Toss Real Avid’s Ratchet Rest three-pack in your range bag or backpack and go shooting.
They say good things come in threes. I was never clear on who “they” were, but in the case of Real Avid’s Ratchet Rest shooting bags, “they” are right. Good things do come in threes. Sure, I’ve used sandbags and rear-support bags before, but I knew from the get-go that Real Avid’s Ratchet Rest bags were different.
Available in small, medium, and large, I loaded the trio into my Chevy and headed to the range. I had a testing date with Taurus’ 2024-launched Expedition bolt-action chambered in 308 Win. The plan was also to tinker with Leupold’s new optic wander, the VX-4HD 3-12×50. I added the optic to Browning’s X-Bolt 2 Speed chambered in 6.8 Western.
What Is The Ratchet Rest System?
Comprised of three bags that contain a removable nylon bag filled with miniature, plastic pellets and a removable foam disc, Real Avid’s Ratchet Rests can be customized to your liking. I appreciate the durable waxed canvas hulls. They proved water-resistant and extremely tough. The rests, thanks to the internal foam padding, also have flat bottoms, and the tops have a grippy coating that holds the stock and fore-end in place.
By the end of the testing period, I was tossing the bags, via the included top-mounted carry handle, into the bed of my truck, not carrying what they landed on. These bags are dirty tough.
All Ratchet Rest bags are fitted with MOLLE webbing and a ratchet strap system on the outside. The purpose of the ratchet system is to allow the shooter to tighten the bags a click at a time. Increasing tension on the bags increases pressure on the internal pellet bags and raises the bag height. More to come on this. Loosening the strap reduces tension on the internal pellet bags, allowing you to press the forearm and stock deeper into the bags.
I’d be lying if I told you Real Avid’s bags work as well as my Caldwell and MTM sleds. That’s not why Real Avid made them. I quickly discovered that I couldn’t get as dead steady on the bags as I could on my sleds. While height adjustment by pulling the straps does work and is extremely straightforward, I’m doubting whether the bags provide the up/down adjustability that Real Avid brands them with.
Real Avid Ratchet Rest Bags On The Range
That’s the bad, and it’s not really bad. With the larger bag under the forearm of my Taurus Expedition and medium and small bags under the stock, I shot a .78-inch 5-shot group with Browning’s 308 Winchester 180-grain Silver Series ammunition. After a 20-minute barrel cool—it was a scorcher outside—I shot five more rounds. This time, Norma’s BondStrike Long-Range 180-grain hunting bullet was my go-to. The BondStrike produced a 0.98-inch group at 100 yards. That’s sub-MOA accuracy off shooting bags.
Switching to my 6.8 Western, I removed the smaller bag and shot a .77-inch three-shot group from 100 yards using Browning’s Long Range Pro Hunter 175-grain. For grins, I dialed my VX-4HD to 350 yards, made a wind call, and banged a 6-inch steel plate.
These bags are excellent throw-and-go range bags. Over two days, I used the Ratchet Rest system from two different benches and in the prone position. I would have zero issue tossing the small and medium bags into my backpack. Either could be used for rear support or added atop a backpack to provide rifle elevation when shooting prone. Real Avid’s Ratchet Rest shooting bag system serves a purpose. They make an excellent addition to hold-steady arsenal.
