looking for anybody who has used this rest

[flatsticks]

Going to pick up a new rest and originaly was set on the cast iron one that listed here https://www.grizzly.com/products/bald-eagle-y-rest-cast-iron/be1006

very good shooter at my range suggested it , especially if i did not want to spend as much as a sinclair rest.

Saw they also make an aluminum model but it weighs a lot less , would it be heavy enough ? https://www.grizzly.com/products/bald-eagle-rest-slingshot-aluminum/be1005

Mostly using the rest for 223. 6.5 creedmoor and 280 ackley improved .

Thanks for your thoughts as always .

 

[horsemen61]

Going to pick up a new rest and originaly was set on the cast iron one that listed here https://www.grizzly.com/products/bald-eagle-y-rest-cast-iron/be1006

very good shooter at my range suggested it , especially if i did not want to spend as much as a sinclair rest.

Saw they also make an aluminum model but it weighs a lot less , would it be heavy enough ? https://www.grizzly.com/products/bald-eagle-rest-slingshot-aluminum/be1005

Mostly using the rest for 223. 6.5 creedmoor and 280 ackley improved .

Thanks for your thoughts as always .

I have the aluminum one that isn’t adjustable for windage @Walkalong suggested it yes I am a fan I would buy again and I’ve recommended it to others yes it’s heavy enough it’s a good rest to me also don’t forget you have to buy a bag separately!


I hope you enjoy it!

 

[Varminterror]

I have and prefer the heavy cast version. Exceptionally good quality for its price point. @Walkalong has a thread somewhere (if I don’t have my lines crossed) from a couple years ago when he bought one and converted the windage control to direct drive, which is a worthwhile endeavor to take the lash out of the knob control.

 

[Walkalong]

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/bald-eagle-rest.833091/

 

[Walkalong]

Obviously the cast iron will be more solid, same for steel rests, but the aluminum ones are great. A lot of people shoot Benchrest with aluminum front rests.

 

[doubleh]

My personal preference is a heavy front rest. They tend to stay where you put them.

 

[RainDodger]

I have the aluminum one and it's just fine. Plenty heavy. Mine is the "slingshot" design (same mfg) and its only drawback is the center leg and the adjustment knob that sits fairly high. It will hit a magazine if your rifle uses one. My solution was to slice off the knob and put a screwdriver slot in the shank, flush with the leg. You really don't need to adjust the leg height often anyway. That said, I would definitely recommend these rests and the aluminum doesn't move at all either. The feet are sharp points and definitely stay anchored in a wood shooting bench if they're extended. To get around the knob interference I had, the rest pictured above is a better design.

 

[Offfhand]

The Bald Eagle rest(s) is a good choice and vastly better than the Caldwell contraptions. The original Bald Eagle rests were designed and made by Bill Gephardt a dedicated benchrest shooter whom I shot with numerous times back in '80's and 90's. My wife and I both used his rests back then, with me proffering the iron version and she using the lighter. She said the lighter one was easier for her to set up on bench and apparently it was no handicap because she regularly beat me and other shooters. HIs "slingshot" design was an effort to compensate for the narrow wings on benches at some shooting ranges, especially Kelbly's range where the SuperShoot and other matches are held. Later, Gephardt modified his regular wider rest so an inboard leg-screw could be added to compensate for narrow benches. It's interesting that those who have copied the slingshot design (Potterfield, et al) have done so without knowing its original purpose. Nowadays serious benchrest competitors mainly use joystick type front rests but for average shooting, sighting-in and testing loads the Grizzly Bald Eagle is the best choice around for the money.. A better rest will cost you $hundreds more and be only marginally better. I say this from the experience of owning or having owned and used about every front rest made over the past 40 yrs or so.

 

[Walkalong]

The original Bald Eagle rests were designed and made by Bill Gephardt a dedicated benchrest shooter whom I shot with numerous times back in '80's

 

[flatsticks]

Appreciate the reviews and experience on the rests.

For the front bag should I buy the one from the Grizzly site by Bald Eagle or could I use a protektor ?

 

[GoldieMI]

Got the same Hart Front Rest with windage top as in the picture...upper right
She doesn't move after you put it on the bench

 

[Walkalong]

Appreciate the reviews and experience on the rests.

For the front bag should I buy the one from the Grizzly site by Bald Eagle or could I use a protektor ?

The ones from Grizzly are set up to bolt right on, but I'm sure you could make other brands work.