Shooting rail for the spotlighting rig.

[Plowboy]

Well despite the full moon being out I couldn't resist taking out the new rail for a test and geez I should have had one years ago! much easier to hold steady and much safer for the rifle too. can sit it on the door and the rail while stopped and looking for movment in the grass. Not much out tonight but still managed 3 rabbits and a hare that was about 180m out. Glad I spent the doe on it.

[andrewk]

nice rest andrew, looks very sturdy.

heres pics of what i've knocked up. they've cost me about $30 to make them both. thank you bunnings.

ok, the design goes like this.

i used 10mmx170mm bolts that run down through 150mmx20mm square tube and bolt permanantly and vertically through the mirror.

the rest its self is consisting of a 200mmx25mm square tube with a 3/8" knob to tighten to the vertical post on the mirror. at 90 degrees on the horizontal out from the 200mmx25mm tube is a 160mmx20 tube. than cut and welded at 45 degrees on the horizontal and back is a 140mmx20mm lenght with the final piece being at 45 degrees to complete 90 degrees back which measures 600mmx20m tube. cover the rest with 20mm insulation.

hope the pics make more sense than how i explained it.

[andrewbron]

shit hot!
never seen one done like that before!
goreat work

[Plowboy]

Shit that does look good! How solid is the mirror mount? I suppose you shouldn't have too much weight on the rail anyway.

[andrewk]

the mirror isn't too bad and holds the weight fine but it wobbles a bit cruising the dirt roads. bit worried the mirror mount might break off so i will make a support for the back and use an occy strap to the bottom of the door. was thinking i might make a mirror mount out of steel since the factory jobbies are cast alloy. but otherwise they are tops to shoot off of. i used a light gauge steel tube for the whole project and they don't weigh much.

oh forgot to mention cos of my post support and the 3/8 locking knob set up they are height adjustable. i did it that way cos i wasn't sure how high i'd want them and some of my guns sit different.

[kjd]

the mirror isn't too bad and holds the weight fine but it wobbles a bit cruising the dirt roads. bit worried the mirror mount might break off so i will make a support for the back and use an occy strap to the bottom of the door. was thinking i might make a mirror mount out of steel since the factory jobbies are cast alloy. but otherwise they are tops to shoot off of. i used a light gauge steel tube for the whole project and they don't weigh much.

oh forgot to mention cos of my post support and the 3/8 locking knob set up they are height adjustable. i did it that way cos i wasn't sure how high i'd want them and some of my guns sit different.

I'd definitely give it more support mate because if you lean a gun on the far side of your rest it's acting like a lever and will be putting more force on the mount which would probably fatigue very quickly so you'd end up with a broken mirror and probably a dropped loaded rifle.

[andrewk]

the mirror isn't too bad and holds the weight fine but it wobbles a bit cruising the dirt roads. bit worried the mirror mount might break off so i will make a support for the back and use an occy strap to the bottom of the door. was thinking i might make a mirror mount out of steel since the factory jobbies are cast alloy. but otherwise they are tops to shoot off of. i used a light gauge steel tube for the whole project and they don't weigh much.

oh forgot to mention cos of my post support and the 3/8 locking knob set up they are height adjustable. i did it that way cos i wasn't sure how high i'd want them and some of my guns sit different.

I'd definitely give it more support mate because if you lean a gun on the far side of your rest it's acting like a lever and will be putting more force on the mount which would probably fatigue very quickly so you'd end up with a broken mirror and probably a dropped loaded rifle.

thanks for the advice keith

[Rumpus]

Top looking rest mate..

Might just be a personal thing, and where im comfy shooting but I only really ever shoot about 30deg of the front of the car and would find it uncomfortable shooting at 90deg (to the right from drivers position). Thats why my rest is made using my mirror. If the Target moves i just reposition the car. Pretty lazy I know.. Also being able to adjust the height means i can use the back of the door as a rest for the rear of the rifle and move the front rest up or down.. Is much simpler than ive just tryed to explain though? Thats if your RH though.. LH would be a different matter..

Will try and get some pics or somthing...

[andrewk]

rumpus i can tell you i agree 100%. i try to shoot mostly over the mirror for the same reason, to use the door as a rear rest for the rifle. but, i shoot a few vineyards as well and that forces the 90 degree angles.

[Plowboy]

I do mine in about the same position but since I have a wagon, the mirror is a different design to the "ute" stlye ones. Wobbled about and took it off in frustration. Will put it back on some time. I also didn;t like putting the rifle on the mirror as it slipped about on there and didn't feel secure enough. The padding feels really good and stops the rifle sliding.

[andrewk]

finished the whole project today and here are the pics.

i decided to simply make a bracket for added strength to the mirror mount. it really stiffned things up and stopped the fear wobbles on the dirt roads. the fear being that it might snap off. they are brillant to shoot off of and the beauty of not having any obstructions along the door and window sill means i can hang my arm out to find comfortable shooting positions. cos sometimes you just don't have time to or can't move the vehicle around to take the shot.

anyway i painted them so they look half decent.

[Plowboy]

Bloody hell they look good mate well done. Very simple design and looks the goods. Only thing I suppose is the lack of support on the back of the rail but as you have said it is rarely used.

[andrewk]

Bloody hell they look good mate well done. Very simple design and looks the goods. Only thing I suppose is the lack of support on the back of the rail but as you have said it is rarely used.

thanks mate, surprisingly they are very ridgid to shoot of off at the back too.

[Plowboy]

Just wondering whether I could make one of those up for tha passenger side of my cruiser.... My mirror mounts are not that solid though(on the door panels a nut welded to the panel) so it may not be so solid.

[andrewk]

Just wondering whether I could make one of those up for tha passenger side of my cruiser.... My mirror mounts are not that solid though(on the door panels a nut welded to the panel) so it may not be so solid.

post a picture of the door and mirrors. could come up with some ideas.