Scrape / burn on elbow from bench shooting

Pistoler0 · September 2, 2021, 11:27 AM

I am getting a bad scrape on the right elbow (right handed) from bench shooting, what do you recommend?

Using a pillow is an obvious solution but I was wondering if there is an elbow pad or something similar for that purpose.

jmr40 · September 2, 2021, 12:33 PM

Long sleeve shirt. Small scrap of carpet etc. to lay down. The benches are concrete at the range where I shoot and this can be an issue for me too.

ballardw · September 2, 2021, 02:31 PM

Harbor Freight sells an inexpensive set of thin knee pads that have adjustable straps and should fit an elbow.

https://www.harborfreight.com/safety...ads-46697.html

You get a pair so there's a spare available.

Rimfire5 · September 2, 2021, 02:40 PM

After I experienced the same elbow scrapes from our shooting benches, I bought a elbow rest pad, I believe from Brownell's, that I have been using for about 6 years.

It has a mesh bottom to keep it from slipping around on the bench and a padded semi-circular edge that helps you get your elbow in the same position each time.
The part that the elbow rests in is lightly padded.

I swear by it.

LeverGunFan · September 2, 2021, 03:45 PM

Use this or something like it. It doesn't have to be filled with sand, I filled mine with poly pellets.

mehavey · September 2, 2021, 03:49 PM

Simple sheet of white printer paper under the elbow.
(Ask me how I know this...)

Rimfire5 · September 2, 2021, 04:49 PM

Here is the elbow rest I bought. - made by edgewood
https://www.brownells.com/shooting-a...prod36751.aspx

Rhodester · September 2, 2021, 05:09 PM

I use a folded clean shop rag. Pretty Mickey Mouse but it works for me.

reinert · September 2, 2021, 07:14 PM

Walmart usually has those cheap foam knee pads generally by the tool section. They used to be around 5 bucks a pair, no doubt they’re more now. You can use one for an elbow pad, and use the other one for an “in a pinch” recoil pad. Handy and cheap. Probably like the ones ballardw mentioned earlier from H. Freight.

**44 AMP** · September 3, 2021, 12:53 AM

cheapest is a piece of paper (a target perhaps) or a bit of scrap cardboard. Also a long sleeve shirt is a help. but even without it, your elbow won't slide (much) on the cardboard, the cardboard will slide on the benchtop.

A doubled up shirt will also serve well enough, or at least it does for me.

Or, you could shoot with your elbow off the bench....

cptjack · September 3, 2021, 04:50 AM

my range has concrete bench use a real estate sign that we use for targets ,no more rash

ballardw · September 3, 2021, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reinert

Walmart usually has those cheap foam knee pads generally by the tool section. They used to be around 5 bucks a pair, no doubt they’re more now. You can use one for an elbow pad, and use the other one for an “in a pinch” recoil pad. Handy and cheap. Probably like the ones ballardw mentioned earlier from H. Freight.

The Walmart, and most sports intended, elbow pads use elastic in the fabric to keep them in position on the arm. The fabric can bunch inside the elbow as the elastic gets weak. The pads are typically more than twice as thick as the knee-pads I linked to which use a Velcro strap, which is adjustable, and may last longer than the elastic in the sports elbow pads.

I use both and the life span on the sport-type elbow pad is about 2 years for me before the elastic wears out. So far I've managed to lose the knee pads before the Velcro has worn out. I don't use either for shooting but for sports activities so the more violent movements may wear the elastic faster than bench shooting would.

LeverGunFan · September 3, 2021, 10:41 AM

Paper, cardboard, target board and light foam pads all work great - until a gust of wind blows them off the bench and you have to wait until the range is cold to chase them down. After watching my foam pad skitter across a hot range, I bought the pad linked in post #5. Whatever method you use, make sure it stays put on a breezy day.

jcj54 · September 3, 2021, 11:57 AM

I use a computer mouse pad that has a non slip back side.

burrhead · September 3, 2021, 12:04 PM

Years ago I bought a dozen baby blankets at a garage sale to cut up for shop rags. Cost almost nothing. I keep one in my range bag for just that purpose and, if needed, something I can lay parts on if doing simple field repairs.

