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High-Quality One-Piece Rest with Recoil-Reduction System

Do you have a favorite large-caliber rifle that sits in the safe because it’s just too painful to shoot? Perhaps you’re planning a big-game safari, and you need to comparison-test some ammo, but you dread the punishment you will take firing many dozens of rounds over the course of an afternoon. Well TargetShooting Inc. has a solution. Two new accessories are offered for TargetShooting’s model 1000LP one-piece shooting rest that tame the recoil of even the hardest-recoiling rifles. Up front, a 19.85-lb weight provides extra mass for the unit, keeping the 1000LP firmly planted. In the rear, an adjustable Recoil Pad Assembly soaks up recoil energy. The key component is a very thick Sorbothane pad that adjusts to the angle of the butt on your rifle.

With the recoil reduction system in place, we have tested the 1000LP with a variety of hard-hitting calibers: 50 BMG (with brake), .458 Lott, .338 Lapua Magnum, .375 H&H. It handled all these big boomers well, and the felt impact on the shoulder was significantly reduced. We won’t say you can shoot a .50 BMG “all day long” with this rig, but this set-up is definitely a shoulder-saver. If you are testing ammo with a hard-recoiling caliber, the 1000LP with recoil reduction allows you to fire more rounds without abusing your body, or developing a bad flinch. We also tested the 1000LP with a common hunting caliber — the venerable .30-06 — and the felt recoil was really quite mild. Honestly, you could shoot many dozens of rounds of .30-06 or .308 Win with this rig without having to take multiple “time-outs” (or see a chiropractor). By itself, the 1000LP one-piece Rifle Rest costs $699.95. The adjustable Recoil Pad Assembly sells for $349.95 extra. The low-profile, forward counter-weight unit costs $139.95. The 1000LP and all its accessories are precision-crafted with very high levels of fit and finish.

The weight of the rifle and the shape of the stock/chassis will affect how the gun behaves on recoil. Light rifles with narrow fore-ends tended to jump a bit out of the front bag. Heavier rifles with a beefier chassis would recoil more in a straight line. But no matter what the caliber (or stock type), the Sorbothane recoil pad soaked up the lion’s share of the recoil, dramatically reducing the shock (or jolt) you actually feel on your shoulder. By the laws of physics, the energy of the rifle’s recoil can’t magically disappear. However, when using this system, the smack on your shoulder is much diminished and the perceived recoil “hit” (on your body) is far less extreme.

