I am planning to attend an URSA event in November.
I'm building a rifle for 1,500+ yard ELR. It's a budget build based on a Savage Axis action with a clearance priced gen 1 MDT LSS chassis and a 31" barrel in 284 Winchester by X-Caliber:

As you can see, the Forend is quite short for that long barrel.
I am going to be machining a bolt on 3" flat bottom bag rider forend made from an 80/20 extrusion.
I have been asking how long my forend should be in the competition forum, no real info so far.
I'm thinking 18" which will leave about 12" of barrel extending past the front.
If anyone has a similar length rifle with a too long, too short or just right forend, I would love to hear how long it is so I can avoid any issues.
I was looking for a bag to use with it and wound up looking at the Bald Eagle Big 50 windage rest, extended leveling screws and soft ground feet.
Most of my ELR shooting is going to be prone on the ground and my next project is going to be a bigger and heavier 338 RUM so I'm thinking the Big 50 with accessories is a good choice because it's only about $15 more than the standard triangle cast iron rest with similar accessories.
The Big 50 costs almost twice as much as a Caldwell Rock BR and it's a fraction of the price of an American made joystick rest. Is it something I will abandon because I need a better rest or is something like a $30 Caldwell Rock Jr. Going to do just as well for 99% of my shooting?
So far I have never owned or shot a gun with a bag rider forend. I usually shoot off of sand bags, bipods or a crappy plastic rest I won at an NRA raffle.
I want to step up, not in it.
I'm building a rifle for 1,500+ yard ELR. It's a budget build based on a Savage Axis action with a clearance priced gen 1 MDT LSS chassis and a 31" barrel in 284 Winchester by X-Caliber:

As you can see, the Forend is quite short for that long barrel.
I am going to be machining a bolt on 3" flat bottom bag rider forend made from an 80/20 extrusion.
I have been asking how long my forend should be in the competition forum, no real info so far.
I'm thinking 18" which will leave about 12" of barrel extending past the front.
If anyone has a similar length rifle with a too long, too short or just right forend, I would love to hear how long it is so I can avoid any issues.
I was looking for a bag to use with it and wound up looking at the Bald Eagle Big 50 windage rest, extended leveling screws and soft ground feet.
Most of my ELR shooting is going to be prone on the ground and my next project is going to be a bigger and heavier 338 RUM so I'm thinking the Big 50 with accessories is a good choice because it's only about $15 more than the standard triangle cast iron rest with similar accessories.
The Big 50 costs almost twice as much as a Caldwell Rock BR and it's a fraction of the price of an American made joystick rest. Is it something I will abandon because I need a better rest or is something like a $30 Caldwell Rock Jr. Going to do just as well for 99% of my shooting?
So far I have never owned or shot a gun with a bag rider forend. I usually shoot off of sand bags, bipods or a crappy plastic rest I won at an NRA raffle.
I want to step up, not in it.