Caldwell used SHOT Show 2026 to roll out updates across their range gear lineup, and the Rock 2 rear rest series is the anchor of it. The Rock 2 is a redesign of one of the most popular benchtop rear rests in the shooting sports category, and it's coming in three flavors this year to cover everything from casual bench shooting to dedicated benchrest competition.
The standard Rock 2 is your everyday rear rest - adjustable height, solid base, does the job without fuss.
The Rock 2 Jr is the compact version for smaller rifles or when bench space is tight.
And then there's the Rock 2 BR, which is the benchrest-specific build designed for the precision crowd who needs repeatable, consistent cheek weld every single time.
The bipod lineup got a refresh too with the new XLA series. Caldwell offers two tiers here - the standard XLA and the heavier duty XLA HD TAC, both available in M-Lok and ARCA/Picatinny pivot versions with a 6-to-9-inch height range.
Both are pivot-style, which keeps the rifle stable whether you're on flat ground or shooting from an angle. They also threw in a Pic Rail to M-Lok bipod adapter for shooters who need to bridge between rail systems.
Caldwell Range Gear New for 2026:
Rounding out the new stuff, Caldwell added a Deadshot Air Combo in a new Ghost Gray colorway - that's their pneumatic front and rear rest combo for quick benchtop setups.
On the target side, a new AR500 Rimfire Dueling Tree and a Long Range Gong round out the steel target options.
None of this is going to blow the doors off SHOT Show, but Caldwell's range gear is the kind of stuff that quietly sells in volume. The Rock 2 series is a solid refresh and the XLA bipods fill out their bipod lineup nicely at reasonable price points. What do you guys and gals think? Are you in the market for a new bench rest or bipod setup heading into the new year? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
