17Jul
Ransom Rest for Handgun Accuracy Testing
The Ransom Rest
Testing handguns for their accuracy potential presents a variety of challenges. When testing for accuracy, the aim is to try to determine just how accurate the pistol will shoot using a variety of ammunition, whether this is commercially produced or hand loaded ammunition. You can rest the pistol on a shooting bench at the range using your range bag or specifically designed leather bags filled with polymer beads.
Testing
With this method I have been able to achieve good results, but occasionally you will fire a duff shot that will inevitably spoil a good group. The answer to this issue is the Ransom Rest, which is a machine rest designed to repeatedly fire handguns without the physical human vagaries of aiming and recoil control.
On occasions over the years I have used a Ransom Rest to determine the accuracy of specific pistols and the ammunition they use. The design of the Ransom is such that it totally eliminates all the shooter input, and thus the shooter error. It both aims the shot and handles the recoil. The only input from the user is to activate the firing mechanism. Shooter fatigue is also eliminated, so with the Ransom Rest you can test ammunition knowing that the results at the end of the testing are as valid as those at the beginning.
The Ransom Rest securely holds the handgun by the grip portion of the frame, without applying any pressure to the upper frame, barrel or slide. The rest uses specific grip inserts unique to each handgun. Both fit precisely and secure the handgun rigidly to the rest. The inserts are made from a synthetic rubber to securely hold the handgun. There is an extensive list of inserts available and includes the most popular handgun manufacturers. If you have a handgun for which no insert is available, you can purchase a blank insert and fit it to your firearm.
This STI Trubor is being tested for its accuracy potential with Geco IPSC .38 Super ammunition. The velocity and power factor are being recorded with a CED M2 Chronograph.
Mounting
The Ransom Rest is designed to be mounted on a wooden base, which in turn is attached with G-Clamps to sturdy, permanently mounted bench, at the pistol range. Select a good grade of ¾ or 1” thick plywood long enough to extend across the shooting bench you will be using. Four G-clamps ( one in each corner ) are used.Attaching the handgun to the rest is straight forward. Remove the three star knobs, washers and A B C plate. Slide the inside grip insert half, for the gun to be tested, on to the three threaded rods on the rocker arm assembly. Place the outside grip insert half on the threaded rods and insert the unloaded gun into the inside grip insert. Press the outside insert into position, moving the gun slightly to make sure it is properly seated. Place the ABC plate on the threaded rods and install washers and star knobs.
The inner half of the grip inserts slides onto the three threaded rods until it comes up against the rest.
Tighten star knobs half a turn at a time alternating A to B until both knobs are finger tight. Only then tighten knob C until it is snug. The most important part of this operation is to make sure the gap between the insert is the same, front to rear and top to bottom. Some inserts will not have any gap when properly tightened. Do not tighten the star knobs with anything more than finger pressure.
The ABC plate clamps both half’s of the grip inserts securely around the pistol. The recoil of the Sphinx Production 3000 has raised the front elevation screw about half an inch off the base of the rest.
The Trigger
The trigger activation mechanism is adjusted with a standard Allen wrench, which is included, until it is positioned against the trigger. Two holes are provided in the trigger finger bar to get proper positioning on various guns. Adjust the trigger finger so that it comes in contact with the centre of the trigger. On revolvers, do this with the hammer cocked to single action. Make sure the gun is unloaded until it is set up and ready for firing. Check double action revolvers to make sure the trigger has enough travel after the hammer has been released for it to come forward its full travel.The trigger bar can be adjusted until it comes into contact with the centre of the trigger.
You can adjust your gun for elevation with the elevation screw, which is located at the front of the rest. When the elevation is set, tighten the lock nut on the elevation screw. Look through the sights and align them with the target and then fully tighten down the G-Clamps.
The accuracy potential of the CZ 75 SP01 is tested in the Ransom Rest. The SP01 Shadow is the most popular pistol used in IPSC Production Division.
