Rifle Rest

[vulture]

I am looking for a primitive rifle rest or stick, what ever you want to call it. I've seen them in years past that were made with a brass or steel shaft and then a brass top in the shape of a horseshoe, like those used by the musketeers with their matchlocks. I've tried the normal black powder supply places but so far have come up zilch, so if anyone of you can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it, if not then I will have to resort to making my own, not the best idea, but I can produce something that will work even if it doesn't look all that wonderful. Thanks folks for any help you can give me.

 

[gunmaker43]

primative would be forked stick, maybe with a leather wrap in fork. You want a brass one ? Get a boat oar lock and put it in a piece of round stock, whittle or lathe some table leg curves on it .....

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

FWIW here's a bronze oar lock, fork shaped, that just might work for you!
http://img.4plebs.org/boards/tg/image/1370/36/1370368147564.jpg

 

[Zonie]

Noting that you are in Utah, if you ever make it down to the Sonarian desert of Arizona, take a hike.

Look for a old Century Plant (Agave Americana) bloom stock.

They are about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 20-30 feet tall and when dry a 6-7 foot long section of them only weighs about 1/2 pound.

They make excellent 'walking sticks' and work great for supporting a longrifle.

Just wrap your hand around the pole at a convenient height grasping it with your thumb and 3 lower fingers.
Your index finger sticking out from your clenched hand serves as the rifle rest.

There aren't any laws forbidding taking these old stalks but watch out for termites. :grin:

 

[Brokennock]

I used to use a "walking stick" of iron wood (lignum vitae?) that was forked at the top. I slung a strip of leather between the two fork prongs to keep my rifle from sitting against the hard wood surface. Worked pretty good with a cartridge rifle, can't see why it wouldn't with a front stuffer.

 

[tenngun]

If you have some sort of country goods or antique and old junk store near you you could find you a narled walking stick. Cut a notch in the top, andcut it off to a right ht for you and fire away. You can also leave the stick full lenght and grab stik and belly at the same time. This way you can use youe moses stick standing or sitting.

 

[trent/OH]

Although too short to use from a standing position, and considering your location in Utah, a ski pole should do the trick, and should be readily available.

Here in the woods of Ohio, I get along by using this handy device called a tree. In open lands I understand taking a tree with you is somewhat inconvenient.

 

[Danny Ross]

Not if it one of those light and fluffy Cotton Wood trees. :rotf:

 

[vulture]

Thanks guys. Years ago I saw what I was looking for listed on one of the vender sites on the net, but a lot of those items have gone away due to low sales. The tree is a perfect idea but where we shoot there just aren't any, the waling stick and my own hand will work perfectly, but I wanted something a little more sophisticated looking, and I have found the top and bottom tip pieces at The Rifle Shoppe, Inc. and will eventually purchase those and then make my own shaft out of local lodge pole pine sapling. Over the past 20 years I have developed a neurological condition where my hands shake pretty bad and it makes off hand shooting difficult. The longer and heavier the barrel, such as my new Tulle fusil de Chasse, the harder it is to hold, thus the shooting stick. Thanks again for all the help. Stew.

 

[bpd303]

You might want to consider a X shooting stick. Easy to make out of just about anything. http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/...46/hl/"shooting+sticks"/fromsearch/1/#1315046