Bald Eagle Rests on sale for even less

[roc1]

Is this bald eagle lot better than BR Caldwell rest? If so what makes it better?
Thanks

 

[Walkalong]

I assume this rest?

I have no experience with it, but based on my experience with its little brother, and Caldwell products in general, I would not expect it to be up to the quality of the New Bald Eagle that is the topic of this thread. The BE is very stable, and has no play when locked down.

The bag on the Caldwell BR doesn't look like much. Perhaps a better bag would help. It needs to fit the stock well. That one is intended for flat bottom BR stocks and would not be suitable for rounded stocks.

Here is a pic with an AR with a round float tube on my Caldwell. The bag on it is narrow with a rounded bottom which fits it well. The rear bag is over filled and not stable. I have fixed that. I replaced it with this one. I use my Edgewood as well when I get more serious. I bought the Edgewood for my FN SPR that I have shot a couple of local F-Class matches with. (Reduced targets at 300)

Here is a better Protektor rear bag sitting by its self (Too short here) with a front bag under the stock and an old Lyman rest that I have given away.

Believe it or not, I was able to shoot a few <1MOA groups with it and that Ruger 77-22. It is a seriously picky rifle, but I finally found something it liked.

 

[roc1]

Thanks Walkalong I may have try Bald Eagle. It's weight is same as Caldwell BR bench rest model. That shouldn't matter much if it's more precise. Model you said is one I have. Bullets.com shows bags for it as well there rest. My rifles are round bottoms one is flat but only 2-1/2 wide
Thanks for help
Roc1

 

[Skylerbone]

Walkalong, my current set up looks somewhat similar to your old one, though I swear my rest is marked "Hoppe's" (definitely twins though) with a protector rear bag. I originally bought a Protector front bag as well, not realizing its width was meant for a beaver tail forearm. I replaced it with a Caldwell sporter style which is rather sticky without talc. I'm guessing roc1 was looking to also replace bags as well as his rest and I would recommend something other than Caldwell for that despite some of the groups I've managed with my poor man's cobbling. Seems I need a different rear bag as well.

Would you by chance be able to elaborate more at this point on modifying the windage top on the BE to (I assume) eliminate delay or latent tension from the cable or have you checked threading yet?

I did email bullets.com and they are expecting the cast iron Slingshot to be back in stock on 10-09-17 for those interested.

 

[Walkalong]

I swear my rest is marked "Hoppe's" (definitely twins though)

Maybe I remember wrong.

 

[Walkalong]

elaborate more at this point on modifying the windage top on the BE

I need to see how it actually does in use, but I may eliminate the cable and fit the silver handle straight to the threaded piece that moves the top.

 

[Walkalong]

one is flat but only 2-1/2 wide

2 1/4 or 2 1/2?

http://www.bullets.com/search?q=(brand:"Bald+Eagle")+AND+(category:"Shooting+Rest+Bags")

the cast iron

The aluminum is as heavy as I want to tote around these days. Even toting around the Edgewood bag filled with heavy sand is a job.

I have a flat one that measures 2.5, but don't remember where it came from.

 

[roc1]

Looks like BE would be lot better than Caldwell rest I am using might get it and BE bag go with it sell my Caldwell rests work lot better . Trying get something that is better for benchrest
Thanks

 

[Walkalong]

Bald Eagle rests (The old ones) used to be very very popular in Benchrest. Then came along many custom designs that made inroads. Anything that is steady will work. You need a good bag on it that fits the gun snugly. Benchrest rules state the gun must be able to be picked straight up out of it, so you couldn't just fold the rest pieces on the sides of the bag over pinning it in. Then came along a lot of custom rear bags as well. The Farely rests was one of the first rests with windage/elevation built in with its "joystick".

You don't really need it, but it is helpful and can speed up getting back on target. If the gun rides the bags well, and you control recoil the same each time, there isn't a lot of fussing to get back on target though.

This new Bald Eagle rest won't hold you back as far as shooting groups go. To get a better rest you'll be looking at spending a lot more. Check out Sinclair International and Benchrest Central for examples.

 

[roc1]

I seen them I buy lot from Brownells.
Need get front bag that will fit smaller forend.

 

[RussellC]

I assume this rest?

I have no experience with it, but based on my experience with its little brother, and Caldwell products in general, I would not expect it to be up to the quality of the New Bald Eagle that is the topic of this thread. The BE is very stable, and has no play when locked down.

The bag on the Caldwell BR doesn't look like much. Perhaps a better bag would help. It needs to fit the stock well. That one is intended for flat bottom BR stocks and would not be suitable for rounded stocks.

Here is a pic with an AR with a round float tube on my Caldwell. The bag on it is narrow with a rounded bottom which fits it well. The rear bag is over filled and not stable. I have fixed that. I replaced it with this one. I use my Edgewood as well when I get more serious. I bought the Edgewood for my FN SPR that I have shot a couple of local F-Class matches with. (Reduced targets at 300)

Here is a better Protektor rear bag sitting by its self (Too short here) with a front bag under the stock and an old Lyman rest that I have given away.

