How to Build Your Own Shooting Rest

Shooters are always looking for ways to improve their skills. Increased accuracy is at the heart of this effort. Practically every technique and device that can be thought of has been employed to get just that little extra improvement that can make all the difference. Since levels of marksmanship are delineated by fractions of inches, even slight adjustments matter. Building your own shooting rest is a great start. Shooting rests absorb recoil and settle the weapon for increased accuracy.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 sheet of 7/8 pressure treated plywood
  • Chalk box
  • Measuring tape
  • Marker
  • 1 8 foot two by four
  • Table saw or circular saw
  • Wood chisel
  • Mallet
  • Screw gun
  • 4 2-inch galvanized screws
  • Sandpaper or wood file
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Instructions

    • 1

      Build the base. Measure, mark, chalk off and saw a piece of 7/8-inch pressure treated plywood (not particle board) 8 inches by 36 inches. Use a wood file or sand paper to remove the sharp edges and corners on what will be the top side of the base.

    • 2
      Circular saws make quick work of two by four cuts.

      Saw a piece of two by four, 9 inches long with a circular saw. Saw another piece of two by four, 6 inches long.

    • 3

      Mark and saw a 2 ½ inch notch in the 9-inch piece of two by four. Measure in ½ inch from both sides of the board's end, and mark the cut. Mark the midpoint of the two by four at the 2 ½ inch point. Use a table saw to cut the V-notch. Use a wood chisel and mallet to widen the bottom of the V you just cut to accommodate the rounded gun barrel.

    • 4
      Sawed and notched two by fours are the ideal size for the mounts of the shooting rest.

      V-notch the 6-inch two by four. Center and cut the notch to a depth of 3 ¾ inches. Round out the bottom of this V to fit the gun stock’s bottom edge. Be careful to not go beyond the bottom of the V-cut as you round out the bottom.

    • 5

      Attach the 6-inch two by four, notched end up, at one inch in front of, and centered, on the base. Attach the 9-inch piece, notch end up, 2 inches from the barrel end of the rest, and centered on the base. Use 2-inch galvanized screws, placed equidistant, and attach from underneath the base.

    • 6

      Examine the shooting rest fully assembled. Check the sturdiness of the mounts on the base by firing your rifle resting on the mounts.