I test a lot of rifles for accuracy while doing what I do. When someone clicks on a rifle review on Gunblast.com, they are not reading to see how well Jeff Quinn can shoot. They are looking for information on the rifle. They want to know the weight, barrel length, trigger pull, and all other relevant data, but most of all, they want to know how well it functions and its accuracy potential. To be able to show the capabilities of the rifle, scope, mount, and ammunition combination, I have to eliminate as much human influence as possible. A good rifle rest is an absolute necessity in doing what I do, and I have found none that are better than the rifle rests from Target Shooting, Inc. of Watertown, South Dakota. I first met Wally Brownlee at the 2001 SHOT Show in New Orleans. He had a display booth set up showing his rifle rest. He only had one model at the time, but I had been using various brands of rests and combinations of bags of shot or sand, wood blocks, and anything else that I could find to make a steady rest for rifle shooting. Nothing had been satisfactory, but seeing Wally’s rifle rest, I purchased one and carried home. Ever since that day, I have used Target Shooting, Inc. rifle rests for my accuracy testing. I have tried others that came along, claiming to be of high quality and offering stability, but quickly abandoned them. Most are lightweight junk, imported to be sold at a price point. I also have tried shooting rests that claim to reduce the felt recoil to the shooter’s shoulder. While they did reduce the recoil, they did not offer a solid shooting platform. When I am testing a rifle or handload for accuracy, it is of utmost importance that I can keep that rifle stable while squeezing the trigger. If the gun moves, even slightly, before the sear releases to fire the weapon, then I am not getting the most out of that rifle or handload. The rifle rests from Target Shooting, Inc. allow me to fire that rifle to the best of my ability, or better stated, in spite of my lack of ability. Also, if the rifle does not recoil exactly the same way with each shot, accuracy will suffer. The Target Shooting rifle rests allow the rifle to move the same way each time it is fired. In 2006, I had a surgery that required that my chest be split open like a hog ready for the barbeque pit. My surgeon instructed me to not shoot anything for six months that had more recoil than a 22 Long Rifle. I knew that wasn’t going to work for me, so I set out to find a rifle rest that would absorb the recoil from shooting center fire rifles. I tried the Lead Sled, and while it absorbed much of the recoil, its flimsy construction was not up to the task of testing rifle accuracy. Finally, I had a blacksmith bend a truck spring to attach to my bench, upon which I set the rifle butt while it was resting in a Target Shooting Model 500 rest. That worked pretty well, but was very hard on the rifle, and the rifle butt occasionally slipped off, hitting my shoulder and scratching the stock. The spring allowed me to shoot while healing, but was far from ideal. This brings us to the subject of this review, the Target Shooting, Inc. Model 1000LP Rifle Rest with optional Recoil Pad. I have used several of Wally’s rifle rests over the years, as he has progressively added different models to suit the needs of different shooters. Over the past several months, we have been discussing a new system that attaches to the Model 1000 rest that will absorb almost all of the recoil, without damaging the rifle or the shooter. When he first started telling me of his design, I was immediately interested. Shooting rifles with heavy recoil from the bench can be brutal. While standing on one’s hind legs and shooting a big bore magnum rifle in the field is not too unpleasant, doing so from the bench while testing for accuracy can be punishing. After a few shots from the bench, hardly any shooter will be shooting up to the potential of his rifle, if it is slowly beating him to death. Even rifles with relatively mild recoil such as a 270 or 30-06 can be uncomfortable after a box or two of ammunition has been sent downrange, as recoil has a cumulative effect, inducing a flinch, no matter how slight it might be. Again, accuracy falls off due to shooter fatigue. Back to the new recoil-absorbing rifle rest. I knew when Wally told me of this project, that it would be done right. Upon opening the box, after I wrestled it up to the table, I was not disappointed. The design and machining of this rifle rest are top quality. Before ever even setting a rifle into the rest, it was a beautiful thing to behold, just looking at the quality that is put into its manufacture. Every detail was considered in its design. The rest and its recoil pad are widely adjustable in every direction, to perfectly and comfortably fit both the rifle and the shooter. The front rest elevation wheel rides upon roller bearings, for smooth operation. The rear rest, where the fine-tuning is done to get the reticle perfectly imposed upon the target, rides upon springs, for very minute adjustment just before squeezing the trigger. The actual recoil pad is held in a machined cradle with adjustment fore and aft, and also has an adjustment for the pitch of the butt plate, to evenly distribute the recoil forces upon the thick Sorbathane recoil pad. The recoil pad attachment weighs in at 15.4 pounds. The front counter weight adds another 19.85 pounds, bringing the total weight of the rest as shown here to about 61.25 pounds. For those who are worried about transporting this rest, Target Shooting will soon have a hard case with wheels available. This rest is absolutely the most stable shooting platform which I have ever tried. Absolute stability while shooting from a rest such as this makes the difference between shooting a three-quarter inch group and a three-eighths inch group. It doesn’t matter how good your rifle, scope, mount, and ammunition are, you can’t use that accuracy if you cannot hold the rifle exactly the same way in the same spot each and every time. The Target Shooting Model 1000LP rest makes the difference between a rifle showing a really good performance and a superb performance. I have also used the Target Shooting, Inc. rifle rests in the field shooting prairie dogs, where they hold the rifle much more steadily than any other system which I have tried, making the difference between a hit and a miss at long range. I was anxious to try the new Recoil Pad accessory for the Model 1000LP rest. Cutting to the chase, after firing rifles with recoil levels varying from a 30-06 up through a 416 Remington magnum, as well as a lightweight pump 12 gauge shooting three-inch magnum turkey loads, the Target Shooting rest absorbed every bit of the recoil, with even the big 416 delivering no pain at all to my shoulder. None. To my shoulder, the 416 kicks harder than does the 458 Winchester magnum, as it seems to be a quicker punch, if that makes any sense. The thick Sorbathane pad, combined with the weight of the rest, soaked up the recoil with no problem. Muzzle jump was also not a problem, and I was able to shoot the big magnum without touching the forward part of the rifle at all. If you can, watch the accompanying video, in which my two grandchildren shoot the 416 Remington magnum. The 416 can have some stiff recoil, especially from the bench, but both kids said that it did not hurt at all. Most importantly, the rifle also did not jump out of the rest, rising only slightly with recoil. Also, with lighter caliber rifles, such as a 223, 243, or 25-06, seeing the hits on the target through the scope is pretty cool. The Model 1000LP with the recoil pad, like all Target Shooting, Inc. products, exudes quality. The materials and craftsmanship are first class. The price ain’t cheap, but it is absolutely the best rifle rest of its type of which I am aware, at any price. Like all Target Shooting products, the 1000LP is built right, and built in the USA. If you are tired of trying to make do with inferior rifle rests, I highly recommend the Model 1000LP from Target Shooting, Inc.

