Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Front rest for bench work

Been using sand bags but wanting to get a front rest, what do y'all recommend?
I know these can get expensive and budget pretty tight rite now so try to keep recommendations reasonable. I would rather save and buy a decent one if I have to to get one that works. Thanks

I have an older version of the Sinclair Heavy Varmint rest (mine no longer appears to be in production). The new Light Weight they offer should be just fine for $100 less (after buying a top). I have gotten to where I only do my initial sighting in and load development from one and do all the rest of my shooting from and Atlas bipod, Bog-Pod tripod, or backpack.

Has anyone used the Caldwell rock or rock br?

Save your money.....

The majority of the buyers of those tend to peddle them right quick when accuracy and distance get serious.

Any thoughts on the Bald Eagle windage adjustable rests sold by Grizzly Industrial?

NMSSHOOTER - The Caldwell's better than the less expensive (nothing's cheap anymore) Hoppe's front rest that I used for years. BUT as stated...when serious accuracy is desired, not just load development, a better, more precise rest i.e. Ransom is usually purchased. Caldwell's do make fine door stops however... Homesteader

The Bald Eagle is a good rest, but for normal plinking and range work, you don't need a windage top.

Budget is a subjective thing, but heavy is good. An aluminum, rest may be OK, but I'd keep a couple of sand bags on the legs to stop them from moving around. I prefer a rest top that lets you support and squeeze the sides of the bags to match the forend like Hart's Comp II front rest:

I have the Rock and a Hart like pictured above. Obviously the Hart is nicer, better, etc, but I still think the Rock is usable and has it's place. I take it for my son or a friend to use. When shooting lighter and/or lighter recoiling rifles it works just fine, but it's not heavy enough when shooting the bigger calibers.

This is Sinclair's latest version, not cheap at $300:



There's a pile of good used Hart and Sinclairs out there. I put an ad on Accurate Shooter looking for an older one, and found the one in my pics.

That's what I will probably do, find a used one. I'm gonna keep researching and hope a good one will find its way to the house.
Do y'all like the hart or Sinclair better?

I paid $150 for the base, mariner wheel, and stem. I had several tops, so it worked out well.

I use it for every day shooting, and to take prairie dogging. I ended up screwing lag bolts in from the bottom, so I could slide it around on the bench fairly easy, but the weight keeps it mostly in place. If it moves shooting the bigger stuff, I put a couple of sand bags on the legs.

Since this is in a hunting forum I suggest you rest the rifle the way you would in the field.

At the bench I use 'sand' bags with a soft folded towel over the front bag.

In the field I might rest the forend on my backpack which is soft and similar to what I use at the range.

I bought one of those heavy rests similar to whats pictured above.

I was shooting my custom stocked Sako .375 Improved. The wood was upscale and done by a favorite old smith. The rifle jumped off of the front rest and hit the edge of the solid steel plate that holds the front leather. It put a dent in the stock.

Now to think about it I am going to leave it at the local gun shop.

This is what I use:



Note the note paper on the bench under the stapler. I record the load, bbl. condition, wind, and where the first shot hits from cold bbl. along with the pressure indications and group.

The pre-64 custom above has a well done stock and I don't want to dent another stock on a metal front rest.

I don't rest the stock on the metal. Hence, no dents on the stock.

Here is the rest pictured in this topic.

See the metal front holder with the leather in it? My rifle is a .375 Improved and the recoil caused the forend to bounce off of the front leather.

My rest is a Sinclair with an even larger steel plate.

Since the OP asked about rests, we could giveashit what you suggest.....

I use the soft towel thats like the backpack I shoot off of.

Agreed! Who gives a $hit where the question was asked...???

Wow, you guys have light triggers. Seems to me that Savage 99 has a right to express his opinion too. For what it's worth, I work up my loads shooting off a front bag and a small rear bag. Works fine. Been doing it like that for years. Of course, if I was into serious long range competitive shooting, I'd upgrade the bags. Heck...I'd upgrade the rifle and scope...

603 - stick around a while and you'll understand!