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Front rest for shooting 600 yard matches:

best defense

I have been shooting 600 yard matches for the last few years and I would like to upgrade my front rest.
I have one of those Caldwell Fire Control front rests. It isn't really very good quality. Originally the vertical post had a rack and pinion coarse adjustment with a big handle to lock it in place, but after a few shots the locking screw would come lose and the whole top would fall all the way down to the base.
I replaced that with a 3/4" bolt with a nut to do the adjusting. I just drilled and tapped holes on the flats of the nut and screwed in 1/4" bolts to use as handles to adjust the nut. I kept the locking screw to keep the top piece from rotating. It is better and does not drop unexpectedly, but it is still kind of coarse and the fine adjustment has never worked very well.

My question is do I really need to spend over a thousand dollars to get a decent front rest that will work or is that the price of all good front rests?
 
For the money, a Cowen rest works great, but does have separate windage and elevation.
I picked up a Randolph this winter and am hoping I like it better with the 2 adjustment knobs closer together.
As said above, talk to the shooters at the matches. Ask what they like and don't like about their rest, and why they chose it over other models.
 
butchlambert said:
Most long range shooters try to get all their rounds down range in a quick manner. They pick a condition and get with it. A co axial rest works best for this. You will get back on target in a very quick manner.
Click to expand...
I do agree that benchrest shooters shoot very quickly. I’m not convinced that is the case for F-class shooters.
 
what kind of matches, we already have an issue with speed of shooting or slow shooting for type of rest.
joy stick if you can afford one, else Sinclair competition level 2 knob rest.

best defense said:
I have been shooting 600 yard matches for the last few years and I would like to upgrade my front rest.
I have one of those Caldwell Fire Control front rests. It isn't really very good quality. Originally the vertical post had a rack and pinion coarse adjustment with a big handle to lock it in place, but after a few shots the locking screw would come lose and the whole top would fall all the way down to the base.
I replaced that with a 3/4" bolt with a nut to do the adjusting. I just drilled and tapped holes on the flats of the nut and screwed in 1/4" bolts to use as handles to adjust the nut. I kept the locking screw to keep the top piece from rotating. It is better and does not drop unexpectedly, but it is still kind of coarse and the fine adjustment has never worked very well.

My question is do I really need to spend over a thousand dollars to get a decent front rest that will work or is that the price of all good front rests?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I graduated up the line from bald eagle, to shade tree, to a SEB mini. The shade tree has about everything you need if you are casual that may compete at the club level. The mini is nicer, but diminishing returns. It is nicer though, and more compact and light (which was a big plus for me). I don't think I leave anything on the table from a mini to any other SEB joystick (unless you have different width stocks, then a max may be worth it).

Other considerables - Sinclair comp if you dont want a joystick. There was just one in the classifieds with a rear edgewood bag for $600 total. Deals are out there, just depends how fast you need one.
 
I have had one of Butch's for more years than I can think about, been happy with it the whole time....tried another joystick but went back to Butch's
 
I don't shoot Open or bench much other than .22 bench. I had a Farley that was collecting dust and I sold it. Really nice rest. As it never fails, when you don't have something, you feel like you need one. There were times a front rest would have came in handy, and several times I started to pull the trigger on a fire control, just couldn't make myself turn loose of $300 bucks for something I didn't have a whole lot of confidence in to start with. I got very lucky at the SWN's and picked a Seb Mini up from the prize table. What little I've used it, I've been impressed with it every time I do. The machine work is flawless. Operates as smooth as butter. Built like a tank, but is light compared to the Farley I had. My suggestion is buy a Seb Mini, or order one, they take a while to get here, pay the $800 or so bucks and enjoy it. I'm enjoying mine! And, no it's not for sale!
 
How wide of a Stock can sit into the Mini's top. I have a Deer Creek LRBR Stock. Its 4" wide.

Just wondering ??

TIA
 
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