Jeff Quinn (GunBlast.com)

Target Shooting, Inc. makes what may be the world’s best precision rifle rests. Case in point: the Model 1000. This Rolls Royce of rifle rests weighs almost 15 pounds–a good thing when it comes to precision work with a rifle. Built on rugged front and rear castings joined by two square steel rods, the Model 1000 has one rear and two front screw-adjustable feet with knurled locking collars. A bubble level in the front casting permits the shooter to obtain a perfectly level platform by adjusting the height the feet. Each foot includes a screw-out steel pin for use on wooden benches, with non-marring vinyl foot caps provided for hard-surfaced benches. Bed length is adjustable from 6 to 26 inches, more than sufficient to accommodate the longest rifle. The rear saddle is covered in soft black leather, and is adjustable for height, rotation, and fore/aft angle. The Model 1000’s forend cradle is truly a work of art. It rotates 360 degrees, and is micro-adjustable for height via a large, knurled adjustment ring. The rifle’s forend is cradled between two dead foam blocks, which kill rifle bounce and protect the forend. The width between the blocks can be set at up to 3.5 inches to fit the widest target forend, and when locked in they microadjust right and left using a large windage adjustment knob.

The front and rear castings are finished in an attractive silver-vein powder coating. Other steel and aluminum parts are left in the white. An optional pistol rest ($72) replaces the forend cradle, and has all the adjustability necessary to accommodate any carry, target, or hunting handgun. The model 1000 retails for $429.95, and should last for eight or ten generations of shooters. In fact, we like it so much that we’ve adopted the Model 1000 as the official rifle/pistol rest of On Target magazine! See it at your local gun shop, or for more information contact Target Shooting, Inc., Dept OT, P.O. Box 773, Watertown, SD 57201; Tel.: (800) 611-2164; Web: www.targetshooting.com

For many years now, I have relied upon the shooting rests from target Shooting, Incorporated to help me in testing the accuracy of rifles. I have tried other brands. Some were okay, but most were no good; not much better than shooting off of a rolled-up jacket laid over a pickup truck hood. To be able to assess just how accurate a rifle/ammo/scope combination is, the human element has to be eliminated as much as possible. With the rests from Target Shooting, I can almost entirely take myself out of the equation.

Now, Wally Brownlee at Target Shooting has developed a heavy duty, very stable rest tailored specifically for the handgun shooter. Whether used for accuracy testing, or for long range shooting from a fixed position, the Model 1500 pistol rest is the best that I have ever seen. Every component of this machine is heavy duty, and built heavier than it has to be. The 1500 is adjustable in every direction to get both the shooter and the handgun into a steady position. The rest is made so that the shooter can position the pistol in the exact same position every time, exert the same amount of pressure upon the pistol every time, so that the pistol will recoil exactly the same way, every time. The shooter’s arms rest upon a wide, flat portion of the rear section of the rest. The pistol is positioned and held on the padded front portion with the barrel or the front of the frame laid into the V-rest, and the trigger guard or front of the frame pressed onto a padded cushion, and the trigger is pressed. Consistency is paramount when testing the mechanical accuracy of anything, and the Model 1500 makes it possible to eliminate almost every possible inconsistency as the trigger is pressed to the rear, firing the weapon.

I encourage you to watch the video with this review, as it shows how the Model 1500 works much better than I can explain in words. However, and I have been shooting handguns for decades, this Model 1500 pistol rest is the best, the steadiest, and the most consistent way that I have found for holding a handgun and pressing the trigger. It is available online from www.targetshooting.com, is one hundred percent American made, and I highly recommend it.

Article Courtesy of AccurateShooter.com

 

Over the past few weeks, we’ve had a chance to test and evaluate a one-piece shooting rest designed by Wally Brownlee of TargetShooting.com. The model 1000LP rest is solid, strong, nicely-machined, and versatile. We found it provides a very stable platform for every kind of rifle — from big magnums all the way down to bench rest air rifles.

