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Bald Eagle Rest Selection

I have a Midway Rock BR and tightened up, it is ok, but I’m wondering if the Bald Eagle is a good improvement?

If so, for benchrest should a person be looking at the slingshot model or triangle? Cast iron or aluminum? Is the windage top worth the extra $40?

Anything else under $500 that I should be looking at?
 
I have the Slingshot Aluminum, I just put a Shade Tree Top on it. The Rest that comes with it is ok, adjustable windage with a cable, I was just looking for a Joystick. I started with a Caldwell Rest, scores improved with the BE.
 
I have 2 BE rests. They are both triangle rests. One is aluminum, one is cast iron. One has a windage top. Both are very stable and work well. I do plan to buy a ShadeTree joystick top for one of them.
I've had the aluminum one for about 30 years. I bought it from Bill Gebhardt, the original guy who made these. I bought the cast one from Grizzly. If I had to do it again, I'd get the cast iron one. Just personal preference. I don't think there is any advantage.

IMHO, you can't go wrong with one of these. Especially for the price. The windage top is worth the $40.00.

PopCharlie
 
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I have a BE aluminum with the windage adjustment, which I did not like, so following what some of the guys at Williamsport showed me, the top can be reversed, the goose neck taken off and the knurled handle mounted directly on the top and it make a 100% improvement.

Bob
 
I have 3 different BE's, all aluminum versions. I used a slingshot model for RFBR, and a triangle shape for bench work with CF, no competitions/matches. All work fine, but for the big calibers, the cast iron could provide more stability due to more weight. Do the cable delete mods if you keep the OEM top.
 
Question on the Bald Eagle: There appears to be an extra lock on the left side of the main casting - the one with the four arm knob. What is it for?
 
Question on the Bald Eagle: There appears to be an extra lock on the left side of the main casting - the one with the four arm knob. What is it for?
That one moves the rest top up or down. Coarse height adjustment. (If I'm understanding you correctly.) WD
 
Go for it if you can find one. Affordable and good quality for the price. I got one with 3 tops. Shadetree Coax, the original top, and recently bought the modified windage adjustable top.
 
I went with a Cowan rest for $350. Solid rest, bearings, smooth windage top, made in USA by Joe's machine shop students and all proceeds go back into his class for materials and tools.
 
I have the Slingshot Aluminum, I just put a Shade Tree Top on it. The Rest that comes with it is ok, adjustable windage with a cable, I was just looking for a Joystick. I started with a Caldwell Rest, scores improved with the BE.

Do you want to sell your original BE top? I would like to have an extra so that I don’t have to change bags as often to accommodate different rifle stocks.
 
I have an aluminum triangle with both the Shade Tree coax and modified windage adjustment screw for a right handed shooter. Both work great for Rim Fire and short range Bench Rest. I prefer my Farley for F-Class and 600 yd Bench Rest, however.
 

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