need help choosing first rest

B

bushytail man

Guest
I am new at benchrest. I want to buy a benchrest of good qulality that allows me to see what my rifles are capable of. I am not a competitor, however, I do want to get the most features to allow me to test my rifles accurately. I have no knowledge of the many different models or features. Please advise me as the bases and heads that would fit my parameters. Thanks to all.
 
Pappas Rest

Best for the money spent. Look in the classided secion. He advertises there. Dan Killough ( Killough Shooting Sports ) is also a good source.
 
What kind of stock? Most of the one piece competition rests work with BR stocks. Many of the two piece will work with either.
 
bushytail man said:
I am new at benchrest. I want to buy a benchrest of good qulality that allows me to see what my rifles are capable of. I am not a competitor, however, I do want to get the most features to allow me to test my rifles accurately. I have no knowledge of the many different models or features. Please advise me as the bases and heads that would fit my parameters. Thanks to all.
Click to expand...

If money is no object and you want the very best, then I agree, the Pappas rest is about as good as rests come.

However, if all you are interested in is a rest to hold your rifle steady on a single target for sighting, testing, and evaluation purposes, a good solid fundamental rest is made by Caldwell. Either their "Lead sled" rest or the Caldwell Rock BR Competition rest is very adequate if you have no need for a rest with the capability to re-aim your rifle as you shoot across a target card of twenty five bullseyes.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=726246

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=149023

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=348661

If you choose to go with the Caldwell Rock BR Competition rest, then you will need a "rear bag" and I strongly recommend the "ProtekTor" brand #13A or #13B over Caldwell's own rear bag as I've had trouble with the Caldwell rear bag leaking sand and I much prefer the ProtekTor leather bags. I would also buy the ProteKtor front rest bag for the Caldwell rest as well...

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=864007

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=524068

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=614741

If you choose to use a rest system that requires you to fill bags with sand, I highly recommend you go to your local pet supply emporium and purchase ground English walnut shells that are used for reptile bedding. I no longer use sand as I find there is always a fine abrasive dust that seems to weep from bag seams and the ground walnut shells do not cause this to happen and any walnut shell dust that does escape is harmless to a gun...

I speak from experience, I have one top end competition one piece rest, a Von Ahrens rest similar to the Pappas rest and only use it for shooting matches. I also have two Caldwell rests and as they are much quicker and easier to use for simply sighting a gun or testing and evaluating a new gun, its the Caldwell Rock BR rest with protekTor bags that I prefer to use...

Hope this helps...

Happy Shooting...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It is illegal to use anything but sand in centerfire bags. I would shoot off a piece of a rock before I would consider a lead sled.
Butch
 
Bushytail,
Do a search here on the Cowan rest. They are made by a High School Tech class in Altoona, PA and are excellent rests to start out with. They are in such demand that you can use one for a couple of years and if you decide to move up to one of the high dollar rests, you can sell the Cowan for darn near what you paid for it. The Caldwell rest needs to be modified in order to have enough windage adjustment for most rimfire score targets at 50 yards.
My .02 worth,
Todd
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top