Serious 1000 yd. Front Rest

[Blaster-37]

I need advice on new rests available. I have wasted days searching. I am not impressed with what I am finding out there. My last custom rest build was years ago and sadly had to leave with my heavy package. A JJ would be a minimum to build on.
I am building a very nice light gun. I value a front that is fast and quick to adjust knobs both ways for fine adjustments and absolutely stable back to battery. I am not a squeezer or a joystick rider, although I know some shooters that do very well with these.
Also, is there a serious stainless coaxial out there, without a joystick?
My rests are as critical as any component in my system.
Any experienced advice is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[lynn]

Blaster 37
Nobody makes a good 1000 yard front rest in my opinion.
My shooting buddy John Crawford just made one as none were available.He had Gary Hayes send him a 5 inch diameter pedestal with a 2 inch center post.It has four screws that hold the top instead of 1 like you will find on most rests.The base is 2 inch aluminum plate and it weighs around 70 pounds.
If you don't make your own you will be compromising.
Lynn

 

[alf]

www.viperbench-rest.com

 

[ChipEckardt]

Been happy with my Seb NEO rest. Was on waiting list for nine months, but it was worth it.

Chip

 

[Blaster-37]

Blaster 37
Nobody makes a good 1000 yard front rest in my opinion.
My shooting buddy John Crawford just made one as none were available.He had Gary Hayes send him a 5 inch diameter pedestal with a 2 inch center post.It has four screws that hold the top instead of 1 like you will find on most rests.The base is 2 inch aluminum plate and it weighs around 70 pounds.
If you don't make your own you will be compromising.
Lynn

Lynn,
You are probably right. Compromise has not worked well in my 1K efforts. It is worth it to not lose condition focus due to a rest malfunction. I was hoping a machinist 1K shooter was making a serious rest for sale.

I will probably use 1/2" stainless bottom, a substantial base like Gary Hayes', a Hart type windage rest, adjustment bolts from like Viper's for my vanity and a stable elevated loading block. Suggestions are appreciated.

I prefer a heavy rest that I am confidant with once it is set with no thought of rest movement or slight bag settlement during the detonation process causing that flier. I can do fliers on my own without mechanical failure. The brief moment between reading the slight condition change, adjusting and sending can be huge for me. It seems less hand travel might help. I have thoughts of the fine adjustment knobs grouped at my stable elevated loading block possibly using HD flex shafts... has anybody messed with that?

I have often thought of fine adjustment knobs with clicks like some micrometers or turrets, one click for one inch at 1K might work. Anybody?

Does anybody have contact info for Gary Hayes? Can't find much on the internet.

Does anybody have a great windage top that you will part with? SS or Ti... I wish, strong aluminum with competent design features would probably work. No steel, although Ransom has an exceptional 1K top design. For size, I am currently using a 3" Tracker for the LG.

I may have to learn confidence in the "squeeze". Heck, what's a few thousand sent rounds and a brain transplant that would accept perfection as unobtainable. Thanx for your advice.
Greg

 

[dogdude]

i'd call BOB PASTOR, GOBLES MICHIGAN. can't find his phone# at this moment, but he makes the VIPER REST that all 1000 yards wish they had. all best dogdude sorry did not see ALF' post click on it and enjoy!!

 

[johara1]

I just got started in the 1K game and i like you wanted something better. Having an old Hart rest and ordering a new Neo. sold the Hart and didn't take the Neo and sold my JJ rest also. I now use a new model and modified Sinclair rest. Changed the post and turned a new 1x 8 post that fit bushing very tight and a 1 x 8 Hart wheel, the original post was too slow and the fit had lot to be desired and made a new leg for the back with a tension set screw in the rest plate. I also changed the windage set up for more travel and more tension and now it is the best i found so far,if i decide to shoot short range i put the speed screw back in......jim

 

[4xforfun]

I know Bob makes good stuff in the Viper. I am also seeing more and more or Sinclairs new rest on the line.

 

[Nodak7mm]

i'd call BOB PASTOR, GOBLES MICHIGAN. can't find his phone# at this moment, but he makes the VIPER REST that all 1000 yards wish they had. all best dogdude sorry did not see ALF' post click on it and enjoy!!

