3 Sure-Fire Ways to Improve Shooting Accuracy

Not only does a heavy sled-style rifle rest keep your rifle from jumping around after a shot, it saves you from shoulder pain that comes from round after round of shooting (Caldwell/)

The best way to improve your shooting accuracy is to practice, and the best way to practice is with a rest. Whether you are slinging lead downrange at a club, at deer camp, or on the back forty, a commercial rest will limit the variables that affect accuracy. Stabilizing baseline elevation and windage with a rest allows you to focus on the weapon, the round, and the technique you are trying to hone. With a rest, you can confidently and quickly acquire the target, manage your trigger pull, and reduce flinching from repeated recoil. One of these types of rests will cover just about any type of shooting you want to do.

Bench Rests

A heavy, secure shooting rest makes it easier to hold the crosshairs on target during the shot. (Amazon/)

A bench-mounted shooting rest offers the ultimate stability for range practice. Anchor your rifle or shotgun on the first shot, and then walk the muzzle and scope onto the bullseye without worrying about repositioning the rest after every round.

Shooting Bags

Shooting bags are a quick and easy way to create a stable shooting platform just about anywhere. (Amazon/)

Two-piece shooting bags operate on the same principle as the bench rest by stabilizing the fore-end and buttstock, but without moving parts. These multifunctional stabilizers are relatively light, yet solid enough to establish a bench-quality rest anywhere there is a level surface.

Multi-Function Rests

A tripod rest is slightly heavy and awkward to carry in the field, but it’s ideal when you need a solid platform for a shot. (Amazon/)

Looking for the accuracy of a bench rest in the field? A tripod mount combines the convenience of shooting sticks with the steady platform of a bench rest on the range or in the field. They are not applicable to all hunting situations, but for varmint control or shooting from a permanent blind, a tripod rest offers the maximum blend of stability and portability.