Front and Rear Rifle Rests

[Dipperman]

I am considering the purchase of a Caldwell Rock-Jr Front Rifle Rest and a Caldwell Deadshot Rear Bag. I would appreciate thoughts or opinions on these items. I would also appreciate suggestions on similar items in about the same price range.

I am making a giant leap, for me, of trying cast boolits in a 30-06. I plan to use these mainly for load testing/development.

Thanks in advance,
Dipperman

[osteodoc08]

I have “The Rock BR” for the front and use sand bags on the rear when I shoot off the bench or going for groups. You can find the Rock BR on sale a few times a year and has been one of my favorite purchases for bench shooting. You could definitely do worse.

[762 shooter]

Protektor rabbit ear rear bag hard bottom.

762

[smithnframe]

I've been using a set of Caldwell "sand" bags for several years and they're ok. The filling isn't as dense as sand nor is it as heavy. But they work okay!

[sharps4590]

Hoppe's adjustable front rest, rabbit ear butt bag, both filled with sand. Been working well for near 40 years.

[Dapaki]

Home sewn and filled bags for front and butt. Squeeze the rear bag for fall and push butt down for rise.

I do like the Caldwell system and have added it to my Amazon cart a few times now. Since I have storage at the range just a few feet from the shooting bench, I would fill the bage with sand for more weight.

[TNsailorman]

I use a "bulls bag" filled wsith sand for the front rest and a rolled up tightly and heavy string tied old bath towel for the rear rest. I only use these for sighting in and sight verification. Works for me.

[toallmy]

I wanted one for years but put it off do to the sticker but after using a friend’s I decided to go for it , I truly enjoy using it on the bench now . Midway ran a free shipping deal and I hit a sale on the caldwell with the bag . There are a couple different ones research the difference .

[popper]

I have the deluxe version, really like it. I shoot ARs and the height works fine. Rear bag is leather rabbit ears style. I use a 5# bar weight on the stand to prevent bounce. But have been working with sandbags and just squeesy bag at rear to improve MY shooting. Also the stand/bag/weight is more weight to carry to the range.

[metricmonkeywrench]

I have the Rock Jr front rest, for now it's my go to rest for most of my range work. It does a pretty good job up front and I have the simple small caldwell bag for the rear.

The Jr comes with 2 sets of feet, pointy spikes that can be pushed into a wooden bench and rubber pads that grip pretty good. The saddle is "universal" and relatively wide and flat. The downside is that it let's the rifle roll rather than pinching it into a fixed place for consistency. I have not had any trouble getting proper elevation for open sight of scope use. The base is cast of steel (if i remember correctly) and the elevation screw is blackened steel and well finished and smooth to use.

I do intend to "upgrade" to one of the V type bags somedah to minimize some of the variance with this set up. I have a lead sled that was given to me, but don't use it as it is large and bulky for normal range trips.

[Win94ae]

I have some Caldwell bags, I don't use them. I use socks, money bags, or sewn pant-legs, filled with un-popped popcorn.I have assorted blocks of wood, to get the desired height.

[lotech]

Caldwell may be a decent product, but spend a little more and get something you won't need to replace, like a Hart pedestal front rest (assuming they are still made). These are simple and very heavy and won't walk around on the bench. A one-and-one-half inch wide Protektor leather bag can be affixed to the rest top and will work well for most rifles. A rifle with a very wide forend will require a wider bag. For the rear bag, it's hard to beat a Protektor leather "bunny" bag.

As for the Bulls Bags, I got one thirty years ago - about the time they were introduced. I've never found it to work nearly as well as the Hart pedestal setup.

[EDG]

It is difficult to commit to the scratch that it costs to buy a good rest.
About 1988 I spent $100 on a RW Hart heavy varmit rest and base. That included the front and rear Protector leather sand bags.
At that time that was pretty much the standard equipment used by the bench rest crowd.

Now 32 years later I still use that rest and it is an excellent rest. The BR crowd has moved on to much heavier and more expensive rests with windage tops.
Hart still sells that heavy varmit rest base and top. Protector still sells the same leather bags. The set up I have now costs about $400 and it is still excellent. I do not regret buying it. Over the years its great precision has saved me more than it cost in trips to the range and wasted components.

There are 2 items that make every trip to the range. Not every rifle makes every trip.
1. my spotting scope is used every time
2. My Hart rest is used every time.

The use of the Hart rest improved the groups of every rifle instantly.
Basically it made me a better shooter and gave each of my rifles an accuracy tune up simply by switching from sand bags to the rigid cast iron Hart rest.

https://www.hartcustomrifles.com/pro...choice-of-bag/

The front bag is velcroed to the top plate and you have to use a rear Protecktor bag.

Most bench resters were using the tall bunny ear bag (not rabbit ear) with the thick double bottom.
This is a short ear bag that is 1" taller than the standard bag with a .250 thick leather bottom.

I know it costs more than many of the rifles we own but it does not depreciate much and you save a lot of components working up loads because your groups are much smaller and you have few fliers caused by the rest.

Using the Hart rest and a BR rifle I have shot groups in the .300 range with a 6mm rifle.


Grizzly markets the Bald Eagle pedestal rest. It appears to be a lower cost alternative but I have never used one so I will not comment further.

https://www.grizzly.com/products/Bal...st-Iron/BE1006

https://www.grizzly.com/products/Bal...st-Iron/BE1153

From time to time I have seen used rests for sale in the classifieds at Accurate Shooter and other forums.

Sinclair offers this one
https://www.sinclairintl.com/shootin...prod57001.aspx

[Dipperman]

I would like to thank everyone who responded to my post. Your input has been very helpful and is appreciated.

Thank you!
Dipperman

[wildwilly501]

The Caldwell bags are not very good the seams blew out on both of mine one very quickly the other lasted a couple years.Protektor much better,

[EDG]

https://www.grizzly.com/products/Bal...st-Iron/BE1153

[2A-Jay]

I have a Caldwell SI (Sight In) front and rear support I have used it for my All my Long Guns except my Shotgun. Cost less than $80 at Walmart.

[TNsailorman]

The biggest concern that I have with my "bullsbag" is the weight. I am 78 and while the weight did not bother me some years ago, it is now a bit of a burden to carry 35 to 40 pounds very far. I tried to find some lightweight plastic beads for a year or so and finally gave up. The sand I use is heavy. Years ago I used lead but soon dropped that. james

[Wayne Smith]

The biggest concern that I have with my "bullsbag" is the weight. I am 78 and while the weight did not bother me some years ago, it is now a bit of a burden to carry 35 to 40 pounds very far. I tried to find some lightweight plastic beads for a year or so and finally gave up. The sand I use is heavy. Years ago I used lead but soon dropped that. james

Hope you didn't hurt your foot when you dropped your bag full of lead!

[EDG]

Alternate and Caldwell Bags did not really exist when I bought my Protector Bags.
I have had a lot of good years of use since buying them in 1988.

The Caldwell bags are not very good the seams blew out on both of mine one very quickly the other lasted a couple years.Protektor much better,