Master Series Rest Instruction Manual Ransom International Corp

Section 1: Components

Mounting the Ransom Rest

Your Ransom Rest is designed to be mounted on plywood, which in turn is attached with C-Clamps to a sturdy, permanently-mounted bench at your pistol range. Select a good grade of ¾ or 1” plywood, 14” wide and long enough to extend across the shooting bench you will be using, Three c-clamps are sufficient, one in front and two in the rear. If a heavy recoiling pistol is to be tested, the addition of another clamp on the front is recommended.
To the bottom side of the mount-board, glue and nail two strips of wood 2” x ½” x 14 at the front and rear. These are to keep the center of your mount board from contacting the bench. Your mount-board should contact the bench only on the front and rear 2” strip.
Place the Ransom Rest on your mount-board two-thirds of the distance toward the rear. The left side of the Ransom Rest should be on the center line. The Spring Retainer Knob, the large Aluminum knob on the right side of the Rest, should be over the 2/3rd mark. Mark screw hole locations.
Drill pilot holes for #10 wood screws (supplied). Place the base over the mounting position and install screws, tighten securely. Using a long shank Phillips Screw Driver, makes it unnecessary to disassemble the Rest for mounting. While the above mounting method is preferred, the Ransom Rest will work equally well mounted to a steel or concrete base. For maximum accuracy, the base you shoot your Ransom Rest must be solid.

Optional Windage Base with Master’s Series Rest

Mounting the Ransom Rest to the optional Windage Base

Attach your Ransom Rest to the Windage Base with the 10-24 x ¾” Phillips Flat head Screws provided. Using a long shank Phillips Screwdriver makes it unnecessary to disassemble your Rest. To mount the Rest and Windage assembly, follow the Mounting the Ransom Rest with Windage Base or Combo Rest instructions.

Mounting the Ransom Rest with Windage Base or Combo Rest

The optional Base Plate can be substituted for the following instructions. See Mounting the Ransom Rest with Windage Base or Combo Rest to optional Base Plate. Your Ransom Combo is designed to be mounted on plywood, which in turn is attached with c-clamps to a sturdy permanently mounted bench at your pistol range. Select a good grade of ¾ to 1” plywood, 14” wide and long enough to extend across the bench you will be using. Three c-clamps are sufficient, one in front and two in the rear. If extensive hard ball or magnum testing is to be done, the addition of another clamp on the front is recommended.
To the bottom side of the mount-board glue and nail tow strips of wood 2” x ½ x 14” at the front and rear. These are to keep the center of your mount-board, from contacting the bench. Your mount-board should contact the bench only on the front and rear 2” strips. Remove the football knobs, washers and Windage Base, noting the smaller thin washers are at the rear positions. Mount the bottom section to the plywood mount board.
Place the base center two-thirds of the way to the rear, and on the center line of the long axis. Mark the screw hole locations and drill pilot holes. The base should be secured using all of the mounting screw holes. (#10 wood screws, 1-1/4 round head, provided). Reassemble the Rest to the Windage Base bottom. Make sure that the thin finder washers are below the black oxide thick washers.

Note: Where the situation exists that you may secure the rest directly to the shooting bench, insure that the mounting screws used are as secure as described for the plywood mount.

CAUTION:

IF YOU ARE GOING TO TEST .44 MAGNUM OR MORE POWERFUL LOADS, REMOVE THE LEFT REAR FOOTBALL KNOB (AS VIEWED FROM THE REAR) AND REPLACE IT WITH A 5/16” X 18 NUT.

This is to provide extra clearance for the long recoil movement

IMPORTANT!

IMPORTANT! ON ALL MODELS, BE SURE THAT THE COMPRESSION SPRING ON THE SIDE OF THE RANSOM REST IS ALWAYS KEPT AT 1-1/2 INCHES FROM ROCKER ARM TO SPRING RETAINER AT TOP OF SPRING.

Section 1: Components Continued

Mounting the Ransom Rest with Windage Base or Combo Rest to optional Base Plate

Your Ransom Combo can be mounted to the Base Plate, which in turn is attached with c-clamps to a sturdy permanently mounted bench at your pistol range. Three c-clamps are sufficient, one in front and two in the rear. They should clamp at the top of the adjusting studs once level is adjusted. If extensive hard ball or magnum testing is to be done , the addition of another clamp on the remaining adjusting stud is recommended.

