When it comes to range gear, it can be hard to get a durable product without paying an arm for features you likely won’t need. Caldwell is a brand I continually return to for new gear. Among the gear I never leave home without is the Caldwell The Rock Jr. shooting rest. Some shooting rests are good, some are terrible, and some come free at the rifle range. But The Rock is infinitely durable, portable, and promotes a stable, but realistic shooting experience at a price that won’t break the bank.
Overview
The Rock Jr. is a smaller version of the original Caldwell Rock shooting rest. It is a minimalist rest to support the forestock and does not come with a rear support for the buttstock. Unlike most smaller plastic rests, the Rock Jr’s base is cast iron.
Within the base is a sturdy ¾ inch steel threaded rod with an attached metal base. This large screw acts to adjust elevation by rotating the cast iron collar between it and the base. A small black set screw in the base is used to hold the elevation screw at the desired depth. A small, green canvas loaded bag serves as the actual rest between the base and rifle or handgun. It fastens to the base via two Velcro straps.
The Rock Jr. can adjust from a height of 4½ to 7½ inches. The kit is complete with a set of non-slip metal spikes and rubber feet that can be put under the legs of the base to prevent the rest from sliding across the shooting bench.
Range Impressions
There are quite a few good shooting rests out there, but I have taken a liking to the Caldwell The Rock Jr. At five pounds in weight, it is more than portable enough to live in my vehicle and is always available when I need to hit the range.
The Rock Jr. makes for an excellent portable rest on the range when provided resting options are unavailable. It also excels in other field conditions where a full range is not available. If I am headed to an isolated area to do some prone shooting, I am not taking a Lead Sled. I am also not going to take a heavy leaded bag or use a flimsy and crushable shooting bag. I am taking the Rock Jr.
The Rock Jr. does have a few disadvantages. Depending on how you are positioned while shooting, the rest’s adjustment might not be high enough. For example, your seat at the bench could be too high and it can be tempting to crowd low over the rest while shooting. Likewise, the grass in front of you while shooting prone might be too high. You can muscle your way through the discomfort of an unnatural shooting position, but accuracy will suffer.
But in most cases, the elevation adjustment works well on the square range and on well-kept fields. The bigger limitation is the lack of buttstock support. Most larger rests have a cradle for the buttstock of a rifle. The Rock Jr. provides support at the front, but not the rear. It is up to you to cradle the rifle in your shoulder.
If you want to take as much of yourself out of the shooting equation as possible and get the tightest possible groups, the Rock Jr.’s lack of buttstock support can be a challenge. This can be an issue if you are testing different loads for accuracy or seeking to do a sight-in with as few rounds as possible.
Parting Shots
Asides from its portability and quality construction, the Rock Jr. will not satisfy a true bench rest shooter. But I continue to stick by the Rock Jr. because it keeps me, the shooter, in the equation. With good shooting fundamentals, the Rock Jr. is still a good rest to shoot groups. But how you hold the firearm and how you see the sights and how you squeeze the trigger comes into play, just as it does in real shooting.
When it comes to shooting in the field, whether it is in competition, hunting, or personal defense, a bench rest won’t be available. If a rest is available at all at the moment you have to take the shot, it will likely be against the window of a deer stand or barricade. A true bench rest is excellent for load testing. But the Rock Jr. is a better simulation of what practical accuracy you can expect and for most purposes, it gets the job done at a great price.
