At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Precision Reloading — Lee PRO 1000 Press Package, $189.99
⏺ Amazing deal on Progressive Press with Case Feeder for loading pistol ammo
If you want the efficiency of a progressive press, but have a limited budget, consider the Lee Pro 1000 Progressive Reloading Press. This reloading kit includes 3-station press, dies (Carbide FL Sizing, Powder-Through Expanding, and Bullet Seating Dies), 3-Hole Turret, Shell Plate, Powder Measure, Universal Case Feeder, and priming system. Yes that’s right this $189.99 Kit includes the case feeder! Order the kit for your favorite cartridge type including: .32 S&W, .38 Auto/.38 Super, .38 Spl/.357 Mag, .380 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 ACP, and .223 Remington. NOTE: Lee cautions that “Only CCI or Remington brand primers are safe to use with this press”. While this is a great deal it’s best suited for pistol cartridge loading. BONUS: Also, through 11:59 PM CST on 12/26/2022 you save 10% on orders over $75 with Code 122522.
⏺ Kit offers good press and big savings over price of individual tools
The RCBS Rebel Master Reloading Kit offers everything you need to get started with precision hand-loading. On sale now for just $349.99 at Midsouth, this package includes: Rebel Single-Stage Press, Uniflow-III Powder Measure, 1500 grain digital scale, hand priming tool, powder funnel, hex key set, chamfer/deburring tool, accessory handle with case neck and primer pocket brushes, case loading block, and spray lube. You even get a Speer #15 loading manual. This is a heck of a deal for $349.00 with FREE Shipping. You could pay $200 for just a good single-stage press alone.
3. Sportsman’s Warehouse — Savage Rascal Sale + Rebate
⏺ Good little bolt-action training rifle, now with REBATE
The Savage Rascal is a great starter rifle for new shooters. This compact, single-shot, bolt-action rimfire comes in a variety of stock colors and patterns. Purchase one by 12/31/2022 and get a $25 mail-in Savage rebate. These Savage Rascal Rifles feature laminated stocks, threaded (1/2-28) barrels, and modern aesthetics. Though sized for younger shooters, the design shares full-size rifle features, including Savage’s user-adjustable AccuTrigger system.
4. Amazon — Magpul Bipod, $66.00
⏺ Quality, sturdy yet light-weight bipod
Looking for a lightweight, easy-to-mount yet stable bipod? The modern Magpul MOE Bipod features injection molded components for weight reduction while still retaining the functionality, strength, and value of Magpul’s all-metal bipods. It’s easy to mount the MOE bipod using the rapid-attach mounting system that attaches securely to sling wwivel studs on the rifle forearm — no track required.
5. Amazon — RCBS Hand Priming Tool, $33.99
⏺ Very good price on an quality, durable hand-priming tool
Shopping for a very reliable hand priming tool at a bargain price? We recommend the RCBS 90200 Hand Priming tool. This durable tool seats primers quickly and safely, with plenty of leverage. The unit ships with BOTH large and small primer plugs. A safety mechanism separates the seating operation from the primer supply, significantly reducing the the possibility of tray detonation. Yes there are better, high-end hand priming tools, but you might have to pay $80+ to get noticeably better performance.
6. KYGUNCO — Taurus TX22 Competition, $419.99
⏺ Affordable .22 LR match pistol with compensator has earned positive reviews
Rimfire pistols let you enjoy action pistol competitions without spending a ton of money. Among .22 LR pistols, the Taurus TX22 Competition SCR offers great performance for the price. The TX22 Competition SCR builds features a precision-engineered slide and match-grade bull barrel. The “skeletonized” slide with enlarged ejection port is designed so that a red dot optic can be mounted to the barrel. That helps prevent problems during ejection of empty shells. Taurus claims this mounting configuration enhances accuracy compared to a slide-mounted optic platform.
