Sinclair rests discontinued?

[chaddawkins]

@Janeau I agree that the fit and finish of the aluminum parts are nice, and I prefer the stainless locking handles over Ransom's as well. I tip my hat to Ransom's idea of a brass ball at the contact end of the threaded shaft. I strongly disagree the fit (tolerances) between the columns are tight. The two columns are the same between all their benchtop rests, including the Competition.
Ransom's price likely comes from EDM machining premium, it's how they achieve such a tight fit. They sell a precise and well thought out piece, it's not cheap.
Sure the Sinclair looks nice but the fit is not "precision".
I am new to this sport, not new to shooting or machining.

I contacted Ransom about their Diamond rest, I prefer a plate base style simply for looks. The minor column (post) is the same 1-1/4 stainless piece however this model's major column is fixed and aluminum, as opposed to stainless like the Rifle Master. They advertise machining services on their website but proved to be unwilling to make a stainless fixed column for me. He basically told me to use it for 10 years and if it wears then he'll think about it. It cost him a customer, for now.

My dream rest:
Ransom's post and major column
Sinclair's feet, speed screw
Sinclair's locking handles but with Ransom's brass ball end
Sinclair's handwheel (don't care for Ransom's "rubber tire")
Esthetic base plate
Joystick top with built-in bubble (Shadetree 2.0?)

I have a Shadetree on the way.
I'm going to keep beating on Ransom's door.
I will keep the Sinclair, it's a good starter rest.

 

[Janeau]

You sir I'm sorry but you have no idea what you're talking about with the Ransom rest. I owned one for many years and used two other ones. They're tolerances are tight their handles are more than big enough because of the tight tolerances you do not need to crank on them to tighten them up as you do with the others. Hell they make aftermarket wrenches for the Sinclair Comp..It's the same thing when you snap a barrel in place it's tight, Ransom rest is the same way. The size of their major and minor column adjustments are as big or bigger than everyone else out there. Some of the features they have are second to none for the convenience to the user. They are expensive but once you use one you understand why they're expensive they are extremely nice. I've had both style Sinclair's, original bald eagles, current grizzly bald eagles, Ransom, Seb Neo, Seb Max, JLK, Caldwell and parts of DR Greenlaw. I have a pretty good idea what I'm talking about.

I know exactly what I am talking about. You think you know because you made the mistake to purchase so many..does not make you more knowledgable for it.

I tried most if not all rest over the last 50 years. Seen most if not all in use in competition.I used and tried about every rest out there at one time or another short of a few.

If you are a Ransom lover -up to you. I was not impressed with the Ransom at all - and in this price range -will never recommend to anyone. Will take a Sinclair with competition top any time over the Ransom.

And this is a choice many do…if you compete and spend a lot of time at the range -you know that Ransom rest are far in between..if ever seen - but Sinclair are encountered often. They are more popular no contest.

There is better than those two..but not everybody want to but 2-3K on a rest.

 

[jghoghunter]

I know exactly what I am talking about. You think you know because you made the mistake to purchase so many..does not make you more knowledgable for it.

I tried most if not all rest over the last 50 years. Seen most if not all in use in competition.I used and tried about every rest out there at one time or another short of a few.

If you are a Ransom lover -up to you. I was not impressed with the Ransom at all - and in this price range -will never recommend to anyone. Will take a Sinclair with competition top any time over the Ransom.

And this is a choice many do…if you compete and spend a lot of time at the range -you know that Ransom rest are far in between..if ever seen - but Sinclair are encountered often. They are more popular no contest.

There is better than those two..but not everybody want to but 2-3K on a rest.

I know exactly what I am talking about. You think you know because you made the mistake to purchase so many..does not make you more knowledgable for it.

I tried most if not all rest over the last 50 years. Seen most if not all in use in competition.I used and tried about every rest out there at one time or another short of a few.

