Where the *&#@* are we going?

[Charles E]

In the Farley rest thread, I saw mention of a JJ Industries front rest. So I went and looked it up. Real nice. And about $900. The price probably accurately reflects the work.

But is this stuff we really need? I started with a Hart rest, cost about $100 something in the early 1990s. No windage top. Leather. Talcum powder.

Well, you say, look at how aggs are dropping.

Year or so ago, I shot next to Mike Jennings at Rockingham. Older Panda action. Older stock. Older scope (might have been frozen). Hart rest. Leather bags. Mike squeezes the rear bag to adjust shots.

Blast from the past, right? Except he won the four-gun, and I believe 2 or 3 of the Aggs.

* * *

The most stable front rest I ever used was a plate of steel. I tapped it, and installed two 3/4 "threaded rods with a wing-nut to clamp a pile of boards to the base. Adjust the height by adding/subtracting a board -- 3/4" boards, with a 1/2 1/4 and 1/8 for "fine" adjustment. The top board did have a windage top on it, for left-right.

Squeezed the rear bag for dialing in the rifle.

I believe I shot better with that rest than any of the much more expensive ones I went to. The downside to it was bench rotation -- it took longer to set it up (add a board). Maybe even a whole minute. The other downside was my hands began cramping as I aged & arthritis set in -- so bag-squeezing became tough.

From my perspective, the real solution to the rest problem is to find a cure for aging. (Be nice it it cost $1,000 or less).

 

[nonliberal]

It does make it hard to get new shooters involved when the prices are getting so high, but it seems like everything is getting that way. I talked to a friend that is into riding mountain bikes and I thought it may be a good way to get in shape. I knew I had just seen some bikes at Walmart for $79 so why not. After talking to him he convinced me that they were junk and I needed brand X bike for $2600. Thats when I decided I didn't want to do any bike riding.

Same with fly fishing, I bought a fly rod for $40 and a guy told me I should just throw it away now and buy a $900 rod like his. I never went fly fishing again.
We pay a premium to have the "best" even if it doesn't help win any matches. I just hope the premium doesn't continue to get higher.

 

[JerrySharrett]

Charles, one thing I like about this sport is that, properly used, much of the "old stuff" still produces winners, meaning that a shooter can buy the latest and greatest but still can not buy the win. That still comes with skill.

One of the top shooters in the nation, initials JS (No, not me), still uses a squeaky old Hart front rest and a floppy old rear bag. You know him well. I'll give you a hint, he lives in Oak Ridge, TN.!!!

 

[333smitty]

Squeaky Old Hart Front Rest

There's another shooter with the initials JS from H-Town, Texas that does OK with an old sqeaky Hart front rest and a old floppy rear bag.

 

[Charles E]

One of the top shooters in the nation, initials JS (No, not me), still uses a squeaky old Hart front rest and a floppy old rear bag. You know him well. I'll give you a hint, he lives in Oak Ridge, TN.!!!

Yup. Hell of a nice guy, too.

When was the last time Jeff Summers didn't finish in the top 10 at the Super Shoot?

Jackie Schmidt qualifies too, (except he doesn't go to the Super Shoot).

Maybe it's all in the initials?

 

[MarkR]

You can see this in all sports...Most expensive bowling ball, tennis racket, golf clubs, pool cues, yo-yo's......you always play better with the best of equipment...

 

[mks]

... Same with fly fishing, I bought a fly rod for $40 and a guy told me I should just throw it away now and buy a $900 rod like his... I just hope the premium doesn't continue to get higher.

That graphite $900 rod is cheap compared to a $3000 bamboo rod. I am sure someone can come up with a competition benchrest analog to this, to keep us on topic.

Cheers,
Keith

 

[Vern]

Charles

I think you have found the key.
Hmm I think a name change is in order.
Anyone have any ideas for names with initials JS?

