Front rest problem

[ShadowChaser]

I have the Caldwell Rock BR Competition front rest which I'm having great difficulty getting to stay locked.

After a couple of shots with a .22 target rifle, the elevation lock will loosen and the top goes go all wobbly on me inspite of tightening the lock as tight as I am able by hand. Has any one else had this problem with the Caldwell Rock BR Competition front rest? If so, what have you done to fix it?

Thanks,
Mitch & Shadow...

 

[singleshotom]

I had the same problem with this rest.
As far as the knobs are concerned its tough to get any leverage on them so I changed then for a T handle that lets you get some leverage to tighten them.
I also rebuilt the the top so that it was more solid. Without changing things on this rest its well pretty poorly built.
SST

 

[crb]

It's been a long time since I messed with mine but I kinda remember that the reduced section of the lock bolt wasn't small enough to properly fit into the slot in the threaded post. I either had to open up the slot a little and turn down the locking bolt [ or both ]. These rests need a lot of detailing done to them.

 

[mjc3834]

Then......... when you've got it to lock up nice and solid throw the top away ( I gave mine away) and put a Fudd top on it

 

[ShadowChaser]

It's been a long time since I messed with mine but I kinda remember that the reduced section of the lock bolt wasn't small enough to properly fit into the slot in the threaded post. I either had to open up the slot a little and turn down the locking bolt [ or both ]. These rests need a lot of detailing done to them.

Mine is just the opposite which may be part of the problem in keeping it locked. The tip of the locking screw/shaft is slightly smaller than the width of the slot which allows the top to move radially slightly as you tighten the lock. I've thought about changing this to a keyway however the wall of the intermediate bushing isn't really thick enough to do this easily.

What I'm deciding to do, thanks to a lot of good answers to my original question, is to make a new locking shaft that fits better with a longer extention to the handle and put a T-handle on it so I get more force when tightening it.

Update: Actually, as it turns out, I just finished making a 4" extension out of a piece of 7/8" dia Aluminum rod for the existing lock shaft to replace the 1.5" plastic knob. This extension has a 4" length of 3/8" dia. rod for a T-handle at the end of it. Now with the lock shaft extended so the elevation wheel and windage adjusting knob do not interfere, I can get a good grip on the T handle and tighten the lock a lot more securely.

Thanks for your suggestions and ideas,
Mitch & SHadow...

 

[ShadowChaser]

Modified rest & pictures

Thursday I took the rest and my Anschutz Mark 2000 target rifle to the little range on the farm and shot a few 5 shot groups very successfully. The T-handle is great and the rest stayed locked and I was able to produce much better groups without the rest top loosening up.

Mitch & Shadow...