s face it: a shooting rest allows us to shoot more accurately over long-distance. And although shooting rests are mostly used for rifles, handguns have now come into the mix.
As handguns gain more popularity, I wouldn’t be surprised to see long-range pistol competition in the near future.
You may be thinking that’s preposterous. But remember, at one point, handguns were considered inadequate compromises to rifles.
Up until recently, most people used long-guns (shotguns and rifles) for self-defense and recreation.
During an interview with Lucky Gunner, Claude Werner informs us that John Farnam, the top handgun instructor in the nation, viewed handguns as “pathetic pop guns” compared to rifle calibers.
But still, for many people, handguns are the first option for self-defense and recreation.
So it’ll be remiss for me not to include handguns as a legitimate reason for needing a shooting rest.
Now that we got that out the way, let’s go over the three common reasons for needing a shooting rest:
- Zeroing
- Hunting
- Long-Range Shooting
Zeroing
The most common use for a shooting rest is to sight in your weapon. Whether you’re using iron sights, red dot, or scope, you need to make sure your bullet is going where intended.
At the very least, you should know your point of impact. Target impact can vary due to many conditions.
For example, if you have fixed sights, you can do very little to change your point of impact. Fix sights are most common in duty guns.
Your point of impact will also be different when using suppressors. Even with adjustable sights, you have to decide whether you’re going to sight with or without a suppressor.
Unless you’re involved in tactical warfare, you don’t have to worry about this. But it’s still good to note if you ever decide to run a suppressor for home defense.
However, if you have adjustable sights, red dots, or scopes, you’ll have no problem zeroing your weapon.
Because handguns are lightweight and used at shorter distances, it’ll be easier to zero your gun. But if you want the most accurate data of where your bullet is hitting, use a rest to eliminate factors, such as wobbling and shaking.
Hunting
As far as hunting is concerned, you have to be ready to take advantage of an opportunity.
The worst thing you can do is have an animal walk in front of you and scare it off by making noise lifting your rifle.
Even if you manage to aim your gun, it’s only a matter of time before your arms give out.
Look: Animals are, for the most part, unpredictable.
That’s because your environment is unpredictable. Any slight noise will send your prey bolting away. It could be for another hunter making noise or a strange smell—if that’s the case, lay off the beef jerky.
But seriously, you have to prepare for environmental factors. A shooting rest allows you to minimize movement and fatigue.
With a shooting rest, hunters increase their chance of harvesting game.
Long Range Shooting
For the most part, long-range shooting is for recreation and competition—unless you’re a scout sniper.
Either way, it’s no fun shooting if you’re not hitting anything.
Let’s make it clear: long-distance shooting means the target is more than 500 yards away. At those distances, you need to be at your A-game.
Stance and trigger control are elementary at these distances.
You have more complex tasks to worry about, such as gauging lateral wind direction and speed. Oh, and not to mention gauging distances.
Sounds complicated? Don’t worry, it’s harder than it sounds.
A shooting rest is most available at long distance. Now don’t get me wrong, you can undoubtedly use a shooting rest for shorter distances.
But at long-range distances, a shooting rest becomes religious. You wouldn’t expect your pastor to have a sermon without a bible, would you?
Maybe you heard the adage, “Anything worthwhile is usually hard.”
With that being said…
Perhaps, the best benefit of long-range shooting is that it makes you an overall better shooter.
Skills like trigger control, steady breathing, wind, and distance reading don’t hurt either.
The Best Shooting Rest: Our Top 5 Picks
Some features to look for in a premium shooting rest are precision machining, advanced design, and stability.
Let’s now take a look at five of the best shooting rests.
5 Best Shooting Rest for Guns in the Market
- Caldwell Lead Sled DFT 2
- Caldwell The Rock BR 219.99
- CTK Precision
- Primos Group Therapy Bench Anchor Adjustable Shooting Rest
- Caldwell The Rock Deluxe
1. Caldwell Lead Sled DFT 2
Many shooters prefer it for its optimum length adjustment. You can slide the front cable back and forth along the dual-frame that will give you added comfort.
It is also capable of dispersing the maximum amount of recoil felt, making it easier to shoot. Additionally, the rear pad is handy at reducing the effects of muzzle rise. Less muzzle rise and felt recoil makes this rest ideal if you need to make faster follow-up shots.
You don’t have to break your grip when adjusting for elevation. Instead, you can adjust the rear height using your figure. You can change the elevation up to 2.5 inches.
Also, adjustment knobs are convenient as the gun is not required to be removed when making adjustments. The knobs are oversized wheels making it easier for you to make changes.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 30 x 12.01 x 16.06 inches
- Weight: 24 pounds
- Elevation: yes
Pros:
- It can hold up to 100 pounds of lead shot.
- There are 18 inches of adjustment just to fit rifles and shotguns of any size possible.
- The given dual-frame design disperses away a lot of recoil energy for precision.
- It is sturdy in design and thus works efficiently on all kinds of surfaces.
- There are 2.5 inches of available elevation adjustment.
- The dual-frame technology provides maximum comfort.
Cons:
- Elevation for some is good but not perfect.
- The strap quality is not the best.
- It is not very budget-friendly.
2. Caldwell The Rock BR 219.99
It is ambidextrous, so it’s suitable for both left and right-handed people. You get versatility with The Rock. It can be used during competition or even for recreational purposes. Great all-around rest if you’re looking only to buy one.
The product is extremely lightweight at 13 lb. It offers an adjustable windage cradle that allows a pro shooter to make changes using your fingertip.
