New SEB Smallbore Rest

[Lbart]

USMCDOC
FYI, I used my Neo-X at the NRA F-Class Small-bore Nat’s instead of the Seb AR250 because I received the rest while in route to the Nat’s and had no chance to try shooting off it prior to the match starting. I felt a Nat’s was not the place to change equipment and since I am new to 22lr F-Class I was not about to compound my problems. I just got home last night. I’ll test it the first chance I get. I’ll check the elevation and windage range of motion at 100 yards while doing so. Yes, the rest is small, but if it is stable enough while shooting that is not a problem. I’ll test with both my 22 lr & 1k 7/270 WSM F-Class to check stability.

 

[boltman13]

Larry, I eagerly await your opinion. Nice job at Nationals. Do you think there will ever be a RF F-Class Team competition at Nationals? If so you Berger guys would be the likely winners.

 

[USMCDOC]

Larry, I eagerly await your opinion. Nice job at Nationals. Do you think there will ever be a RF F-Class Team competition at Nationals? If so you Berger guys would be the likely winners.

yes.. there could be a "team" match at the Nationals if they would change the format from a four man team to a two man team format.

 

[Lbart]

Larry, I eagerly await your opinion. Nice job at Nationals. Do you think there will ever be a RF F-Class Team competition at Nationals? If so you Berger guys would be the likely winners.

Boltman,
I went to the range to check the vertical movement of the Seb AR250 rest. The Anschutz stock was placed so the rear of my rear bag was 30.75 inches from the front stop of the rest. The rest had a vertical movement of 36.5 inches at 100 yards. This would allow the shooter to hold from the top of the 2 lines on the sighting bull on the NRA A-33 target to the bottom 2 line on the bottom-scoring target. The same ability will apply to the NRA A-51 target used at 50 yards. This will allow the shooter to go back to the sighting bull at any time during the string without adjusting the front or rear bag.

I also tested movement with one of my CF FC rifles. The 284 Win rifle stock was 5.75 inches longer than the 22 LR stock and this reduce the amount of movement down to 27.5 inches which would barely allow movement from the SS bull 10 ring down to the bottom record bull. The rear bag would have to be moved forward, in this case, to shorten the distance and give more vertical movement. FWIW the rest handled the recoil of the 284 Win quite well.

This rest will be a super choice for someone who is looking for a lighter (7&1/2lbs) cheaper joy stick rest for use in 22lr or air rifle competition shooting. I understand some base/joy stick changes will be made to the rest before it goes on sale.

 

[ChrisLionel]

Larry,

Your help in testing the AR250 rest has been invaluable. Because of Robert Bock's and your input, I've been able to improve on several critical features of the rest.

Presenting the finalized version of AR250. My goal in creating the AR250 is to provide a championship-worthy rest, engineered exclusively for Benchrest Air Rifle and Rimfire shooting, at an affordable price point. This finalized version has addressed the critique and feedback from several shooters who have tried the prototypes. Two prototypes were sent to the WRABF World Championship in Plzen, Czech Republic. In which Fady M. Kiwan from Lebanon managed to place first in the 50m Unlimited Air Rifle while setting a new world record using the AR250 prototype. A third prototype was sent to Larry, which he has graciously helped test several times. I take Larry's and Robert's input very highly, which also serves as the final confirmation I need to finalize the AR250 design.

Here are the main features of AR250:

• A central telescopic column featuring two elevation systems: a rapid system inspired by travel luggage handles with a safety pin and a smooth system with a rotating mariner wheel and 360° swing.
• The rest weighs a mere 7.8 lbs with a base footprint of 6” by 10” (I reversed the direction of the base to improve the recoil stability of the rest according to Robert’s input).
• Counterweight system for ultra-smooth joystick action. Capable of supporting rifles weighing 8-18 lbs.
• Assuming a 29” distance between the center of the rest to the center of the rear bag, the joystick vertical travel on the target paper is approximately 16.8” at 50 yards and 33.4” at 100 yards. Shorter rifle stock will have even more vertical travel. Attached below are the vertical simulation on the NRA A-33 and A-51 papers. The finalized version have even more vertical travel than the prototype Larry tested.
• Bag surface elevation at lowest setting is ~5.5” with ~8.3” at the highest with BR feet on.

