1-piece of 2-piece rests & bags?

R

royta

Guest
I've decided it's again time to start taking the time to handload for my .22-250 and 30-06. Although, working up accurate loads is of little use if I don't have a proper means to support the rifles when shooting them. I need a shooting rest.

Which are the better setup? The one piece or two piece?

I like the idea of a Caldwell Rock shooting rest (the Rock BR is too spendy for me) and the Caldwell Universal Deluxe Rear bag, # 598458.
 
I like the idea of a Caldwell Rock shooting rest (the Rock BR is too spendy for me) and the Caldwell Universal Deluxe Rear bag, # 598458.

Yes, cheap and a two piece rest/bag set-up is the way to go... You'll be fine.


cale
 
caroby said:
I like the idea of a Caldwell Rock shooting rest (the Rock BR is too spendy for me) and the Caldwell Universal Deluxe Rear bag, # 598458.

Yes, cheap and a two piece rest/bag set-up is the way to go... You'll be fine.


cale
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I agree, for my 'quick to go' rest setup I have a Caldwell Rock however I prefer "Protektor" leather bags for both front and rear as I've had problems with the Caldwell bags leaking fine abrasive grit from the black heavy sand which is the last thing I want on/in my guns. The Protektor leather bags are much higher quality and not that more expensive...

Happy Shooting,
Mitch & Shadow...
 
The Rock rest comes with the front bag, so I figured I'd try that bag out. MidwayUSA sells the Protektor bags, though they are unfilled. What are folks using to fill the bags?

I called a local shooting supply shop, and they recommended the Boyt setup. LINK Does anybody have any experience with it? He said he thought it was a little bit better quality than the Caldwell product. Of course, he may have been comparing it to the Rock Jr.
 
royta said:
The Rock rest comes with the front bag, so I figured I'd try that bag out. MidwayUSA sells the Protektor bags, though they are unfilled. What are folks using to fill the bags?

I called a local shooting supply shop, and they recommended the Boyt setup. LINK Does anybody have any experience with it? He said he thought it was a little bit better quality than the Caldwell product. Of course, he may have been comparing it to the Rock Jr.
Click to expand...

I don't know the Boyt rest however I went to the Boyt site you included a link to and one thing caught my attention right off. This Boyt setup base is cast iron as compared to the Caldwell Rock being aluminum. The Caldwell Rock weighs 5 1/2 lbs compared to the Boyt weighing 12 1/2lbs. My Caldwell Rock has had the channels in the undersides of the legs filled with lead to increase its weight to 12.6 lbs and that makes it much more stable. I also have the Caldwell Rock BR Competition rest which is cast iron and weighs 15 lbs and a Von Ahrens one piece rest which weighs a lot more, 26 lbs if I remember correctly.

The point is, weight adds stability to a rest and for the money, the Boyt sounds like the better deal to me. Plus, chances are, it looks like it comes with better bags...

As to filling bags, there are a number of options. I used to use Black Magic or Black Beauty sand blasting sand which is very popular for use in rest bags however a couple years ago I switched to using ground walnut shells. (Turns out Black Magic is a "coal slag" so I'm told). Ground walnut shells are cleaner, don't tend to get packed as solidly in the bag with time and use, and can be purchased in pet supply stores as reptile bedding. I get a 5 lb bag for about $6.00 and a 5 lb bag will fill three or more sets of rest bags and still have plenty left over.

Happy Shooting,
Mitch & Shadow...
 
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He's selling the Boyt setup for $90 right now. It even comes with a plastic carrying case that holds the front rest, bag, and rear bag. I'm going to go check it out this afternoon.

Thanks.
 
The Boyt seems pretty crappy. The center threaded bolt just slides in to the center of the rest, then there's a thumb set screw you tighten down on the bolt. The large wheel that you turn to raise or lower is poorly cast and lopsided when you spin it.

I'm hoping the Rock is better, because that's probably what I'm going to get.


Roy
 
On the Caldwell Rock Deluxe, how solid is the 1" threaded Ram in the Main Base? Does it lock in solid when tightening the T-Handle Ram Lock, or does the Ram rock from side to side?

names in bold taken from instructions HERE

I just don't want to buy a rest and find out it's a pile of crap. No, I'm not expecting R W Hart quality, but I also don't want garbage either.

Thank you.


