Well after this weekend, I have a good case of benchrest shoulder. I took my shooting setup out this weekend and shot all my rifles, 223 up to 444, about 15 in all. I shot about 20 rounds or so out of each so my shoulder got quite a workout. Finally got to test some loads that I had not had time to test. I got some good groups under an inch and some that were all over the paper. I must have spent at least six hours at the bench. I was having so much fun I forgot what time it was till my wife called me to make sure I was all right. I set my benchrest up in a large oil well site behind my house that provided a dirt bank in which to shoot and shade for my benchrest. (it was 92 here Sunday). Below are some pictures of my shooting gear.

Sweet!

Kinda ties in with the feller in the General forum that's getting fed up with no place to shoot and expensive ammo, etc.

I live in rural Maine, and I'm running into similar issues. Nearest "prepared" range with benches and berms and whatnot is about an hour away. Not really an option. The gravel pit I shoot in is close by, but has NO amenities.

Sure would like to be able to drag a bench out behind the barn and shoot myself into a coma, but no can do. I could come up with a 50 yard range facing west, but I have neighbors within 25 yards on the other three sides and they wouldn't approve.

Oh well. I haven't been thrown out of the gravel pit.

Yet.

I am fortunate enough to have several sites such as this to shoot. A good friend owns about 2000 acres right behind my house and lets me hunt and shoot as I wish. You used to be able to shoot a lot of places but now they are all leased up. That is why I built me a portable bench. I just take it with me to the gravel pits. I used this well site because it was shaded and the local machine gun club was at the main gravel pit shooting range. Those automatic weapons are somewhat distracting when you are trying to concrentrate on accuracy.

As I got older and inherited some heart problems from my dad I ended up on blood thinners. I now bruise very easily so shooting on the bench rest really kills my shoulder. I'd sure suggest either getting or making a Lead Sled for those long days at the range. Here's one I built from an old car jack and a bit of scrap steel I had laying around. The bags are Lyman.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/faucettb/Preditor%20masters/CZ452.jpg

It allows me to shoot the big boomers all day without recoil problems. It weigh's 45 pounds by it's self and I can add up to two bags of shot for the magnums.

Bob, I like that. Looks like a nice scissor jack adaptation. Obviously you are a better machinist and welder than me. I make what they call gorilla welds. Ugly but strong.

Dude, I feel your pain. I just got back into shooting after a 11 year break. I went through 85 rounds of 150 M2 ball in a light bolt rifle. Black and blue with busted vessles visible.

My solution....a bull barrel 223. :)

Thanks Jodum, this was the first project I built with a new welder and I hadn't welded for a bunch of years. The welds were done without the right amount of gas and look horrible, but it seems to be sticking together so I'm happy with it. It sure takes the hurt out of shooting at the range all day, especially with heavy recoiling guns.

The lead sled that folks like Cabela's or Midway sells are the commercial variety and they really work. It's much more fun to shoot the light recoilers as linuxman said.

Am I getting old or what!!! I'm starting to feel the "pain" also. Like faucettb I got magnumitis at a young age and still enjoy shooting the big boomers. My latest, a 300RUM in Sendero SFII is fun to shoot from all positions excpt bare-shouldered from the bench. Here 'bout 3 years ago I made me a "bob"sled, sorta copied from faucettb's. I hadn't thought of the scissors jack until I saw his model. ;)
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h191/recoil_junky/IMG_0827.jpg
The rear tube is full of lead and the whole contraption weighs in at 42 pounds. I have another in the "design" phase that will have a windage adjusment and a clamping mechanism for the fore end so I can us a remote trigger pull also.

I use the "bob"sled for shooting eveything from the bench. Takes most of the work out of holding things still.

RJ

Where did you find my old wagon, RJ? Lost that in the Big Flood up around Sterling way! :D

You musta been in a hurry kdub. The wheels is 'bought ran off'n it. A bit of tightin' on the rims and some axle grease and she'll be good as new :D.

RJ