The 1000LP rest is distinguished by its use of two (2) leather sandbags, a normal-sized one in the front and a compact mini-bag in the rear. Many other one-piece target rests use low-friction pads or Delrin contacts in the rear. The typical “lead-sled” rests use a solid cradle or V-block in the rear. The small, cube-like, rear mini-bag helps the model 1000LP out-perform typical, one-piece steady-rests. The small rear bag, which is supported by metal plates on three sides, does a great job stabilizing your gun. We also found that the combination of front and rear sandbags seems to provide good vibration damping — something that really helps with precision shooting. Click here for the complete article at accurateshooter.com

I am very fortunate to have a shooting range right outside my back door, but most shooters do not enjoy such luxury. It was once that way for me also. I would have to pack up the guns, ammo, holsters, fried baloney sandwiches, and whatever else I needed to head off to a shooting range, or gravel pit, or just back in the woods. Once there, setting up a target usually meant a cardboard box with a rock in it. Even if you shoot at an established range, there usually are not enough target stands to go around, and you are back to the rock-in-a-box target. I once had a target stand that I made out of PVC pipe, and it worked pretty well, but was still bulky and cumbersome.

Here we have the Model 200 target stand from Target Shooting, Inc. Like everything that they make, the Model 200 is overbuilt. It is made from steel and aluminum, and it folds flat for transport. This can be better seen in the video than I can describe it, but no tools are needed, and just tightening one knob sets the target upright, no matter how steep or uneven the terrain. All components of the Model 200 are replaceable, just in case someone shoots your target stand. I know that you would never do such a thing, but what about your shooting buddy? Anyway, the plate that holds the target can take a few hits, but when you shoot it to pieces, you can replace that as well. What I really like is that the Model 200 will support a tall target, getting the stand well out of the line of fire. I like the corrugated plastic lightweight material that is used for yard signs and such, but stiff cardboard, sheet metal, or thin plywood will work perfectly in the Model 200.

It folds down flat, and takes up very little room, so it can be left behind the seat of the pickup or in the trunk of the car, always ready to go shooting. The Model 200 is a good investment in your shooting, and is a quality piece of American-made equipment. Check out the Model 200 target stand and other fine shooting aids at www.targetshooting.com.

Jeff Quinn

 

I first met Wally Brownlee of Target Shooting, Inc at the 2001 SHOT Show. There he was displaying his new rifle rest, which was called the Model 500. I was impressed enough to buy one on the spot, and have used it for many years. It still serves me well, even though I now also have the newer Model 1000, along with accessories such as the custom-made sandbags for the Model 1000 and the Target Shooting handgun rest. The 500 is still the best choice for some rifles, depending upon the action type and magazine length. For a couple of years now, Wally has been trying to get me out to South Dakota to try out his Model 2500 Shooting Bench. I have seen this bench displayed at shows for a few years now but had never fired off of one until last week. I finally made the trip, along with my cousin Melvin Kent. Most folks around here know him best as Dwayne, but I call him Melvin, as that is his first name. Melvin and I are pretty close as cousins go. He is a first cousin on both sides of the family, as his mother is my father’s sister, and his father is my mother’s brother. Anyway, even though he is a full ten years older than I, we do a lot of things together, and one thing which we have discussed for years is going prairie dog shooting together.

I have received the question more than once; “Why would you want to shoot a cute little prairie dog?” While I will admit that they are cute as far as rodents go, ranchers hate them and want them removed from their rangelands and pastures. The dogs eliminate most of the vegetation around their burrows, and can quickly ruin many acres, with their burrows posing a danger to livestock. Anyway, when we arrived at the ranch in South Dakota, we were welcome guests. Where we were shooting was an area that had seen no recent shooting, but there were also other shooters in the small town of Martin that told of one rancher paying one dollar per dog to anyone that would shoot them.

Arriving the night before we were to go out looking for prairie dogs, the rancher told us that they were having an informal calf roping on the ranch that night, so we gladly attended to watch cowboys, and a couple of cowgirls, compete with each other in a team roping competition. We called it a night around 10 PM, but heard that they were going until around 2 AM the next morning. It was a lot of fun to watch the skill of those folks doing what they grew up doing as if it was all pretty much routine to them.

The next morning, we crawled out of our beds around 6 AM, got dressed, and headed out for breakfast at a place called Jennie’s. I don’t recommend it. The food was pretty good, but the service extremely slow. We were the first customers, but it was a full fifty minutes before the food started to arrive at the table, with the key word here being “started”. It was delivered in waves, instead of all at once. Anyway, the next morning we decided that donuts and coffee from the gas station was a better idea. Heading out of town on a gravel road for several miles, then on a dirt road for several more, we were greeted at the ranch by the owner, who looked as much like Peter Fonda as Peter Fonda does. Really nice fellow, who led us out to the vicinity of the dogs.