Roy
 
you are going to get what you pay for here. both of those rests are pure crap. best thing to do is see if somebody on here will sell you a hart or bald eagle. not trying to shoot to benchrest standards that caldwell may get you by but why have a weak link when you don't have to? I have all of those or have shot from them and the only good thing about caldwell is how light they are for moving around. if mine weighed more than what it does now then it would be the same as my aluminum bald eagle which would mean it is totally useless at that point and would go to one of my buddies that need a rest and can't afford one.
 
Thanks Dusty. I don't think the Bald Eagle's are currently being made. LINK. The cheapest I've seen the R W Hart Varmint is $230'ish. I just can't bring myself to spend that kind of money. Oh, I could definitely tell the Boyt was crap. I haven't taken a good look at the Rock Deluxe, but at $75'ish, I know it's not going to be top notch either. Is the Rock BR crap too?
 
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I used a sand filled leather rest, for and aft, for about a year and never liked the setup. I've switched to the Harris bipod (swivel type with a swivel lock piece) and I'm lovin' this little thing. I can't use anything to support the aft end of the rifle at the benchrrest varmint matches I shoot in so a rear support isn't an issue for me. If you can use a bipod for the shooting you're engaged in, you might like the Harris model.
 
I've had the same Harris on my .22-250 since 1988. I was in high school then. I absolutely refuse to put it on my pre-64 Mod 70 30-06, as it's stock is a very pretty piece of curly maple. No, it's not factory, and yes, it was on the rifle when my grandpa gave it to me. The only dings I want on that piece of wood are from hunting trips, not range trips. The Harris has certainly made some marks on my .22-250.

I really need the front rest, as I'll be using it when shooting the .54 cal Thompson Center Renegade and other rifles that I'm trying to squeeze the best accuracy out of with load changes, etc.
 
It all depends on what you are willing to live with for what you want to spend. Caldwell rests are pretty crude but you don't pay $400-$800 dollars for them.

Its my experience with the two Caldwell rests that I have that they get the job done very satisfactorily as long as you are not looking for a top end competition grade rest.

Both my Caldwell rests lock up plenty solid and the adjustments work well for what they are. If all you are going to use a rest for is to hold your rifle steady for load development work, I'd say the Caldwell will work fine. If you are going to get into precision shooting matches where you are shooting at targets with multiple bullseyes with a time limit such as the IR-5050 target and 25 bullseyes in 20 minutes then you want a better rest system with a true windage adjustment as compared to a Caldwell Rock rest.

If all you are doing is shooting at a target for group precision measurement and have time to shift the rear bag for major moves to a different POI, then a Caldwell Rock BR works fine for me...

Two criticisms I make of the Caldwell Rock BR rest is the elevation/column lock knob is too close in under the hand wheel and I made an extension T-handle for it. The other issue is that when you loosen the column lock to adjust elevation, there is a lot of slop however with a little practice you learn to just release the lock enough to adjust the elevation without issues. Also, very fine elevation adjustments are made easily by using the rear leg adjusting screw which works very reliably for tweaking elevation.

Frankly, I think the column of the Caldwell Rock Deluxe rest works slightly better as it is a single column, not a sleeve within a sleeve for double extension as in the Rock BR but I see that as a minor issue. I do prefer the heavier weight of the Rock BR rest and the column issue is a moot point as I see it as it does lock up securely on either rest...

However when I'm shooting in score matches, I have a Von Ahrens one piece rest which is a whole different ballgame for about 5-6 times the money...

Sounds to me like you need to attend a match and see what others in your area are using. Around here I see people using everything from top end Grandfield rests, Pappas rests, Von Ahrens etc,. and on to one fellow who stacks hocky pucks for a rear support and a couple fellows use an automobile scissor jack with a front rest bag for a front rest. I see a lot of the Caldwell Rock BR rests at the benchrest matches around here with the "Fudd" windage top added to them being used so they can't be all bad...

Happy Shooting,
Mitch & Shadow...
 
Thanks ShadowChaser.

Which has the edge, the Rock BR or the Hart JB100? Figures, now I'm seeing there's the Sinclair models too.

I'm just using the front rest for load development, seeing how accurate I can get my rifles, and maybe some prairie dog shoots (probably using the Harris bipod for that though). At 36, I don't plan on getting into competitive shooting any time soon, if ever. I mean, I could in 30 years, but I'm not going to buy a rest for 30 years down the road. I don't want junk, but I also don't want to spend too much either. I don't want to spend a bunch of time making a Rock Deluxe work, like adding lead, etc.
 