We are going to have to agree to disagree but you say since I made the mistake of trying all those rest that I'm an idiot and I learned nothing and have nothing good to contribute. Then in the very next sentence you tell me how smart and informative you are because you tried all those rest also in your 50 years so that makes you much smarter and much more informed than I am. So I'm betting that you must be a democrat because we have tried all the same rest ( in competition also I may add) and since I didn't come up with the same opinion as you I'm wrong, you are right. Thats the democratic way! One more thing I must be a little smarter than you because I did in 25 years what took you 50 to figure out!!! Oh one more thing, you just made the ignore list!!! Check my signature, in green down below that pretty much tells it all.

 

[DHuffman]

So Brownell emailed that a rest came available and I ordered it. It came in. I'm disappointed. It's a fixed base model, the the top is 1-2 degrees out of parallel with the leading face of the base. The tolerances between the the major column and base, and minor column with major column are huge. It's solid once locked in place with the handles but NOTHING is plum, square or true. The level bubble on the windage adjustable units therefore means absolutely nothing. I likely would have been ok in my ignorance if I had not seen how tight the Ransom Rifle Master rest fits together. Wow can you say buyer's remorse. I'd consider having a major column manufactured that will fit better and take the slop out but I'm not prepared to spend another $400 on this thing. If I'm to consider how many thousandths my primer is seated, how can I shoot with this thing?

It'll shoot fine if you remember to tighten the lock downs on the column. The rest I sent you the link on yesterday had the windage tensioner that makes it better and is available from @jepp2 here on the forum. He may offer other upgrades as well I can't remember.
I shot off one for years and shot plenty of small 600 & 1000 yard groups, won some matches and placed well in a few Nationals. There are many long range records shot off them.

Make yourself familiar with it and develop a routine about setting it up and locking down the column and it won't be the limiting factor in your success.

 

[DHuffman]

So Brownell emailed that a rest came available and I ordered it. It came in. I'm disappointed. It's a fixed base model, the the top is 1-2 degrees out of parallel with the leading face of the base. The tolerances between the the major column and base, and minor column with major column are huge. It's solid once locked in place with the handles but NOTHING is plum, square or true. The level bubble on the windage adjustable units therefore means absolutely nothing. I likely would have been ok in my ignorance if I had not seen how tight the Ransom Rifle Master rest fits together. Wow can you say buyer's remorse. I'd consider having a major column manufactured that will fit better and take the slop out but I'm not prepared to spend another $400 on this thing. If I'm to consider how many thousandths my primer is seated, how can I shoot with this thing?

It'll shoot fine if you remember to tighten the lock downs on the column. The rest I sent you the link on yesterday had the windage tensioner that makes it better and is available from @jepp2 here on the forum. He may offer other upgrades as well I can't remember.
I shot off one for years and shot plenty of small 600 & 1000 yard groups, won some matches and placed well in a few Nationals. There are many long range records shot off them.

Make yourself familiar with it and develop a routine about setting it up and locking down the column and it won't be the limiting factor in your success.

 

[707electrician]

So Brownell emailed that a rest came available and I ordered it. It came in. I'm disappointed. It's a fixed base model, the the top is 1-2 degrees out of parallel with the leading face of the base. The tolerances between the the major column and base, and minor column with major column are huge. It's solid once locked in place with the handles but NOTHING is plum, square or true. The level bubble on the windage adjustable units therefore means absolutely nothing. I likely would have been ok in my ignorance if I had not seen how tight the Ransom Rifle Master rest fits together. Wow can you say buyer's remorse. I'd consider having a major column manufactured that will fit better and take the slop out but I'm not prepared to spend another $400 on this thing. If I'm to consider how many thousandths my primer is seated, how can I shoot with this thing?

Did you get the all purpose or benchrest model?

 

[chaddawkins]

@707electrician It was the benchrest model. I loosened all bolts and torqued it in direction to square it up but still not true.
If the mistake is in the post then it's possible the post that comes with the Shadetree will true things up.