Remove the football knobs, washers and Windage Base, noting the smaller thin washers are at the rear positions. Mount the bottom section to the Base Plate. The base should be secured using all of the mounting screw holes. (10-24 3/4” long Flat Head Cap Screws, provided).Reassemble the Rest to the Windage Base bottom. Make sure that the thin washers are below the black oxide thick washers. On all models with Windage adjustment, adjust the lateral location with the round rear adjustment knobs. Tighten the front Football knob, then tighten the rear two Football knobs and make sure the lateral adjustment knobs are snug.

Mounting the optional Remote Trigger to the Ransom Rest

Using Allen wrench, remove trigger finger from trigger bar. This will be reused with remote trigger. Using 9/16” wrench, remove B and C Stud acorn nuts from rocker arm. Install remote trigger Adapter to studs and reinstall washers and acorn nuts. Remove Trigger acorn nut, washers, spring and trigger bar from A Stud. Install Remote Trigger Bar on A Stud and then install a washer, the spring, the second washer and the acorn nut, in order. Tighten acorn nut until spring is in coil bind (no space between coils), and operate trigger bar.
Ensure there is smooth movement with little to no
sideways motion and the nut does not turn.

Section 2: Mounting Pistol to Rest

For a step-by-step video tutorial, please visit www.ransomrest.com and click on the “Videos” tab.

Place your Ransom Rest on the bench at the position you have selected, attach c-clamps to the bench and mount-board or Base, tighten securely.
Remove the three Star Knobs, washers, and ABC Plate. Slide the inside Grip Insert right half for the gun to be tested on to the Rocker Arm Assembly. Seat this Insert half all the way down on the studs. Place the outside Grip insert half on the Studs and place the 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 Studs, install washers and “Star Knobs”.
Tighten Star Knobs, using extended fingers. Do not knuckle the knobs, Tighten one half turn at a time alternating A,B,C knobs equally until all knobs are extended finger tight. The most important part is keep the gap between the insert the same. Some inserts will not have any gap when properly tightened. On pistols with a polymer frame, the inserts have a relief to lessen pressure causing magazine sticking. Do not over tighten to the point where the magazine will not release.
Be sure your Ransom Rest mounted pistol is pointed at your target. Once properly aligned, tighten the c-clamps on your mounting board or Base.

SPECIAL SITUATIONS

Certain handguns present special situations when fired in the Ransom Rest. Most often this occurs when you are firing a polymer-frame pistol, or when you are shooting a large revolver or a single shot in a heavy recoiling caliber.

There are some things that help with both situations. In neither case will you find the solution in over tightening the Star Knobs (AB&C) or tightening the Compression Spring to less than the required length of 1&1/2 inches.

Polymer frame semi-autos 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 shoot more than the usual number of settling shots to work the pistol down into the rubber of the inserts. It may take as many as 20 or more rounds in order to properly settle the gun. When the group produced on target is more nearly round then vertically elongated the adjustment is correct. Test groups may now be fired.

In the case of heavy recoiling Pistols, such as T/C Contender in a large caliber, follow the installation instructions to the letter. The combination of hot ammo and the long barrel produces severe recoil. Often, the barrel will recoil to a full vertical position. This also applies to large caliber revolvers. Resist the temptation to over tighten the Compression Spring. Over tightening will adversely affect the braking mechanism of the Ransom Rest and it will wear out quicker.

The solution is to use more than the usual number of settling shots. Be patient and shoot more rounds until the group rounds out. Remember, a certain amount of vertical stringing is perfectly normal and is caused by variances in velocities in even the best of ammunition. The conditions are particularly pronounced in cold weather.

Section 3: Operation and Maintenance

Note: Certain handguns present special situations in using the Ransom Rest. Please read the Special Situations section to ascertain if your gun presents one of the stated situations.

Two holes are provided in the Trigger Finger to get proper positioning of the Trigger Finger on various guns. Adjust the Trigger Finger so that it comes in contact with the center of the trigger, and the rear of the Trigger Bar is about level. On revolvers, do this with the gun in the cocked position (Caution, make sure the gun is unloaded until gun 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. When properly adjusted, the trigger finger should be slightly ahead of the trigger, not touching.
Adjust your gun for elevation with the Elevation Screw. When Elevation is set, tighten the Lock Nut on the Elevation Screw.
The Trigger Bar is easy to use. We recommend, depressing the Trigger Bar with your thumb while your index finger is supported by the Compression Spring. Standing to the rear of the rest, depress the trigger bar down and slightly outboard toward the index finger. Check this operation with empty pistolto ensure smooth travel, trigger release and that trigger finger does not stay in contact with trigger after trigger bar is released. After each shot, depress the Rocker Arm back to the Rocker Stop Pad using the return lug on the front right side of the Rocker Arm. DO NOT USE THE GUN BARREL AS A LEVER!
Load and fire five or more “settling” shots over your target. Now you are ready to shoot your group on the target. Confirm star knobs remain seated.
We recommend that all test strings be of 10 or more shots. When you change ammunition, be sure that you fire several fouling shots with the ammunition to be tested before you record your group.