7. Midway — Caldwell Front Rest & Rear Bag, $99.99
⏺ Great price on good set-up for sighting-in hunting rifles
Need a good basic front rest and rear bag to sight-in that hunting rifle or do load development? Here’s a solid, functional benchrest set-up at a great price. This Caldwell Rock BR Rest and Bag Combo is great combo deal for just $99.99. This will more than suffice for testing a hunting rifle or basic bench-work. Upgrade the rear bag later. The front rest adjusts for both windage and elevation. This is a GREAT deal — consider that the Caldwell Rock BR Rest by itself sells for $179.99 at Sportsmans.com.
8. Midsouth — Year-End RCBS Sale, Save Big Plus Free Shipping
⏺ Great prices on top-tier items plus FREE Shipping
9. Amazon — Hearing Protection and Shooting Glasses, $35.99
⏺ Excellent kit with 30 NRR muffs plus TWO sets of safety eyewear
Nearly every time we’re at the range we see people without proper eye and/or ear protection. For under $40 you can get excellent protection with this Earmuffs and Safety Lenses Kit. You get a comfortable set of 30 db NRR earmuffs plus TWO sets of protective glasses, all housed in a handy carry kit. The ANSI Z87.1-approved lenses are Anti-Fog and scratch-resistant. We like having a choice of lens colors — the clear lenses provide max light transmission while the yellow lenses offer enhanced contrast and work well on overcast days. If you do a lot of indoor training, this is a very good kit for the price.
10. MidwayUSA — MTM 4-Can Ammo Crate, $27.52
⏺ Great system that hold many pounds of ammo securely
This MTM ammo crate is popular with our readers. The MTM AC4C Ammo Carrier features four lockable polymer ammo cans in a fitted, four-slot 23.5″ x 11.3″ x 7.5″ carry crate. This makes it easy to haul four full ammo cans. Actual purchasers have raved: “Moments after I received this storage box set I ordered another. Very well-built and great design — a steal at the price.” The system includes four lockable, O-Ring 11.3″ x 7.2″ x 5″ ammo cans (AC30T) for multi-caliber ammo storage. The crate even includes tie-down points for transport in a cart or ATV. This is on sale now at MidwayUSA for $27.52 or $34.27 on Amazon.
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Available for under $230.00 including front bag, the Caldwell Fire Control front rest is a very good value. It makes the co-axial, joystick design more affordable than ever. We used the Fire Control front rest when testing our Ultimate Varminter 20 Practical AR. Once we removed some sand from the tri-lobe front bag, the rest worked quite well.
Get a Fire Control Rest for $220.99
Right now you can get the Caldwell Fire Control Front Rest for just $220.99, an 18% savings off the regular price. The $220.99 Amazon price is a great deal for guys on a tight budget who want a modern joystick-style front rest (this same Caldwell rest sells for up to $269.99 elsewhere).
With the conversion described in this article, you can put together a system that works pretty darn well, and is more than adequate for many applications, including prairie-dog hunting (from a bench). Put the money saved into a nice custom, hand-lapped barrel or some bullets for your varminter.
Upgrading Fire Control Front Rest with Sinclair Top
While most Fire Control owners are happy with the product, many have wanted to replace the tri-lobe front bag with a more conventional front bag from Protektor or Edgewood. This isn’t as easy as it looks because the width of the Fire Control top is too narrow for most standard 3″-wide front bags. On a “special order” basis, Protektor has crafted some narrower leather front bags that fit pretty well, but some shooters have decided to “upgrade” the entire front assembly.