 

[virg]

Yep...a great barrel, great bullets, and a spot on rifle tune along with condition reading talent are what really get us to 99%. But...some of us will spend thousands trying to get to that other 1 percent. But again...if super bright stainless rests, $600 paint jobs, and a table full of accessaries make one feel better; who are we to question....keeps folks employed ya know...

virg

 

[jackie schmidt]

I think I would go with TB, GB, or JN at this time. That GB fellow is a bag squeezer, TB used to be before old "Arthur" got his hands. And JN, well, he's just darned good period..........jackie

 

[henrya]

That graphite $900 rod is cheap compared to a $3000 bamboo rod. I am sure someone can come up with a competition benchrest analog to this, to keep us on topic.

Cheers,
Keith

Those bamboo rod guys fish wooden rods 'cause they have wooden heads.

Its the "feel" and the "mystique" and "delicate presentation" that can't be had in a synthetic material (snifff...)

What Charles has brought up is the BR analogue.
Here's more:

I shoot an old Wichita front rest and I squeeze the rear bag holding my wood stocked rifle.
I don't need the crutches that modern shooters need.
(sniffff...)

Must be the wooden head syndrome!

Henry

 

[henrya]

I think we ought to go back to using some wood blocks and flat sand bags stacked up.
Like real men.

 

[Charles E]

. . .it's more rust resistant . . .

What's wrong with rust? Remember James Messer's "range" press? -- the rusty old Rockchucker and even rustier clamps . . .

Maybe I've just talked myself out of having a stock painted. It's an old Speedy stock. He said it fit a BAT. Well, no. After breaking through the cosmetic skin in the action channel, stuffing it with balsa wood & epoxy, etc. etc., it's kinda ugly. But it's how it shoots, right?

 

[zippy06]

There's another shooter with the initials JS from H-Town, Texas that does OK with an old sqeaky Hart front rest and a old floppy rear bag.

That set up looks real close to the one you might see at WWCCA or Holton. Or the Super Shoot. He has been to 37 Super Shoots. And shot at 36. Initials LH.
Makes some good bullets, too.

 

[Greyfox]

Another way to look at this topic is to compare BR equipment & shooters to musical instruments & musicians. It's been my experience that a really good guitar player can take a cheap guitar with an action so warped that you could slide a pack of cigarettes under the strings and make it sound like a D-28 Martin. Those of us who are not so gifted need a good instrument to create a decent sound.

Sure, an accomplished shooter with a good rifle and tuned loads can manage with less than the best equipment. But, if a new shooter wants to accelerate the learning curve, he can get there quicker if he has the bucks to get the best components (including rest & bags) that he can acquire.
More than once, I've watched Jimy Campbell shoot a 5x target with no wind flags, one sighter and a rear bag that looks like an old sock, that's twisted around like a leather pretzel. Us pluggers need the best toys we can get.

Rick

 

[JSchopper]

Yup. Hell of a nice guy, too.

When was the last time Jeff Summers didn't finish in the top 10 at the Super Shoot?

Jackie Schmidt qualifies too, (except he doesn't go to the Super Shoot).

Maybe it's all in the initials?

I SURE HOPE SO.....
Jeff Schopper

 

[Vern]

Another easy way to look at it is,
Look at the equipment and group sizes of the 50's then look at what they had in the 70's and then now.
You will see changes in groups and equipment.
WE always think we have reached the pinnacle that we cant do any better.
For me I have yet to make friend with the wind so the latest and greatest doesn't yet matter.

 

[williev18]

some of us arnt made of money

I'm fairly new to the sport, and i'm not independently wealthy so i have had to prioritize where i spend my money. True the $900 dollar rests are nice and shiny, realy stable, and fast to shoot. I how ever opted to build my own rest, out of some scrap steel plate i had around the garage, and an elevation nut/post from a cheap remington rest i bout at a yerd sale for $10. To me though it seemed more improtant to invest more of my resources on an inexspensive rest, and buy more ammo to practice in the wind and improve the loose nut behind the trigger first, maby some day i will become a good enough shooter to be able to utilize the extra advantages a high dollar rest can offer. So far i cant say that i regret the decision beeing that i managed to get on the podium twice so far in my rookie year.