Wally handled the set-up of the Model 2500 shooting benches, taking about five minutes to set one up properly. The Model 2500 transports handily in three basic sections. The base with the legs attached weighs around sixty-nine pounds, being made of heavy steel. It still handles very well, as the legs are folded for transport. Wally set up the base and using a small level, adjusted the bench to fit the uneven ground. At the base of each of the three legs is a pad to prevent the legs from burying into the soft ground, and the angle of the legs can be adjusted to precisely fit the terrain. After the base is in place, the table slides on, and it too is adjustable, to allow for any uphill or downhill shooting. Next, the seat attaches, and it is adjustable up and down to fit the desires of the shooter.

The Model 2500 table pivots around its base a full 360 degrees. I found it very useful to slowly pan the area for prairie dogs looking through the scope on the rifle, as well as panning with the Model 2500 when using the binoculars. The table swings freely but has a brake that adjusts the resistance of the table for stability, and the brake can also be completely locked if desired. I left mine set up for just enough resistance for easy panning by pushing off on the footrests.

While on the subject of panning the rangeland with binoculars and through the scope, we used Leupold optics exclusively on this shoot. On my Bushmaster Varminter and Cousin Melvin’s Ruger Mini-14, we mounted VX-L scopes. The dished out bottom on the VX-L makes it really the only choice for varmint hunting with a Mini-14, due to the high handguard over the barrel. The VX-L, even with its large objective bell, mounts low on the Mini for a better cheek-weld on the stock, improving the practical accuracy of the weapon. The Leupold scopes we used had the Varmint Hunter’s reticle, which proved to be very useful at extended ranges, with the reticle subtentions having windage hold-off points to make hitting much easier with the gusting winds. When looking through a scope or binoculars all day, good glass makes a world of difference, and the Leupold binoculars and scopes never caused any eye fatigue at all. I have used cheap scopes in the past, but if I can help it, I will never do so again. Quality optics cost more because they are worth it. The Leupolds never let us down, and never failed to provide excellent resolution, even out past 400 yards. I am not certain how many rounds I fired over the course of two days shooting, but it was several hundred. The scope settings never moved but remained precisely set to where I wanted.

After the benches were set up on the first morning, the shooting was slow. There were prairie dog burrows on the hillside across from us, but very little activity. It was decided that Cousin Melvin and I would get into the Gunblast Suburban and go try to find some better ground. After checking a few places, taking a dog or two then moving on, we crested a ridge and looked into the valley below. Jackpot! There were burrows and dogs everywhere. Having left the benches behind with Wally and his video guy, Bob Saur, we shot a few dogs, resting our rifles on the truck. The wind was moving the truck, so I decided to go into a semi-prone shooting position, which was better, but the stability just was not good enough for hits much past 200 yards. After a dandy dinner (“lunch” for you folks north of the Mason-Dixon), we moved the benches and set them up in the newly-named Prairie Dog Valley. Once we were on the Model 2500 shooting benches, our hit percentage went way up. I could not believe what a difference it made. Panning the valley and the opposing hillside was easy, swinging the table towards a dog as soon as he was spotted. The bench, with the Target Shooting, Inc Model 1000 rest atop, was as stable as my heavy benchrest at home. The crosshairs of the Leupold would settle on a target, and stay absolutely still using the bench. The solidity of the shooting bench and the comfort of the shooting position allowed me to spot my misses through the rifle’s scope, and make windage and elevation adjustments instantly. I carried two AR-15 rifles with me on this trip; my Varminter and a new Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 with my Tactical Solutions can be attached to the muzzle. Both rifles performed splendidly using Black Hills and American Marksman Stryker ammunition.

For the rest of the day, we shot prairie dogs constantly, only stopping occasionally to let the rifles cool. Melvin’s Mini got so hot that it was starting to lose accuracy, so a wet towel was placed over the barrel to speed the cooling. The Varminter’s fluted barrel cooled very well, as did the barrel of the AM-15. For this type of fast action, I really love the AR rifles. Between shots, there is no need to work a bolt or to even move the shooter’s eye away from the scope. Aiming corrections can be made instantly, and the twenty-shot mags that I prefer are both handy and reliable. Recoil is light, and the accuracy was superb using the ARs. Several hits were made out past 400 yards, even with the wind blowing.

The bench that I was using had the optional canopy that Wally had just developed. It shades the shooter and his weapon from the hot sun, and the wind did not seem to affect it at all. It fastens securely to the bench top, so there is no extra time needed to set up the Model 2500 for shooting.

The next morning we arose early, grabbing a quick breakfast at the gas station, and headed off to a different ranch, met once again by a friendly rancher who was glad that we were there. We once again found a good shooting area, but this time it was flatter ground than where we shot the day before. The benches really worked out well on that ground as well. Panning a full 360 degrees to acquire targets was very easy, and the stability of the rifles on the bench and rifle rest was as good as it gets. This Model 2500 bench really impressed me. I had expected it to be good, but I have used portable benches before, and they were sorely lacking in quality and stability. The Model 2500 was just like being on a heavy concrete bench at the range, except that the Model 2500 is a lot easier to use, more versatile, and much more comfortable.

