Is there a recommended rest for sale for handguns?

Is there a recommended rest that many of you use to check out a handgun, if you don't want to buy a Ransom Rest?  I've been placing sandbags on my table, but I'm pretty sure something better must be available.

In looking around, I found lots of rests that aren't much better than what I have and us now, and then I found this:

https://www.targetshooting.com/product/model-1500-pistol-rest/

Anyone here used one of these?

I have a Hyscore pistol rest. Works for me. I don't use the swivel feature.

https://hyskore.com/hand-gun-rests/

David

Lee makes/made one that works pretty good. I made a bunch of adapters for mine but don't use it very much. It takes a little while to set up and a sand bag is good enough for most of my testing. However when testing that just needs to be done right they work well.

I'd just stick with sandbags on a decent bench. I've shot 10 shot groups of 22lr down to 2" using just a red dot off bags. That rest you linked is nearly the cost of a Ransom Rest.

When I first started I used the ransom rest for everything now I can get what I need off sandbags while using a LabRadar to check velocity.  I do use a 1X-4X scope which makes a big difference.  If you can't get the scope to settle down off the bags you probably won't get consistent results.
- Dave

I’ve tried several pistol rests, nothing I love.  I find they are ok at 25, but marginal at 50

When working on really accurate loads, and reading other’s results, I find I discount those using some type of a rest. Probably just me. I also use a scope when possible, it helps a lot, but still is testing the shooter along with everything else.

I have a RR, but it’s also not perfect, and for me, kind of a PIA to set up.  I wish I had a barrel fixture.

The #30018 Parallax Sighting Rest looks very capable - and much less expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/HYSKORE-1003626-Parallax-Pistol-Sighting/dp/B0007LOX8C

Read the website.   It says it’s not for firing the pistol, just for adjusting sights.   In the questions part, someone asks if it will hold the gun while firing, the answer is no.

David

That would be worse then sandbags. At least sand bags don't remove the pistols finish. Unless you just use that to hold your sand bags then think hard about clamping a nice pistol down in that.

Len     ( opinion of course)

Double post. I must have had a strong opinion.

mikemyers wrote:The #30018 Parallax Sighting Rest looks very capable - and much less expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/HYSKORE-1003626-Parallax-Pistol-Sighting/dp/B0007LOX8C

ONLY for bore sighting!  NEVER fire a pistol in this fixture.
- Dave

Dave, I was originally considering a Ransom Rest, but several people here convinced me that I don't need one, and that it's "overkill".  The original rest I posted way up above only has one drawback, the cost, but I can use the money for it I originally intended to use for a Ransom Rest.

(I didn't even look at the website for the Parallax Sighting device, nor did I understand it was only for sighting in a gun.  I'm back to "square one", literally.  I can't see any disadvantage in buying the Model 1500, other than it's probably big and heavy, but that's more of an advantage than a disadvantage as I see it, especially after watching several videos.)

I have one that I made from copying the design from another shooters equipment bout twenty years ago.  Welded it together with a couple of leather protector bags.  

PM me your hone number and I can get some pictures to you.

Regards, 
Crankster

If you enjoy fooling with such things remember the old "Buy Once, Cry Once"...  The Ransom Rest will keep you entertained for decades.

CrankyThunder wrote:......PM me your hone number and I can get some pictures to you.......

Thanks, but in my tiny condo, I can't build much of anything, not to mention the last time I welded anything was in the 1970's.    :-(

A Ransom Rest is the best way to test IMHO. It doesn't take any more "fiddling" with, then mounting a high power scope on a pistol. Testing of at least 10 shots at 50 yards is the only way to get real data, IMHO.

mikemyers wrote:Dave, I was originally considering a Ransom Rest, but several people here convinced me that I don't need one, and that it's "overkill".  The original rest I posted way up above only has one drawback, the cost, but I can use the money for it I originally intended to use for a Ransom Rest.

I have a RR, bought it used with several inserts for a decent price. It can be a PIA to set it up, and takes some skill to use. Other than the money to buy it (which I will likely get back when/if  I ever sell it) there arent really any drawbacks.

I have several friends that think many of the things I do with bullseye guns are “overkill”  .  I enjoy reloading, and enjoy trying to get the best loads I can. I’m not a master level shooter, and at 70 never will be, but that not the point. I can see some reasons not to get a Ransom Rest, but “overkill” isn’t on that list. JMHO. 

It seems to me that the model 1500 rest would be a straight forward way to check out any of my handguns with whatever ammunition I wanted to use, and give me a good idea of how it would prefer at 25 or 50 yards,  I'm the one operating the trigger, but I'll be the one operating the trigger when I pick  up the gun to shoot.  

Whether or not it is worth what it costs, to get that information, is another story.

Getting a RR also means getting the base, building something to attach it to, clamping it in place, and getting inserts for whatever gun I want to check.  The cost keeps going up.  The RR may or may not be "overkill", but I'm pretty sure it's "overkill" for me.

'gregbenner' reminds me that I'm going on 76, I'm never going to be any kind of champion, and I'm doing all this because I enjoy it.  The 1500 looks simple, easy to use, and should give me useful information.  

Seems like once again, "you get what you pay for".

or, get a grip mounted scope base and a 4x pistol scope and use your sandbags...

Mike, I purchased mine used for $600, including several inserts, a wood base for the RR, and a haeavy steel base for mounting on the ground.  That seems like an average price from what I have seen. For me, the issue is where to use it, the heavy base is too heavy to transport, and the local outdoor range is an hour away, although they have decent stands.  If I was only trying to evaluate commercial loaded ammo, I probably wouldn’t bother. It’s great for reloads, particularly 32.  If getting one set up and finding a place to use it doesn’t sound like fun, then overkill might be the correct word. 

Dave Wilson suggested I use a scope when I was bench testing, I use a 3x7.  Since I am nearly always testing lighter loads, I get by with just one scope ring on the guns where there isn’t room for two.

Hmm, "several inserts, a wood base for the RR, and a haeavy steel base for mounting on the ground", that sounds a little too big for my tiny Mazda Miata.

Wally Brownlee from TargetShooting.com, who designed and makes the 1500, estimated that it weights about 20 pounds, and is easy to transport.  I haven't decided yet for sure, but I'm still thinking that's what I'm most likely to buy.

My Hyskore rest (not the parallax model) has performed very well for my 1911 (frame underbelly) and revolver (barrel).  A terry wrap around the nesting vee will prevent finish scars.  I think the sale price was $35 and free shipping.

We need to have someone remake the caldwell HMMR again. Basically a RR copy for cheap. Used RR inserts and actually worked pretty well. Owned several and still have one but use my RR these days.. you still see them on Ebay or gunbroker on ocassion. Usually sell for $150... the Lee rest that Len has works pretty well too