SEB MAX Coaxial Front Rest — Field Test by Sam Hall
[haiku url=”http://accurateshooter.net/Video/samhallmax.mp3″]Click PLAY to hear Sam TALK about SEB MAX |
“It’s a keeper” — that’s what Sam Hall, 4-time IBS 600-yard Shooter of the Year, told us after he test-drove the new SEB MAX coaxial front rest. Over the past two months, Sam has been testing the new SEB MAX with his competition benchrest rifles, with a variety of forearm widths from three inches to eight inches, and weights from 17 to 61 pounds. Did Sam like the SEB MAX? He did indeed — in fact he was so impressed with the MAX rest that he is selling his current front rest and he will be using the SEB MAX for both LG and HG matches. |
In designing the SEB MAX rest, Sebastian (“Seb”) Lambang set out to build a rest that would handle true heavy guns up to 45kg and also adapt to lighter rifles with a variety of forearm widths. This was quite a challenge, but he pulled it off. The SEB MAX quickly adapts to fit narrow, medium, and wide forearms, with a simple adjustment of the side plates on the three-piece front bag. You can change from 3″ to 5″ to 8″ width in seconds. If you prefer a conventional one-piece front sand-bag, SEB offers one-piece bags sized to fit various forearm widths from 2.5″ to 8″.
The SEB MAX also adapts to different rifle weights through the use of a front counter-weight for the heavy big boomers. With a standard 17-lb Light Gun, you can run the MAX with no counterweight. The joystick control movement is very smooth and with the internal springs tuned right, you can shoot with your hand off the joystick. When you want to switch to a true Heavy Gun, simply attach the counterweight arm to the front of the gun. SEB can supply custom counter-weight “donuts” tuned to your specific Heavy Gun. Sam Hall reviews the features of the SEB MAX in the video below.
Watch SEB MAX Video Review (Part 1 — Light Gun)
Does the SEB MAX retain its smooth movement even with a true Heavy Gun on the front bags? Absolutely. Sam reports that “When shooting my 61-pounder, with the counter-weight in place, the joystick movement is smooth and predictable — it feels just like the Light Gun”.
To prove how well the counter-balancer works with a true Heavy Gun, Sam put his 61-lb Maxi-Tracker on the SEB MAX, attached the appropriate counterweight, and then shot a group at 600 yards without touching the joystick during a four-shot string. To Sam’s amazement, the gun produced a 4-shot group under 1.5″. Sam says: “That was in mid-day with some mirage. That’s about the best this gun can do in those conditions. It was impressive to be able to run a string with a 61-pounder and not touch the joystick.” You can see this in the Part 2 Video below.
Watch SEB MAX Video Review (Part 2 — Heavy Gun)
Superior Build Quality, Unique Versatility, and Outstanding Performance
Sam had high praise for the workmanship, fit, and finish of the SEB MAX: “This rest is a work of art. I’m not easily impressed by most products, but this is one fine machine.” Sam added that the SEB MAX is not just pretty — everything functions very well: “The sideplates have quick-release handles so you can change widths quickly. The course elevation control is very smooth and easy to use. With the course elevation locked, there is plenty of vertical travel (elevation) and plenty of side-to-side travel with just the joystick.” Sam was also impressed with how well the 61-pounder tracked on the SEB MAX: “I’ve been playing with it… and the gun seems to track perfect.”
Sam also praised the micro-fiber fabric SEB uses for both the three-piece and conventional one-piece front bags: “This micro-fiber is great. You don’t need to use any silicon or powder or anything to slick it up, yet the forearm slides on it better than anything I’ve ever seen.”
Sam likes the modular construction of the SEB MAX. Sam found that, when he was just shooting a Light Gun, he could remove the rear foot, making the rest easier to move around. Like the SEB NEO rest, the MAX rest breaks down into flat modules so it packs more compactly for shipping.
SEB MAX rests are currently in the final stages of production. Price for the USA market has not yet been set. You can get on the pre-order waiting list by contacting Ernie Bishop in Gillette, Wyoming. Call (307) 257-7431, or email ernieemily [at] yahoo.com. For other markets consult dealer list on www.SebCoax.com.
Weight: The MAX weighs approximately 18.4 kg (40.5 lbs) without the counter-weight, with bags empty. Sam’s rest with full bags and counter-weight is about 45 pounds.
Rest Size: Side to side footprint (center to center of leveling screws) is approximately 13.78″. Dimension from back to front is about 14.17″.
