Front Bench Rest and Modifications

[Pauls Custom Targets]

I was looking for a reasonably priced bench rest front rest and found this. Bald Eagle Sling shot rest. For $185.00 Shipped !!

I read it was not being manufactured anymore but I found it at my wood working and metal working supplier. The president of the company was a International F class bench rest competitor and record holder. He also sells the barrels for the records he set too. }Powder burners) It is at Grizzly.com. Type in the word Bald Eagle Sling shot rest.

The rest worked great, but the cable being bent is glitchy for the windage. My friend Jimmy, AKA Camp Fussell, bought one when I sent him the info. I told him I was cutting the cable and would tap the knob onto the windage bolt. He suggested a sleeve over the parts. So off to Tractor supply and $9.00 dollars later I came up with the sleeve and tapped in some allen grub screws. Then turned the table to the left for us righty's and done! It now operates like smooth glass...

Uploaded at Snapagogo.com

Uploaded at Snapagogo.com

 

[30cal]

Looks good! I have been looking at these for a while now. I live not far from Grizzly. Did not know they stopped making them. I better check and see if they have any left. Thanks for the info.

 

[Tanuki]

Nice Modification. Could you expand on what you mean by glitchy? Not responsive, jumpy, laggy?

 

[Pauls Custom Targets]

30 cal, The web site shows they are in stock in both cast iron $199.00 and aluminum $165.00 I opted for the aluminum as it was for air gun use. I have a Caldwell Led Sled Plus for the powder burners…( Tames the .300 Win Mag nicely). 

Tanuki. By glitch, I mean the crosshair would skip as it was adjusted for the windage, This is due to the tight bend in the cable and the tension the SS spring put on the aluminum table. The table rides on a nylon plate that is lubed but the tension on the adjusting bolt is crazy.! I could not push the table back against them when I removed the bolt! ( Getting old I guess….LOL)Anyway, the cable is mounted in a lubed bearing on the back leg but with the tension, the cable loads up and flexes as you turn the table to move the table left facing out. This flexing makes the cross hair skip, not flow, into positions. I found that If I take the cross hair past the POA toward the springs, it was would skip less with the springs helping to push the table back to the right. It just was not precise enough.. If you took the cable out of the rear mount and held it out straight in line with the bolt it worked fairly well. But you would need to have gorilla arms to operate it out there. The sleeve solution was the easiest and quickest way to solve the problem. It now operates easy and as smooth as snot on glass.The other adjustments are fine. It has a quick raise feature so you don’t have to spin the hell out of the scalloped wheel to get near position. The scalloped wheel is regulated to fine tuning as it should be. It has plenty of adjustment to be used in BR competitions. It weighs 11lbs 4.6 ounces after I removed the cable so it has substantial weight too in aluminum. I can imagine the cast iron version must weigh a good bit… The pointed feet are crazy sharp. I need wood under it on my concrete bench. I will be making some starboard (like delrin) feet to fit it. Hope this explains the glitch for you.I am very satisfied with the product, and would recommend it to all… Paul

 

[Tanuki]

Thank you for the response. I think I can live with that glitch and fix. I ordered the cast iron wide footed model; It should be a huge step up from my current rest.

 

[Pauls Custom Targets]

Very cool, glad I could help. I thought it was such a good deal and rest I wanted to share. When I showed it to Camp Fussell, he ordered one the same night.

I went to Tractor Supply for the sleeve and the grub screws. They have a great selection of nuts, bolts, and other supplies. The only part that was slightly difficult is tapping the sleeve. Enjoy!

 

[Gundog]

Did you try to lube the cable when it was glitchy?

 

[Pauls Custom Targets]

The cable was in a rollor bearing on the rear leg and the other end I lubed the bolt. When the knob was turned, the cable would load up before turning the threaded bolt and flex. The when the bolt moved it would jump slightly. Mostly past where I tried to get the crosshaur to.

 

[Pauls Custom Targets]

WOW I need to ck what I write befroe sending..."rollor not roller" "crosshaur not crosshair" Damn I have some issyes......LOL

 

[Dwildemn]

I'm planning to purchase same rest you have been discussing. I am not able to view the pics showing the sleeve and mods you installed. Can you pm me the pics and any othe details you have learned from 2 more years of experience. It will be greatly appreciated. 

 

[Pauls Custom Targets]

i don't believe that a photo will show in a PM .. never tried it
Here is the sleeve from a hardware store plumbing section and the bolts tapped into it. After removing the cable you just attach the knob with the sleeve. eliminates the glitchy movement from the cable.

 

[DellaDog]

Ace hardware has a replacement bolt with the correct threading on both ends that eliminates the need for a connector.
Nice and clean.
(I think it's a carburetor bolt)

 

[Pauls Custom Targets]

Wasn't pointed on the end that goes into the rest. And if so did you get the size.

 

[DellaDog]

I'll check. Pretty sure I honed the end on a grinder.

 

[Dwildemn]

Thanks. I did get the bolt and plan to shape the end on Fri when we may make it to 50 deg here in mn. Looks like a great rest - using an edgewood front bag from a sinclair top.

 

[Dwildemn]

Tried to reply previously but msge was kicked back. Thanks for the pic, I was imaging something entirely different. I am working on mods and should finish in a couple days. Thanks again.

 

[Pauls Custom Targets]

Delladog, your bolt replacement gave me an idea that was so simple that I overlooked it the first time! I just cut the original SS bolt off the base from the cable...... Duh! All I had to do then was re-tap the threads on the cut end to fit the handle. Voila! it works perfect and is clean cut. Best of all I retain the stainless bolt to avoid rust.
Now to do something about the small mounting bolts for rust....

 

[DellaDog]

That’ll work! It’s a great rest for the $.

 

[ncrary]

Just looked at the web site and this rest is no longer listed.

 

[Pauls Custom Targets]

Yes Grizzly does not carry it anymore.