Seedy Character · September 3, 2021, 01:28 PM

The rifle range I went to when I purchased my 7Mag, had very rough concrete benches.
After 1 shot, I was looking for a fix. I happened to have a mule skin, leather, work glove in my ammo box. I wore it when shooting SBH .44Mag.

Worked great, never have used anything else.

Gary Gill · September 4, 2021, 07:15 AM

I use a bath towel.

7.62 man · September 4, 2021, 09:55 AM

Buy your self a few of these cheap moving blankets & keep them in your vehicles, they are great for throwing on the ground for changing a tire, shooting prone, putting on a concrete shooting bench to protect your guns & elbows.

https://www.harborfreight.com/40-in-...ket-63959.html

kmw1954 · September 6, 2021, 11:22 AM

Don't recall where I got it but I have piece of hard foam rubber that is about 12" long X 6" wide X 3/4" thick with a handle cutout on one end. Works very well. Kind of looks like what is used for exercise mats.

51cskipper · September 6, 2021, 03:43 PM

When I was shooting my 300 Weatherby, I used a cut off sock on my elbow as a protective sleeve. Worked great.

mikejonestkd · September 6, 2021, 04:36 PM

I use a foam garden kneeling pad.
Cheap, has a handle cut out hole, and soft.

RC20 · September 6, 2021, 05:00 PM

I have a cloth I put on the bench, covers about 2/3 of it.

Kind of like the fender guards you could buy for working on cars.

Things don't roll around, I pull my bolts and clean the guns warm at the bench (I hate cleaning at home). Nice clean place to put the bolt.

Pull 5 rounds out of my box and lay it just behind the front bag and they do not roll around.

September 2, 2021, 11:27 AM	#1
Pistoler0 Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2019 Location: Conifer, CO Posts: 632	Scrape / burn on elbow from bench shooting I am getting a bad scrape on the right elbow (right handed) from bench shooting, what do you recommend? Using a pillow is an obvious solution but I was wondering if there is an elbow pad or something similar for that purpose. __________________ Life is simply an inter-temporal problem of constrained optimization.

September 2, 2021, 12:33 PM	#2
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	Long sleeve shirt. Small scrap of carpet etc. to lay down. The benches are concrete at the range where I shoot and this can be an issue for me too. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

September 2, 2021, 02:31 PM	#3
ballardw Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 1,411	Harbor Freight sells an inexpensive set of thin knee pads that have adjustable straps and should fit an elbow. https://www.harborfreight.com/safety...ads-46697.html You get a pair so there's a spare available. __________________ -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ All data is flawed, some just less so.

September 3, 2021, 12:53 AM	#10
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,820	cheapest is a piece of paper (a target perhaps) or a bit of scrap cardboard. Also a long sleeve shirt is a help. but even without it, your elbow won't slide (much) on the cardboard, the cardboard will slide on the benchtop. A doubled up shirt will also serve well enough, or at least it does for me. Or, you could shoot with your elbow off the bench.... __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

September 3, 2021, 10:41 AM	#13
LeverGunFan Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 407	Paper, cardboard, target board and light foam pads all work great - until a gust of wind blows them off the bench and you have to wait until the range is cold to chase them down. After watching my foam pad skitter across a hot range, I bought the pad linked in post #5. Whatever method you use, make sure it stays put on a breezy day. __________________ *Support the Second Amendment Foundation and the Firearms Policy Coalition*

September 2, 2021, 02:40 PM	#4
Rimfire5 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 922	After I experienced the same elbow scrapes from our shooting benches, I bought a elbow rest pad, I believe from Brownell's, that I have been using for about 6 years. It has a mesh bottom to keep it from slipping around on the bench and a padded semi-circular edge that helps you get your elbow in the same position each time. The part that the elbow rests in is lightly padded. I swear by it.

