Many shooters love to tinker, and those with the necessary level of proficiency will even service their guns as and when necessary. But for all of us, whether skilled in that area or just an enthusiastic novice, being able to gently stand our treasured gun in a rest can be invaluable, and there are many instances when it makes sense, keeping everything organised.
Mounting a scope is a case in point, and this task deserves care and attention in order to get everything set up true and correctly. Having the rifle sitting in a gun rest to start with just makes the job so much easier. It also makes it safer, with the gun firmly held in the cradles and set at exactly the angle required for the job. Making adjustments elsewhere, fitting add-ons to the barrel, or adjusting a butt pad, for example, are all tasks best tackled with the gun held securely.
What’s in the Box and How Do You Assemble It?
A rest is therefore a prerequisite for any shooting enthusiast, and on test here is the Milbro Gun Rest, marketed by Sportsmarketing (SMK). The Gun Rest comes supplied effectively flat-packed, with the kit consisting of the two end assemblies, two metal rods that form the base, a bag of rubber push-fit spacers/washers, and two wall brackets and fixings.
Assembly is straightforward and proceeds as follows: first, a rubber spacer is eased onto the thread at each end of the rod, then the rods are inserted through the holes in the end pieces. A further spacer is fitted to each corner, followed by the rubber cap. All these fittings are extremely snug, giving the finished product a solid and sturdy feel. Finally, the rubber feet must be eased over the base strips. This proved fiddly and awkward during testing, but once in place, the job is done.
What Are the Key Features?
Once assembled, this is a super sturdy design, but further versatility comes with the adjustable cradles. Just gently slacken the adjustment knob at one or both ends, and the cradle moves up on a ratchet, with up to 1.75” of height adjustment possible. Larger gun combinations can be accepted, and just having that feature is brilliant. The cradles feel rubberised to protect and grip any gun held, but further padding can obviously be added. In short, this gun rest does a great job while being light and portable.
The two moulded wall brackets allow the rack to be mounted on a wall and used effectively as a gun display. Otherwise, the unit is self-standing and very stable in use.
Final Verdict: Is it Good Value for Money?
Indeed, given the design and robust construction, it’s easy to conclude that this Milbro Gun Rest is excellent value for money, and a must-have accessory for any enthusiast.
Reviewer: Mark Camoccio
Technical Specifications
- Name: Milbro Gun Rest
- Price: £32.95
- UK Distributor: Sportsmarketing – www.sportsmk.co.uk
- Type: Rifle maintenance and cleaning rest
- Construction: Polymer end assemblies, metal base rods
- Adjustability: Ratcheting cradles with 1.75” of height adjustment
- Cradles: Rubberised for grip and protection
- Mounting: Self-standing or wall-mountable (brackets included)
- Assembly: Flat-packed, self-assembly required
