Quick look: SmartRest Gun Cradle

The Gun Cradle is the basis of a number of SmartRest gun rests, such as the RackenRest, and it comes in several kits for specific purposes. But you can buy the cradle on its own and mount it to pretty much anything that you might shoot from. 

Its trick is that it holds your rifle hands-free but readily accessible while you’re travelling to or through your hunting grounds in a vehicle (or perhaps if you’re just sitting in a blind), and when it’s time to shoot it lets you swing the rifle into action and provides a very steady rest to shoot from. 

The one here in teh video, for example, is mounted to a crossbar on a buggy. The crossbar is a SmartRest one but of course if you’ve got a modicum of hands-on ability you can easily rig up your own crossbar, drill a hole in it and mount the Gun Cradle, saving a few bucks in the process. 

The gun rest and cradle consists of two main sections: the pivoting mounting arm, which provides a wide range of movement, and the cradle that you strap the rifle into. 

The mounting arm has bearings at each end for long-lasting smooth movement, and you can adjust the tension on the bearings to give it more or less resistance, depending on what works best for you. It’ll swing 360 degrees, not only giving you a wide arc of fire but also helping you get comfortable behind the gun.

The cradle is highly adjustable to suit the size and style of your rifle and to get it well balanced. 

The quick-release silicon straps hold it very securely. The rifle won’t go anywhere until you want it to. 

I’ve used these gun cradles a lot over the years, and have had this one on the buggy for months. It’s a well thought out and reliable system that you can mount wherever you need it. 

You can get it at gun shops or through the Eagleye Hunting gear website.