The rest will also come with:

• A choice of 3" / 2.25"/ both 3" and 2.25" front bag
• 3 long leveling screws and 1 short leveling screw
• 3 BR Feet

I will try my best to keep the price of the rest below $700 once I start taking orders. I plan to be able to send out the first production batch hopefully by this November/early December. It is quite the wait, but I’d much rather not sacrifice SEB’s standard quality to rush production, especially since this is my first-time producing rests by myself. I will try my best to shorten the total waiting time in the future once I’m more familiar with producing the rest and have gathered even more input from the first batch users.

 

[Lbart]

Chris, Looks like a Big Winner! I like the new base & joystick.

 

[boltman13]

Is there a waiting list yet?

 

[lawman29]

I'm thinking a nice varmint rest....

 

[Jefferson]

with the greatest of respect, I will not buy one for this reason

it needs and requires a method of adjusting the front sides over the front base to ACCOMMODATE rifles that have varying widths

then and only then will it be a winner

jefferson

 

[ChrisLionel]

Is there a waiting list yet?

Yes there is, let me DM you.

 

[ChrisLionel]

with the greatest of respect, I will not buy one for this reason

it needs and requires a method of adjusting the front sides over the front base to ACCOMMODATE rifles that have varying widths

then and only then will it be a winner

jefferson

Thank you for your input, an adjustable top similar to NEO-X is unfortunately still not possible for this initial production run. But I will consider an adjustable top/bag going forward.

 

[Fuj]

Thank you for your input, an adjustable top similar to NEO-X is unfortunately still not possible for this initial production run. But I will consider an adjustable top/bag going forward.

The same problem arises with other rests. Too many come on the market
set up for a 3" bag and that's it. I just finished modifying a Shade Tree top
with a longer plate I machined and added movable Bald Eagle side tensioners.
Nothing pretty but "pretty" seems to be expensive these days. I'm going to
be attacking my T-Rex coming shortly to get rid of the Farley bag so I can
use a Protector style 4" bag.

Custom one off for Shade Tree top for my grandson's 4" wide rimfire.

 

[dgeesaman]

with the greatest of respect, I will not buy one for this reason

it needs and requires a method of adjusting the front sides over the front base to ACCOMMODATE rifles that have varying widths

then and only then will it be a winner

jefferson

Do you mean like the Mini-X?

Because that’s still available, at a higher price point.

David

 

[USMCDOC]

Do you mean like the Mini-X?

Because that’s still available, at a higher price point.

David

quite honestly.. i would prefer the Mini over this new prototype..

 

[seb]

His (AR250) rest is designed for air rifle or rimfire benchrest shooting, with as inexpensive retail price as possible in mind
.

 

[Jefferson]

I most humbly apologize
thinking about this yesterday I have made a huge mistake in v]being critical of this fine rest

SEB has just above mentioned the features for the small cost in a way

my suggestion for the adjustable sliding top is ok only if the cost is higher

wrongly I suggested that feature without agreeing to,pay extra for the design, machining and extra parts

please accept my sincere apologies

my silly brain was expecting all the features in the new rimfire / airgun rest without taking into account the entry level price for a mid range or higher product

again sorry folks

my thoughts were directed to the best possible rest barring no expense in the creation of it for the final product and had not realized it was never intended to be the best at all cost

sorry. sorry. sorry

SEB knows my intentions are honorable as we goback to the worlds at kelblys in 2005 where we met and enjoyed each others company, even our wife’s with a language barrier

forgive me please I have erred

respectfully. Jefferson

 

[RKS]

Obviously, time and use will prove the quality of this rest. Its origin should provide some measure of confidence that it will be a good one.

I don't think it would be fair to compare it to other predominately center fire rests.

If you compare it to air/rimfire rests, like the Finnish made NOTA, I think that is where the primary market is. And at about half the price compared to that particular one.

In that respect, I believe negative comments at this point are premature.

 

[USMCDOC]

Obviously, time and use will prove the quality of this rest. Its origin should provide some measure of confidence that it will be a good one.

I don't think it would be fair to compare it to other predominately center fire rests.

If you compare it to air/rimfire rests, like the Finnish made NOTA, I think that is where the primary market is. And at about half the price compared to that particular one.

In that respect, I believe negative comments at this point are premature.

i have been able "fondle" this rest.. have you? I don't like it

 

[seb]

I am pretty confident to say that his rest will be soughtly after in the near future, just like the sebrests. As his father I will also make sure his customer/after sales service carries our tradition. Time will tell.

 

[RKS]

i have been able "fondle" this rest.. have you? I don't like it

You don't have to like it.

I'm not sure how valuable or definitive a recommendation is, pro or con, based on "fondling" a prototype version.