Newby to benchrest

C

Cliffy

Guest
Rifle: Ruger Model 77 Mark II .223 Remington caliber
Caldwell Rock and Rear Bag
Bullet: 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip
Powder: Alliant Reloder 10x
Primer: MAGTECH 7 1/2
Rings: Stainless Ruger
Scope: 6-24x44 Burris Signature Select
Do I stand any chance in competition?
 
No, not at a NBRSA sanctioned match

They don't have a factory class, BUT many clubs have local matches that do, usually score I believe. If you tell us what area you live in, someone might be able to direct you to a suitable match in your area. Good luck, and have fun.
 
Cliffy

Since you did ask on this Forum, I will give you a little heads up on what this Forum represents.

In the title of your initial post, you used the word benchrest with a minor "b". This is appropriate, because that is the sort of shooting that your set-up is suited for. That being, informal sessions at the range, among friends, seeing just how much accuracy you can ring out of your Rifle.

As was said, many clubs now offer a Factory Class, so shooters can get a taste of competition, without all of the so called "hassles" that tend to make many shy away from Registered, (sanctioned), competition.

When we refer to Benchrest on this Forum, what we are talking about is Benchrest with a capitol "B". This is all out competition with VERY specialized equipment, the competition being governed by one of two Sanctioning Bodies, The NBRSA or IBS.

As was mentioned, go and find a club in your area that has a class for Rifles such as you own. You will love the experience, and will probably get to see some real honest to goodness Benchrest Rifles, and Benchrest Shooters.

But be carefull. This is a very addictive game. Once you take that first hit, you will crave the 'high' that only comes from getting as close to perfection as you can........jackie
 
I would second catching a Harrison match.Ask on this board for directions and you will be on the way quickly. Be advised it is best to arrive percisely at 8:00Am in order to cash in on the chocolate donuts that are to kill for. Good group of folks and they will take you under wing and get you going.After match activities include discussiion of every shot fired, munching cheesburgers diluted with brown-bottle beverages at the local watering hole. Does that sound like a fun day or what??

Mike Swartz
 
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Thanks Guys for setting me straight

I do own a Remington Model 700 CDL .243 Winnie Pooh, is that any closer to a Benchrest rifle? If, not what's affordable in a suitable Benchrest rifle? Maybe I should stick with shooting coyotes at 300 yards? Am I in the correct forum? Please assist me. Cliffy
 
Cliffy,

If you click on "Benchrest Central Forums" at the top of the page you'll be sent to a page with a list of forums. The appropriate forum for your question would be the "Factory Hybrid" forum. This is straight up BR right here...... there are no more factory rifles here than there are Camaros at a Formula One race ;) they just don't apply.

To see a listing of pure-dee Bench Rest rifles go to the classified ads on this site, also try Shooters Corner which should be listed on the homepage under "complete rifles".

Please don't feel that you're being chased off! You're NOT :) This whole site caters to all levels of accuracy it's just that for your thread to grow it should be over in another section. Most of us do read all of the forums anyway, you will get the same level of experience in the proper forum. (((Welll...... that's not TECHnick'ly true, you might want to avoid seeking advice on the Opt-In Forum... :eek: )))

Welcome aboard and may your sojourn here be a pleasant one!


al
 
Al,

Bless you for your sincere words of encouragement!
We all started out with rifles of either the factory sort, or some hybrid of some fashion. We all need to support the newbies with words of encouragement rather than all the negatives of "what works and what doesn't, now go away you silly fool".
I as well as many others played with factory rifles hoping for the good groups and wondering why they didn't happen...................then we went to re-barreled rifles and got much closer. If the naysayers had touted their negatives to me, perhaps I would not have pursued the path to extreme accuracy, but I did! I have never been sorry for spending the dollars for an accurate rifle and spending the time and components it took to learn the art of accurate shooting......it is something to be proud of, and the "average joe" cannot even imagine what is possible. We should ALL work hard to bring new shooters into the fold!

Mark Van Beek
 
Harrison Score Shoot 20th September

Cliffy,

There is a score shoot September 20th gates open at 8:00 AM (coffee, doughnuts and setting up wind flags and bench equipment) and shooting starts at 10:00 AM and there are usually 2-4 factory class shooters. Bring your 223 and fifty rounds and you will see everything you are contemplating and have some fun.

From SW Michigan head north on US131 to the Reed City exit where you will head east toward Clare on MI10 and exit north on US 27 toward the Bridge taking your first Harrison exit (the second exit you encounter) on to Old 27 turning left, north to Harrison at the first light MI61 goes west you keep going straight on Old 27 which is also Clare Avenue to the second light where you will turn left on Townline Lake Road which tees in a mile and you turn right, north on Harrison Avenue and 3/4 mile you will see the gate to the range on your right. If you get to the stop sign on Cranberry Lake Road you went past us by 1/4 mile. We only have two lights in town so you cannot get too lost but the Jack Pine Savages are fairly friendly so do not hesitate to ask directions unless your wife is riding with you.

Hope to see you Saturday :)
 
Cliffy,

I would recommend you to buy "must read sources", like Mike Ratigan's book "Extreme Rifle Accuracy". Mike's book comprises a lot of things related to BR, very detail & up to date. Read it for 10 times or even more, if you wish to. It's always interesting.
Also come/shoot at a club match that others say has class for rifles you own (factory class), and find a good mentor(s). Ask things that you do not know/understand with. Let the old timers "soaking" you with inputs, that's important.
The first is (very) important because then you could more understand when you notice something or when someones explain things to you. Consider to read books/sources as a "basic". If you have/understand the basic, understanding things wouldn't be so hard, in turn. ---- In terms of precision, accuracy, skill-knowledge, & gears/equipments - official/true BR shooting is very different with shooting in "bench-rest style".
By the way, about the same with you I am just relatively new to BR, and I always consider myself as a newbie, till now. Sorry that I don't have autorithy to say more about the further "steps".