Don't know if this will help or not, I don't shoot benchrest but have been trying to shoot tight groups for a while. I have the Caldwell Rock, and feel it to be a weak link my shooting setup. Went from a Caldwell rear bag to a Protektor, made a big difference. Now trying to decide what to do with the front rest - one option for me is to replace the top on the Caldwell with a ShadeTree from Butch Lambert, he indicated that his coax top would work on the Caldwell. The other option I have looked at (and is about the same price) is the Sinclair with windage adjustment. Looking at the Sinclair since I shoot off one that another shooter had at the range I visit.

One of the great guys up in Denton let me shoot his rifle between a match and his setup include a SEB, I think it was - Wow! is all I can say bout that, though I figure the Shadetree might be close.

The Shadetree and Sinclair are going to run more than the Caldwell BR which you indicated was more than you wanted to spend - BUT, hope you do not end up like I have. Started with the Caldwell bags, then wanted better and went to the Rock, now still not happy and looking at more - well you can see why these guys say 'buy once, cry once - buy twice, cry twice'. Saves money in the end and less stuff to find a new home for later.

Good Luck - I know I'm gonna need some to figure out this next (and I hope last) purchase.
 
royta said:
Thanks ShadowChaser.

Which has the edge, the Rock BR or the Hart JB100? Figures, now I'm seeing there's the Sinclair models too.

I'm just using the front rest for load development, seeing how accurate I can get my rifles, and maybe some prairie dog shoots (probably using the Harris bipod for that though). At 36, I don't plan on getting into competitive shooting any time soon, if ever. I mean, I could in 30 years, but I'm not going to buy a rest for 30 years down the road. I don't want junk, but I also don't want to spend too much either. I don't want to spend a bunch of time making a Rock Deluxe work, like adding lead, etc.
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First, let me say I have never seen a Hart JB100 rest, no one I shoot with uses one so I can not make the comparison you ask for... I have seen pictures on line of a Hart rest and it looks to be very similar if not the same as the Caldwell Rock Deluxe rest and my guess is that it was probably made by Battenfield/Caldwell for Hart... The same is true of my Rock Deluxe rest, it is painted blue and has a MidwayUSA logo on it however I've confirmed that it is the Rock Deluxe rest as I've upgraded it with parts bought directly from Battenfield Industries who is the maker of Caldwell products. They apparently made this rest for sale to any vendor wishing to have a rest with their own name and logo on it. Note that I have only confirmed that the MidwayUSA rest is the same, the rest is speculation on my part but be cautioned that if it looks the same, it may well be the same with a different logo on it.

As to Sinclair, they make a nice rest and if you are worried about fit and finish, you can spend roughly twice as much for a Sinclair as you will for the Rock BR rest and have the fit and finish of the Sinclair rest.

From all that you have said, if I were in your shoes, I'd get either the Caldwell Rock BR rest or the Sinclair Generation II and if it were the Sinclair, it would be the heavy Generation II model, not the light weight rest they make...

Here is my Rock BR with my T-handle knob extension on the elevation lock. Its a simple fix for my 68 yr old arthritic hands:
Annie01.jpg


Happy Shooting,
Mitch & Shadow...
 
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Rock Deluxe rest - modified

To carry this thread a step further, here is a picture of my Rock Deluxe rest after being modified:
Rock_Dlx.jpg


Besides the channels in the bottom of the base filled with lead, I added a top from a Rock BR competition rest and a roller thrust bearing between the elevation handwheel and the base.

But in doing all this, I have ended up with a rest that has cost about the same as a Rock BR rest excepting for the fact that I had the top off my Rock BR being unused after installing a "Fudd" windage top on the Rock BR rest. As I'd purchased this "Deluxe" rest with the lead filled channels from another shooter for $35.00, the thrust bearing cost me $4.00, for under $40 I have a very solid usable rest that I keep in the truck ready to go...

Happy Shooting,
Mitch & Shadow...
 
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if you got the time I'd check the classifieds and find a bald eagle or hart like I said earlier. a well used wore out rest like that will suit you better in the end. and then when you got the extra coin get a shadetree top and your life will really be good then;)
 
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