Forum member Doug M. (aka DrJeckyl), has come up with an elegant solution that allows a Sinclair Int’l Benchrest Rest Top to be fitted to the Fire Control Rest. Doug notes: “The Caldwell Fire Control is a nice rest for the money, but it comes up short in the rest top department. The Sinclair RT-3 [or its replacement, the Gen II B/R top] fits perfect with minor modifications.” Shown below are the main components:
To adapt the Sinclair RT-3 or Gen II B/R top, Doug merely had to drill a couple holes in the RT-3 baseplate, and adapt a spacer to get the height correct: “The Caldwell factory top has a raised mounting portion so a 1/8″ piece of stock will be needed as a spacer to the flat-bottom RT-3. The spacer needs to be cut to the same length as the movable portion on the rest. And you should plan the mounting accordingly so the left thumbscrew clears the vertical height column at full left position (there is a cutaway in the rest under the thumbscrew that allows for easy access to the screw).” We labeled the photo with dimensions, but Doug cautions you should measure your own original plate to insure the drill locations are correct for your unit.
The completed installation, with the RT-3 installed on the Fire Control rest, is shown at the top of this article. Doug says it works very well. To learn more about this conversion, with Doug’s measurements for the hole-spacing and his specs on the fasteners, go to the original thread in our Shooter’s Forum. NOTE: Sinclair no longer sells the RT-3 top, but Sinclair’s $89.99 Gen II B/R top can be converted just as easily. LINK to Fire Control Rest Top Conversion Forum Thread.
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At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. KYGUNCO — Anderson AM-15 (AR) Lower Receiver, $89.99
⏺ More gun control is coming — get an AR lower while you can
With the developments in Washington, it will likely become more difficult to purchase an AR-platform rifle in the future. You may want to get an AR lower now, while you can, at a reasonable price. KYGUNGO (Kentucky Gun Co.) is selling the Anderson AM-15 AR15 Lower Receiver for just $89.99 (cash price) or $92.69 (credit card). This is a mil-spec 7075 T6 Forged aluminum lower, Type 3 Hard Anodized. Flat-Rate Shipping to your FFL is just $11.99. These will probably sell out quickly.
2. Midsouth — Delton AR-15 Lower Parts Kit with Grip, $52.99
⏺ Very complete AR-15 parts kit at low price
Here’s what you need to fill up that AR-15 lower receiver featured above. This Delton Complete Lower Receiver Parts Kit contains all the attachment pins, trigger system parts, and springs you need, along with a classic AR grip. Installation is straight-forward with instructions available online.
3. Amazon — Tipton Best Gun Vise, $84.84
⏺ Versatile, stable, works with all rifles, including ARs
You need a stable platform when cleaning your long guns, but most gun cradles are too light or unstable to do the job properly. If you’re looking upgrade to a better solution, grab the Tipton Best Gun Vise. The vise was designed to accommodate the widest possible array of firearms for cleaning, maintenance, or gunsmithing. This vise is easily configurable to handle bolt-action rifles, break-open shotguns, AR-15s, and handguns. You can also purchase this excellent Gun Vise for $89.99 at Midsouth Shooters.
⏺ Hard to beat bench at this price; swivel seat, 60-lb total weight
The Caldwell® Stable Table, a 60-lb tripod-style bench, offers a 34″L x 23″W top surface with a bench seat that adjusts from 16″ to 22″ in height. The polymer top has two integrated carry handles. These handles double as anchors for two gun-holding forks that can be used when cleaning your rifle. Leg adjustments keep the table and seat parallel even on uneven ground. The overall unit breaks down into seven pieces using a quick-release pin system. Maximum weight capacity is 350 pounds. This bench has earned 80% 5-star reviews from actual purchasers.
⏺ Great deal on easy-to-use, accurate, barrel-attached Chronograph
Priced at just $159.99 at MidwayUSA, the Magnetospeed Sporter model costs less than half as much as Magnetospeed’s V3 models. This chronograph attaches directly to your barrel so you don’t have to go downrange to set up skyscreens. For most people the Sporter Model contains all the features they need. Using Magnetospeed’s XFR adapter (sold separately), data can be transferred easily to your mobile device. READ Magnetospeed Sporter Review. NOTE: You MUST add the item to cart to see the $159.99 SALE price. This typically sells elsewhere for around $180.00.
