Have a MPR and looking for suggestions for a good front bench rest. Not wanting a really expensive one but one that is solid and wide enough for the 2.5” forend
I've had numerous high end rifles, a few dozen Anschutz, but I never felt the need for a big or sophisticated rest. Just a comp of an $80 Caldwell, with a rabbit ear bag for the rear of the stock.Those items and other accessories would fit into a large tool box.
When you need to tote too much stuff to the range, it starts to take some of the fun out of it.
You're probably better off over in Benchrest Equipment. There are many rests depending on your budget, and you buy the bag that fits in the rest for your particular application.
Since you asked, especially if you want windage adjustment, I like Cowan rests, high quality, attractive, and built in America by Americans for a good cause. Well under $300 delivered.
Reversible, this one's set up for a lefty...Tom
Last edited by Thomasconnor; 06-10-2019 at 06:14 PM.
I like the Caldwell rest. This one has an aftermarket top but the new version has been improved and doesn't need a different top. It will fit a wide stock. They run about 160-170 but sometimes go on sale for $130. Te top is adjustable for windage and the top has adjustments for elevation, course, mild and very fine.
A Bald Eagle from Grizzly.com is a great rest for around $179. If you can't find it on Grizzly's site, then check ebay. Sometimes a good front and rear sandbag will give good results. Bullsbag is a real heavy one that works well for me. If you get one, don't try to buy an unfilled bag and fill it yourself. You'll never get it right. Spend the extra $$ for shipping and get it filled
When had my MPR, I used a MPOD bipod. Very sturdy, stable and light and it fits perfectly in the rail of the MPR without any adaptor. You can buy them from Jerry Teo at Mystic Precision. This is a Canadian based retailer but I am sure Jerry ships to the US.
Your front rest looks awfully familiar to one I bought 30 years ago from the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center. Each student in the machining program was required to build a front gun rest. They were then sold and the money put back into the program. Quality was first class (still using mine) and price was extremely low. Also bought a set of head space gauges made by them. Yours is the first one I have seen online if that is where it came from.
Your front rest looks awfully familiar to one I bought 30 years ago from the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center. Each student in the machining program was required to build a front gun rest. They were then sold and the money put back into the program. Quality was first class (still using mine) and price was extremely low. Also bought a set of head space gauges made by them. Yours is the first one I have seen online if that is where it came from.
P.S. Nice looking Sako.
Yes that's the Cowan rest, built in America by Americans for a good cause. Joe Cowan is the machine shop instructor and a member here.
And high quality; no threads on how to fix them once you receive it like the Asian rests.
I've never appreciated Bald Eagle after they moved production from the US to an Asian sweat shop...Tom
You're probably better off over in Benchrest Equipment. There are many rests depending on your budget, and you buy the bag that fits in the rest for your particular application.
Since you asked, especially if you want windage adjustment, I like Cowan rests, high quality, attractive, and built in America by Americans for a good cause. Well under $300 delivered.
Reversible, this one's set up for a lefty...Tom
+1 on the Cowan front rest. I have both the Cowan rest and a 64 MPR and am very pleased with both. You may want to check out M.Werks forearm bench rest plate. That is what I use with mine and it makes for a nice setup.
Here is a photo of my Cowan rest with a roller bearing top that replaces the existing bag supplied with the Cowan rest. No modifications are required, just loosen the screws, insert the unit and tighten the screws.
This modification is for stocks with a fore end 3" wide.
I have the Rock BR base with a D.R.Greenlaw windage adjustable top mounted on it. About $400 total invested, but we'll worth the $$$IMHO. IF not doing precision BR shooting, the Caldwell Rock BR is a good rest for the money--about $130/$150 on eBay. And, there is a sticky in the benchrest equipment page about some easy and inexpensive mods you can make to the Rock BR which really do improve it's use and performance.
A worthwhile Cowan modification
Linear Mode
