Shooting rests with adjustable height for supporting firearms

1. A method of manufacturing a shooting rest for supporting a firearm having a buttstock spaced apart from a forestock, the method comprising:

coupling a first base portion to a second base portion, the first base portion having a first support configured to receive the buttstock and the second base portion having a body with an opening extending therethrough;

positioning a height adjustment member in the opening, the height adjustment member having a non-circular cross-sectional shape in a plane generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the height adjustment member, wherein the height adjustment member is configured to carry a second support for receiving the forestock; and

coupling a biasing member to the second base portion, wherein the biasing member is configured to slidably contact an exterior surface of the height adjustment member to at least partially inhibit movement of the height adjustment member.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the height adjustment member in the opening comprises positioning the height adjustment member in an opening having a non-circular shape generally corresponding to the shape of the height adjustment member.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the height adjustment member in the opening comprises positioning a height adjustment member having a first protrusion spaced apart from a second protrusion, wherein each of the first and second protrusions extends along a length of the height adjustment member.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein coupling the biasing member to the second base portion comprises frictionally engaging the height adjustment member with the biasing member, wherein the frictional engagement provides an adjustable sensitivity to an adjustment of the position of the height adjustment member in the opening.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the height adjustment member in the opening comprises positioning the height adjustment member in the second base portion at a generally non-vertical angle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the height adjustment member in the opening comprises positioning a height adjustment member having a first rack gear spaced apart from a second rack gear, wherein the first and second rack gears extend substantially along a length of the height adjustment member.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein coupling the biasing member to the second base portion comprises frictionally engaging the height adjustment member with the biasing member between the first and second rack gears as the height adjustment member moves within the opening.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising coupling a shaft of a height adjustment dial the body of the second base portion, wherein the shaft carries a first pinion gear spaced apart from a second pinion gear, and wherein the first pinion gear is configured to engage the first rack gear and the second pinion gear is configured to engage the second rack gear.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein coupling the biasing member to the second base portion further comprises frictionally engaging the biasing member with the height adjustment member to at least partially inhibit movement of the height adjustment member through the opening.

10. A method of manufacturing a shooting rest assembly for use with a firearm having a buttstock spaced apart from a forestock, the method comprising:

coupling a first base end portion to a second base end portion, wherein the first base end portion carries a first support configured to receive the buttstock and the second base end portion includes a body having an opening extending therethrough;

positioning a height adjustment member in the opening of the body, wherein the height adjustment member includes a first guide portion spaced apart from a second guide portion, each of the first and second guide portions extending substantially along a length of the height adjustment member; and

coupling a biasing member to the second base end portion, wherein the biasing member is configured to slidably contact an exterior surface of the height adjustment member to at least partially inhibit movement of the height adjustment member through the opening.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising coupling a sensitivity adjustment shaft of a sensitivity adjustment dial to the second base end portion, wherein the sensitivity adjustment shaft carries the biasing member and moves the biasing member toward or away from the height adjustment member in response to rotation of the sensitivity adjustment dial.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein positioning the height adjustment member in the opening comprises positioning a height adjustment member having a first rack gear spaced apart from a second rack gear, wherein each of the first and second rack gears extends longitudinally along the height adjustment member, and wherein the height adjustment member further includes an at least generally planar portion extending along the height adjustment member between the first and second rack gears, and wherein the biasing member is configured to slide along the at least generally planar portion.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein coupling the biasing member to the second base end portion comprises contacting the height adjustment member with the biasing member along a groove in the height adjustment member, wherein the groove is a generally planar portion of the height adjustment portion.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein coupling the biasing member to the second base end portion comprises coupling a spring to the second base end portion, the spring having a first leg extending away from a second leg, wherein the first and second legs have a generally U-shaped configuration.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein coupling the first base end portion to the second base end portion comprises removably attaching the first base end portion to the second base end portion.

16. A method of manufacturing a shooting rest assembly for use with a firearm having a buttstock spaced apart from a forestock, the method comprising:

coupling a buttstock support to a first end portion of a base, wherein the buttstock support is configured to receive the buttstock;

coupling a forestock support to a second end portion of the base with a height adjustment assembly, wherein the forestock support is configured to receive the forestock, and wherein the height adjustment assembly comprises

a height adjustment dial carrying a height adjustment shaft;

a height adjustment member movably coupled to the second end portion of the base and attached to the forestock support, wherein the height adjustment member includes means for aligning the height adjustment member in the second end portion of the base, and means for engaging the height adjustment shaft to change the elevation of the attached forestock support in response to rotation of the height adjustment dial;

a sensitivity adjustment dial;

means for adjusting a sensitivity of the elevation change of the forestock support in response to rotation of the sensitivity adjustment dial; and

a biasing member slidably contacting an exterior surface of the height adjustment member, wherein the biasing member at least partially inhibits movement of the height adjustment member through the opening.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the means for aligning includes:

a first protrusion spaced apart from a second protrusion, each of which projects from the height adjustment member and extends longitudinally along the height adjustment member; and

an opening in the second end portion of the base, wherein the opening receives the height adjustment member and includes a first groove corresponding to the first protrusion and a second groove corresponding to the second protrusion.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the means for engaging includes:

a first rack gear spaced apart from a second rack gear on the height adjustment member;

an elevation adjustment dial; and

a shaft extending from the elevation adjustment dial, wherein the shaft carries a first pinion gear spaced apart from a second pinion gear, wherein the first and second pinion gears mesh with the first and second rack gears, respectively, to adjust the elevation of the forestock support in response to rotation of the elevation adjustment dial.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the means for adjusting includes:

a pin extending from the sensitivity adjustment dial, the pin having a threaded end portion; and

wherein the biasing member is carried by the threaded end portion of the pin, wherein rotation of the sensitivity adjustment dial rotates the pin to move the biasing member toward or away from the height adjustment member to engage or disengage the biasing member with the height adjustment member to adjust the sensitivity of the elevation change of the height adjustment member.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising removably attaching the first end portion of the base to the second end portion of the base.