Caldwell Rests

S

scriv

Guest
Are any of the current crop of Caldwell rests suitable for BR? I've been looking at the "Rock BR" and the "Fire Control" front rest. I'm on the list for a Cowan, but it will be awhile. Thanks for the help. As you may have guessed I am way new to this. Dave
 
Hi Dave,
New to br. ????????
Or is it BR?
Benchrest is alive and well in The Great White North. Michigan.
I see a lot of Hayes rest at WWCCA. And have tried one. Really nice.
Know of one for sale.
email sent.
 
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Come on Butch. It won't hurt.
I have a Caldwell Rock BR Competition Rifle Front Shooting Rest.
I changed the bag. To a Protector 3". And added a speed screw. All I could afford.
Then I got a bunch of overtime at work..........And a really nice guy. Let me use his Farley at the Eastern Regionals. And I got some more overtime.
And I got my Farley yesterday.
I looked at yours. And almost ordered the top. It looks really nice.
But, on top of a Caldwell............I don't think, it would look REALLY nice.
For a guy on a budget. It's nice.
But, I shoot up in MI. It's a tough crowd........Need all the help I can get. And these guys up here. Have a lot of really nice gear....:eek:
See ya at the Super Shoot.
 
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Caldwell is not the best. But, it works.
On Sunday. I won a BR match. With the Caldwell.
In July. I had 2 seconds and a 3rd place match. Won some money. :)
 
Dave ...

scriv said:
Are any of the current crop of Caldwell rests suitable for BR? I've been looking at the "Rock BR" and the "Fire Control" front rest. I'm on the list for a Cowan, but it will be awhile. Thanks for the help. As you may have guessed I am way new to this. Dave
Click to expand...

"Borrow" something from someone, and wait for the Cowan. :)
 
abintx said:
"Borrow" something from someone, and wait for the Cowan. :)
Click to expand...

That's kind of my problem. I'm all alone in this thing up here. I haven't met anyone close with a common interest. I thought about trying to get a non windage rest so at least I could test some loads or something. I'm not sure if I'll ever progress past doing some postal matches.

Mr. Lambert, no one appreciates the truth more than I. Thanks, Dave

Also, I guess maybe I should have mentioned that I am planning on shooting rimfire BR only. Thanks again. Dave
 
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I been drinking, so excuse me......I think sandbags can be pretty damn good @ times...But I am a "old school" shooter
 
Dave ...

scriv said:
I guess maybe I should have mentioned that I am planning on shooting rimfire BR only. Thanks again. Dave
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Post your question on the Benchrest Central "Rimfire Benchrest forum" too. You might get "Rimfire pertinent" suggestions from the gang that hangs out there. :)
 
abintx said:
Post your question on the Benchrest Central "Rimfire Benchrest forum" too. You might get "Rimfire pertinent" suggestions from the gang that hangs out there. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll try that. d
 
Would like to know what Butch's commet was as well...since I have a Caldwell Rock (not BR). Butch feel free to PM me, if you don't want to make the comment public. :)
 
zippy06 said:
Caldwell is not the best. But, it works.
On Sunday. I won a BR match. With the Caldwell.
In July. I had 2 seconds and a 3rd place match. Won some money. :)
Click to expand...

I agree with Zippy except that I'd clarify this comment to say that the Caldwell Rock BR Competition rest with its cast iron base works quite well within reasonable expectations.

For me, as the owner/user of a top end deluxe one piece rest for match shooting, I also have a couple of the Caldwell Rock rests, one with a Fudd true windage top, the other with the standard Caldwell windage front gun guide outfitted with Protektor bags and find its flexibility and ease of transporting very adequate for load development, field shooting, and testing/sighting new guns rather than lugging around and beating up a precision heavy one piece rest which gets reserved for competition match shooting.

My advice is to stay away from the lighter lower priced Caldwell models, my comments only pertain to the Caldwell Rock BR competition model. And yes, Caldwell rests are a bit sloppier in fit and finish than most other makers rests however for a lower priced entry level shooting rest, the Caldwell gets the job done admirably for what you pay as compared to other more expensive makes. One simply learns not to back the column lock off all the way, leave a little bit of drag when changing elevation and the Caldwell rest works quite well.

Also, be aware, Caldwell's use of the term windage adjustment for their Rock BR top is not in line with what benchrest shooter's consider a windage top. Caldwell's windage adjust only works for slight adjustments on a single bullseye, not for traversing a IR5050 style match target, for that you end up using the bag squeezing technique.

Speaking of bags, I'd strongly recommend either Dave Dorhmann's front bags or "Protektor" bags with a Caldwell rest instead of using the Caldwell bags. My experience with the Caldwell bags is that they tend to leak fine grit all the time. Dave Dorhmann sells the "Protektor" leather front bags with a synthetic material added to the gun guiding surfaces that is far superior to the bare leather bag alone and his prices are very reasonable...

Frankly, for what a Caldwell Rock BR Competition rest costs, I think they are a good solid rest for an entry level rest without having to spend an arm and leg...

Happy shooting,
Mitch & Shadow...
 
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I will say that the Rock BR base is good if it has a different top on it. I am not pushing mine, just something other than what comes perched on it.
Butch
 
Butch Lambert said:
I will say that the Rock BR base is good if it has a different top on it. I am not pushing mine, just something other than what comes perched on it.
Butch
Click to expand...

Something like your's… or a Farley II ?
Richard
 
I have a Caldwell 1000 yd model. I took it to my first score shoot last year. I was at a severe disadvantage in the fact I couldn't go from the sighter to the record fast enough (knob turning). If you are doing group shooting, I don't think it would be quite such a disadvantage. By the 2nd match I had a Butch Lambert top on it. Huge difference. Overall, not as expensive as a Farley or Seb. It holds point of aim when you let go of the joy stick and has plenty of smooth movement. I have no desire to switch at this time.

If I could do it over again - I would just go to a match and used different ones that were there before I bought anything. The shooters would be more than helpful and let you use theirs. This sport does take some upfront money - but it takes a lot more if you have to spend your money twice.

Stanley
 
Rest ?

I am fairly new to rifle shooting and was wondering how would the Sinclair rest be for a beginner. I have inherited a few target rifles and scopes and also a rest made by Wichita model BR-1000-1,The Sinclair rest i am looking at is the Gen.11 BR Windage rest.
 
Sorry People.

I made a mistake.
Sorry for the incorrect info. I incorrectly I.D. my shooting rest.
It is Caldwell Rock BR Competition Rifle Front Shooting Rest.
I just got a Farley Coaxial 2. Used it today. Lot of fun.
 
Halo68.
There are a lot of Sinclair shooting rests on the firing line.
Call Sinclair. They get paid to talk.
That way you get the right stuff. For a new guy. This is the way to go.
These guys get paid to talk. And they all shoot competition. Real nice people.
I was shooting last week with 2 of their guys.
Buy the right stuff the first time. And you don't pay twice.
 
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I have both....

The Cowan and a Caldwell Fire Control joy stick rest. I switch between the two quite often and both work well. I like the Fire Control rest to get me back to the sighter target fast...(I shoot hunter) but the Cowan is more precise when on target adjusting for a condition.

Both exceed my ability so I don't feel any motivation for a more expensive rest.:cool:

virg
 
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