Does it take unlimited funds for BR

R

russell m

Guest
I am a newbee. I need a honest answer. Does it take unlimited funds to shoot competitvly? The gentlemen that I have met shot at a closed member club. Havent been able to find a mentor to shoot with. Someone to shoot my gun & evaluate it or let me shoot there gun. I have heard the word technique. Dont have a clue if my technique is even close. I read a post about a Year ago about getting more people involved in BR shooting. I get the feeling if I had unlimited funds there would be more people to help me. Maybe its just me. Where do I go from here.
russell m
 
You have to have the gumption to go and enter a match. Nobody is going to hold your hand but they will be more than happy to answer questions and offer advice. Once people see you are serious enough to come every month then you will start to get all the help you could want. My first match I still had a BVSS stock and a Tasco 8-32 scope.
 
It helps to have lots of extra cash around that doesn't have someone else's name on it. This is not a poor man's sport, the more $ you have the more toy's you can get, March scope, 20 barrels, lots of powder, primers, bullets, actions, rests, bags, flags, etc. Now, travel miles and miles, eat and sleep, go home and hope your wife makes enough to make payments on house, buy food and pay utilities. This is the sport we love.
 
Butch I was at the club match at tomball 2 weeks ago. I plan on attending the next club match in June. I thought the registered match was April 19 & 20.

I would shoot in a match every weekend if they had one. I shoot at my local range every weekend. But its just me.
russell m
 
Dan H.
Thanks for the Honest answer. I guess I already new the answer. I am just trying to figure out how to do this on a fixed budget.

Dusty Thanks for the Help offer. If I ever get to Ark I will look You up.
russell m
 
I am new to the game as well. Just got my first custom rig (well, semi anyway...the action is a savage and though it isn't full race BR it was all I could and would be able to afford and be able to shoot with any sort of regularity). You don't need unlimited funds, but a steady flow is necessary. If you want to be competitive you need a solid platform to start with, and then lots of practice. If you haven't bought any equipment yet...don't. Go to a match as mentioned and check out the possibilities. The guys shoot a wide variety of rests/bags, rifles, stocks, etc...They all feel different to different people, and before you invest in a $720 farley, make sure it's the right one.
If you are like me I don't have unlimited funds, but this is the sport (shooting in general) that I enjoy and have chosen to put my money toward.
If you want to truly be competitive you have to be able to practice a lot, be able to experiment with barrels, bullets, powder charges, and be ready to change your equipment as your stye/preferences become more apparent (at least so I've read).
You can start with as humble a setup as is available and as long as you have fun, you can always save up for the next level.

As far as people helping you, most of the time you just need to ask. Most benchresters I've met have been more than willing to share if you show that you are genuinely interested.
HTH,
Mike
 
russel

The first match I attended, there were a half dozen hall of fame members shooting. If I remember right, nearly all of them OFFERED assistance. (plus a lot of non hall of famers). Jump in with what you have. Listen to all advise, and you will soon have a mentor.
If you get to Raton, I'll help all I can, but most of the guys that shoot here are way better than me:rolleyes:
BA
 
set goals for yourself. if you can't afford 30 barrels to try, make the one you have shoot its best. if you finish in 30th place finish better than 25 next time. that is what I do. if I don't have the gun that will win that match I shoot it to the best of my ability and see what happens. just giving up in the middle of the match will never make you better. so go shoot and see where you wind up.
 
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russell m said:
Dan H.
Thanks for the Honest answer. I guess I already new the answer. I am just trying to figure out how to do this on a fixed budget.

Dusty Thanks for the Help offer. If I ever get to Ark I will look You up.
russell m
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Russell,

No, you do not need a huge budget. You do need to spend your money wisely, spend it one time only, and listen to as few BR people as possible. Do not buy every toy you hear of. Get the things you need in order to reload ammo, and have equipment for your bench. That is all you need to begin with. Be frugal and spend money when you HAVE to, not just when you want to. This sport is polluted with grass that is greener elsewhere.