6. EuroOptic –$100 Rebate on Leupold SX-4 Spotting Scopes
⏺ Instant $100 savings on excellent HD Glass spotting scopes
Get Instant Savings of $100 with the purchase of any SX-4 Pro Guide HD Spotting Scope. Offer valid February 1, 2021 through April 4, 2021, while supplies last. Leupold offers SX-4 HD spotters in 65mm objective and 85mm objective models, with both angled and straight versions. If you can’t find your preferred SX-4 in stock at EuroOptic, this Rebate will be available at other authorized Leupold dealers such as Grafs.com.
7. MidwayUSA — Caldwell Rock BR Rest + Bag, $99.99
⏺ Good inexpensive system for varminters or sight-in duties
Here’s a great bargain for someone looking for a basic functional benchrest set-up. This Caldwell Rock BR Rest and Bag Combo could be a gift to a family member or a junior shooter. Or this $99.99 combo would suffice for someone testing a hunting rifle. The front rest adjusts for both windage and elevation.
⏺ Owners say it is sharp with good features for price
This Sawback Bowie spring-assisted folding knife, just $10.95 on Amazon, has a 3.5″ blade. There is a curved cutting edge with a serrated section near the handle. Actual purchasers state: “This knife is very well made with a tight feel. No play at all. The assisted open is excellent [and] they come very sharp too”, and “This is a good quality knife. It’s solid and a bit heavy, really good looking and comes pretty sharp. Overall its a great knife.”
⏺ Great accessories for safes — light alone is worth the price
This Lockdown Safe Accessory Package includes one Large Organizer, a Vault Light, and a Large Document Holder. The bright LED Vault light runs on AAA batteries so no wiring is needed. The Document holder easily mounts to your safe’s door or sidewall. And the Large 18″x12″ Organizer will secure valuables, knives, and even small handguns. It comes with hooks for carpeted interiors and magnets for metal interiors. This KIT normally sells for $49.99 so it’s a STEAL at $12.99 — that’s 74% OFF.
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At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
This impressive Weatherby pump-action 12ga shotgun features an 18.5″ barrel, with Fiber Optic front sight and Ghost Ring rear sight. There’s a Picatinny-type rail on top to fit a red dot sight (recommended) or other optic. The Threat Response shotgun holds 5 rounds. With pistol grip stock, good tactical sights, and a rail, this is a great value in a defensive shotgun from a quality company. NOTE: An extension tube (shown in video) can be fitted to increase capacity.
2. My Patriot Supply — 4-Week Emergency Food Supply, $197.00
This full 4-Week Emergency Food Supply contains 284 servings — that’s breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for an entire month, with the recommend 2000+ calories per day. All meals are stowed in resealable, heavy-duty, 4-layer pouches. You’ll find 12 food varieties, with up to 25-year shelf life. Patriot Supply also sells a 2-week Food Supply, but that sold out recently.
3. MidwayUSA — Caldwell Rock Front Rest and Bag, $99.99
Here’s a great bargain for someone looking for a basic functional benchrest set-up. This Rest and Bag Combo could be a gift to a family member or a junior shooter. Or this $99.99 combo would suffice for someone testing a hunting rifle. The front rest adjusts for both windage and elevation.
4. Midsouth Shooters — .17 Cal and .22 Cal Rimfire Ammo Sale
Though ammo demand has spiked, Midsouth Shooters has a great selection of rimfire ammunition from top brands: Lapua, SK, CCI, Hornady, Norma, Federal, Winchester, and Aguila. The most popular rimfire cartridge types are in stock at good prices: .17 Mach2, .17 HMR, 22 Shot, .22 LR, .22 WMR. While other vendors are taking advantage of current high demand to raise prices, Midsouth has held the line with very attractive prices, such as Norma 40gr Tactical .22 LR for just $4.41 per box — 9 cents per round.
