I've always used sandbags but I've been considering buying a quality shooting rest to develop accurate long range loads. Basically wanting to take as much human error out of the equation to evaluate different loads.

I've seen the videos on the Caldwell rests.Even the BR competition model looks cheaply made and wobbly. I don't want to spend $700 on a Sinclair. I had just about decided to buy a Bald Eagle Slingshot rest for $200 but then I read some bad reviews on it as well.

Sinclair makes a $300 varmint hunter model. I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with the Sinclair Heavy Varmint or the Bald Eagle slingshot as to which is best. I would also be interested in any alternatives.

Yes,sandbags work OK,as do other things but I'm talking about every last bit of precision possible. Is anyone else as much of a perfectionist as I am?

We used a Caldwell Lead Sled to sight in and match up iron sights, crosshairs, and a laser on a .22. Only a .22, but it stayed solid and repeatable through everything we were doing.

Thanks,but the lead sled isn't really what I want. They may be OK in some instances but I wouldn't use one on a centerfire. I've heard of too many instances of damage and it isn't nearly as precision as what I'm looking for.

mr. clark, i always have used homemade sandbags, in cahoots with a rest of some kind (whatever the range had), or other objects. three sandbags of different sizes was only way i could my rifle(s) to the EXACT place that was comfortable and efficient and repeatable ...

May look into a fab shop or machinist place making you a rest outta steel. Guy paid $240.00 for one for his 7.25lb .35Whelen.

I know what you mean but I've never gone beyond sand bags. I'd like to find out what the best system is.

i've sat behind 3-4 brands, but none blew up my skirt. height adjustment seems to be a weak point.

this thread does interest me. eldest son is building me a 6.5 grendel AR upper ...

BullsBag w/rear bag rest .
Always shot the best groups with it -tried a couple of mechanical rests -NOPE ..
The benchrest type rest are made for benchrest style guns - guns/stocks the "ride the bags" well .
Bullsbag are also the closest to POA when sighting in too .

Here are some of the ones I'm looking at but even they have mixed reviews. I don't mind the price but not if they aren't any better than bags.
http://www.bullets.com/search/?q=(brand%3a%22Bald+Eagle%22)+AND+(category%3a%22Shooting+Rests%22)

http://www.sinclairintl.com/shooting-res...-prod57001.aspx

It's not "high quality" but my go to is tube socks filled with rice. Sometimes used in conjunction with a mechanical rest for the forearm, set up where the forearm is cradled to minimize any horizontal movement and the rear stock supported.

I use a small bi-pod that attaches to the sling swivel paired with a small Caldwell sand bag under the butt. It's rock solid and I don't have to haul around a bunch of heavy bags. I can easily and quickly mount it to another rifle.

I use a Caldwell front rest with a protektor rear bag and change the front bag to a protektor. Make sure you buy some of the "heavy" sand from Sinclair to fill the bags. Also, keep talcum powder on your bags so your rifle will track better in the bags.

Like you, I've thought about the high end rests but decided it wasn't worth the investment. I doubt I shoot well enough to realize any difference. I've seen a guy come out to our range with a custom 6MM BR with a bipod and a protektor rear bag and shoot sub 1/4" groups.

my sandbags are made from denim jeans legs and play sand from lowes or home depot.

I use Caldwell bags full of rice and a few homemade of jeans again filled with rice. No problems for me. And I shoot some long range too.

The Sinclair heavy varmint is more than adequate for what you'd be trying to do with it. The other one you are looking at I don't know anything about but given the option between the two I'd get the Sinclair just because it is from Sinclair... that's a lifetime purchase.

If you are shooting 100 yds for load development work... Personally I don't use really much of the adjustments that are available at that kind of distance. So it is overkill really for that use.

I agree with you. I thought I might try one because I'm setting up a gun and will be shooting up to 500 yards.

You'll be good to go 500 with it. You could shoot F-class with the lightweight rest. I'd get the top that takes the Protektor bags because you'll want to use those once you use them.

Windage adjustment on the top is up to you but for non-competition it is not necessary IMO and you can always change the top out if you want. I'd just do the heavy base and get the Gen II benchrest top and then you can pick up a couple different bags to work with various forend widths. If you call Sinclair when you order and talk to one of their techs... they can guide you into what works well together. That's what they do.

How does a Lead Sled damage a centerfire rifle or create imprecise results?

That's kind of the point of the Sled, when it's weighted properly: stable, no movement, accuracy, etc. Just never have heard about either of those things with the Sled when it's used as recommended.

I like sandbags too, though.

A lead sled just isn't as precise of an instrument as some other rests. If they were they would be used in competition.I'm sure they are plenty precise for a sight in. What I'm looking for is something that will help me tell the difference in 1/10ths in groups when working on loads intended for 400-500 yards.

As far as damaging things,I've heard of several reports where they killed scopes and split stocks. Maybe the user used too much weight.I don't really know but the theory is that the led sled doesn't allow as much movement as other methods thus the force has to go somewhere. Less movement of the gun means more stress on the gun. Just like putting stiffer shocks on your truck.