Author Topic: Interesting tool for sale (Read 950 times)

Questor · « **on:** April 24, 2006, 10:16:00 AM »

I just saw that Caldwell has begun selling a machine rest to compete with the Ransom Rest. Cost is about $200. Interesting feature is that for $25 you can get a molding kit to make your own inserts.

jhalcott · « **Reply #1 on:** April 24, 2006, 05:16:47 PM »

and just WHERE do we find this TOOL??

Questor · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2006, 02:56:49 AM »

I saw it advertised in a sportsman's guide catalog, and saw a new product announcement in American Rifleman.

Go to sportsmansguide.com and enter HAMMR as key word.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/search/search.asp?r=ad%2Fother&s=SEARCH&a=search&k=hammr

You will probably want to see if Caldwell has a web site that shows the options for it.

I'm sure Midway or Midsouth have it by now.

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2006, 06:45:57 AM »

Think there is something erroneous in this report Rudy. The Ransom Rest along costs more than that and is a Copy Righted brand name that I don't think Caldwell could use without paying a royalty.

I suspect what you are talking about is really just the Caldwell Lead Sled which they've been selling for a good while now, at least a couple of years. Certainly no Ransom Rest associated with it.

rbwillnj · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2006, 06:55:53 AM »

Actually Midway has it listed for $159.99, and you can use either Caldwell, or Ransom Rest Inserts.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=139272

Greybeard
I think your confusing Patent and Copyright. Copyright just means they can't call it a Ransom Rest.....and they don't. I'm sure that Ransom must have had a patent, but I'm its been around for a long time, so It's a pretty good bet that it expired long ago.

Questor · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2006, 08:06:24 AM »

GB:

That's why I posted it. The Caldwell HAMMR seems like an economical alternative to the Ransom Rest.

Skeeterbaymac · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2006, 11:01:54 AM »

Does look to be a cheaper alternative to Ransom. But what I never could figure out is what I would use one for. I wouldn't want to sight in with one. I am sure my point of impact would be different than that of the rest. I guess if you were making barrels and testing their accuracy then it would be a good tool. Maybe testing handloads to find the perfect load. But really I would rather use my two hands and shoot on the range like I will in the field. For guys that could use one I think it's a good deal, as Ransom's always seemed high priced to me.

Just my two cents!

Questor · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2006, 11:14:40 AM »

Skeeterbaymac:

They're for ammo testing. Target shooters use them to determine the best ammo for their gun. For the few people who are that into accuracy, it's a really worthwhile thing. In the world of bullseye shooting, even the best shooters (who can out-shoot a Ransom Rest) will use them to test ammo.

Questor · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2006, 11:22:45 AM »

Gunsmiths also use them for machine rest testing customers' guns as a service.

rbwillnj · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2006, 01:11:38 PM »

They are strickly for load development, and for that, there is nothing better. If your a bullseye shooter, the difference between a 2" group and a 3" group at 50 yards can be significant, and you would never be able to see that difference shooting off a sandbag.

Out of my Kimber Gold Match, I've had loads that give 4" groups. and others that give 1" groups at 25 yards. Guess which load I use.

Only problem is I think the resale value of my Ransom Rest just dropped a bunch......Of course we will have to see how the new product stacks up. Doesn't look as beefy as a Ransom Rest.

Questor · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2006, 01:36:07 PM »

Rbwillnj:

I don't think the value dropped. Caswell is in a different league. I have some of their products and they're OK, but nothing like the good stuff. The Ransom Rest is still premium product.

BigJakeJ1s · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2006, 04:27:00 PM »

I've never used a ransom rest, but I've heard that some semiauto pistols with loose slide to frame fit, but tight barrel to slide fit (i.e. bushing and lugs) perform poorly on ransom type rests compared to shooting off of a traditional rest and using the sights. The barrel (and therefore POIi) does not always return to the exact same point relative to the frame (which is what the ransom rest holds), but the sights on the slide stay aligned with the barrell, and the shooter repositions the pistol per the sights, not the frame to acheive the same POI.

Anyone experienced this?

Andy

rbwillnj · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2006, 06:18:56 PM »

I'll be the first one to admit that using a Ransom Rest is a bit of an art, especially with semi-autos. It has to be set up right, and settling shots have to be fired to seat the gun in the grip inserts, and there are a few other tricks as well.

But, if you want to know if load B gives a 1/4" better group than load C, there is no better tool.

Oh, and by the way, although slide to frame fit acconts for only 10-15% of a guns accuracy, I'd get that fixed before you bother with Ransom Rest testing.