David Valdina
Member
I got an e-mail from a friend asking how benchrest was going. After writing him back, I decided to post the letter mostly for others just getting into this sport. This is a wonderful community of friends, present and future. Thanks.
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Hi Keith,
Benchrest progression this past year is probably more equipment and some technique.
Last winter, in Florida, I became friends with an old fellow Marine who shoots informal 50 yard rimfire benchrest and more with iron sights than with scopes. I was using an old Remington 521T but purchased a CMP Kimber 82G and was learning to shoot that with bulk Walmart Federal ammo and occasionally with Wolf Extra Match or Federal Gold. The Kimber does not have a BR trigger and nobody makes one for it. So it is what it is. Makes me work at technique which is good.
This summer I am up North and got into IR 50/50. Attended a few matches, shot some with an old Remington 513T with a 3 pound trigger and a 24X scope. Then borrowed a good BR rifle for one match, then saw an ad on the board for a Remington 40X and bought that. Following that, in not perfect order, I bought a Weaver 36T scope, a supply of expensive ammo, a Caldwell Rest, modified my stock twice to find a flat surface to work better on the Rest, ordered wind flags, paid for, but not received a Sporter class RF rifle and will attend every BR match in reach.
My typical scores in the 10.5 & 13 pound class matches run between 240 and 246 with 4 to 12 x's. I have been reading other's flags and that has worked out pretty good. My one Sporter event I entered with a borrowed rifle was a low score, just around 200. That event has a limit on the scope of 6 or 6.5 power and maybe my eyes can't do much better with a low power scope, but I will work on it. That rifle won the Ohio State last year and is the same one I will be getting.
I need to read the wind better. I have played with how firm or loose I hold the rifle. I think my ammo is good for my rifle, but that rifle is a first or second year production Government/CMP rifle and as good as it is, won't really shoot with the Turbos or other $5,000 rifles. But that is ok, my progression is my reward with what I have. And, having fun.
My best, David
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From: keith
To: davidvaldina@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: The tired dog
Dang, that was funny!
How's the benchrest shooting going?
Keith
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Hi Keith,
Benchrest progression this past year is probably more equipment and some technique.
Last winter, in Florida, I became friends with an old fellow Marine who shoots informal 50 yard rimfire benchrest and more with iron sights than with scopes. I was using an old Remington 521T but purchased a CMP Kimber 82G and was learning to shoot that with bulk Walmart Federal ammo and occasionally with Wolf Extra Match or Federal Gold. The Kimber does not have a BR trigger and nobody makes one for it. So it is what it is. Makes me work at technique which is good.
This summer I am up North and got into IR 50/50. Attended a few matches, shot some with an old Remington 513T with a 3 pound trigger and a 24X scope. Then borrowed a good BR rifle for one match, then saw an ad on the board for a Remington 40X and bought that. Following that, in not perfect order, I bought a Weaver 36T scope, a supply of expensive ammo, a Caldwell Rest, modified my stock twice to find a flat surface to work better on the Rest, ordered wind flags, paid for, but not received a Sporter class RF rifle and will attend every BR match in reach.
My typical scores in the 10.5 & 13 pound class matches run between 240 and 246 with 4 to 12 x's. I have been reading other's flags and that has worked out pretty good. My one Sporter event I entered with a borrowed rifle was a low score, just around 200. That event has a limit on the scope of 6 or 6.5 power and maybe my eyes can't do much better with a low power scope, but I will work on it. That rifle won the Ohio State last year and is the same one I will be getting.
I need to read the wind better. I have played with how firm or loose I hold the rifle. I think my ammo is good for my rifle, but that rifle is a first or second year production Government/CMP rifle and as good as it is, won't really shoot with the Turbos or other $5,000 rifles. But that is ok, my progression is my reward with what I have. And, having fun.
My best, David
==================================================
From: keith
To: davidvaldina@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: The tired dog
Dang, that was funny!
How's the benchrest shooting going?
Keith