While the price of the Model 2500 shooting bench is higher than many of the cheaper benches available, it is because the Model 2500 is that much better. It offers rock-solid stability, extreme versatility, and absolute comfort. When figuring the cost of the bench against the cost of the trip, and considering that it will last more than a lifetime, the cost is minimal. The Model 2500 bench and all of Target Shooting’s products are made of top quality materials, beautifully finished, one hundred percent weather-proof, and are made in the USA. For pricing and ordering information, go to www.targetshooting.com.

For a look at the quality Leupold optics, go to www.leupold.com. For a look at the Black Hills and Stryker ammo used on this shoot, go to www.black-hills.com and www.americanmarksman.com. Look for a review here soon on the high-quality AM-15 rifles from Anderson Manufacturing. By the way, in that picture of Wally cooking and us chowing down, the meat is not really prairie dog. We had decided on the way out to South Dakota that we would cook up a couple and try them, but when we bought our hunting licenses, the literature from the state warned against handling the animals, as they can carry the bubonic plague, which can be transferred to humans by fleas. Wally cooked up the best pork ribs that I have ever eaten, and I have stuffed a lot of ribs down my neck in my short life. Thanks, Wally and Bob, for the grub, the guidance, and the friendship. It was a good prairie dog shoot. The equipment made all the difference, and if I can help it, I will never go shoot prairie dogs again without a Model 2500 shooting bench.

WATERTOWN, SD – Target Shooting Incorporated adds another new shooting rest to its successful product line. The model 1000 joins TSI’s line of high-quality, precision engineered shooting products. The model 1000 has many of the same features as the already popular 500 with increased adjustability and added features. The base is a cast, ferrous compound with a high-temperature silver-vain powder coating. This makes both the structure and finishes very durable. Half-inch, solid, cold-rolled stainless steel rods connect the forearm rest to but stock saddle. Length adjustment is fast and easily accepts any sized rifle. Pure shooters will appreciate the fine-tuning feature for both elevation and windage adjustments. A precise point-of- impact can be achieved without moving the entire position of the rifle and rest and the 1000 will maintain that point of impact after each shot unlike conventional sandbags or shooting rests. The 1000’s patented base design gives height adjustment at each foot. It can be leveled by horizontally fine-tuning each foot and with an integrated plumb bubble shooter’s can achieve perfect leveling. The feet of the 1000 have non-marring vinyl covers. These covers can be removed to expose Rockwell-hardened points for use on wood and concrete surfaces. The rifle forearm rests in silicone treaded blocks that are soft as to not mar the forearms finish and also solid enough for positive positioning of point-of-impact. The blocks are adjustable from 1 ¼”-3″ to snugly fit any width forearm. With the rifle in place, both windage and elevation can be adjusted without moving the rest base. The buttstock is cradled in a rear saddle that is covered with leather and has a built-in leather bumper. This rear saddle is height and tilt adjustable with an optional fine-tune height adjustment available as an added accessory. No other rest system holds a rifle as solid into place without risk of damage to the blued or stock finish. Most importantly, the rifle is protected and point-of-impact is maintained after the recoil of a fired shot, even for the heaviest of magnum loads. “The Infantry Center Instructors us the TSI rifle rest when training initial entry Soldiers here at Fort Benning, Georgia and take the rest on the road when conducting New Equipment Training (NET) for Army combat forces,” says Charley Pavlick, Senior Analyst/Camber at Ft. Benning. “Additionally, the Infantry Center Instructors have used the TSI rest during weapon and accessory integration, research, testing and evaluation,” he says. “One of the best rifle rests I’ve ever shot over comes from Target Shooting, Inc. It has enough adjustment to satisfy anyone but remains cleverly simple. It’s stone solid, easy to use and it babies your rifle. Obviously, this rest was designed by a shooter,” says Wayne van Zwoll, Special Projects Editor, Guns & Ammo Magazine. TSI is also proud to have its rest nominated for the “Editor’s Choice Award” of On Target Magazine. TSI’s model 1000 has several accessories available and many more in development. A sandbag attachment converts the silicone blocks to a conventional forearm rest, a rear saddle with fine-tune height adjustment, a bull vice to hold a rifle in place for gunsmithing, and a pistol rest for pistol shooting, and a gun stop. Available soon is a front V saddle and a specially designed rear base, making the 1000 legal for competition shooting. All these accessories make the model 1000 the most versatile found anywhere. TSI’s new model 1000 has the most precision features of any rest sold anywhere. As all TSI products, the 1000 was designed by shooters for shooters. To see the entire line of TSI products visit their website at www.targetshooting.com.

