Received my new AR250 rest (son of SEB, Christopher Lionel)

[Frankr]

22 tech I think yours is still going the wrong way. I don’t think it will work on a bench like that.

I received my AR250 rest 5 days after it shipped. Unreal.
I had to test it out today. I have read all I could about it. It’s a lightweight rest. I filled my bag with heavy sand full but not packed. I gave it a slight tilt to the rear and you must use the super feet that come with it. Makes it super stable. It is not designed for Rifles over 15 lbs. mine is 13.6 so it actually worked as advertised for me.
It was super smooth, stable and once set you can fire free recoil, just touching trigger and it never moved and shot well.
It’s fun, it will cover the complete ARA target with plenty to spare both horizontal and vertical. It’s fast. You can get to any sighter and back to a bull as fast as you can load. I had no problems with it tipping when returning to stop. I could bang it hard a barley get daylight under the rear foot. I think you can hold it down with your joystick hand if you have to slam it that hard. You can fill a small sandwich bag with lead shotgun shot and use an old pair of jeans, pant leg and put the ziplock bag of shot in and sew it up. Drape it over the rear foot. I don’t think it’s necessary. No need to slam it that hard and you don’t need that much side tension on the front bag. Actually very little tension on the front bag and I like the bag, rides good and stable.
I shot 3 cards in some tough conditions. Had some mirage and tricky wind. Plus I think it takes a little get used to and learning to shoot well with it. I really like it and will be using it.
Since it was 60 deg today. I turned my tuner from an undisclosed location to another undisclosed location to see if it was any better. Then turned in two clicks and shot a 5 shot group on one of the little sighters and then went back to missing the dots.

 

[Frankr]

 

[Frankr]

Targets shot off it today
That 5 shot group was horizontal and wind was LtoR.

 

[gkgeiger]

22 tech I think yours is still going the wrong way. I don’t think it will work on a bench like that.

I received my AR250 rest 5 days after it shipped. Unreal.
I had to test it out today. I have read all I could about it. It’s a lightweight rest. I filled my bag with heavy sand full but not packed. I gave it a slight tilt to the rear and you must use the super feet that come with it. Makes it super stable. It is not designed for Rifles over 15 lbs. mine is 13.6 so it actually worked as advertised for me.
It was super smooth, stable and once set you can fire free recoil, just touching trigger and it never moved and shot well.
It’s fun, it will cover the complete ARA target with plenty to spare both horizontal and vertical. It’s fast. You can get to any sighter and back to a bull as fast as you can load. I had no problems with it tipping when returning to stop. I could bang it hard a barley get daylight under the rear foot. I think you can hold it down with your joystick hand if you have to slam it that hard. You can fill a small sandwich bag with lead shotgun shot and use an old pair of jeans, pant leg and put the ziplock bag of shot in and sew it up. Drape it over the rear foot. I don’t think it’s necessary. No need to slam it that hard and you don’t need that much side tension on the front bag. Actually very little tension on the front bag and I like the bag, rides good and stable.
I shot 3 cards in some tough conditions. Had some mirage and tricky wind. Plus I think it takes a little get used to and learning to shoot well with it. I really like it and will be using it.
Since it was 60 deg today. I turned my tuner from an undisclosed location to another undisclosed location to see if it was any better. Then turned in two clicks and shot a 5 shot group on one of the little sighters and then went back to missing the dots.

My rifle is almost 18# and I have the counter balance weight half off the shaft and it works fine. I’m very pleased with it. I agree about the feet, need them.

 

[Frankr]

Good to know that gk

 

[gkgeiger]

Has anyone contacted Edgewood about a custom bag?

 

[Frankr]

@gkgeiger I have not. Maybe someone else has.
Do you not like the bag that it came with?
I actually like the bag and ordered a Seb rear bag to try out.
One feature I like. Well many. The adjustability and range of it make it quick to set up on just about any bench you encounter. Once you have it setup and slide the rifle back and forth a few times, unlocking the mariner wheel frees the top and allows it to align with the rear bag, if there was any side torque on it. So far I am really liking mine. Can’t wait to use it more.

 

[gkgeiger]

I do actually like the bag. I was just curious because there was some mention by a couple people about custom bags. I’m very pleased with the overall function of the rest.

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

I have spoken with Randolph Machine and they have made an adapter plate that will fit their Randolph Machine top. Pictures coming later.

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

Has anyone contacted Edgewood about a custom bag?

I have sent them emails and havent received any response back. I called once and got voicemail saying the only return calls on Friday's at a certain time.


