Functional Ugly-Duckling Rest

[E.T.]

Sorry about the eye test. ;D

Winter project was taking scrap aluminum metal, a used car jack and a rear rabbit eared sand bag along with a little exercising of the gray matter to produce a functional rifle rest that had an easy elevation adjustment. It actually turned out a little better than expected.
Saved a little money for other toys with this one. For the do it yourselfer who is slightly mechanically inclined it is simply constructed.

So who has 20/20 vision out there? ;D

Ed Theiss

[RAF]

Looks good. Have you tried it yet? How does it work?

[soggy]

;D Ugly? No way I call that pretty darned innovative. Who cares what it looks like as long as it does the job? Maybe you could have used a little "DUCT TAPE" to give it a Canadian flare.
Soggy (also a Canadian ;D )

[E.T.]

RAF

It will work without a doubt in my mind because I have sort of played with it. By removing the original base of the jack and installing threaded bolts through the jack’s base arms and into threaded holes in an angle bracket with locking nuts at the end I can alter the pressure/resistance on the jack making movement as tight as I need even if play occurs through wear. The fork for the fore stock rest has been used before on just a front rest and actually serves 2 purposes.
1) It easily balances the rifle in an upright position without support as seen.
2) It is also my training wheels so to speak for proper mounting of rear stock to the shoulder with proper tension. Then during recoil the rifle will move straight back and lift slightly. If not you will tag the sides of the fork telling you, you didn’t hold it right. There is about 5/16” play on either side of the stock when resting in the fork.
The rear plate that holds the rabbit ear sand bag is moveable through numerous threaded holes below spaced at ¾” intervals. Two 10/32 screws hold the plate and with this adjustment I should be able to mount just about any existing stock length.

Soggy

Maybe a couple of racing pin stripes might add some class to it. ;D
Funny you should mention duct tape because I may be using that wrapped around the frame (until a better solution is found) in front of the rear bag where I place my left hand. Hate the feel of cold aluminum to bare skin on cold mornings.
I’m sure Red Green would be proud but lately my attention is given to MXC. Kind of reminds me of when I go through obstacle courses in the woods. ;D ;D

All in all it was a fun project with the only major cost being the rear sand bag. Will do a follow up report when I get some playtime at the range to confirm all is well.

Ed Theiss