Note: The small Cap Nut on the rear of the Rocker Arm is a safety stop for semi-automatics. Make absolutely sure that this is in place when you are testing any semi-automatic. However, remove this Cap Nut and the Allen stud when testing any heavy recoiling Revolver or single shot Pistol.

Maintenance

The only maintenance your Ransom Rest might need, if it has been kept inside when not in use, is cleaning of the Friction Discs. Remove the Rocker Arm from the Rest Base, using a 9/16 wrench. Clean both the Fiber and Steel Friction Discs with acetone or lacquer thinner. An aerosol brake cleaner can be used. Be sure no residue is left from the cleaner. For the Steel Friction Disc, use 320 grit wet/dry sand paper to remove any rust or contamination. For the Fiber Friction Disc, use 180 grit wet/dry sandpaper. Remove any
discolored areas using a sanding block. Both surfaces should remain flat so full contact is assured.

When both Friction discs are clean, as well as the Pivot pin and Bushing, place a small amount of a general-purpose grease inside the Pivot Bushing. Coat the inside of the Pivot Bushing completely. Press the Rocker Arm onto the Pivot Pin and slide it into position. Any excess grease will be pushed into the outside of the Rocker Arm. Under no circumstances should any grease or oil be allowed on the Friction Discs. Reassemble the Rest by placing the Compression Spring over the Spring Retainer Knob and tightening the Retaining Bolt until the Compression Spring is 1-1/2 overall length.
Some parts of the Rest, Windage, Combo, Base and Remote Trigger are blackened and should be treated as you would a quality firearm. Wipe away any dirt or dust and apply a light coat of oil to preserve the finish. Powder coating and anodizing should simply be wiped down.
Do not spray entire Rest with solvents or oils! This will wick into the friction surfaces and require maintenance.

Warranty and Safety Information

Safety With Firearms Is Your Responsibility - Be Careful

We guarantee the exercise of reasonable care in manufacturing, but assume no further responsibility.

Be sure to check our website frequently for sales and new products. All Ransom products can be purchased direct from Ransom International.

Ransom International Warranty

Ransom International products are warranted against defective parts and or defective craftsmanship for a period of One (1) year.
Warranty and Safety Information Ransom Intl. Corp.
A RMA# (Return Merchandise Authorization is required in order to send any products back for any reason. If you should have a problem with your unit, or any other products, please call Ransom International at (928) 778-7899.
Please keep your receipt or invoice as proof of purchase will be required for any warranty work to be performed. Warranty work will be void without proof of purchase

Thank You for your Interest, Ransom International Corporation.

Schematic

Grip Inserts and Accessories

We Carry Grip Insert to Support Over 800 Firearms

We manufacture custom grip inserts for nearly every major firearm manufacturer. We are adding new inserts and new firearms all the time.

To see the most up-to-date list of grip inserts, go to www.ransomrest.com/our-products/grip-inserts or scan the QR code:

RANSOM MASTER SERIES

REST / WINDAGE / COMBO / BASE PLATE / REMOTE TRIGGER

The Ransom Master Series Rest is designed to give a maximum of accuracy at minimum cost. It uses a proven concept in its recoil dampening system. The trigger release is also proven in concept and simplicity. Everything was designed to bring the shooter a tool for testing that is portable, repeatable, accurate and simple.

The Ransom Combo Rest is redesigned with the Rest base and the top of the Windage Base as an integral unit. This will provide more rigidity and increase accuracy in testing handguns.

The optional Ransom Remote Trigger is designed to allow for hands-free interaction with the Rest and for those
times when testing of a questionable pistol or ammo is desired from a safe distance or behind shelter. This still does require returning the rest and pistol to battery after each shot is fired.

The optional Ransom Windage Base is designed to add the ability to quickly adjust left or right without unclamping and reclamping the mounting base. This provides the ability to shoot multiple groups at the same target and adjust if desired. This is very handy tool. Used to do a set of groups adjust left or right and do another set of groups without unclamping and readjusting Rest.

The optional Ransom Base Plate is designed as an adjustable, solid metal base to replace the recommended
wooden mount-board. This avoids sourcing and building the mount board and allows the user to adjust to level in a finished, durable component.