While Walther makes premium pistols, such as the steel-frame Q5 shown above, Walther also makes good reliable pistols that cost much less than a Glock or Sig polymer pistol. The Walther Creed offers excellent ergonomics, good accuracy, and well-designed controls for just $249.99 at CDNN Sports. This gun, designed to be a value-leader, emulates Walther’s more expensive PPQ model (MSRP $649.00) at a much lower price. The Creed’s frame size and shape is the same as the PPQ, but the Creed lacks interchangeable backstraps. Slide and trigger are very similar.
6. Stocky’s — Rem 700 Composite Stock with Accublock, $99.99
These stocks were the first run of Stocky’s Long Range Composite Sporters. There is nothing wrong with these “factory seconds” except the barrel channels are narrower than current versions, so you may have to open up the barrel channels a bit (simple task). On Sale for $99.99, these are an Amazing Bargain. Designed for Rem 700 and Rem clone actions, these LRC Sporter Stocks are constructed from a high-fiber composite with precision aluminum Accublock® chassis molded into the stock.
7. MidwayUSA — Pelican Vault Rifles Cases, 30% Off
These are quality hard rifle cases. Pelican Vault Series cases feature stout construction, weather seals, and strong locking systems. MidwayUSA was not advertising the price, but when added to a shopping cart (on 3/22/20) the wheeled 53″ V800 case was $139.96 while the non-wheeled 50″ V770 case was $104.96. The wheeled 44″ V730 case was $135.96 in the cart. These Pelican Vault cases feature 5 layers of internal foam and stainless steel lock hasps.
8. Amazon — Custom Damascus Hunting Knife, $59.99
Having a good hunting knife on your hip when you’re out in the field is a necessity. Whether dressing your game, making kindling, or getting out of dangerous situations, the importance of having a good knife can’t be overstated. If you’re looking for new one or maybe a gift for that new young hunter in your life, take a look at this custom Damascus hunting knife complete with leather sheath. It can do a myriad of tasks while looking great with that Damascus steel blade.
9. Amazon — MTM AC4C Ammo Crate with 4 Ammo Boxes, $24.99
Here’s a great product at a great price. The versatile MTM AC4C Ammo Carrier features four lockable polymer ammo cans in a fitted, four-slot 23.5″ x 11.3″ x 7.5″ carry crate. This makes it easy to haul four full ammo cans. Actual purchasers have raved: “Moments after I received this storage box set I ordered another. Very well-built and great design — a steal at the price.” Right now this carrier is on sale at Amazon for just $24.99. The system includes four lockable, O-Ring 11.3″ x 7.2″ x 5″ ammo cans (AC30T) for multi-caliber ammo storage. The crate even includes tie-down points for transport in a cart or ATV. NOTE: Last year this MTM AC4C system sold for $39.99. The current $24.99 price represents a 37% savings!
10. Amazon — Tactical Eyewear Kit, $16.99
Wearing eye protection should be second nature for anyone around firearms for so many obvious reasons. Whether for you, a backup or to have for those shooting with you grab a set of XAegis Tactical Eyewear Kit that come complete with 3 different lenses and protective case. You can easily switch from Gray, to Yellow, to Clear lenses in the frame. This 3-Lens Eyewear Kit is an Amazon #1 Best Seller.
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At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Brownells — Howa 1500 USA Flag Chassis Rifle, $1299.99
With its “battleworn” stars and stripes Cerakote finish, Howa’s USA Flag Chassis Rifle is an eye-catcher. AND this handsome Howa shoots as good as it looks. This .308 Win rifle features a quality 26″ barrel with factory muzzle brake. The Howa 1500 action cycles very smoothly (better than a Remington or Savage), and this rifle comes with Howa’s fine HACT 2-stage trigger. This rifle includes a 4-16x50mm Nikko Sterling scope mounted to an EGW +20 MOA scope rail, Luth AR buttstock, plus a 10-round detachable box magazine. Howa even includes a Buffalo River swivel bipod with 6″-9″ adjustable legs. With this rig, all you need is ammo! Price is $1299.99 with scope and bipod. NOTE: This is also offered in 6.5 Creedmoor, but that is currently out-of-stock. Check with other vendors.