ou have to admit that only a certifiable gun nut is going to get giddy over a rifle rest–and I’m that guy. For nigh on eight months I’ve been using the Model 1000 Shooting Rest from Target Shooting, Inc., and except for some really heavy kickers, I’ve been using it exclusively for testing guns for this space as well

as load development for some upcoming articles. There are a lot of good rests out there, but I may have just found the ultimate one. OK, what’s to get giddy about? Well for one thing, it weighs less than many other rests–just a bit more than 15 pounds. But that’s for the whole thing–front and rear rests. Once assembled, it is a one-piece unit, so that weight covers both ends. I’ve used sandbags for the front end that weighed more and were less stable. Another reason I fell in love with this conglomeration of threaded steel, iron and leather is that once it is set up–it takes maybe 30 seconds to put it on the bench and adjust it to the rifle you are shooting–the Model 1000 cradles virtually any rifle with absolute stability. There’s never even a hint the rifle is balanced precariously. How many times have you seen a rifle fall off a rest?

A fully-adjustable fore-end stop ensures the rifle rests at the exact same point from shot to shot. To keep the stop screws from marring the threaded rods, a nylon ball is sandwiched between them.

The spirit level mounted on the front rest allows the shooter to quickly level the rest on the bench. The workmanship on the Model 1000 is superb, making it one of the best rests available today.

The Model 1000 consists of a cast iron front base in the shape of a T with threaded bases for adjustable feet and a central recess bored for the front bag assembly. A buttstock saddle connected to the front base by two 1/2-inch pieces of key stock makes up the tail section. Cast iron parts are coated with a silver-vein powder coating and the machined parts are made from stainless steel. The front rest is supported by a 3/4-inch threaded rod in a round, knurled adjusting nut with a roller bearing washer between it and another washer atop the base, making for a glass-smooth rotating action. A 5/16-inch hand screw serves as a stop to prevent the rest from creeping under recoil. At the rear a leather covered piece of angle iron is mounted on a fully adjustable 3/8-inch screw with a knurled adjustment nut similar to that on the front. Another hand screw allows the shooter to fine tune the fore and aft tilt of the saddle to accommodate the toe of the stock. There is a spirit level on the front T platform. The three feet of the rest are hardened stainless steel and come with non-marring vinyl covers which can be removed and tapped into a wood or concrete bench if desired. There are several fore-end variations available from Target Shooting, Inc., but I chose the sandbag because it is quicker and, for my needs, more versatile. A gun vise attachment is also available that can be used for cleaning and maintenance and there is even a rest designed for handguns. The sandbag rest has about 1 1/2 inches of windage adjustment, plenty for any foreseeable shooting need. A nylon friction washer retards it from creeping. Of course, on a premium rest like this, the sandbag’s ear tension is adjustable to accommodate a variety of fore-ends. And there is a fully adjustable fore-end stop at the front of the rest. On my rest, the leather sandbag is held in place with two pieces of 3/8-inch key stock and six socket-headed screws, for which Target Shooting, Inc. has supplied an Allen wrench cleverly tucked into a recess in the side of the front base. So how do you test a rifle rest? It’s not like I can tell you it shrinks groups. What I can say is it makes wringing out a rifle a lot easier than most conventional rests. Some full-support rests are so bulky and poorly designed that they get in the way of the shooter–especially a shooter who is already to bulky, like me. But this rest was designed by a shooter, Wally Brownlee, and he knew exactly what a shooter wants. It needs to support without being in the way; it needs to be lightweight and portable; and the adjustments must be full range, smooth, repeatable and not wander. After eight months of regular use with a lot of rifles and handguns, I’d say Wally done good…real good.

For a little over three years now, I have been using Wally Brownlee’s Model 500 rifle rest. Wally is the chief of Target Shooting Incorporated located in Watertown, South Dakota. The Model 500 has enabled me to do a much better job of testing rifles for Gunblast than I could do using sandbags and makeshift rests. To see how good a rifle will shoot, it must be held steadily. If I can’t hold the gun consistently for every shot, I can’t precisely report on the accuracy of any given gun, scope, or ammunition.

