Another new guy needs a hand

One final tidbit. Don't beat yourself up too much over the first rifle you purchase. If you like benchrest at all, it won't be your last. It will not be a life and death decision. Sure, put thought into it, go to matches, read what you can, but at some point, remember the Nike slogan.

And as you discover things you don't like about that rifle, decide whether or not you can live with them, adapt to them, or have to have something different. Most of the new actions I've purchased because they seemed to be better (better usually equals loading & ejection) have turned out to have other compromises I didn't like. Part of competition shooting is adapting.
 
David. Charles has

"And as you discover things you don't like about that rifle, decide whether or not you can live with them, adapt to them, or have to have something different. Most of the new actions I've purchased because they seemed to be better (better usually equals loading & ejection) have turned out to have other compromises I didn't like. Part of competition shooting is adapting".[/QUOTE]

stated in this tome one of the most concise descriptions of purchasing a BR rifle. Make a decision and move on. You can easily end up w/ paralysis of analysis at the outset. Don't let it happen. Remember, you are starting down a very long and winding road. But, you do have to START.
 
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DMorgan said:
I will be going to Visalia next week and I hope to meet up with two gents that are going to compete there. They have been kind enough to offer to share some of what they know based on their experience getting started in BR. I'm looking forward to going. I hope the weather is decent.
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Hopefully Boyd Allen, from Fresno CA, just south of you, and a moderator on this messageboard, will be one of the competitors that you will meet up with next weekend.

He is well spoken, helpfull, and a wealth of knowledge that should be a good source for pointing you in the right direction.................Don
 
Put what Charles said and David wrote together and they hit the nail on the head. Paralysis through Analysis. That is me. Look at the first 4 letters in that word ;-) I'm a digger and sometimes the more I dig for information the less sure I am about what I am about to do. Too many choices can do that to a person.

Heck, I change cars and varmint rifles at will, if they don't suit me like I had hoped. There is no reason to believe that this will be any different. Seinfeld would say..."Not that there is anything wrong with that ;-)

Thanks for letting me off the hook guys. The odds of getting it right the first time are pretty long anyway. I'm not exactly getting any younger and my minutes are like months to some of you young bucks. Time is real precious. Money can be replaced but I haven't found anywhere to buy time yet. I think I'll just cut myself a break and pick up a rifle that 'feels' right.

Thanks Don, I'll look Boyd up and tell him you said Hi.

You have all been super helfpul with your replies here and in your PM's. I'm obliged for your observations and suggestions. I have a list of people to say hey to in Visalia and I have been told there will likely be some nice setups looking for a new home. I'm looking forward to it....

Thanks,
Dave
 
Hello dave!

Welcome aboard! Be sure to look me up in Visalia! I may have just the rig you are looking for and you can shoot it there. It has a couple of new barrels that would go with it. You can call me at (661) 799-1695! GARY SINCLAIR
 
You won't go wrong with picking a used benchrest rifle from it's popularity on the match reports in the NBRSA News. But, I'd take a good look at the rifle that Gary Sinclair's has. From what I've seen of Gary's rifles, they are as good as they get.
 
Thanks for that Gary. I'll give you a call. Francis gave me a head's up about your rifle. I'm looking forward to meeting you both.

Yes Butch, I was caught sleeping when your drop port went up. By the time I got done scratching my head it was SPF. Roger that on Eddie's rifle. My research assures me that he knows whereof he speaks ;-)

Thanks for the advice Mike. I'm anxious to talk with Gary and see the rifle he is looking to place in new hands. A couple of new barrels to boot! That would take care of the elderly barrel problem that you and others have cautioned me about. I'm anxious to check it out.

This thread is the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks guys!

Dave
 
Thanks!

I was able to get down to Visalia on Sunday. I was pleased to meet some of the folks that replied here and some others I had PM'd with. I found that everyone was just as helpful as they had been here.

Francis gave me the 'back way' directions that cut down my driving time. Ryan was fun to watch and had a real good day in the switchy winds with that beautiful silver rifle. He was kind enough to take the time to jaw a little between relays. Marty and John were helpful as well.

My thanks to Gary Sinclair for taking the time to fill in a lot of the blanks concerning equipment and technique. He also answered all of the 'why and how come' questions I had.

Seeing all the equipment was an education in itself. I'm itching to get started and I'm busy gathering equipment. If I can get outfitted by then I am hoping to return in a couple of weeks and try my hand. Can't finish worse than last Gary says ;-)

Again, thanks to all for your assistance. It is appreciated.

Dave
 
DMorgan said:
Can't finish worse than last Gary says ;-)
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Keep all of your shots on your target and shoot all of the shots needed for each group and you won't finish last. It seems like there is always someone at most matches that either loses a shot off target, crossfires on his neighbor or loses count of the number of shots on his target. It's hard to come back from those kind of mistakes and you can pretty well look at those on the bottom of the stat sheet and find those kind of errors whether from shooter errors or gun problems.

The main thing is watch your flags and if you think that there is something different out there than what you were shooting your group, there is. Don't con yourself into thinking that it's almost the same and it will go into the group. It won't. There are two small bullseyes on the bottom of the sighter target, use these for your preliminary foulers and sighters. Leave the large sighter bull clear and save it for cases like above where you have one shot left for your group and need to figure what to do to make it go in.
 
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Dave,

Just because I haven't seen it mentioned in this thread....

If you haven't shot a BR rig much, probably the first thing to decide on is what style of action: Right bolt/Right Port, Right Bolt/Left Port, Right Bolt/Left Port/Right Eject -- etc. That will narrow your selection and sometimes keep you from buying something that was almost what you wanted.

I started with RBRP -- it was familiar like my old hunting rifle. But shooting off the bench is a different animal. Nothing wrong with it, but the vast majority of shooters have migrated to a RBLP or RBLP with eject or drop.

Rod
Bat-2Lug RB/LP/RE
 
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