What exactly is...."benchrest" anyway?

[thegiff]

I've followed the benchrest game for a while, and haven't taken the plunge. There is only so much time, energy and money to devote to any hobby after all. It's something that I want to try, but not right now. As is obvious, each of the competitive disciplines has it's attractions, and each has specialized equipment and techniques that are refined for their respective disciplines. I tried loading with benchrest techniques for a while in the tactical game, and found that it didn't help nearly as much as practicing holding weird positions and just keeping the mind calm when the buzzer goes off. On the other hand, I load down to a kernel of powder on all my rifle reloads because it helps on the waterline at long distances. I've seen the benefit at a couple of practice sessions, so then I can worry about range estimates and wind while not worrying about a large vertical spread. It has the added benefit of increasing my confidence in my equipment, so then becomes one less thing to worry about.

and most shooters at the public range would look like heroes if they were using my gear but they probably wouldn't win anything...

quoted for truth, I've seen this even with my stuff and not on my best day with 1/2" to 3/4" groups. You see some people out there with targets at 50 yards a foot wide that look like a shotgun hit it. They are impressed, and I'm looking at the shot I pulled.

I have a suspicion that some of the benchrest voodoo techniques are confidence inspired, but the basic principles of a good rifle, bedding, barrel, load and so on are constant, and transfer directly to the tactical game that I'm in right now. Now taken for granted, but there used to be a debate over the benefits of free floating a barrel. My neighbor 30 years back had a benchrest rifle, he pointed out the free floated barrel as a relatively new thing and had a 2 foot long unertl scope on it in 222 rem. Was really impressive to me.

[1859sharps]

.

if this is all you see/know/understand about Bench Rest, it is easy to understand why the "no skill" perception exists.

The image I have of BR shooting is that of a lab. It is the pursuit of learning all the factors that go into accuracy minus the human factor, or at least as much as possible.

I also disagree that it is a "no skill" sport. But the skills are most defiantly different than other disciplines as are the goals. But there is still skill involved.

LOTS of what we KNOW about what makes an accurate rifle, what makes for accurate ammunition and more comes from the "labs" of BR.

Much of what they literally do doesn't translate to real world/practical shooting, but lots of the knowledge/principles/science they generate, prove, disprove etc does get applied to real world/practical shooting.

So, while it is probably not a sport for everyone, don't dismiss them too easily, you might just be shooting better in your real world/practical based sport because of some principle/discovery that came out of BR.

[Vu 308]

^ 100% Agreed!

3 of my rigs sport Jim Borden actions, and he is a BR guy.

Vu

[sl0re10]

I've heard that benchrest shooters can shoot the wings off a fly. Group size, not hitting the target, is how real shooters are weighed.

Discuss.

Well; I'll say this. If it were important; I wouldn't be standing. I'd be on my heels or laying on the ground with a bipod...

[postal]

So you want me to believe that a fellow that puts 5 shots into a .100 inch group doesn't know how to click his scope up and over a few MOA and put their hits in the scoring rings? Not likely. .

....Just how sure are you about that?!?!?!?!


I'm sure you remember this world record picture.... Spotter in the edge of the bull, score target... not so much....

[Bug Splat]

Benches shooters don't go to the range for fun, they go to prove all the work they did over the last few weeks at home was worth it. Building your rifle, cleaning it, measuring, torquing, reloading ammo to the point that even a proctologist would say "Damn, that guy is anal."

It's not a range sport, it's a hobby you do at home but must come to the range to test your madness. I'm a br shooter and I'll admit, even I have to shake my head and laugh when I see those old timers reloading ammo one by one while at the range. I don't mind being crazy at home at my bench but I'm not going to show it off at the range. Crazy stays at home.

[russ69]

....Just how sure are you about that?!?!?!?! I'm sure you remember this world record picture.... Spotter in the edge of the bull, score target... not so much......

They don't score the spotter shots. The spotters are to check conditions for the record group. What makes you assume he was using the same aiming point for both? You know he's using the aiming square above the target, not the target center, right?

[Lucky Scott]

"Even tho I'm 90% sure he was trolling from the "what is tactical anyway" thread trying to get just this... A arguement and have a show for his enjoyment knowing someone would take something personal."

Ha Ha, no, not a troll. Just a regular guy that likes to shoot. I am not a benchrest or a tactical guy. I shoot, and try to get a little better every time I shoot. But mainly, I just try to have a good time and enjoy shooting and the people I meet while shooting. I asked the "tactical" question because I really didnt understand that type of shooting. Now that I know a little more about it, it sounds like fun and I would like to try it sometime. However, even though I dont do competition stuff, I do use a rest on a bench when I shoot. Not that that makes me a "bench rest" guy either.
I have learned a lot, and the info is priceless. But was not trolling at all.
Sorry if I got an argument started, didnt mean that at all.

[ar15barrels]

I asked the "tactical" question because I really didnt understand that type of shooting. Now that I know a little more about it, it sounds like fun and I would like to try it sometime.

Come out and watch the CAPRC match this Sunday at Angeles...

[postal]

They don't score the spotter shots. The spotters are to check conditions for the record group. What makes you assume he was using the same aiming point for both? You know he's using the aiming square above the target, not the target center, right?

Well... He missed the square too!

Nope.... apparently he doesnt know how to dial a scope a couple clicks.

[russ69]

Well... He missed the square too! Nope.... apparently he doesnt know how to dial a scope a couple clicks.

I'm sure you are joking but just in case you are not...you don't shoot out your aiming spot. Most guys line up the outside of the square with the edge of the reticle crosshairs. The group location is not important, as long as it's on the paper. At least that's the way I understand it.

[postal]

I'm sure you are joking but just in case you are not...you don't shoot out your aiming spot. Most guys line up the outside of the square with the edge of the reticle crosshairs. The group location is not important, as long as it's on the paper. At least that's the way I understand it.

I can certainly understand the logic and reasoning behind that statement.

...BUT..... You are "back peddling" what you stated earlier....

It's all in fun though.

[postal]

Crazy stays at home.

It's about time I added a sig line......

[killshot44]

Crazy stays at home.

My wife doesn't shoot, either. Thankfully.

[6mmintl]

Bench rest shooting is the epitome of costly shooting equipment, reloading skill, and miniscule wind reading ability putting small holes in targets out to 1000. yards sometimes longer distances.

There are also less costly venues and equipment like varmint rifle class shooting with factory rifles "As Issued", Smallbore 22LR rifles, Military rifles, blackpowder cartridge and muzzleloader rifles all shooting at paper or steel silhouettes of animals and humans from 35 to 1000 yards.

Check around your area for local gun clubs to see what they offer for competition and go out to see a match, see what equipment is used, if interested , you can pick what rifle/equipment you can afford or are allowed to shoot and have fun until you want to be more competitive, then you can spend some real money.