Berry’s makes a pair of related, but separate shooting rests for varied shooting situations. One is intended for use atop a permanent bench or table. The other is a stand alone portable bench.
So why might someone want a portable shooting rest?
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Why Carry a Rest?
There are a number of scenarios in which a rest comes in handy.
Some people don’t live near a rifle range offering permanent rifle rests. These portable rests can provide an alternative for zeroing a rifle if a solid/permanent benchrest isn’t available.
After a long or rough trip to a hunting area in a new location and climate, it’s important to check the rifle’s zero. This practice is common in hunting camps. I’ve done so on hunts in Alaska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington. Knowing that your hunting rifle is still properly zeroed after a trip provides a real boost in confidence. In those camps I’ve shot off crude tables, stumps, fence posts, my own pack or sleeping bag, a bipod or lightweight tripod, or just used my sling as a shooting aid.
Rests can also come in handy during a hunt. Varmint shooters can go through hundreds of rounds a day, shooting at small targets out to extended ranges. A sturdy rest is a huge advantage for shooting prairie dogs and sage rats. A portable rest can also assist with accurate shot placement on deer, hogs, or bear from a ground blind.
About Berry’s ProMarksman Shooting Rest
I assembled the ProMarksman Shooting Rest using only a 5/32” Allen key.
It was a quick and simple process complete with detailed assembly instructions.
The ball mount allows for easy adjustments for elevation, windage, and rifle cant. It can be firmly locked in place with a lever.
Smaller windage or elevation adjustments are best done with the front and rear levers which work very well and make it easy to align the crosshairs precisely with the target.
After assembling the rest, we took it to our mid-mountain range and set it on our sturdy wood-topped shooting bench.
I familiarized myself with the adjustments before securing my Bergara Carbon Ridge Wilderness 6.5 Creedmoor in the rest for some 100-yard groups.
Our chair at the bench was a little low for use with this rest and I actually shot best while standing behind it. The rifle produced a one-inch three-shot group with me shooting from an awkward stance.
From Berry’s Manufacturing:
Experience unparalleled stability and precision with the Berry’s ProMarksman™ Shooting Rest, engineered to elevate your shooting accuracy to new heights. Crafted from robust materials designed with precision in mind, this shooting rest provides a stable platform for both novice shooters refining their skills and seasoned marksmen honing their accuracy. The Berry’s ProMarksman™ Shooting Rest features a steel ball and case that ensures a wide range of adjustment while windage and elevation is corrected using a fine-tune system of adjustment handles to achieve the perfect shooting position. Whether you’re sighting in your optics, testing loads, or simply enjoying a day at the range, the Berry’s ProMarksman™ delivers consistent performance and comfort. Ideal for target shooters, hunters, and competitive marksmen alike, the Berry’s ProMarksman™ Shooting Rest embodies precision engineering and ergonomic design, making it an indispensable tool for achieving exceptional shooting results with every shot.
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- Windage & elevation micro adjustments
- Front canvas bag w/ nesting spring
- Customizable yokes
- Will support most AR style rifles with standard buttstocks after spacer adjustment (10 round mag only)
- Ambidextrous control
- 360° of movement
- Light enough to be portable but sturdy enough to shoot off any bench or table
- Lifetime warranty
- Made in the USA
About Berry’s ProMarksman Shooting Bench
Berry’s also included excellent instructions with their ProMarksman shooting bench, making assembly a breeze.
The materials and the finish were high quality. The blue anodized aluminum and the black paint were both flawless.
The seat is a large, well-padded bicycle seat that is easily adjustable for height. It’s surprisingly comfortable and stable and is rated for up to 300 pounds total.
The bench has a handy, integrated ammo shelf which can be positioned on either front leg for right-or left-handed shooters. This shelf is also a nice spot for a pair of binoculars or a rangefinder.
After assembling this portable shooting bench, I put it in the back of the side-by-side and drove up to our ridgetop range to pop some steel rockchucks! I didn’t weigh it, but the bench is light enough that I just put it over my shoulder and walked to my chosen shooting area.
Once there, it was easy to set up. With the Bergara rifle firmly mounted, I fine-tuned my aim using the elevation and windage levers.
I took a moment to appreciate how comfortable and stable this rest was and how easy it was to adjust to accommodate my rifle and my 200+ pound body. Three shots yielded three hits — I was all smiles. Recoil was almost nonexistent.
I quickly repositioned to shoot steeply downhill into a canyon at another D-M steel target about 150 yards away. I adjusted the seat for downhill shooting, fired three times, and made three hits in quick succession. More grins.
At the conclusion of my shooting, I noted with appreciation that there were no scuffs or other marring of the finish on my rifle.
From Berry’s Manufacturing:
Are you ready for the most dynamic portable shooting bench on the market? The Berry’s ProMarksman™ Shooting Bench is the answer to a rock-steady, fully adjustable integrated shooting bench and rest that you can easily take to wherever your shooting adventures will be. The steel ball and case allow for a wide range of adjustments while windage and elevation can be corrected with fine-tuning controls to dial up your perfect shot. High-grade aluminum manufacture makes the entire bench easy to collapse, move, and store when not in use, ensuring a fast and easy set-up. Whether you’re sighting in that new rifle or honing your skills for that hunt you’ve been waiting for, the Berry’s ProMarksman™ Shooting Bench provides unparalleled stability and precision. Experience the difference with our innovative design and robust construction – because when it comes to shooting benches, nothing beats Berry’s ProMarksman™ for versatility and performance.
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- Windage & elevation micro adjustments
- Front canvas bag w/ nesting spring
- Customizable yokes
- Will support most AR-style rifles with standard buttstocks after spacer adjustment (10-round mag only)
- Oversized padded seat
- Supports up to 300 lbs.
- Ambidextrous control
- Quick detach ammo table
- Adjustable to several different shooters’ heights
- 360° of movement
- Leg strap for easy transport
- Lifetime warranty
- Made in the USA
About the Rifle and Ammunition
This Bergara Ridge Carbon Wilderness in 6.5 Creedmoor has rapidly become one of my favorite rifles. It has been upgraded with a very nice Boyds Heritage laminate stock and a Leupold VX-5HD 3-15 x 44 mounted in Hawkins Precision long range hybrid rings.
It’s easy to shoot, feels great in my hands, and fits me well. I had previously zeroed this rifle with my 140 grain handloads, so I grabbed a box of Berger ammunition featuring the 140 grain Berger Hybrid Target bullet. This ammunition is of excellent quality. There’s very little felt recoil and I can count on my groups remaining at or under one MOA with a variety of factory ammunition or my handloads.
The Boyds Heritage stock has a traditional sporter shape coupled with “nutmeg laminate,” one of my favorite laminate color combinations. We received it with aluminum pillars already installed, and the barrel channel easily accommodated the varmint contour carbon-wrapped barrel.
Conclusion
The ProMarksman bench and rest from Berry’s are both well-made, nicely finished, sturdy, and easy to use. Both of them are useful for different situations. The ProMarksman Shooting Rest is particularly well-suited for use on a permanent bench.
I found myself attracted more to the ProMarksman Shooting Bench. This bench is easy to transport in my Jeep and can be used across a variety of hunting and shooting situations where there is no permanent bench. It will be interesting to use both of these in the future at the range and for varmint shooting.
Get The Gear
Berry’s ProMarksman Shooting Rest
Bergara Carbon Ridge Wilderness
Berger 6.5mm Creedmoor LPR 140 Grain Hybrid Target Ammunition at Midsouth Shooters Supply
Hawkins Precision Long Range Hybrid Scope Rings
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Thanks,
Guy Miner
