What a difference a better rest and rear bag make

[CaptainH]

I shot my new Precision Rifle and Tool 284 Win. at the recent Stars and Bars match in Blakely, Ga. My first two strings of fire produced two identical scores of 185 - 3X. About my average for long range. I was struggling with my front and rear rest that both kept rocking back during recoil. A fellow shooter loaned me his Farley front rest and Mini-Gator rear bag with spaced ears and my last score was my personal best of 194 - 5x. The conditions were a little better, but most of the improved score was helped a lot by my Ray Bowman built rifle and the better rests. It looks like I will need to assess spending quite a bit more money on my rests if I am going to shoot the rifle to its full potential.

BTW - the match was great. Unfortunately day two was a wash out. I recommend this match for those of you looking to shoot a 1000 yards. There were ~ 75 shooters and John Whidden tied a national record.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Yep, until someone loans you something better...Then your screwed again. Hahaha

Ray

 

[ShootDots]

Once I got my S.E.B. my scores started going up... My time on the line went down and fatigue became a bad memory! I am relatively new at F-Open, however during the time I have been around, it has become VERY APPARENT to me that this game has many similarities to benchrest. The ENTIRETY of good scores is determined by 3 MAJOR axioms: 1.) the right gun and scope, with a GREAT rests; 2.) the right load(s) for the right gun and 3.) your ability to read the wind. It is the CUMULATIVE effect of the entire shooting genre, specific to your discipline... EQUIPMENT, ACCURATE LOADS and the ability to READ THE WIND >>> all necessary to be competitive with the others that have those 3 "items".. The front rest is a HUGE part of having the "right equipment"..

 

[Immike]

Good post Benjamin, competition is about eliminating the weak links in equipment and ourselves as well.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Don't try Ben's SEB after you buy a Farley



Ray

 

[Erik Cortina]

Don't try Ben's SEB after you buy a Farley



Ray

LOL, true. If you buy a Farley don't try a SEB NEO afterwards unless you are ready to spend some more money.

 

[Steve Blair]

Don't try Ben's SEB after you buy a Farley



Ray

LOL, true. If you buy a Farley don't try a SEB NEO afterwards unless you are ready to spend some more money.

[br]
Some folks make Farley rests work just fine.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Don't try Ben's SEB after you buy a Farley



Ray

LOL, true. If you buy a Farley don't try a SEB NEO afterwards unless you are ready to spend some more money.

[br]
Some folks make Farley rests work just fine.

Until they try a NEO and they see the light.

 

[Steve Blair]

Until they try a NEO and they see the light.

[br]
Coincidentally, I know someone who has and saw no light or compelling reason to change.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Until they try a NEO and they see the light.

[br]
Coincidentally, I know someone who has and saw no light or compelling reason to change.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

 

[Steve Blair]

Until they try a NEO and they see the light.

[br]
Coincidentally, I know someone who has and saw no light or compelling reason to change.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

[br]
Sometimes those old dogs can be hard to beat with their old tricks.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Until they try a NEO and they see the light.

[br]
Coincidentally, I know someone who has and saw no light or compelling reason to change.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

[br]
Sometimes those old dogs can be hard to beat with their old tricks.

Sometimes...

 

[Raythemanroe]

You can lead them to water but you can't make them drink ;D

Ray

 

[Steve Blair]

You can lead them to water but you can't make them drink ;D

Ray

[br]
That's Ok, Ray. You can have my Kool-Aid. There appears to be plenty here.

 

[Raythemanroe]

You can lead them to water but you can't make them drink ;D

Ray

[br]
That's Ok, Ray. You can have my Kool-Aid. There appears to be plenty here.

I sip the Tea, It is a better kind of special ;D

Ray

 

[Raythemanroe]

Going back to the OP original point, I can't tell what he was using but I'm guessing he liked the stability and the joystick of the Farley.. Assuming he has a Hart or Sinclair or BE, wouldn't a Shadetree top and a Larger base plate do the same thing?


Ray

 

[Steve Blair]

You cannot go wrong with either a Farley or Neo. As Ray noted, that's not the only way to get there. Some folks like the joystick and some don't. I've seen (and been beaten by) shooters successfully using various conventional rests. They need to be heavy, solid and the bag well fitted to the forend. I use spikes as my rest feet and drive them into the firing point. Probably not necessary if not using a heavy recoiling cartridge and very tight bag. [br]
The rear bag should also be heavy and stable. Rocking side-to-side will make it much more difficult to shoot precisely. Some shooters, like me, prefer the stock to sit directly on the bag, trapped by the ears. Others prefer the stock to sit on the ears. Either way will work.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I tried the Shadetree before I bought my SEB. It was an improvement but there is still a big difference between the two. The OP can look for a Gen. 1 SEB rest and get a good rest at a good price.

 

[Bob Sebold]

Joystick? Never did figure out how to run one of those things! Don't know why you all want throw so many points away with those but that's okay with me. Alternatively, you could learn how a rest is supposed to be used and try it that way. Actually, I think the main thing is quality equipment. A really good rest, no matter what kind it is, will help improve your scores. It will not make you a great shooter, but bad equipment will never help you. I know on occasion, some have shot great scores with junk, Earl Liebetrau comes to mind, but he could probably shoot fairly well from a cardboard box. Doesn't mean I recommend it. I think it also explains why some shoot a really good relay and then a really bad one when the conditions have not changed. Bad setup. It is easier to set up with good equipment.

 

[Lbart]

Bob doesn't like a joy stick rest because it would get in the way of his cigar.

As other posters have said there are a number of good joystick front rests on the market including the Shadetree, Farley and SEB. Butch Lambert of Shadetree is a great guy, makes a good product and provides super service. Sebastian Lambang and Ernie Bishop of SEB are two very fine guys and will go out of their way to help you. I have tried them all and have to give my overall vote to the Seb Neo for F-Open competition. The vast elevation adjust available sure makes setup on all firing lines a snap.

If you can afford the cash AND the wait the SEB is the way to go in my opinion. You won't regret it. I love mine and the Bigfoot rear bag I use. If not give Butch a call.