Benchrest - An Odd Game

[Phil3]

Something has always bothered me about benchrest shooting, and when I showed my daughter a coaxial front rest I got and a heavy rear bag, she asked, "It doesn't seem like you are really aiming and shooting". That pretty much sums up my feelings, and if anyone is asking why I have the rest and bag, it is for load development only. I normally shoot off a bipod and lightweight rear bag or left hand.

I certainly felt like my daughter when I had the opportunity to shoot at 1000 yards. That borrowed gun weighed 65 lbs., sat in a two piece 80 lb. rest, firing a 300 Weatherby Mag. Yeah, even I, a newbie could put 10 shots inside a medium to large pizza pan, and that with 100+ degree mirage and wind. The only thing I was told to do was to shoot when the wind looked like it was during early morning setup. Never mind that the target looked 3 feet off to the side in the scope due to mirage. And no touching the gun when firing except the trigger (free recoil).

It all seemed somehow robotic and artificial, only touching the bolt handle and trigger, never "handling" the gun. I know wind reading is huge, as is the gun construction and ammo loads. Still, I could not erase from my mind, how this seemingly felt like a half step away from the gun being bolted into a vice like they do at ammo or gun manufacturing facilities.

I never pursued benchrest, even though I like top accuracy. I guess I just want to see how well my gun and I can do while actually handling the gun. How about you? If a benchrest shooter, no disrespect to you at all. I thought I would like this, but failed to really understand the appeal.

Phil

[sofbak]

I have the same perspective. Look at all the adjustments on a sophistcated front rest. Add to that a rear bag, and in some cases a remote trigger activator. Where is the marksmanship in all that?

I use a bare bones caldwell rock junior up front, and the rest is up to me. True marksmanship is a lot more than all the support contraptions that a lot of benchrest "shooters" employ.

[IVC]

It all seemed somehow robotic and artificial, only touching the bolt handle and trigger, never "handling" the gun.
...
I never pursued benchrest, even though I like top accuracy. I guess I just want to see how well my gun and I can do while actually handling the gun.

The "handling" is in the adjustments that lead to the pulling of the trigger. Pulling the trigger is an icing on the cake.

[Mayor McRifle]

Colonial American Rifleman:



20th Century American Rifleman:



Modern American Rifleman:

[RandyD]

The benchrest competitors have made many discoveries related to accuracy. These guys win or loose matches based on groups increasing by .01" Many of their discoveries are directly applicable to other accuracy disciplines.

I have a low quality front and rear rest, that I use for load development and prarie dog shoots.

[cowtown]

It all seemed somehow robotic and artificial, only touching the bolt handle and trigger, never "handling" the gun. I know wind reading is huge, as is the gun construction and ammo loads. Still, I could not erase from my mind, how this seemingly felt like a half step away from the gun being bolted into a vice like they do at ammo or gun manufacturing facilities.

I never pursued benchrest, even though I like top accuracy. I guess I just want to see how well my gun and I can do while actually handling the gun. How about you? If a benchrest shooter, no disrespect to you at all. I thought I would like this, but failed to really understand the appeal.

Phil

That's funny, I feel the same way about shooting off bags or bipod on a bench. It's more of a scientific exercise than a test of skill.

I'm exaggerating just a little for effect here, but standing and shooting offhand, for me, are the real challenge to "see how well my gun and I can do while actually handling the gun." Guess everyone has their "thing."

[trigger945]

I don't enjoy it nor have found its appeal either. The only time I shoot off a bipod or a rest is when I am sighting in a newly acquired rifle or a rifle scope. Outside of that, I like shooting while standing up and unsupported, rifle and pistol alike.

[50BMGBOB]

I'm a ground pounder myself. That being said, I have shot bench rest enough to know that they is a lot of technique in setting up the rest and shooting. Shooting a friends set up is a big short cut in that learning curve. I have seen many buy a rest or lead sled and think that they will instantly see better groups and they are disappointed when they try because they don't know how to set it up correctly. That being said, I still give the other shooters a bad time for wanting to shoot from the "cleaning" benches and not the ground at 1,000 yard matches.

[Josh3239]

I agree with your daughter. I've always felt the same way. Clearly you can learn a lot about the rifle and the cartridge, the whole rail gun thing is very scientific. But there is a difference between that and shooting. Setting up a rifle in a solid rest and just lightly touching the trigger just doesn't interest me. As impressive as a .3'' group at 100 yards is. I prefer bags/bipod and a trigger that isn't so light that it'll go off if I breath on it.

[Furncliff]

You whipper snappers will be singing a different tune when you turn older than dirt and have the shakes so bad you have permanent stains on your shirt.

[fritztkatt]

Your daughter is correct that it removes the shooter.

However... the bench shooters aren't wrong. Their game is in building a better machine. It's just a game. Their goal is to make the most accurate gun possible, and the only way to find out is to bench it. It removes the shooter from the equation.

Is it practical to the real world? No. Do they come up with new concepts and technology that can be used in the real world? Yes. Consider them scientists and the machine shop, reloading bench, and range their laboratory.

Also... my two favorite quotes about guns... "Shooting stuff is fun" - Mr. Painless. "Only accurate rifles are interesting" - Whelen Townshend.

[Pardini]

Benchrest is a game for people who like to tinker, tune and test, you cant say it takes the shooter out of the equation either. They enjoy trying to control every possible variable and discover and overcome problems that prevent true one hole groups. It's more of an engineering game and mastering the conditions.

[LynnJr]

Phil
You were injured by that monster if I remember correctly?
It bit you on your thumb?
I had you use the heavygun as it is the easiest way to learn long-range.
Phil shot a sub 10 inch group his first time out and that was 10 shots not 5 shots.
The deal is everybody can build the same gun so two guys shooting factory Mausers compete against two guys shooting monsters.

[JMP]

Yes, indeed it is a very odd game as they shoot rifles that look like spaceships. I like Benchrest shooters because the one thing they do right is to get their ammunition very very accurate and explore many rounds. Then, I can steal their practices that work, but yes, it is too much patience and discipline for me.

At the end of the day, among all the disciplines of shooting, while different, many of the fundamentals remain the same.

[russ69]

Next time try a Light Varmint gun and shoot in a competition, then you will see how hard it is.