 

[DHuffman]

@707electrician It was the benchrest model. I loosened all bolts and torqued it in direction to square it up but still not true.
If the mistake is in the post then it's possible the post that comes with the Shadetree will true things up.

I'm not sure it's a mistake LOL if I'm understanding you correctly it's the clocking of the groove in the post and how it aligns with the set screws and how it all aligns with the two screws that secure the bag holder plate that puts the front of the bag holder not parallel with the front edge of the rest.

That's a lot to account for and make it come out all aligned perfectly. Again if I'm understanding your complaint mine was the same way and was simply one of those things and has no effect on anything other than your mind.

For over 3x the $ you can get rests that may or may not have the same situation.

The most important thing in my experience is getting the windage centered up correctly for the target/sighter arrangement not worrying about the other stuff you mention.

 

[AlNyhus]

Doesn't the bag holder have a center screw that attaches it to the center post?

 

[Stugots]

You sir I'm sorry but you have no idea what you're talking about with the Ransom rest. I owned one for many years and used two other ones. They're tolerances are tight their handles are more than big enough because of the tight tolerances you do not need to crank on them to tighten them up as you do with the others. Hell they make aftermarket wrenches for the Sinclair Comp..It's the same thing when you snap a barrel in place it's tight, Ransom rest is the same way. The size of their major and minor column adjustments are as big or bigger than everyone else out there. Some of the features they have are second to none for the convenience to the user. They are expensive but once you use one you understand why they're expensive they are extremely nice. I've had both style Sinclair's, original bald eagles, current grizzly bald eagles, RaCare to post some detailed pictures of your rest?nsom, Seb Neo, Seb Max, JLK, Caldwell and parts of DR Greenlaw. I have a pretty good idea what I'm talking

Care to post some detailed pictures of your rest?

 

[chaddawkins]

@DHuffman yes you’re understanding me correctly. I’d wager this was CAD designed and CNC cut. Who’s at fault, I’m not sure but I’m confident it wasn’t the CNC. The fact that yours is the same tells me there’s a chance everyone’s is like this. I CAD for my personal projects and can say this is too easy to get right.

I received the Shadetree, pic below is how installed as received. Not good. It does only have a center screw, so I drilled/tapped a hole in the other side of the Sinclair post and tightened in rest to my liking.

 

[chaddawkins]

I prefer the Sinclair top, specifically the stop, so I plan on having it’s bottom side machined as the Shadetree’s so I can swap it over.
Edit:
I would tap the Shadetree top plate to accept the Sinclair stop but the plate is too thin. I’ve thought to doing this to the clamping bar but wouldn’t be rigid enough for my liking.

 

[AlNyhus]

Again..doesn't the Sinclair bag holder have a single center screw into the post?

 

[DHuffman]

Again..doesn't the Sinclair bag holder have a single center screw into the post?

I sold mine and can't say for sure but believe it has a larger screw in the center and a second closer to the edge of the post to clock and lock it.

Mine was off somewhat but not as bad as the pic above. It didn't bother me mentally or in paper LOL

 

[jghoghunter]

I sold mine and can't say for sure but believe it has a larger screw in the center and a second closer to the edge of the post to clock and lock it.

Mine was off somewhat but not as bad as the pic above. It didn't bother me mentally or in paper LOL

This is the way mine are.

 

[jghoghunter]

Care to post some detailed pictures of your rest?

I would but a friend of mine has been using it. It is not at my place.

 

[chaddawkins]

@AlNyhus You didn’t specify Sinclair until now, I thought you meant the Shadetree. The Sinclair has a center screw, maybe #8, and a smaller clocking screw. This clocking screw placement is likely where my issue lies.

 

[chaddawkins]

I’m thinking of adding a clocking screw to the single screw Shadetree now.

 

[ridgeway]

Get a Hart top with a 1"-8 post and a cast mariner wheel. You'll thank me later, haha. That fine thread sinclair is terrible slow on elevation changes.