Since buying my Model 500, I have had occasion to shoot from other rifle rests. While some were good, none enabled me to hold the rifle as steadily as I can with Wally’s rest. I even tried one high-dollar rest that strapped the gun down to the rest, with the rest strapped to the bench. Still, it could not hold the gun in the same position from shot to shot, without unstrapping the gun and starting over for every shot. Also since purchasing my first Model 500, there have been other rests introduced on the market that are built from cheap materials with poor third-world craftsmanship, and imported here at a low price. I have tried some of the lightweight cheap rests, and have found that if you buy junk, you get junk. All of the products from Target Shooting Inc. are American made from the best materials. With the model 500, I thought that I had the best rest available, and I did, until the introduction of the Model 1000.

Wally Brownlee is a shooter, and like many shooters, he is always looking to improve things. The Model 1000 brings to fruition many ideas that are improvements upon the original Model 500. The 500 is still being built, and it still has its place in the field. It is a very versatile rest for target shooters and varmint hunters. However, for the serious target shooter, the new Model 1000 offers several very useful features that greatly improve the shooter’s ability to hit the target precisely, every time. The most noticeable feature is the front rest. It consists of two dense polymer blocks that are naturally slick so that the gun can slide with recoil, and can also be coated with silicone spray for additional lubricity. Some shooters want a rest that holds the gun to the device without allowing it to slide during recoil. This is a mistake. The rifle needs to slide within the rest or over sandbags consistently for each shot, to achieve maximum accuracy. The two blocks can be adjusted in width to accommodate any rifle forearm, using the supplied Allen wrench, which stores in a hole in the side of the front base. If a shooter prefers a sandbag up front, a holder for one is available as an option. However, I think that anyone who tries the adjustable blocks will never go back to a sandbag again. The front is adjustable for elevation by using a knurled wheel, which rides smoothly on a roller bearing. The front is also adjustable for windage by turning a knob on the right side of the front rest, easily making minute windage adjustments without disturbing the base of the rest. In front of the forearm rest is an adjustable forearm stop guide, that allows the shooter to precisely set the gun in the rest consistently for each and every shot. Another really nice feature of the forearm rest is that the blocks allow sling swivel studs to slide between the blocks, eliminating the need to remove them for shooting. The buttstock rest on the Model 1000 is covered with leather, and the angle is adjustable to fit any rifle. As an option, an elevation wheel is also available for the rearrest, to make small adjustments at that location for elevation.

The base of the Model 1000 has square section rails, which are much stiffer than round rails of the same size. As can be seen in the picture of me standing on the rails of the rest, they are indeed strong. I know that it is hard to believe looking at my slender frame, but I weigh 230 pounds, and the rails supported my weight easily. The base also has a bubble level attached, and the feet of the rest are independently adjustable, to accommodate for an out-of-level shooting bench. The feet of the Model 1000 are covered with a rubber cup, for use on metal surfaces. However, for use on a wood or concrete bench, the rubber cups can be removed and the hardened steel points can be hammered into the bench top by hitting the plate above each foot with a mallet. This sinks the steel point into the wood or concrete surface to prevent the rest from moving. The points are very durable and should hold up to years of use. For use on other surfaces, the points are easily retracted and the rubber cups replaced. Each foot also has a locking wheel to lock the position after leveling the rest. One thing that I really appreciate about both the Models 500 and 1000 is that the rails of the base are separated enough to allow the use of extended magazines, as can be seen in the picture. This same feature also allows a lever action rifle to be cycled without removing the gun from the rest; a very well thought-out feature. Like the Model 500, 1000 is adjustable for length, to accommodate any rifle. The Model 1000 weighs 14 ¾ pounds and is very stable in use.

After unboxing the model 1000, taking photos and measurements, and setting it up on my bench, I laid in a new Savage .308 bolt action into the rest. I bore-sighted the rifle, fired a couple of shots to get it on paper at 100 yards, and proceeded to fire for accuracy. The first three shots went into a ragged hole measuring just ¼ of an inch. That not only attests to the accuracy of the gun and ammunition, but to the precision of the rifle rest. It allows the gun to fire the same way, every time.

The Model 1000 is built of high-quality materials by American craftsmen and is very easy to set up and use. It enables a shooter to achieve the best accuracy possible from his rifle and ammunition. It does no good to buy a quality rifle, bolt on an expensive scope, and use the best ammunition, and then shoot the gun from an improvised or cheaply-built rifle rest. A woods hunter getting ready for deer season might do alright sighting his gun off the hood of a truck. It would get it close enough. However, every serious shooter and handloader needs a good stable rest from which to test his gun and ammunition. In the Model 1000, Wally Brownlee has built the best that I have ever used, and I highly recommend it. For pricing information and to purchase the Model 1000, go to www.targetshooting.com.

Jeff Quinn