Now your reaction may be something similar to mine – skeptical, astonished but interested. However, I ask you to bear with me a little and consider the idea as I did and see if we can answer a few questions that might be circulating your brain at this point. After looking at the first prototype Jens made, I became even more enamored by the idea.
Knowing Jens for quite a while, I have faith in his skills as a designer, having spent time at university focusing on CNC machining, AutoCAD design and then progressing in his early adult life as a professional carpenter with his own business. With his background in centerfire benchrest, I knew he would come up with an interesting concept if nothing else!!
Interesting Premise
The premise behind Jens idea is simple, in his words: ‘To provide everyone with a cheap pathway to participate in the sport, that could be self built with minimal tools’.
The aim is a good one, enabling the a rifleman to make a usable and cheap rest, where the blood sweat and tears comes from you - as this is aimed at you making the rest with readily available parts and materials. (I don’t think Jens is offering to build these en masse - basically as he has too many other things to do, such as being a teacher, sea captain, etc - yes he is something of a Renaissance man).
At the point of writing - we are now entering 2012 - Jens started developing these ideas around last October - for me this is a brilliant way of finishing the year. Even more brilliant is the obvious need for something Iike this, especially in Jens’s own country with shooters not presently participating in the sport but showing great interest.
Breeding interest in the sport is the starting point but accessing it is another matter. The equipment we need to start in this sport costs quite a bit of cash and this can put people off. If you are setting yourself up from scratch, having nothing but a rifle, a simple but effective rest will cost anything from £250 - £650. This wooden rest will cost a great deal less at around £50 to
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My first choice would be thermowood. It´s good looking and heat-treated near to death but this can´t always be found in the nearest store, plus it´s not the cheapest material.
Rimfire Benchrest by Carl Boswell. Old materials - new ideas!
These are the basic tools I used
£100 depending on choices of material. Standard pine or birch would probably be the cheapest but it´s not my first choice - saving too much doesn’t always end up well. So, source and choose materials wisely!
Materials Jens comments here on his selection of materials;
Wood is a living material and humidity changes, as well as temperature, will affect the material. This doesn´t need to have negative effects on our front rest design. As long as we can handle the movements in the right direction it has nothing to do with scores and impacts on the target. We must always remember that we are using two sandbags that move and flex ten times more than a piece of wood!
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