Good luck,
seb.
 
Cliffy, I to live in SW mi and have competed in BR for several years now. The gun you have described is not a favorite in this crowd but if it shoots good than don't worry what is a favorite or not and shoot in a factory class match and see how you do. I started with a rem 700 in 22-250 and competed in factory class for a year and had a blast! But then I had to have a real BR gun so that I could shoot even smaller groups and aggs, and the pursuit of accuracy never ends. There are many great people in this sport and Harrison is a great place to try out you rifle. Jump in and try out the most exciting game out there with people that will help you even if you might beat them.
 
Thanks for your kindness, John

Is there a magazine pertaining to Benchrest I could start with in my quest to properly shoot at Benchrest? Where do you shoot in competition, John? Perhaps I could could attend a session, and learn what's going on. Why do some people in Benchrest circles seem so gruff? cliffy
 
I'm immediately sorry for the gruffness comment

I must have had a bad week. I retired in November 2007, and I'm having a strange time adapting to life after 65. All I do now is fish and shoot, and I'm trying to keep that from becoming boring. Benchrest seemed to be an other avenue. I think I'll go back to teaching inmates to read. I haven't decided what to do yet. Please forgive my prior ignorant statement. cliffy
 
BR Equipment

Cliffy,

The Bench Rest crowd here shoots in what’s called Short Range or Point Blank matches. This simply means they're shooting at 100 and 200 yards for group or score with 6PPC's, 30BR's and 6BR's. The rifles are very specialized and range in price from a used PPC being $1,500.00 to a new custom being $5,000.00+ all up. No other caliber will even come close to competing with these rifles unless it's another full blown Bench Rest Rig. The shooters that participate in these types of matches are very meticulous and pay very close attention to every detail, they have to because matches are won and lost by a mere "X" or .0001" at times. All of the Bench Rest shooters I've met and shot with have been first class all the way. Surf around at 6mmBR.com as well, there’s tons of info available on the WWW. Good luck and good shooting.
 
Cliffy,

Don't get too caught up in all the niceities. Don't read too much into peoples tone here either. They really don't mean anything by the comments. Most are just giving a real short answer. You asked about competitiveness and off the cuff you get a mathematical answer. If your gun is phenomenaly accurate, it'll do just fine. Don't let peoples 3000 miles distant opinion scare you off.

Go to a match and give it a try. Odds are, you're not the sort who's gonna get all broken up about it if you don't win your first time out. Go have fun, everyone else will also. The rifle you have will work fine for as long as you want it to. If you're dead set on winning then it won't be long before you upgrade. Even if a new gun doesn't shoot better it'll look so kewl you'll just have to have one! :D

Don't worry about folks seeming "gruff". They've already answered your question 100 times elsewhere and been jumped on for every answer they gave. They're running out of answers that don't offend SOMEone.

It's all in good fun. You'll see.
 
Cliffy, sometimes people do sound a little gruff on the internet as most are shooters and not writers. It can be hard to print what you want to say and yet without any expression it comes out wrong. Most people on this forum will give it to you as straight as they can which also may come across as gruff. At a match you will find they are a great bunch of guys.
I usually shoot in NBRSA registered matches at Holton MI just out of Muskegon and at Western Wayne which is just outside of Detroit. This year I haven't been to very many matches as times are a little tough right now. I have also shot at Harrison Mi and they have an unregistered shoot at 100 yds and alternate between score and group shooting. Some of the best shooters in the country have gotten their start there. Iosca county club I have not made it to, Francis and Paul Becignal have it registered with the I.B.S and do a wonderful job of hosting a shoot. This one is fairly new on the scene.
As far as magazines the only one I know off is Precision shooting which come with an IBS membership or you can just order a subscription. The next place is here, but I will say that not all who post here are BR shooters so beware of some of the info.
 
Thank you again

I merely feel out of my shooting league here, Mr. Roscoe. Benchrest seems a fraternatey of specialists, that I would never be so good as to compete against. I'm too old, too shaky to begin becoming serious. I can't even outshoot my viable .243 Winchester/4.5-14x40mm Nikon combo. I'm a lost cause regarding pin-point accuracy, I fear. A $5000 rifle would not make me anymore a serious competitor than I am right now. Thank you for setting me straight. cliffy
 
Cliffy;
When you cut to the chase it's not about winning at all. Whether you shoot little groups, dots or patterns it isn't about who you beat. There are only two contestants in this game; you and the target. The importance is not necessarily a piece of wood . It can just as well be a personal best. In your shoes I would go to a match. Don't even take a rifle. Take your shooting glasses and your hearing protection and take it in. Ask some questions. Everybody there puts their pants on one leg at a time just as you do. There will be all sorts of folks there, some sniffy and some not. Extract a little knowledge from every one of them. Don't sit around and wake up unable to make it to a match and wish you had. If you truly don't enjoy it then don't go back. But at least you took a look at it.

Mike Swartz
 
Cliffy

It aint hard to shoot BR and its as much fun as you make it or want it to be.Take your 223 out to any match & play.However like any sport its hard to be the winner.Before you write yourself off have a go you have nothing to loose but much to gain.This is like any sport you can make yourself as competitive as you like through dedication and practice,Be warned it is addictive once the bug gets you.Don't be put off by all the shiny stuff ,try it with what you have you will probably love the camaraderie and BS sessions that accompany a great game.You've taken the first step asking questions now take the next step they don't bite.Good luck & All the best on your future shooting endevours.Jim
 
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