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Tags: Heavy Gun, IBS, Maxi Tracker, Sam Hall, Samuel Hall, Seb Coaxial, SEB MAX, Sebastian Lambang
Hi Sam, glad that you like your new toy!
Great review & great shooting there.
Also glad that you tried shooting without holding the joystick – it means/says a lot about the mechanism.
Paul (Forum Boss) did a great job too. The write up covers almost all of the (technical) aspects of the rest.
Just one thing anyway….some people are wondering if the front bags are legal to use in IBS 1,000 yds or the Pennsylvania match. Can you confirm about it?
Thanks you & Best Wishes,
seb.
Seb
BY my measurements with calipers, the SEB MAX conforms to IBS Long Range rules for competition (Page 29 article VII-L, A)7).
I also just received my new Neo rest and i agree with Sam that these rest are un-equaled by any other rest out there. Smooth is the word of the day when dealing with these rest!!!
I will use my rest for short range BR mostly, so i am going to use the one piece bag. The 3 piece bag is excellent and i love how it forms to the stock, but i thought the rules for short range required that the stock be able to be liffted straight up out of the front bag to be legal, and with my 3 piece bag and my stocks, i cant lift my rifle straight up. Now maybe thats the rule or maybe i just heard wrong? Either way this rest is the best there is hands down!!!
Thanks for the video Sam!! Lee gardner AKA Skeetlee
I did want to add one more detail. If there was anything i didnt like about my new Neo it would be the base. Unlike Sam’s base on the MAX the Neo’s base has a longer foot. “The center section of the rest” I wish my foot was shorter like the foot on the max. Now this wont be an issue for most, and here is why. With my shoot room, and how i am set up to shoot inside my shoot room, shooting out my window i have to have the foot facing me. The problem is the the joystick can make contact with the foot thus giving up just a little adjustment. I am like sam, as i like the joystick as far down and as close to the table as possible simply because you get better control from your hand resting on the table.Now I could turn the foot to face away from me, but I also have a counter weight on my rest and the donut can also hit the foot if you choose to face the foot towards the back. Now keep in mind this is mostly to do with my shootroom and how my range is laid out. My range is really flat and maybe even a slight bit down hill. So my rest isnt sitting very high off the base to begin with. I would assume that most wont have an issue such as this, so more than likely this is a none issue. However, i do like that shorter foot on the Max rest.
I also think that a straight joystick might be a nice option for some. Make no mistake these rest are freaking awesome. I feel very fortunate to own one and this rest will be with me for a very long time to come!!
Seb, Thank you sir for such a great product. Lee Gardner AKA skeetlee
Lee & Seb,
In response to the legality, I forgot to mention: the side bags on the SEB MAX are made at an angle- fat at the bottom where it contacts the stock and narrower above that point at an angle away from the stock. I was able to pick up any stock straight up out of the bag with no problem, actually easier than any rest that I have ever tried. The new 3 piece SEB bags and his one piece bags are all built at an angle. I don’t have experience with SEB’s prior models. Samuel Hall
Lee, thanks for the kind words.
You are correct that in point blank BR you must be able to lift the rifle/stock straight up out of the front bag/rest.
Let me guess that your stocks have sharp edge on the sides w/ sectional cross ‘V’ up side down. The 3 pc bags configuration (will) only work for stocks with some ‘flat’ (or the ones with slight angle/curve) on the sides. For your stocks, the one pc bag will do the job better & it conforms the rules.
Re: Long leg set at the rear/shooter’s side & joystick’s travel.
Remember that the joystick is longer than the long leg when attached and that the joystick is bent/not straight.
That way you can twist the joystick to have a comfort hold & better control w/ the handle close to the bench top (not hanging in the air) – whether you shoot downhill or uphill. It is always better to have a stable base for your joystick hand, you can also make a finer adjustment that way.
A straight joystick can’t do that as good as your current/bent joystick. (But of course for that, the joystick must have some resistance to twist, not too easily rotate. — You can adjust the tightness/the resistance of the joystick with the set/jam screw on the bottom of the ‘front’ bearing).
I know 3 or 4 shooters that think a straight joystick would be better than the bent one, but until they know the benefits of the bent joystick & how to set the tightness.
Also check that your foreend stopper can be adjusted/tilted up & down by the small set screw on the pivotal joint – so it will work for various stocks/fore-ends.
Hope this help.
Let me know your finding about the base configuration in relation with the bent joystick.
Or consult with Mike Ratigan for any problems with your rest.
seb.
Sam, thanks you for yours!
Hope to meet with you someday.
seb.