2. Bruno’s — Nightforce Competition 15-55x52mm Sale, $2160.00
You can’t walk up to any respectable match line and not see a bevy of Nightforce scopes. The Nightforce 15-55x52mm Competition scope is still one of the very best scopes for serious F-Class and long-range competitors. Now Bruno’s is selling the 15-55x52mm NF for $2160.00 — that’s nearly $200 cheaper than other vendors. Bruno Shooters Supply has the Nightforce Competition 15-55x52mm optic as well as countless other Nightforce scopes on sale. Get yours now before prices go back up.
3. Midsouth Shooters Supply — End of Year Clearance Sale
End of year means CLEARANCE at Midsouth Shooters Supply, with prices up to SEVENTY PERCENT (70%) off normal pricing. We’ve posted just a few of the nearly 800 items we found in their clearance section and with prices that can’t be beat it’s worth your time to scour the pages. Head to the Midsouth clearance sale to what you can’t live without before you hit the range again. Note, this End-of-Year Clearance sale ends today December 31, 2018. Don’t hesitate if you see a bargain you like.
The Leupold Ventana S-1 15-45x60mm spotting scope offers a good 15-45X range of power along with a 60mm objective. For a competitor using the spotter mostly for watching mirage and shot markers, this may be all you need in a spotter. And this is compact and easy to transport in a range bag. As one Amazon reviewer said, “TERRIFIC scope! 45X is plenty. Most people with 60X scopes rarely use more than 40X power so I decided to go for this smaller, lighter scope. We used it on wolves in Yellowstone this week at distances of 1/2 to 1 mile. This scope is tack sharp. I was able to compare to Swarovski, Vortex, and Nikon and this Leupold seems just as sharp at a fraction of the price. The amount of eye relief is generous, even better than some of the Swarovskis I looked through.”
5. Midsouth — Hornady L-N-L Auto Progressive Press, $378.99
If you need large quantities of pistol or rifle ammo, it makes sense to get a progressive press. This auto-indexing, 5-station press will give you one loaded round for every complete cycle of the loading handle. We’ve used this Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive press and can confirm that it works well. We actually prefer the rotary powder measure to the sliding powder system on Dillon progressives. We find it much easier to change load weights with the Hornady system (which uses inserts), and it is more precise with certain types of powder. This press also uses convenient quick-change die bushings. Right now you can save $113.00 with the $378.99 sale. NOTE: Press purchasers can get 500 free bullets through the Hornady Rebate Program but that ends 12/31/2018!
6. EuroOptic — Leica CRF 2000-B, $399.00
This may be the best deal we’ve seen on the vaunted Leica 2000-B Laser Rangefinder (LRF) with 7-power optic. This unit is rated out to 2000 yards on reflective objects (in real-world use it will laze a deer well past 800 if you can hold steady). The Leica 2000-B features air pressure and temperature sensors, plus on-board inclinometer. Angle correction works out to 1200 horizontal yards equivalent, with the true hold-over displayed in both MILs and MOA. The compact Leica CRF 2000-B weighs just 6.5 ounces and measures 4.5″ L x 2.25″ H x 1.25″ W. It has a waterproof outer shell.
Are you tired of using pan scales and trickling your charges just to spend a day at the range? Now for under $170.00 you can set your charges and watch them automatically drop quickly and efficiently. The Hornady Lock-N-Load auto charge powder dispenser gives you the confidence and speed whether you’re doing load development or just looking to make some rounds for a day at the range. With this $164.99 sale price, this Hornady dispenser over $90 cheaper than an RCBS Chargemaster Lite.