Believe it or not, I was able to shoot a few <1MOA groups with it and that Ruger 77-22. It is a seriously picky rifle, but I finally found something it liked.

I use the same setup, protektor rear bag and all.

Russellc

 

[roc1]

Thanks Walkalong and guys for help ordered rest and bag so maybe get better setup. Btw put Caldwells on eBay won't need them with new setup
Thanks again gentleman
Roc1

 

[RussellC]

Its very nice, the Bald Eagle. List was over 400.00. At the current sale price, its a buy.

Russellc

 

[Walkalong]

I have no doubt you will be happy with the rest, and the upgrade in quality will be obvious in person.

 

[Skylerbone]

Maybe I should just save the 9 lbs and order the aluminum version. I feel like I should want the heavier version though...the carry weight doesn't bother me at this point.

 

[roc1]

I would put shot bags on it for weight I have done that to the Caldwell

 

[Walkalong]

I shot a lot of tee tiny groups with my original Bald Eagle aluminum rest. The ones that weren't were no fault of the rest. But yes, heavier is more stable. The difference between "light" and "heavy" varmint class is 3 pounds of rifle weight. It makes a difference in the long run. Aggs will tend to shrink a hair. You cannot shoot a HV gun in LV class. My light varmint weight 6 PPC was legal in all classes, LV, HV, Sporter, and unlimited. It's tough sledding shooting a bag gun against rails guns.

 

[Walkalong]

Some better pics. And I think I forgot to mention to get a tall rear bag (Edgewood bags come in three heights), or you will likely need a spacer/riser under it, such as this, or some plywood etc.

PSA Lightweight M-Lok Pencil Barrel 5.56 1/7 with a Trijicon 6 MOA Dot. The RMR was on sale with free mounts, and PSA had the upper for $229 (No BCG/CH), but I already had a BCG and CH. It's mounted on an Aero Precision lower I built up with a GS2 trigger that I have been using with my 300 BLK upper. It fits the lower quite nicely.

 

[Varminterror]

Is this bald eagle lot better than BR Caldwell rest? If so what makes it better?
Thanks

Yes, the Bald Eagle is a lot better than the Caldwell Rock BR.

Compared to the Bald Eagle, the Caldwell Rock BR is basically only slightly better of a rest than its namesake - a rock. The elevator shank and the course elevation sleeve have excessive run out, so the head has to be tightly locked down else it will have a bit of wobble on both of these diameters. Let alone the fact the course elevation sleeve on the Rock Br is nothing more than a sliding sleeve, whereas it is gear driven in the Bald Eagle, so you have a course adjustment knob plus a fine control wheel for elevation. The windage adjustment gearing on the Caldwell head is so sloppy, yet stiff, it's nearly impossible to really employ at the range for windage aiming of the rifle. It's kinda like being satisfied with the handling of an F-150, and then one day setting yourself down into a Ferrari. A shooter can actually effectively employ the windage controls of the Bald Eagle to aim the rifle, as a windage head should be used.

The bag mounts and forend pressure pads are much better on the Bald Eagle as well.

It might sound like a bad joke, but in my experience with them, the Rock BR really is little more than an adjustable height rock. I set it at the right height then do my fine elevation and windage adjustments by shifting my rear bag.

When the Bald Eagle can be bought for $140-200, it makes me wish the Caldwell wasn't even on the market. Shooters would be far better served in spending their money on the Bald Eagle. There are things I like better about the BE than even the Sinclair rests, of which I am a BIG fan.

 

[climbnjump]

After resisting for nearly 32 hours, you got me, too good of a value to pass up. Got the bag to go with it as well.

Well, I resisted for about 120 more hours than Walkalong, but finally bit the bullet on Sunday and mine arrived today. I guess the only thing I'm baffled about is how good a deal it was/is.

 

[roc1]

Thanks guys for help had seen them before but wasn't sure about them got one on way. One of our club BR shooters said guys that had them were satisfied
Thanks again
Roc1

 

[Walkalong]

Rock BR really is little more than an adjustable height rock. I set it at the right height then do my fine elevation and windage adjustments by shifting my rear bag.

Yep. Same here.

But it "works", you just won't see any at a match of any kind. As I posted earlier, the differences will be obvious (At first glance) in person.

 

[Walkalong]

Shooters would be far better served in spending their money on the Bald Eagle.

No doubt about it.

 

[roc1]

No doubt about it.

Is this bald eagle lot better than BR Caldwell rest? If so what makes it better? Thanks

 

[roc1]

Thanks guys for help got rest in took it out for a spin lots better than Caldwell need learn proper way to use it now . I shot some great groups with Savage 6.5 while ago
Thanks again gentleman for steering me in right direction really appreciate it
Roc1