Differences In Benchrest

jackie schmidt

jackie schmidt

New member
After reading some of the match results of this past week end, it comes to light how different "Benchrest" can be from one location to the next.
In one location, you have a bunch of very good shooters, with the best in equipment, shooting in conditions that could only be improved if they were in an actual Tunnel.
Then, in another location, you have a group of very good shooters, also with the finest in equipment, shooting in conditions that were so awful that it was a personal victory if you actually had two bullets touch.
What if the NHRA had races held under similiar circunstances. At one track, the drag strip would be a perfecly manicured strip, perfectly level without one ripple in the pavement, treated for maximum traction. But at another track, the strip would be a unlevel composite of pot holes, speed bumps, dips,and no VHT.
Sounds kind of ridiculous, huh, But in Benchrest, where we shoot the most accurate rifles on the planet, that is what we have. Many times you are at the mercy of what ever Mother Nature throws at you, and at other times, she takes a backseat to the precision capabilities of the equipment on hand. I suppose that is why the really good shooters have to be able to handle both.
Just some thoughts.........jackie
 
Range difference

Oten I need to look at the range records of a club in order to get a handle on
what possible. a .250 grand agg may not be much at one range and yet the same .250 could be close to a miracle at another.
 
This is true. Just another one of the great things about benchrest: when the shooters are at the line, no one is gonna be shooting in anything any different than the shooter next to you. Mother nature is no respecter of persons, but there are persons who stay better prepared. lol. Long live benchrest.

Matthew S Keller
 
Those guys racing on the “perfectly manicured strip” would still have to beat the other racers there on the same strip. (the same thing that happens on the bad strip)

Also, those racers that think it is easy to race at the “perfectly manicured strip” can always go and give it a try.

You would be badly mistaken if you are assuming that Tacoma has conditions “that could only be improved if they were in an actual Tunnel”. The thing with Tacoma is you do have the possibility of good conditions showing up, but nothing close to shooting in a tunnel. We did have some good conditions for a lot of this shoot but we also had some weather fronts that mixed things up pretty good for a while. You would also be mistaken to assume that “light” conditions (if we get them), is always easy to shoot in. I will say this with some certainty, light conditions bring their own challenges on this range. We often have visiting shooters come to Tacoma thinking it is going to be a cake walk and end up instead with a rude awakening. A shooter that does well on this range has earned it.

Rick Graham
 
Last edited:
Rick Graham

I hope you didn't think I was saying you only have to show up to shoot a good agg. in Tacoma. But when it gets overcast with a light rain good things can happen. While there is often a light condition there it has always seemed very honest to me. Seldom does a shot go screwy there with no indication why.
 
Rick

I was making an obsevation to shooters who frequent this Forum, but do not compete, and are possibly ignorant of the different challenges that Benchrest has to offer.
Nothing more.........jackie
 
No problem at all… just didn’t want the impression to be left that it is easy anywhere to do well shooting BR.

Dave, we missed you and Sue this time… hope you guys can make it next year!

Rick Graham
 
Rick

It just wasn't in the cards this year. I would like to come up labor day and eat a few of the berries growing on the range though.
 
Tacoma and NW BR

No doubt that shooting ranges like racing ovals and tracks have personalities…different characteristics with many variables both physical (man made) and natural (mother nature). And like preferred racing lines and lanes, there are benches and moments that are sometimes good and sometimes not too good at all. Usually, you can plan on experiencing that throughout a 3-day shoot around here.

For these reasons, every BR shooter’s quest should be to get out of their own region and experience as many different ranges as possible. Not only does one end up supporting other clubs’ matches but also BR as a sport. It makes one a better overall shooter and a better citizen of the sport.

We were all very happy to see fellow competitors from CA, ID, OR show up for the Sniper King shoot (sorry if I missed any others). These days, it takes even more commitment to the sport to pack and drive to an out of town shoot. But I think it has paid off for those out of towners who did break WR’s because they have been coming to our matches for years now and they are familiar with the variety of conditions, the peculiarities of the Tacoma range and the good times we have here. We certainly appreciate them being here and sometimes leaving town with out records and trophies.

With the 3-day, 3-gun Labor Day shoot coming up, maybe more shooters would like to plan on experiencing the Tacoma range for themselves and see what it is all about.

