What Are My Choices in Co-Axial Rests?

[Alex Wheeler]

The least expensive way into any hobby or sport is to buy the best equipment ONCE. If you want "x" rest but you buy "y" rest to save money, you will eventually sell "y" rest at a loss to buy "x" rest. Its a simple concept. Every shooter I know has done it, including me.

 

[snakepit]

riverwolf

+1

 

[GSPV]

Phil, if you are NOT going to shoot prone (as in F-Open) you are better off WITHOUT a coaxial rest. Coaxials shine in F-Open, however, for shooting off a bench they are not as steady / stable as say The Sinclair Competition Shooting Rest. It is about as good as it gets for the money...

Many, many folks in both score and group short range benchrest shoot a co-ax. Tony being one.

 

[butchlambert]

If you have actually shot FClass open, you will understand a standard type rest makes you get out of your shooting position to make adjustments. Most FClass shooters do not have arms as long as a Gorilla. A good joystick rest allows you to stay in your shooting position as you come on target. It is much faster and allows you to jump on a condition and shoot rather than reaching up and twisting knobs and then getting back into your shooting position.

 

[Phil3]

Butch,

As the expert on the ShadeTree Engineering co-axial top, and experienced shooter, do you feel the co-ax offers any meaningful advantage over a straight windage top shooting off a bench? I often times will put up four or more targets (in a square pattern) on the shooting board for a single shooting session. It seems to be the co-axial offers a nice plus in being to reaim at the different targets which may be 10" apart. I am shooting at 100 yards. I also intend to try the Optimal Charge Weight load development approach (http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/), which requires I keep reaiming. I am considering your co-ax top with something like a Bald Eagle base.

Thank you.

Phil

 

[butchlambert]

Phil,
I do sell coaxial rest tops. I will say the only advantage to anybody's coaxial rest is speed. Shooting as you are speaking of, you can go target to target very quickly. If speed isn't a factor it will provide no advantage.

 

[Phil3]

Thank you. Your response makes perfect sense. - Phil

 

[Alex Wheeler]

To add to what Butch said, the speed also provides you better groups, unless you are a very good wind reader.

 

[Hombre0321]

To add to what Butch said, the speed also provides you better groups, unless you are a very good wind reader.

Why would that be so?

RS

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Getting all your shots off fast while the condition holds is more desirable than having to wait for the condition to come back or hold off.

 

[Forum Boss]

I would add that I strongly prefer a co-axial rest when shooting prairie dogs or ground squirrels or when shooting a match where you have multiple targets strung out over a hillside. When shooting small varmints, at least out in California, you are constantly moving left/right, near and far, and the joystick is very handy. A bipod works well of course if you are moving around a great deal.

 

[snakepit]

I've used someone else's Fire Control and thought it was a piece of crap. I guess you can fix that somewhat but when you want to move up to a real rest potential buyers are gonna' look at it and see a used piece of crap.

. In 2012 Chad Jenkins set a new IBS 4-Target Light Gun 600 yard Aggregate record which broke the record set by Sam Hall in 2011 and the Front Rest he used was a Caldwell Fire Control. As Chad said in the article written in the Accurate Shooter June 14th, 2012 Daily Bulletin, "the Caldwell isn't fancy, but it did the job. The record was set with an unmodified unit, just as it appears in the photo".

I just read in today's Home Page an article about Chad Jenkins setting a new IBS-600yd Record in Light Gun using his Caldwell Fire Control Front Rest. Two 600 yd records in two years, pretty good shooting with his "Piece Of Crap" Caldwell Fire Control Front Rest.

 

[Nomo4me]

I just read in today's Home Page an article about Chad Jenkins setting a new IBS-600yd Record in Light Gun using his Caldwell Fire Control Front Rest. Two 600 yd records in two years, pretty good shooting with his "Piece Of Crap" Caldwell Fire Control Front Rest.

They are a loose, wiggly POS and I'd bet the one mentioned above was modified with custom machined parts.

 

[snakepit]

I just read in today's Home Page an article about Chad Jenkins setting a new IBS-600yd Record in Light Gun using his Caldwell Fire Control Front Rest. Two 600 yd records in two years, pretty good shooting with his "Piece Of Crap" Caldwell Fire Control Front Rest.

They are a loose, wiggly POS and I'd bet the one mentioned above was modified with custom machined parts.

The 2012 Record was done with a "Unmodified" Fire Control Rest and I think the 2013 record may have been set with the same rest but he had modified the top. Either way it is still a great accomplishment.

Other facts brought out in the article was that he was using a "Standard 6mm BR" & "No-Turned Necks".

As the July 14th, 2013 Accurate Shooter article said, "Chad proved that you don't need the most exotic equipment to set records".

 

[AndyTaber]

When I was investigating what was available in a co-axial top, I looked hard at the Caldwell. The biggest factor that moved me away from that choice was the fact it doesn't accommodate a Protektor or Edgewood front bag. I found several articles on how to modify the Caldwell with a Sinclair top, but by the time you add this cost into it, I went with the Shadetree and have been VERY happy since. Butch configured my top to fit on my Caldwell Rock base until I upgraded to a "Hayes" style base.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

...They are a loose, wiggly POS...

While I don't necessarily disagree, I watched the F-Class 500-yard record (200-17) get set last August off of one. A good shooter will overcome. 'Course, that same shooter might do even better with a better rest. Maybe he would have shot 200-18+ off a custom co-axial rest...

 

[AR Shooter]

When I was investigating what was available in a co-axial top, I looked hard at the Caldwell. The biggest factor that moved me away from that choice was the fact it doesn't accommodate a Protektor or Edgewood front bag.

Have a Protektor bag on my Caldwell and it is the second one. Fits with no problem.

 

[AndyTaber]

In the bulletin and article sections on this sight there are several reports that you cannot put a standard Protector or Edgewood bag on the "Fire Control" rest because the top is too narrow. Has Caldwell made a change?

 

[Nomo4me]

Can't say I disagree with what *might* be possible using one. Damned if fiddling with the SEB isn't an enjoyable undertaking on it's own merit though. If driving 500+ miles to shoot PD's or an event, I don't want to have to overcome the cheapest available equipment option with sheer determination. I want reliable, well made gear.

While I don't necessarily disagree, I watched the F-Class 500-yard record (200-17) get set last August off of one. A good shooter will overcome. 'Course, that same shooter might do even better with a better rest. Maybe he would have shot 200-18+ off a custom co-axial rest...