I have emailed Protektor and here is their response:

"unfortunately I have not been successful in making an appropriate bag to work correctly. The bottom of the bag wraps all the way around and up the sides of the bag to with an overhang on it and it recess inside of the side plates and fills that cavity to prevent any front to back movement. I really don't have any of the thin stiff material to do this. Our material are much heavier and our machines are much heavier duty that what seb uses or who ever they have do their sewing. So unfortunately I don't think I'm going to be able to make this bag for you. I sincerely apologize. I've tried a few times to make similar bags and have been unsuccessful."

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

Pictures of the adapter plate for the AR250 front rest to fit the Randolph Machine top. I will have to modify the forend stop higher.

It fits like a glove. I will report back when I receive the front rest bag from Protektor.

 

[Frankr]

I am ok with the sandbag right now. It’s working for me. I am in no rush to buy anything but I would ask how much height it adds and is it a problem?
How available will the adapter plates and tops be if I would become interested in one ?
Thanks

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

I am ok with the sandbag right now. It’s working for me. I am in no rush to buy anything but I would ask how much height it adds and is it a problem?
How available will the adapter plates and tops be if I would become interested in one ?
Thanks

Adds less than an inch and isnt a problem. I believe Steve at Randolph Machine made a few of these or more. Shouldnt be a problem at all. They also have the tops.

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

Update: Protektor custom leather bag (1 3/4") with slick top and Randolph Machine top on the AR250. I need to put a bit more sand in the bag.

 

[gkgeiger]

Update: Protektor custom leather bag (1 3/4") with slick top and Randolph Machine top on the AR250. I need to put a bit more sand in the bag.

Are you happy with the bag? It looks very wrinkled. I’ve never been happy with the slick material.

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

Are you happy with the bag? It looks very wrinkled. I’ve never been happy with the slick material.

I need to put more sand in the bag. I have heard good and bad about the slick material. Figured I would try it out.

I havent had the time to try it out yet, but I will post an update when I do.

 

[MIDan]

I mounted mine to a slab of Teak and mounted my PQP mechanical back rest and have a groovy unlimited rest. Probably could use a straight up wishbone back but nice that can be adjusted from front and back. Both rests are easily removed for factory matches.

The pros and cons of the AR-250 after 5-6 trips to the range:
- Lightweight, small footprint. I used to drag around a Rodzilla, which is an awesome front rest but little overkill for factory ARA (IMO) and weighs a ton. One less trip to the vehicle for mew.
- The rest alone (without being mounted to teak board like the photos) is quite stable. There are two levers that are loosened to adjust coarse height, then locked. The joystick can then be used to cover an ARA target without adjusting the coarse height again.
- The joystick is a pleasure!
- Now I’m testing different rear bag/rest performance. My CZ chassis likes the mechanical rest and MTR a bag.

 

[Grey Kiwi]

Had mine for about 5 weeks now.
Yes, it's a nice rest. Sold my Farley coaxial Mk2 as it was too heavy for me, and this AR250 is way better for me to carry and set up.
Filled my front bag with crushed walnut shell (case tumbling media) as I don't like the 'tightness' that sand can give to a bag. That's working fine for me with my set up (rifle has a slider plate front and rear).
I like the leg screws wound down about 3/4 way and that reduces the amount of height needed on those central elevation 'turrets'.
Tried with rest way down (the small rear leg screw fitted), and lately with the long rear screw fitted.
For a tad more stability (maybe) I've added M12 nuts and flat washers on to the leg screws up under the base. Thought it might help lock the threads in more rigidly. Those lock nuts then gave me the thought about a steel 'underplate' to fit under the base and the nuts would hold that on.
So I'm having a local laser cutter guy make a 1/4" (6mm) steel plate to match the shape of the alloy base.
Only because I am waiting on the arrival of an Anschutz 9015 PCP air rifle for my target shooting and I think the extra weight under the base may help with that lighter rifle. I'm guessing here...won't know until I try it.
I too found that a gentle push forward after each shot was fine to move the rifle on to the front stop again. But sometimes I was a tad 'pushy' and the rear leg would rise.
So I use the original small rear leg screw screwed into the threaded hole where it sat when delivered.
Just curl a finger around that as I gently push the rifle forward.
I originally made up a 'pin' that sat in there. Used an M12 bolt that I turned the head down to a nice shape and polished (as per photo).
But now I'm using all the long legs the short leg was 'spare' so I use that now.
All problems solved!
It's a great wee rest and does what it's designed for.
I did read that the original tester of the rest used a .284 cf off it and it worked fine. But maybe his input was behind the final design with a longer base?