Bipod vs Front rest

[RetiredArmy]

I like to really lean into my rifle when shooting. I shoot from a bipod weather shooting from a bench or prone. Have been thinking of trying a front rest, eagle,Caldwell or something on that level. My question, can I still lean into rifle like I do when shooting from a bipod. I do not compete. Just like to shoot.
P.S. Would the bald eagle sling shot be a good rest to start with?
Thanks Bill

 

[Uthink Uknow]

A couple questions there. The Bald Eagle sling shot is a fine rest if you encounter narrow benches. The standard Bald Eagle is more stable. As to “leaning on” when shooting from a front rest. You need to have the front stop on the rest to be in contact with the fore end. A caveat on leaning in is to beware of leaning too hard and lifting the rear leg of the rest off the bench. May again in competition go with the heavier rests available for stability. Depending on what they are shooting most in short range bench rest competition shoot free recoil and have just their trigger finger in contact with the trigger guard until ready to fire. In this way there is no outside contact to throw the rifle off pre firing.

 

[jepp2]

My question, can I still lean into rifle like I do when shooting from a bipod.

This is also from a guy that just likes to shoot. I shoot off a front rest for everything except when I hunt deer/antelope. From the bench I use a Bald Eagle (cast iron) rest and am very happy with it. When shooting prairie dogs I use a Protektor leather bag and a shim set arrangement for my height. You can lean in all you want on either of those.

When I am sighting in my deer/antelope rifles, I shoot them on the bench off a bipod. I notice the front of the rifle re-positions itself much more than when I use the other rest set ups. So I think changing will help retain your rifle position.

When I started shopping for a used Bald Eagle, a guy I shoot with said don't get the aluminum, it is too light. And he showed me how he added weight to a Caldwell that was also too light - in his opinion. So I got a Bald Eagle cast iron and have been very happy with it after I made a few modifications to it.

Here is my setup for shooting prairie dogs in the field. Very stable! Much more so than a bipod.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Been using this system now for over 25 years, don't see any reason to change. Thousands of ground squirrels can't be wrong.....

Sinclair All-Purpose front rest, Protektor rear bag, Super Feet under the rest pins for bench protection:



Didn't have to sell the farm, rock-solid, fully adjustable. What's not to like?

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Yeah Caldwell BR Rock rests might work well as boat anchors. The Eagle isnt much better.

I would look at the Sinclair or Target Shooting rests.
I use the Target Shooting Model 1200 and love it. Extremely well built and great people to deal with.

Sinclair Comp Rest:
https://www.brownells.co.uk/epages/UK.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=72092

TS-1200:
https://www.targetshooting.com/product/model-1200-rifle-rest/

However, I only shoot from a bench for initial load development and in some cases where I need to.
I greatly prefer shooting prone from a bipod when possible. Bipods and benches to NOT play well together

 

[Uthink Uknow]

Another thought on your thinking of getting a front rest: since you are used to shooting from bi-pods you are already used to the lack of adjustment at the fore end. I don’t have a front rest with the windage knob and do my adjusting at the back end. My front rest is solid and my shooting procedure calls for the rear adjustment. Others have a different opinion on this.

 

[rammac]

The simple answer is NO.
You wont be able to "lean" in to the rifle like you do with a bipod, front rests are designed for the rifle to recoil to the rear naturally so they allow the rifle to slide freely, that means that the rifle will slide forward and backward. Pre-loading a bipod can't be duplicated on a rest, you can only pull the rifle harder in to your shoulder when you use a rest.

 

[284winner]

They are entirely different rests but you can get equal accuracy from either once you develop a technique using each.

 

[varget204]

Recently purchased Bald Eagle Cast BR rest,$ 199 + tax for Grizzly,weighs 18 LBS,Quality construction,Got a custom Protektor 2 Square front bag and a custom DR rear bag for it,Normally shoot off bench w/ BRM bipod.IF you use a Bipod,and ever get bounce on a hard surface,recommend Bruce Pyiatt's Aluminum feet to Replace rubber feet on Harris Bipods,Preload bipod,slides,just like on Front Bench Rest,Sure cuts Down on Bounce and rubber feet wanting to recoil to the side,instead of straight back

 

[Evan]

I used to shoot exclusively from bipods and used the load it technique. It is entirely unnessecary with a front rest like a bald eagle. Get one and you'll see. You can pull the gun firmly into your shoulder, and you can load the rest a little, but you don't need to work very hard or load much at all, compared to a bipod, to stabilize the gun under recoil and maintain sight picture.

 

[STOMP442]

I use the Caldwell Rock BR rest with a protecktor rear bag. I love it. It is compact enough to pack and store and heavy/steady enough to shoot well off of. I tried the Sinclair rest a couple years ago and found it to be a huge pain in the rear. I was constantly having to re-adjust the height because it would start to slip and fall down with each shot no matter how tight you turned those knobs. I used it for about three months and then decided to part ways with it.

 

[Steve Donlon]

I have to add my 2cents. I have been trying to use a bipod with one of my 30-06 rifles and can not get constant results. I can with my 6.5 creedmoor but that's about it. I clamp a 1X2 oak board across my table in line with the feet of the bipod so I can lean into it without the bipod moving. The 30-06 has more recoil and it's difficult for me to lean in that hard and press the rifle butt into my shoulder and do it exactly the same each time. With my tri pods it's much easier to maintain a constant grip. I have a Protektor front tri pod rest and a Sinclair heavy varmint rest for my heavy rifle. Both with Protektor rear bags. I cut 2 16" X 16" pieces of 3/4" plywood and screwed and clued them together so I had a square 1 1/2" thick for my tri pods to sit on. I drilled holes for the leg screws to sit in so it would not move easily. Then this all sits on a horse blanket on my table so it will slide but not much. This set up has worked very well for me for shooting in the field off a cheap table with folding legs. I'm sure a solid range bench would be better, but I like to travel to different locations to shoot at different spots in the vastness of N. Az. I don't think you can beat a tri pod, so you got to do what ever works for you.

 

[JEFFPPC]

While Bald Eagle rests are a decent product if i were to start over, I believe a Joe Cowan rest would be a better choice.
Just my 2 cents
Made in USA !!

Can t beat the Cowan rest for the money, It has a lifetime warranty also. Contact him at 814 502 5747

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Not necessary to load a front rest to take up slack