Front rest options

[Leadfarmer]

So I'm looking to upgrade my bald eagle rest/shadetree top, and I've narrowed it down to two rests, both of which are vastly different and looking for some input.

I'm looking at a Randolph rest and a Trident from lion works.

99 percent of my shooting is done from the bench at 1-300 yards, but I will shoot prone here and there. Heaviest rifle I have is about 21 pounds.

Any input on these rests, or other suggestions?

greatly appreciate any help!

 

[LuvDog]

What is it about your current setup don’t you like? Also what do you like?

What are you trying upgrade on your current setup?

 

[Stugots]

I went with the Randolph and couldn't be happier. This is rock solid and I decided I do not need to add their 50 lb base you can order for it.

 

[Trigger-Jerker]

I would start with deciding if you want a knob turner or joystick style and then look at my options within that group.

 

[Rick Richard]

So I'm looking to upgrade my bald eagle rest/shadetree top, and I've narrowed it down to two rests, both of which are vastly different and looking for some input.

I'm looking at a Randolph rest and a Trident from lion works.

99 percent of my shooting is done from the bench at 1-300 yards, but I will shoot prone here and there. Heaviest rifle I have is about 21 pounds.

Any input on these rests, or other suggestions?

greatly appreciate any help!

I am in the “same boat” as you are in deciding on a front rest. Trident has peaked my interest, but hoping someone would provide a thorough review.

 

[JFrank]

Bald Eagle rest will not hold a guy back from shooting well, a shade tree joy stick rest top can go on a Bald Eagle quite easily as well.
If weigh is a concern a guy can put a shot bag against the rest front for added stability.

 

[Jay Harrison]

I'm selling a Rodzilla Raptor with the benchrest top. I just haven't listed it yet. If you are interested just send me DM.

 

[Leadfarmer]

Bald Eagle rest will not hold a guy back from shooting well, a shade tree joy stick rest top can go on a Bald Eagle quite easily as well.
If weigh is a concern a guy can put a shot bag against the rest front for added stability.

It's not that it's holding me back, it's that the original tops adjustments were very crude in terms of how fine you could make an adjustment and I didn't have a windage top for it at the time. The shadetree seems to have vertical slop in it, and a few other things I'm not a fan of.

What is it about your current setup don’t you like? Also what do you like?

What are you trying upgrade on your current setup?

That bald eagle and then the shade tree were the only setups I had, and I like the concept of both, but they both had quirks I'm not happy with. Just looking for a rock solid rest with some adjustability that doesn't require a year or more wait and isn't 2000+ dollars. From all my research on front rest that's asking a lot, haha.

 

[Ranger188]

Those are still two different rests.
You should decide on if you want a joy stick or turning knobs.

 

[gkgeiger]

I’ve owned them all, I currently have a Randolph front rest as well as a one piece. After trying many I have decided that I’m not a fan of joystick rests. JMO

 

[Leadfarmer]

Those are still two different rests.
You should decide on if you want a joy stick or turning knobs.

After consideration I'll be going with knobs. The trident looks sweet, but the Randolph I think would suit me better. Just looking for opinions and other recommendations for rests in that price point area that are solid.

 

[LuvDog]

If one of your main complaints is the vertical slop, then the Randolph will eliminate that from what I've experienced.

I haven't seen/used the Lion Works rest in person, so I can't comment. But I would think Seb and his son have figured out how to do it right.

I know that rests that I've used in the past with a mariners wheel type of elevation aren't my favorite because of the movement.

 

[tmwinds]

After consideration I'll be going with knobs. The trident looks sweet, but the Randolph I think would suit me better. Just looking for opinions and other recommendations for rests in that price point area that are solid.

If you’re looking for a knob turner I would look hard for a used JJ rest. In my opinion these are the best conventional rest ever made. Unfortunately John Loh passed a few years ago and they are no longer available. Occasionally a nice used one will turn up for sale in the $1000-$1200 range. I own one but it will go to my grave with me.

 

[butchlambert]

It's not that it's holding me back, it's that the original tops adjustments were very crude in terms of how fine you could make an adjustment and I didn't have a windage top for it at the time. The shadetree seems to have vertical slop in it, and a few other things I'm not a fan of.

That bald eagle and then the shade tree were the only setups I had, and I like the concept of both, but they both had quirks I'm not happy with. Just looking for a rock solid rest with some adjustability that doesn't require a year or more wait and isn't 2000+ dollars. From all my research on front rest that's asking a lot, haha.

I don't remember you checking with me about your Shadetree problem.

 

[Leadfarmer]

I don't remember you checking with me about your Shadetree problem.

Okay, it has vertical slop, what do you suggest I do?

 

[butchlambert]

Okay, it has vertical slop, what do you suggest I do?

Send it to me and I will fix it.

 

[Leadfarmer]

Sounds good, thanks!

 

[Retired shooter]

Send it to me and I will fix it.

Customer Service.

 

[Curmudgeon]

The offer from Butch is very excellent. For me body dynamics are very different when dialing from a prone position and dialing at the bench. I use both dial and joystick when shooting. When prone reaching to dial takes me very out of position. Dialing works nicely sitting at the bench. When prone reaching to dial is very uncomfortable. Joystick is good for me when prone. I have two joystick rests a shade tree, very nice, and another of unknown manufacture. Shade tree lever raises the rifle when lever is lifted. Unknown raises the rifle when arm is depressed. I prefer to depress the lever to raise the rifle. I would like the shade tree to raise the rifle when depressing the lever. I haven’t figured this out. A rest doesn’t have to weigh a ton to work properly. How the rifle moves in the rest is most important. I shoot with many who bring modern rests to the line. They are a joy, so light and portable. I would suggest having Butch check your shade tree and then joystick prone and dial bench. That is unless you want to “buy once cry once”. Anyway sorry for the long wind. Cheers

 

[Leadfarmer]

The offer from Butch is very excellent. For me body dynamics are very different when dialing from a prone position and dialing at the bench. I use both dial and joystick when shooting. When prone reaching to dial takes me very out of position. Dialing works nicely sitting at the bench. When prone reaching to dial is very uncomfortable. Joystick is good for me when prone. I have two joystick rests a shade tree, very nice, and another of unknown manufacture. Shade tree lever raises the rifle when lever is lifted. Unknown raises the rifle when arm is depressed. I prefer to depress the lever to raise the rifle. I would like the shade tree to raise the rifle when depressing the lever. I haven’t figured this out. A rest doesn’t have to weigh a ton to work properly. How the rifle moves in the rest is most important. I shoot with many who bring modern rests to the line. They are a joy, so light and portable. I would suggest having Butch check your shade tree and then joystick prone and dial bench. That is unless you want to “buy once cry once”. Anyway sorry for the long wind. Cheers

I actually appreciate that the shade tree moves in the direction I manipulate it, haha. I'm definitely keeping the shadetree, I wasn't trying to sound disparaging in previous comments. i will probably end up doing what you are. One for prone and one for the bench.