Caldwell Rock Jr Rifle Rest - $27

[rnabholz]

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=682659

Ordered this rest, got it yesterday - What a great value for $27!!  Heavy cast base, nice smooth adjustments, nice FILLED bag.

Great value. 

Closeout deal - screen says 87 left at the time of this posting.

Rod

[TCups]

Good buy, Rod.  Couple of suggestions based on my learning curve.  When you shoot, position the rest with 2 legs forward (toward the target) and one pointed straight back at you.  This will minimize the tendency of the rest to "rock" (tilt backward) when you fire.  Get a small Johnson's Baby Powder (talc - not cornstarch, which can get sticky) and apply a bit to the rest when you shoot.  It will let the forestock slid backward more smoothly on the rest, which is the equivalent of the so called "artillery hold".  

Oh, one other thing I discovered.  I took a 5# weight from an old set of barbells and put it on the post of the rest under the adjustment wheel.  It will add even more weight and makes the rest even more stable.

Good shooting!

[rnabholz]

TCups,

Thanks for the pointers. 

About the powder. I do something similar with the big Caldwell bag that has that "grabby" suede top.  I place the bag in a disposable shopping bag and rest the gun on shopping bag.  I think that it accomplishes the same thing - frees the gun to move around during the firing cycle.

I do have just the weight for the job laying around, I will give that try.

Thanks

Rod

[gene_sc]

Thanks Tommy for passing on your knowledge. I often wondered about how to set the legs on my Caldwell big boy. Now I know.. Thanks to you. Question? Do you know where I can get one of those rest to fit on my tripod like you have on your tripods?

[TCups]

Gene (and everyone else):

I set up a tripod rest and topped it with a Protektor front rest.  Caldwell also makes a similar front rest bag.  You can find these at sporting good stores, like Cabelas, Bass Pro, Sportsman's Warehouse or order on line from many sources.  For example:

http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0012736227197a.shtml?cmCat=perf&rid=0987654321&cm_mmc=Performics-_-CSE-_-GoogleBaseUSA-_-0012736227197a&mr:trackingCode=11C4B7CC-958E-DF11-A0C8-002219318F67&mr:referralID=NA

The trick to the tripod rest is to have someone (in my case, Gene) cut you a 6" aluminum bar tapped in the center with a 1/4 inch thread.  This will fit the standard attachment for holding a camera on a tripod.  Then, just strap the front bag on to the bar.

I also added a pie tin, lined with green felt, to the underside of the tripod (many of the better tripods are threaded on the bottom as well as the top), and a folding three-legged seat I got from one of the camping gear outlets (REI, I think).  I can get the tripod with rest and seat to fit in a small bag that came with a bigger folding seat, leaving the carry strap on the three-legged seat hanging out and carry the rest and seat over my shoulder if I want to tote it into the woods or to a fun shoot.

[rnabholz]

Just 11 left though - hurry.

[AZjoe]

This would be a great deal, indeed ..... IF the shipping was reasonable. UPS is about $14!! Thats pretty close to the cost of the rifle rest. Definately not a bargain.

[rnabholz]

My shipping was $11.

These are heavy, heavy equals more expense to ship.

All things being equal, and assuming you don't live across the street from the factory, it still represents a good deal on a good product

Buy it retail and the going rate is $40 PLUS sales tax,  lets say a low 5%, plus gas to and from the store, call it $45 total

I got mine for $38 and the last price I saw would have made it $35

But, of course you are free not to buy it, but it was a good deal.

[bart the fart]

i really really like your tripod rig TCUPS!, i think i might even have a tripod... i think i bought a really nice one at a garage sale years ago....time to clean the garage and find it, and the pie tin to hold pellets....genuis!

[TCups]

I think I posted the suggestion but may not have posted the picture before.  With the basic rests, like the Caldwell Rock Jr, if you have an extra barbell weight or two, you can substantially improve the stability of the small rest by adding weight.  Mine now has two x 7.5# weights and is, in  fact, steady as a rock.  The other rest is for rimfire bench rest shooting and has a 3" wide flat bag rather than the curved leather bag.  The flat bag mates with a 3" wide skid plate on the forestock of my Winchester 52C





The leather bags will benefit from some talcum powder to make them nice and slick when you shoot.  If the rifle drags a bit on the leather bag, then the rest "rocks" slightly from the felt recoil and you will notice your groups beginning to open up vertically.