Front Shooting Bags

I like the Edgewood bags along with my Sinclair front test.. I would suggest you take a look at their website and see if they have anything that interest you,, if so, order direct from them and you will usually get your bags in 2 to 3 weeks., even though their website says it takes longer.

Remember, you have to load for every shot! That means picking up your rifle out of the rest, loading and then getting it back and "settled" for the next shot. That "getting it settled" is where you can lose consistency. Any type of rest that will get the gun settled and back on target with a minimum of fussing will produce better more consistent results...........At least in my opinion. Being a benchrest shooter, we thrive on consistency in our rest set ups.
For me, its my customized lead sled with its base that is clamped to the bench that gives me consistency. A add on plate on the forend which is 3" wide, fits in the 3" flat bag I replaced on the sled. An additional add on block on the toe of the stock allows it to fit perfectly on the rear pocket of the sled. The sled rides on tracks that slide freely only to the rear as there are guide rails to control movement. I just have to nudge the rest about 1" forward after each shot. When I load my rifle and set it back in the sled it immediately comes back on target. For me? This is ideal for a muzzle loader. Plus, I can literally shoot shoulder crunching loads all day with no fatigue! This means I am never worried about the scope hitting my eye or my shoulder starting to hurt. This translates into relaxed shooting and more concentration on getting my scope settled with no movement.
Everyone has their own way of doing things but this is what gives me confidence every time that 2 oz. Shilen trigger breaks a shot. I am never concerned with "pulling or flinching" due recoil taking its toll on my shoulder. If you are strictly sighting in for hunting and don't plan on a lot of shooting, then most any rest system will work reasonably well. Nothing wrong with one of Uncle Bud's Bulls Bags or similar setups. For more serious shooting, Bill has made a good point.

If your pockets are deep?.............Contact Elkman as he builds a beautiful rest!
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I have a bald eagle gun rest and rear bag. But then I bought the (dog gone- good bag ) large front bag and the wedge bag. If I had to chose 1 it would be the (dog-gone good bag) I don't find it hard to pull the gun out and put it back just set it back in the pocket

There is so many Dog Gone Bags which one is Best? Need a Dog Gone suitcase just to bring'em all to the shoot! Wholly smokes! Seriously though small, medium, or large?

Doug 136,

Been a while since I competeted in bench rest shoots. One thing that separated the winners from the masses was, IME, the rest system.

Smokeless muzzle loading is not exactly like bench rest shooting but the accuracy principles and "table manners" are. I saw more improvement in group sizes and scores with the advent of
co-axial front rests than with any other equipment upgrade. Recoil management during the micro second at firing is key to winning. I watched some good shooters become very good match winners when they switched to co axial rests.

Does it mean that if you shoot on a coaxial, you will automatically win? I don't know but using the coaxial sure won't hurt.....maybe ask Deadeye.

I will try to get some pictures of different rests up.

Some are pricey and some not so much.

SEB, probably the best out there....$1200.00 to $1700.00

Farley, just as good but not as well made.....around $750.00

Butch Lambert @ Shadetree, used to be around $300.00 but is probably more now

Caldwell Fire control, the cheapest but with a little work, just as effective as the others....Just ask Chad Jenkins. He set at least two IBS 600 yard records using his fire control rest.

Often, the things that are done to win matches are small and subtle. Your system has to work very well to begin with and the the tiny tweaks then come into play.

THERE AIN"T NO MAGIC BULLET....pardon the lax english and shout

PS; You high speed low drag machinists can make your own coaxial rest....I did and still use it.


Mike

Apologies...slightly off topic, but do they allow these contraptions at that friendship shoot that bestill458 goes to?

The rests I build are very special for the 1.000 yard crowd. They are expensive and would be over kill for the average kind of shooting we do with or muzzleloaders. Grizzly Imports is selling their Bald Eagle rests pretty darn cheap. They are not a bad rest. The do require a little work to get them up to speed but for under $200.00 you can't get anything better. The cable drive system is a waste it has way to much slack because they used a cheap cable that flexes when you turn it. Several shooters around here bought them and then took the cable off and just added a nice knob for the side adjustment. A decent front rest is far better than any kind of shooting bag.

Airborneike's advice is very good if you are going to be shooting multiple shots and have to get them off fast. The coaxial will get you on target fast. In the case of a muzzleloader, it is not necessary to get back on target quick as you have to remove the rifle to load it? Just a good solid rest as Elkman has indicated. Deadeye is probably also using that rest of his for his CF rifle competition and it serves a dual purpose.