Unless you’re shooting at steel spinners like 25 yards off, then a stable rifle is absolutely critical to accuracy (not that it isn’t in the former case anyway).

Here’s the other thing. If you’re shooting at targets 500 yards away and miss, well, you just shoot again. But a bad shot when you’re hunting could ruin a once in a lifetime opportunity, especially for species for which it is especially difficult to get tags or permits. On top of that no ethical hunter wants to wound game.

So this article will focus on some of the options at your disposal for stabilizing your rifle, whether you’re at a range or in the field.

A Shooting Bench

 A shooting bench or rest is obviously the best option at your disposal for stabilizing a rifle. In a perfect world, the bench or rest basically holds the rifle for you. You just point it in the right direction and pull the trigger, the bench (more or less) does the rest.

But the big tradeoff is that in the real world this is highly impractical. The only time you’ll be shooting from a bench is when you’re benchrest shooting. That dynamic is not transferable to the field. So while this might be viable for some forms of competition, or at least sighting in a rifle, it doesn’t work for hunters and some competitors.

Shooting Bags

 

Shooting bags are another option at your disposal for stabilizing a rifle. Basically, most shooting bags come in pairs (although some shooters just use one, to stabilize the forend). When sold in pairs, there is usually one deeply scalloped out bag to accept the stock of the rifle, and one gently concave bag that supports the forend.

These bags are often made of canvas but can also be made of other synthetic woven materials, and are either filled with sand or polymer beans. Some may also be filled with shot, though these will be heavy.

The good thing about a shooting bag is that you can improvise. Some shooters use bags of rice or beans as forend rests. They can provide a surprisingly stable shooting platform.

The drawback is that in the field shooting bags are rarely viable. They are heavy, take up a lot of space, and are impossible to deploy in a timely manner. So like shooting from a bench with a rest, shooting bags are relegated to range use.

Your Pack

Here’s one that you can use at the range as well as in the field. At the range and don’t have a rest or shooting bags? Just get your range bag or pack, tuck it under the forend of the rifle, and have at it. When done properly, and assuming everything inside your pack is even, this method is about as effective as using shooting bags.

The best part is you can use this in the field, even when you’re hunting. You can use your pack to stabilize the forend of the rifle in a pinch and depending on how you lay it, can adjust the height. If you’re really strapped, you can also take off your coat, bunch it up, stuff it under the forend and use that as an improvised shooting rest.

A Rifle Bipod like an Atlas Bipod

Now let’s cover some shooting rests that are viable in the field, the first of which is a bipod, like an Atlas bipod.

The main benefit of bipods when used as a shooting rest is that many of them can be attached directly to the forend of a rifle and folded up until you need to use them. Most are also very lightweight which offers another selling point.

When equipped with the right feet, bipods can be used over basically any terrain, including both hard and soft surfaces, whether gravel, exposed earth, or sand. A good bipod can give you a stable shooting rest effectively anywhere.

The one thing about bipods is that some of them are not immune to cant. So make sure you are shooting level; equip your rifle with a bubble level if you must, it’s better than missing the shot.

A Tripod

Tripods are an iteration of bipods that have a third foot. In some ways, a tripod is better than a bipod because it can provide you a better rest on more surfaces than most bipods, because of the extra point of contact.

The other thing is that many tripods are height-adjustable, whereas many (possibly even most) bipods are not. The tradeoff is that most tripods are not permanently attached to the rifle and must be set up prior to use.

Shooting Sticks

Shooting sticks are basically exactly what they sound like. Most of them are an aluminum pole with a little V-shaped notch at the top that you stick the forend of the rifle in.

They’re not as stable as either bipods or tripods, but they are affordable, more rapid to deploy, and far better than nothing. They’re also lightweight and minimalistic, which makes them good if space and weight in your kit come at a premium.

The other good thing about shooting sticks is that they can be used effectively anywhere, which is another big selling point.

Use What You Have

Lastly, there are ways to improvise if you don’t have a solid shooting rest in the field.

The most obvious one is to use what you have. If there’s a parallel limb at shooting height, or an old wall, or even a low boulder, use it. It’s better than nothing and sometimes what the field dishes out is surprisingly good. Remember - one mind, many weapons. Look around you. There is almost definitely something to use as a shooting rest.

There’s another technique known as the “arm rest” standing position, which is not as good as any of the rests mentioned here - but, if you have no other option, it is by far your best bet, especially if you have to shoot standing, for whatever reason.

Here’s how it works. Shoulder your rifle as if you are shooting offhand, then lean back slightly. Take your support arm, and tuck your elbow into your hip. Your elbow should basically be resting against the edge of your hip bone on your support side.

This can provide a surprisingly stable rest for a standing position, all things considered. Not as good as a real rest, but once again, much better than nothing.

Gear Up Here with MDT, Atlas Bipods and More

Ready to put one of these methods into practice? Take a look at the MDT bipods and Atlas bipods we sell here, along with other shooting bags and rests, and gear up before your next outing. Then put some of these methods into practice and see what works best for you.