If your expectations are to beat everyone immediately, then you better buy two of everything today and get started on a very steep learning curve. If your intent is to get started, learn and get better as time goes on, then it's actually not that bad.

As in all things in life, you get out what you put in. However, some common sense and a little elbow grease can make up for a whole lot of $ if you want them to.

With the price of gas and distance to the range dashing a lot of peoples shooting hopes, finding very nice used tools is probably easy right now.
 
Russel

You have met all of us up at Tomball. You see exactly what we put into Benchrest, and you surely get an idea of the dedication many of us show.
It does not take "unlimited" funds to be competitive in Benchrest. What it does take is spending your money wisely. You have to learn to avoid the gimic of the moment. Many of us have closets full of stuff that we no longer use, or never used much in the first place, that represents funds that could have been spent on good barrels and good bullets.
My best advice to you, and any new shooter, is to look at what some successful shooters are using, duplicate that set-up, learn it, and be willing to stick with it. There are many different ideas as to what is best as far as agging capability goes, you just have to be willing to step up and do it.
If you have noticed, all three of my Bag Guns are built on the same brand of action. They also all share the same stock. I shoot the same powder all of the time. I shoot the same brand and configuration of barrel all of the time. I shoot the same bullet, all of the time.
While I do try other things on occasion, it will have to show me a meaningfull improvement for me to abandon a set-up that has done quite well for me in the past years.
Our first Registered Match at Tomball is March 15-16.......jackie
 
The Tomball range is on Zion road. It is closed to members only.

Wouldn't you know it. March 15 & 16 is when my Daughter is getting married. I have been looking forward to my first reg Match. I guess I will have to driver to Denton.
russell m
 
range

What city/state is the range in,still a little new to the sport like to know were the ranges are.
 
hailey said:
What city/state is the range in,still a little new to the sport like to know were the ranges are.
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Hailey,

I'm sure if you post where you are, someone will chime in with what's available in your area...

Russell,

Many of the replies have been right on from my experience. I'm doing it on a budget myself and it definitely takes time and a slow migration if you don't have the funds.

I agree with lots of the folks who have said spend wisely. I'm not necessarily sure I agree with buying once - I did that a few times and a few times I've bought more than one and there are still a few items I'd like to replace...BUT, in my case, I really had nothing to start with as I hadn't shot in years and had never reloaded. I KNEW I bought cheap and I KNEW I'd be replacing if I continued, but I made that decision so that I could get out there and compete and learn...

I also had NO intention of competing against anyone but myself. I knew my factory rifle couldn't compete with the custom rifles and I knew my skills couldn't compete with those around me. But, it got me involved in something I wanted to do and it gave me the opportunity to see and talk (mostly listen) and learn. I have learned alot and still have a bunch more to learn...I also made decisions along the way that I wanted to replace my cheap INSERT ITEM with a decent INSERT ITEM and the order that I felt was most important. For example, the powder measure I had was a pain to work with. It was one of the first changes I made and I've not looked back. Obviously the rifle was high on the priority list as well!

I also still compete against myself - hoping to beat my previous best each time out...doesn't always happen, but it does...and once in awhile my son kicks my butt and I have to listen to him for days...but he's learning too and we have fun together...

Not cheap, unlimited funds not required, but time and desire are definitely required...decide what you need and in what order...listen alot and enjoy the people as they're some of the nicest folks I've ever met...Hope that helps!

Tom
 
russell m said:
I am a newbee. I need a honest answer. Does it take unlimited funds to shoot competitvly?
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russell m
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No, it does not....that is the short answer. But, you have to have at least enough to get started in a reasonable direction. This has been debated here before, and I for one believe there is no "entry level" equipment, just a minimum quality and type of (insert item here) that will get you there. Here are a few important points to remember: 1) A new shooter can be competitive. 2) There is little to be learned when using equipment that is not up to the task. 3) A decent rifle, built on a good custom action, can be had for a song if you look.....don't settle for anything else. 4) Chase the major items as your budget allows............don't buy anything that will handicap you. 5) Make a plan and stay the course. 6) Find a level-headed mentor that shoots registered matches.

Enjoy...
-Dave-:)
 
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