Mustafa Bilal
 
Mustafa

We do forget that Benchrest is a National Endevour, and we do tend to get caught upin our own worlds.
I have a USA map on my office wall, it measures about 20 inches from coast to coast. When measuring from Houston to Tacoma, it is over 15 inches.
That is a loonngg way. For you all to come down here, or us make it up there, it might as well be on the Moon.
Many of us do have a few particular out of Region Matches that we try to attend, Rachels Glenn over in Alabama is my favorite. But heck, that is only 620 miles. At least it can be driven in one day.
But the fact that we cannot make it to other places does not make Benchrest any less of a Fraternity. We are all bound by our love for Competition, and our love of Excellence.........jackie
 
I've never shot in or around the Gulf Coast Region in a point blank match but, I've heard of shooters coming down to a Gulf Coast Region Match and afterwards swearing they'd never come back. The conditions must have been switchy to say the least.

Good point Jackie. For those that frequent different ranges a log book for each range might not be a bad idea.
 
Jackie

Jackie, I hear what you are saying. In the past I’ve had the good fortune to have friends offer to drive all my gear to half dozen far-away shoots while I flew. That works well but even then, it is hard to find time to get away from running a business and everything else.

But getting back to Tacoma, the year I won the Sniper King, it used to be the smallest 200yd 10-shot group, shot over two matches that were two months apart. Well, I shot the small group in June and it wasn’t particularly small. In August, the day of the second shoot, the somewhat manageable conditions of Tacoma had turned into a Midland type day. After my canopy flew over twice before the morning start, I was the happiest man on the range. Fortunately for me, the conditions did not let up much all day long and I was able to carry my mediocre small group to the end.

So if you do find your way up here sometime, mother nature may be able to make you feel at home with a good blow from the south. But don’t expect to find the heat and the humidity…just some rain to keep things interesting.

Mustafa
 
When I first started shooting

I thought records were set in conditions that were soft. I then realized , when I started seeing some set in some pretty nasty conditions that it is more shooter oriented. I have seen some broken in some rugged stuff. That said, the Augusta, Maine range had not given up any 250 scores at 200 yds until recent history. One day last summer the range gave up numerous 250's @ 200 on the same light day so "Tunnels" can occur anywhere. Usually the conditions on our ranges are "Squirly" but then there are days when nature provides.
 
Lou

Many times it is more difficult to win in what we call "great conditions" than it is is some of the hellish stuff that we all see from time to time.
The main reason is when the conditions are really good, EVERYTHING has to be perfect. The tune in particular. If it is not dead on, shooting that .170 or better agg to win simply is not possible. The Rifle won't let you. You might can get away with .200 of verticle if you are shooting in 3 inches of push, but in no push, that .200 of verticle puts you in the middle of the pack.
Regardless of where you shoot, or what the conditions are, there always seems to be a couple of shooters who will have a handle on things. You hear comments like, "what the heck are they watching out there". Or, "man,that thing is tuned so well, even I could shoot a good agg with it".
Sort of what you did at The Cactus. While everybody else was just trying to keep the darned bullets on the paper, you were shooting sub 1/4 inch. You and your Rifle were working so well that the impossible became possible.
It's the nature of the game........jackie
 
Jackie

It's very true how the conditions can vary from almost perfect to conditions that would push a bullet 3" at 100 yards. The funny thing however is that you seem to be somewhat unaffected by those "hurricane like" conditions.:confused:

Michael
 
Shooting all over

For those of you who have never shot the Kelbly range in Ohio, it is probably the most unique range for differences within the range you will find. As many know it is a 60 bench range and at every shoot, Super Shoot, Regionals or Nationals the shooters rotate 12 benches between matches (targets). In the extreme left end is a high berm that extends to the 200 yard line, but the bullet path is only about 18" above the grass. Most of the wind flags on this end only have a tail ribbon about the width of the tail or else it will drag the ground.

At the other end of the range the flag poles are several feet tall and in the 100-200 gully the poles almost need guy-wires. Plus, on the right end if there is a tailwind (not uncommon) the wind comes over the reloading building which is over 2 stories tall and the wind dumps down on the firing like like a waterfall. Then, at about 165 yards, just behind the gully, there is a dirt cliff about 18 feet tall where that same tailwind will rush up that cliff face like an inverted waterfall.

Each 12 bench rotation presents the shooter with a different challenge since each 12 bench step is different from the previous. This has got to be the greatest range we shoot the 100/200 game at.


One really great thing about this range though, the wind never blows!!
2ai58xy.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top