Firing
After everything is set up, a few strings of six shots are fired to settle the gun into the grip inserts and then the accuracy testing can begin. Loading and unloading both revolvers and pistols can be done without removing the gun from the rest. Firing the firearm is accomplished by pressing down on the trigger lever. When fired the gun and upper portion of the rest will rise under recoil. There is a ledge provided to push the rest back into battery. Do not push down on the barrel or any other part of the firearm, as this will disturb the position of the firearm in the grips. A downward push on the provided ledge returns the gun to firing position.The Ransom Rest is a very high quality piece of equipment. It totally eliminates shooter error, allowing the shooter to quickly determine with confidence the accuracy potential of the gun and ammunition combination being tested. It is very useful in accuracy testing handguns and is a must have device for any serious pistol shooter. It will allow the shooter to test many different types of hand loaded or factory ammunition in their handguns to achieve the full potential of their firearms, thus determining the best loads for that particular handgun.
The Ransom Rest enables the pistol to be aimed at the same point for each shot. The STI Trubor turned in a 30mm group with the Geco IPSC .38 Super ammunition.
While the Ransom Rest is not inexpensive, it will enable any shooter can explore full potential of his handguns and ammunition, or also discover if a problem is present. Like having a chronograph to measure velocity, owning a Ransom Rest enables you to determine the accuracy potential of any handgun – ammunition combination.
The Ransom Rest builds confidence in your equipment because it tells you exactly what a particular pistol will do with a variety of different ammunition. If you are shooting ammunition of known quality, you can find out which of several pistols delivers the best performance.
Properly mounted and correctly manipulated, the Ransom Rest will place the pistol back in the same relative position to the target, time after time. The pistol, mounted in the inserts, is located on a pivoted arm. When the pistol fires, the arm pivots upwards against spring tension and a friction fit of the arm to the base of the rest. The two major sections of the rest fit together precisely and, when the shooter manually returns the rocker arm to battery, it goes right back to the same point of aim. This mechanical aiming is the big advantage of the Ransom Rest.
The retention spring and friction plates behind it control the rise of the handgun as it recoils.
Stand well to the rear and side of the rest and depress the trigger bar down until the handgun fires. After each shot, depress the rocker arm back to the rocker stop pad with the return lug on the right side of the rocker arm. Do not use the gun barrel as a lever! Full operating and safety instructions are provided with the Ransom Rest. Consult these first to fully understand how the rest operates before carrying out any testing. These instructions will provide you with information on how to properly mount the rest, carry out testing safely and care and maintenance of the rest.
Load and fire several strings of settling shots on your target. Now you are ready to shoot your group on the target. Place your record target over the holes created by the settling shots. Test strings can be in groups of 5, 6, 10 or 12 shots, depending on your test requirements. When you change ammunition, be sure that you fire several fouling shots with the ammunition to be tested before you record your group.
The Ransom Rest showed that this STI Executive was capable of grouping the Geco .40 180 grain FMJ round into a 28mm group.
Certain handguns present special situations when fired in the Ransom Rest. This most often occurs when you are firing a polymer frame pistol, such as a Glock. Polymer frame semi automatic pistols something compress slightly when gripped in the inserts. Over tightening compresses the grip insert to the point where the pistol may not function properly. The solution is to finger tighten the star knobs and then shoot more than the usual number of settling shots to work the pistol down into the rubber of the inserts. You will not find the solution in over tightening the ABC star knobs.
When the group produced on target is more round in shape than vertically elongated the adjustment is correct. Be patient and shoot more rounds until the group is circular. Remember, a certain amount of vertical stringing is perfectly normal and is caused by variances in velocities of the ammunition.
With the Sphinx in the Ransom Rest the Geco 139 grain FMJ load produced a group of 33mm in size.
Celebrating
Celebrating its 41st anniversary, the Ransom Rest is a product that enables the shooter to obtain the utmost in firearms accuracy. The Ransom Rest has become an international standard and is used by all major handgun manufactures, ammunition manufacturers, law enforcement and military organisations, armourers and gunsmiths, in addition to the target shooting community around the world. For the accuracy testing the Ransom Rest is a precision device that holds, fires, and recoils as nearly like the human hand as possible. It eliminates the human inconsistencies that make handgun testing unreliable. Introduced in 1969 the Ransom Rest is the international standard machine rest that successfully accomplishes the goal of precise, repeatable handgun accuracy testing.The Ransom Rest and varoius grip inserts to suit different makes of pistol and revolver can be obtained from Brownells Inc. Visit their web site at www.brownells.com
Ransom Rest Products can be obtained in Europe from www.ballisticservice24.eu
The Ransom Rest will allow the shooter to test many different types of hand loaded or factory ammunition in their handguns to achieve the full potential of their firearms.