Another vote for Bob... One thing that Bob will do and thats work with to get what ever custom needs you have, met!! He will modify a std rest or will make you one of his design or your design. Give em holler, he'll hook you up. FWIW: The big viper rests do not move and his F-class Feet are the biggest out there, making a std rest all but unmovable.. Solid stuff!!

Rod

 

[Blaster-37]

I spoke with Bob at Viper, he is great. I plan to have him make my new front rest. He is also working on a functional new windage top, long overdue for 1000 yards.
Thanx everybody.
greg

 

[1000yardstare]

Bob Pastor has been up to the Ontario Championships a few times. Part of the Cobra and Mongoose duo but that is another whole story. He doesn`t like anyone flirting with the rules but that is another whole story.

I see his front rests at the various Canadian shoots. Beautiful equipment.

But I have to be totally honest here. I see some very good F(O) shooters using the wide Sinclair bipods. Just have to flop down and shoot without pounding anchors with a mallet or shimming back rests to find the matching height.

I am in a personal Epiphany with regards to the F(O) money race. But I went through all of this 40 years ago with .22 Match Rifle, making the Canadian National Team, going to the Olympic Trials. Out of that now but I see young shooters at my local club shooting .22 Match Rifle and their rifles don`t even look like rifles. Some sort of disjointed collection of aluminum parts that somehow send a .22 rimfire bullet 50 metres down the range with the same results that my old Anschutz in a Fajen wood prone stock accomplished way back then. You can`t shoot more than 1200 out of 1200 in 3 position no matter how hard you try .

So what`s my point you might be tempted to ask? Doesn`t matter what equipment is used. The shooter still has to read the wind and squeeze the trigger. But in F(O) the top-of-the-line goodies seem to get you in the winner`s circle if that is what is most important to you.

Went through this 40 years ago.

Mongoose, stop laughing.

Bill

 

[in2deep]

These are made for the serious rimfire shooters that have to hit 25 dots smaller than a pencil eraser at 50 yards and it's a great piece of engineering. I recently started shooting my 20+ pound heavy gun in 6BR on it and it is steady and accurate enough to shoot sub half inch groups at 300 yards during repeated tests and the nice part is it's very fast due to the windage knob being so close to the elevation knob and they are beefy and easy to manipulate in any weather. It's plenty substantial enough to hold the heavy rifle and also the tops are interchangable by loosening the 2 thumb screws and switching only takes a few seconds and you can have several for different guns. I use a delrin top made by Pappas for unlimited and rimfire and a sandbag top for other rifles.

If there is serious rimfire competition near you most of the shooters will probably have one and maybe you could try it.
I guarantee you will be spoiled rotten and never go back to a typical windage top although they are also very precise in every way just not nearly as fast to dial in from shot to shot.
It's like the new Sinclair rest but heavier and more robust and IMHO much better suited for a heavy gun.




http://www.randolphmachine.com/front.html

 

[lynn]

Blaster-37
I forgot all about the Viper.I have seen his front rest up close and it looks plenty wide and stable.I like a huge base.
I did not take it apart but if you are ordering one up make sure you get the biggest center post you can buy.Also ask him how many and what size bolts hold the top on.
I am not a fan of one single 1/4-20 bolt holding everything in place.I pound the bolt open and closed and I don't like a wobbly top.
I also like flat bearings under the mariners wheel.
Ask him how tall his rest is to the bag so you can get a matching rear bag on your first try.
Make sure his top encapsulates the front bag well.If the bag rocks back and forth on you whats the point of having a massive rest in the first place.I prefer to have as much of the bag covered as the rules will allow usually 1/2 inch.
Lynn

 

[Blaster-37]

Blaster-37
I forgot all about the Viper.I have seen his front rest up close and it looks plenty wide and stable.I like a huge base.
I did not take it apart but if you are ordering one up make sure you get the biggest center post you can buy.Also ask him how many and what size bolts hold the top on.
I am not a fan of one single 1/4-20 bolt holding everything in place.I pound the bolt open and closed and I don't like a wobbly top.
I also like flat bearings under the mariners wheel.
Ask him how tall his rest is to the bag so you can get a matching rear bag on your first try.
Make sure his top encapsulates the front bag well.If the bag rocks back and forth on you whats the point of having a massive rest in the first place.I prefer to have as much of the bag covered as the rules will allow usually 1/2 inch.
Lynn

Thanx Lynn