September 2, 2021, 03:45 PM	#5
LeverGunFan Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 407	Use this or something like it. It doesn't have to be filled with sand, I filled mine with poly pellets. __________________ *Support the Second Amendment Foundation and the Firearms Policy Coalition*

September 2, 2021, 03:49 PM	#6
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,886	Simple sheet of white printer paper under the elbow. (Ask me how I know this...)

September 2, 2021, 04:49 PM	#7
Rimfire5 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 922	Here is the elbow rest I bought. - made by edgewood https://www.brownells.com/shooting-a...prod36751.aspx

September 2, 2021, 05:09 PM	#8
Rhodester Member Join Date: January 30, 2019 Location: North Canton, Ohio Posts: 36	I use a folded clean shop rag. Pretty Mickey Mouse but it works for me.

September 2, 2021, 07:14 PM	#9
reinert Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 646	Walmart usually has those cheap foam knee pads generally by the tool section. They used to be around 5 bucks a pair, no doubt they’re more now. You can use one for an elbow pad, and use the other one for an “in a pinch” recoil pad. Handy and cheap. Probably like the ones ballardw mentioned earlier from H. Freight.

September 3, 2021, 04:50 AM	#11
cptjack Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2014 Posts: 314	my range has concrete bench use a real estate sign that we use for targets ,no more rash

September 3, 2021, 11:57 AM	#14
jcj54 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2011 Posts: 218	Elbow protection on shooting bench I use a computer mouse pad that has a non slip back side.

September 3, 2021, 12:04 PM	#15
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	Years ago I bought a dozen baby blankets at a garage sale to cut up for shop rags. Cost almost nothing. I keep one in my range bag for just that purpose and, if needed, something I can lay parts on if doing simple field repairs. __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

September 3, 2021, 01:28 PM	#16
Seedy Character Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2021 Location: SW Okla Posts: 201	The rifle range I went to when I purchased my 7Mag, had very rough concrete benches. After 1 shot, I was looking for a fix. I happened to have a mule skin, leather, work glove in my ammo box. I wore it when shooting SBH .44Mag. Worked great, never have used anything else.

September 4, 2021, 07:15 AM	#17
Gary Gill Member Join Date: October 22, 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 61	I use a bath towel. __________________ Gary

September 4, 2021, 09:55 AM	#18
7.62 man Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2009 Location: Cyber-world USA Posts: 258	Buy your self a few of these cheap moving blankets & keep them in your vehicles, they are great for throwing on the ground for changing a tire, shooting prone, putting on a concrete shooting bench to protect your guns & elbows. https://www.harborfreight.com/40-in-...ket-63959.html

September 6, 2021, 11:22 AM	#19
kmw1954 Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2016 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 1,524	Don't recall where I got it but I have piece of hard foam rubber that is about 12" long X 6" wide X 3/4" thick with a handle cutout on one end. Works very well. Kind of looks like what is used for exercise mats.

September 6, 2021, 03:43 PM	#20
51cskipper Member Join Date: March 7, 2019 Location: California Posts: 60	When I was shooting my 300 Weatherby, I used a cut off sock on my elbow as a protective sleeve. Worked great. __________________ The strongest reason for the people to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against the tyranny of government. -- Thomas Jefferson

September 6, 2021, 04:36 PM	#21
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,716	I use a foam garden kneeling pad. Cheap, has a handle cut out hole, and soft. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

September 6, 2021, 05:00 PM	#22
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	I have a cloth I put on the bench, covers about 2/3 of it. Kind of like the fender guards you could buy for working on cars. Things don't roll around, I pull my bolts and clean the guns warm at the bench (I hate cleaning at home). Nice clean place to put the bolt. Pull 5 rounds out of my box and lay it just behind the front bag and they do not roll around. __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not