Be More Than a Wannabe Part V
Shoot Muzzleloaders with a Wrist Rest
feature By: Ed Decker | March, 22
There are pros and cons to all these types of wrist rests. The three-point adjustable rest is probably the most commonly used. It is lightweight, easy to pack and works very well if one of the height adjustment holes fits your position. If not, just pick the closest elevation adjustment hole and give it a try. The scissor jacks are very sturdy and a shooter can make or buy a padded rest to attach to the top for your wrist to rest on. It is heavy and not easy to pack if you are flying, but if you are working out of the back of your vehicle, it works very well. A sandbag is an old solid rest used for many years by shooters everywhere. It is best to have at least three bags so they can be added or taken away as needed, depending on the terrain. Shooters can also take their fist and pound an impression where they want their wrist to lay, but minute up or down adjustments are sometimes hard to make. They are heavy, but I know some international shooters who fly with empty bags and then fill them when they get to their destination.
Then there is the benchrest, my personal favorite. The one I use was suggested to me by Frank Monikowski. It is made by Hoppes and is cast aluminum, making it light enough to travel with. It can be adjusted up and down to suit terrain conditions and I have added spikes to the feet to ensure it doesn’t move around. This particular rest is not manufactured any more, but I was able to find one in good condition online for a reasonable price.
Many competitors shoot using a sling and a rest. It seems awkward at first, but if the shooter can master it, they will see how much steadier their hold is. One of the advantages of using a wrist rest, other than the rifle being steadier, is that when getting up to clean and reload, and then getting back down, the shooter has a fixed point to line up on the target the same way each time. It is always good to have spots marked on the mat for the rest, scope, elbows and knees and have the mat at the correct angle to the target. There is nothing worse than scooting around trying to get comfortable and find my position each time I get down to shoot.
Good luck with your shooting and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to drop me an email at: onceuponatimetwo@gmail.com. I am corresponding with several readers now and I am always glad to help. My next article will be “How to Plan, Pack and Travel to an International Event.” The 2022 MLAIC World Championship for muzzleloaders is coming up in Hungary and those who plan to attend may receive some benefit from my experience.
Stay safe and above all – have fun!