Elevation adjustment is possible up to 11 inches, which is significantly more than the Lead Sled DFT 2. Such elevation is made possible with the help of a 2-stage ball-bearing rotational system.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 2.09 x 7.09 x 1.61 inches
- Weight: 2.2 Pounds
- Elevation: yes
Pros:
- The feature of the adjustable windage cradle helps to make precise corrections with the help of just fingertips.
- There is the possibility of elevation adjustment by the 2-stage ball bearing rotational system.
- It includes an unfilled 3-lobe bag for the use of wide forends.
- There is a filled medium varmint front bag for sporter-style forends.
- It is ambidextrous that facilitates usage by both hands.
Cons:
- Quality constraints seem to be a trouble at times.
- It is on the costlier side.
3. CTK Precision
If you are a shooter with limited bench space, the CKT Precision is for you. The shooting rest is 10″ shorter and 9″ narrower than an older model called P3 Ultimate.
It comes with an adjustable rear leg to get precise adjustments. You can adjust all pistols and rifles on its horizontal telescoping rear shooting pad.
Its telescoping Front Y Rest, when adjusted vertically, can help you get on target. The front Y rest and rear shooting pad are coated with high-quality and durable marine carpet. You can rest assured that it will be by your side for a significant length of time.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 13 × 9″
- Weight: 5.85 lbs
- Elevation: yes
Pros:
- The rear shooting pad of this rest adjusts to accommodate rifles and pistols.
- Y Rest adjusts vertically to get you on the target nonchalantly.
- It is made of heavy-duty steel and a high-quality marine carpet which imparts longevity to the rest.
- The adjustable rear leg helps to get precise elevation adjustments.
- Perfect for shooters with limited bench space.
Cons:
- It can’t be used for a revolver as the blast will burn the material.
4. Primos Group Therapy Bench Anchor Adjustable Shooting Rest
The material used is steel which makes it sturdy and robust. The rest uses very high-quality material. The rest keeps the rifle completely locked on the target—increases your ability to shoot tighter groups.
The company designed the rest to reduce felt recoil. The less recoil there is usually results in faster and more accurate shots.
Just like The Rock, the Bench Anchor is also ambidextrous. So both right and left-handed shooters will experience delight using this product.
Elevation adjustments available are of coarse and fine-tuning in the front and rear.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 12″
- Weight: 0.8 Pounds
- Elevation: yes
Pros:
- Sturdy tubular steel design eliminates the problem of recoil.
- The studded feet of the shooting rest keep the bench in place.
- Elevation adjustment is available in front and rear with coarse and fine options.
- It is manufactured for both left and right-handed shooters.
- It is inexpensive and provides excellent value for money.
Cons:
- The screw threads are not properly cut, and that can stop the main riser from being screwed in.
- Only 2 inches of elevation adjustment is available.
5.Caldwell The Rock Deluxe
It is of unbeatable quality – gives 100% perfection and added confidence for future shots.
You can adjust the shooting rest on almost any surface. The adjustable height is 4.5-7.25″, which covers nearly all height requirements.
You get three hardpoint feet for level shooting. All the given steel rams are 7/8″ in diameter.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 14 x 13 x 4 inches
- Weight: 8.5 pounds
- Elevation: yes
Pros:
- The 7/8″ diameter steel turret post of this shooting rest gives a very smooth elevation adjustment of around 7 1/4″ high.
- It has a vast and stable footprint that is dispersed over a cast iron base.
- It has three hardpoint feet that aids level shooting.
- It is very affordable and doesn’t fall too heavy on your pocket.
Cons:
- The bag quality and its stitching is not optimal.
Buyers’ Guide
A shooting rest is an integral part of any shooter’s kit. We’ve gone over five of the best shooting rest options, but what if you’re looking for excellence in a particular aspect? The following buyer’s guide will assist you in finding what best suits your specific needs.
The budget-friendly: The prices of each of these rests are very different.
Primos Group Therapy Bench Anchor and Caldwell Rock Deluxe Front are the most inexpensive of the best shooting rest choices.
The Caldwell lead sled DFT 2 and the Caldwell Rock BR are the most expensive options.
CTK Precision Compact will cost you half of what the above two costs. Thus there’s a wide variety of cost ranges here, and you must select according to your needs.
The most versatile: Advanced-level shooters need to get equipment designed ergonomically and possess all the sturdy characteristics.
Some shooters participate in competitions that require special attention to detail.
Almost all the models listed here work perfectly in competition due to their design, durability, and reliability.
But recreation has its place, doesn’t it? Caldwell, The Rock BR, will give you the perfect blend of performance.
The most flexible (elevation): All the models mentioned here offer adjustable elevation. But you must consider what type of elevation is necessary for you. If you are a regular shooter, you can select whichever model seems comfortable to you.
For the maximum elevation, go for Caldwell The Rock BR.
However, different companies like Caldwell, CTK, and Primos Group Therapy have many models you can choose from.
You will meet your requirements regarding material, pricing, elevation levels, weight, and usage in one way or another.
Conclusion
In this article, we went over why you might need a shooting rest and showed you some top shooting rest choices to get you started on your journey.
Remember: we’re only as good as the tools we have to work with.
So whether you’re shooting for fun or competition, you now know about five of the best shooting rest options out there.
We hope this buyer’s guide has helped you discover which one will best suit your needs.
Once you consider price, features, and utility into your buying decision, you’ll easily be able to zero-in on the best shooting rest for you.
Be sure to check out some of our other product reviews and buying guides!
