SEB question (AKA will my checkbook hate me?)

[Exercion]

I am new to F-open and this was my first year shooting the local matches .
I switched from a modified Bald Eagle 1005 which had a lot of play in it to a used Seb neo .
My score sure did go up with the Seb rest over the Bald Eagle .
The rifle was more stable which probably influenced my grouping .
I felt more comfortable because I did not have to fight with the front rest to get it back on target after shooting. My set up is a Revolution benchrest stock , Seb Bigfoot rear bag and Seb neo front rest.
I think the rear bag , stock and my inexperience caused me to raise bald eagles. elevation screw to where it would be unstable

Thank you! This is exactly the answer to my actual question, or at least the type of experience I am asking about.

Eric

 

[JimPag]

I will say though that spending more money on new stuff isn't always a better way to go. IMO, a good used gun with a proven track record beats anything brand new and untested even when the best components were used and the best people put them together.

Jim. There is only one problem I have with that statement of a good used gun with a proven track record goes and I've proved it many times. It's not the gun it's the shooter. I've seen many rifles that were proven rifles with a person who ended up selling it to someone else who was not a good shooter and they still did lousy with it. There was a guy who sold me a Borden built rifle that he owned for at least 7 years and the best he did with it was 2nd place at 100 yards. he sold me that rifle and I found my own load for it. I put 18 rounds down that barrel, drove almost 8 hours to Johnstown, NY for a single agg 100 yard match and won with 15X's beating 15 other guys. The conditions sucked that day. The flags were dead still, the tails didn't move one bit. I'd rather shoot in 15 MPH winds than a dead calm day which a lot of people would tell you that a dead calm day is the best day to shoot. WRONG! Like Boyer said, the wind is your friend. That barrel was worn out but I did manage to prove to myself what I knew all along that the previous owner didn't know how to shoot very well.

 

[jimmymac]

How about this then? One gun may not be as good as the next in the hands of the same shooter regardless of skill level. You have been at this way longer than me, but you know not every gun is created equal. That’s why when a good used one pops up it’s gone in a heartbeat. When you get one that just doesn’t shoot as good as the next it can be difficult to ascertain why. I’ve chased my tail on this with a new gun in the past. It wasn’t fun and never did get sorted out to my satisfaction.

 

[JimPag]

How about this then? One gun may not be as good as the next in the hands of the same shooter regardless of skill level. You have been at this way longer than me, but you know not every gun is created equal. That’s why when a good used one pops up it’s gone in a heartbeat. When you get one that just doesn’t shoot as good as the next it can be difficult to ascertain why. I’ve chased my tail on this with a new gun in the past. It wasn’t fun and never did get sorted out to my satisfaction.

I agree but the key factor is not the rifle itself it's the barrel and bullets. I figured that out years ago and when I bought all of Boyers stuff he told me the same thing. He said the barrel and bullets in that order that's the key to make it shoot or not.

 

[jimmymac]

I’m with you 100% assuming the platform is sound and without gremlins. Barrels and bullets are only going to perform as good as the rest of the gun allows. I once spent almost double trying to get a new rifle to shoot competitively. Meanwhile the ugly old girlfriend would just hammer.

 

[aladd43]

Look down the line at any big match and you'll find your answer. Virtually everyone is using a SEB or a Rodzilla. I have a Shadetree and it's pretty good on the right base. But I have a SEB Neo and I'll never go back to the Shadetree.

 

[Exercion]

Thanks for the participation everyone, but to clarify: I was asking a very specific question on experiences. Not whether the SEB is good, bad, best use of cash. Or whether a better shooter could shoot better scores than me with what I'm using (hell I'm sure there are guys who could beat me by shooting offhand) Certainly not if bullets or barrels or unicorn dandruff powder are the most important factor in accuracy.

 

[swd]

I shot off a tired Farley for a long time. I bought a new new Rodzilla in September. My scores haven’t gone up but it sure is easier to be very precise.

 

[Lbart]

It’s difficult to understand why anybody in the whole world does not manufacture a joystick operated bipod for instance.

SEB makes one...the JoyPod- X https://sebrests-usa.com/joystick-rests/joy-pod/

 

[marchx]

SEB makes one...the JoyPod- X https://sebrests-usa.com/joystick-rests/joy-pod/

I meant anyone except seb. It’s unobtanium. Even if Ernie had one he does not ship overseas. I am just waiting until german dealer or italian dealer gets one.

 

[Sandstorm]

You will enjoy the Neo or the Mini X or whatever you decide on getting they all work great.
I used to shoot on a Shadetree top and Grizzz bottom too...and they are awesome as well.
They all work well an some just a bit better than others.

 

[Downhill]

Get what you want. But search here and read the article about Jeff Cochran. Scored for this guy at Ft Wolters long ago. He won without a fancy rest.

 

[Liven The Dream]

You will enjoy the Neo or the Mini X or whatever you decide on getting they all work great.
I used to shoot on a Shadetree top and Grizzz bottom too...and they are awesome as well.
They all work well an some just a bit better than others.

Well said.
I went from Joy Pod to Mini and have the Grizzly Cast iron with a Shadetree Top.
On the right time and day makes no difference.
For Bench work the cast Iron Beast is better to me?

 

[kd4avp]

I was one the wait list for a SEB. More I thought about it, I began to look at other options. After winning a gift certificate for a Randolph Machine Co. front rest, I made the leap and got one of those. It made a huge improvement in my shooting. Much more stable than my Shadetree and just felt better to me. Cancelled my SEB order and will just stick with this rest. As many have said, its the nut behind the gun that makes the biggest impact. I consider myself just an average shooter and this rest helped me improve my scores. Stability is your friend.

 

[chromatica]

I went to Ernie Bishop and asked to be put on the list for a Mini-X. The website said it would be a 6 month wait. Just a month later Ernie said he had a rest for me if I wanted it. I jumped on it and I am not sorry. It is truly a thing of beauty - a sculpture in machined aluminum. There is no slop in any of the joints; it's solid as a rock. The three legs are independently adjustable so it can be made to set level on any uneven surface. It gives me confidence to know that when I compete, I have a front rest that is second to none.

I have let one of my buddies try it out at the range. Now he is ordering one for himself. Nothing quite like word of mouth to promote a product.

 

[paperpuncher]

Do it you will never regret it... In the event that for some reason you decided you dont like it need it or want it you can put a wts in the marketplace. Likely it will sell for more than you paid originally with buyers standing in line. I love mine BTW single best pc of kit I have