Have you ever been ready to run to the range and blow off a few rounds only to find that you’re out of targets? If you’re like us that’s one of the most frustrating things that can happen when heading to the club and nobody likes using printer paper and a marker to make a target. Pick up this 100 count set of sight-in targets and you won’t have to run to the store last minute or dig through the range trash cans hoping to find a barely-used target. This is a great value — only 18.4 cents per target!
9. Amazon — Caldwell Zeromax Rifle Rest, $28.99
No this basic, inexpensive rest won’t work for benchrest matches. However, it will suffice to sight-in a hunting or varmint rifle. AND it will do double duty as a cradle for rifle cleaning and maintenance. In fact this Caldwell rest is less expensive than some cleaning cradles than can’t be used for shooting at all. Pick up one of these Caldwell Zeromax Rests for only $28.99 and you’ll have a handy back-up rest you can keep in a vehicle or lend to a friend. Plus, some low-cost modifications can improve the rest’s adjustability. One purchaser noted: “The back foot is just a threaded bolt with a rubber end cap, but it does not turn or move. Changing the elevation with the front two bolts, and keeping everything level can be a challenge, so I added elevation adjustments to the back bolt as well. I did this by taking a bolt spacer from Ace Hardware super glued to a nut, and using that to lift or drop the back. Total cost was about $4.”
Credit Forum Member F-Class John for preparing most of this week’s deals.
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Available for under $200.00 including front bag, the Caldwell Fire Control front rest is a remarkable value. It makes the co-axial, joystick design more affordable than ever. We used the Fire Control front rest when testing our Ultimate Varminter 20 Practical AR. Once we removed some sand from the tri-lobe front bag, the rest worked quite well.
Get a Fire Control Rest for $197.99 Precision Reloading is running a sale this week on Caldwell products. Now through May 23rd you can get the Caldwell Fire Control Front Rest for just $197.99. That’s a great deal for guys on a tight budget who want a modern joystick-style front rest. With the conversion described in this article, you can put together a system that works pretty darn well, and is more than adequate for many applications, including prairie-dog hunting (from a bench).
Upgrading Fire Control Front Rest with Sinclair Top
While most Fire Control owners are happy with the product, many have wanted to replace the tri-lobe front bag with a more conventional front bag from Protektor or Edgewood. This isn’t as easy as it looks because the width of the Fire Control top is too narrow for most standard 3″-wide front bags. On a “special order” basis, Protektor has crafted some narrower leather front bags that fit pretty well, but some shooters have decided to “upgrade” the entire front assembly.
Forum member Doug M. (aka DrJeckyl), has come up with an elegant solution that allows a Sinclair Int’l Benchrest Rest Top to be fitted to the Fire Control Rest. Doug notes: “The Caldwell Fire Control is a nice rest for the money, but it comes up short in the rest top department. The Sinclair RT-3 [or its replacement, the Gen II B/R top] fits perfect with minor modifications.” Shown below are the main components:
To adapt the Sinclair RT-3 or Gen II B/R top, Doug merely had to drill a couple holes in the RT-3 baseplate, and adapt a spacer to get the height correct: “The Caldwell factory top has a raised mounting portion so a 1/8″ piece of stock will be needed as a spacer to the flat-bottom RT-3. The spacer needs to be cut to the same length as the movable portion on the rest. And you should plan the mounting accordingly so the left thumbscrew clears the vertical height column at full left position (there is a cutaway in the rest under the thumbscrew that allows for easy access to the screw).” We have labeled the photo with dimensions, but Doug cautions you should measure your own original plate to insure the drill locations are correct for your unit.
The completed installation, with the RT-3 installed on the Fire Control rest is shown at the top of this article. Doug says it works very well. To learn more about this conversion, with Doug’s measurments for the hole-spacing and his specs on the fasteners, go to the original thread in our Shooter’s Forum. NOTE: Sinclair no longer sells the RT-3 top, but Sinclair’s $75.99 Gen II B/R top can be converted just as easily. LINK to Fire Control Rest Top Conversion Forum Thread.
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