In a nut-shell; READ, READ, READ.....LEARN, LEARN, LEARN. I almost guarantee you that for each question that you will have, you will find the answers on this sight and many other web sights in current discussion and especially in the archives. Books sure help too. Then with all the new found knowledge you will ultimately be prepared to make the educated choices of the caliber and rifle that serves you best, the required range equipment, and the precision hand loads you will make.
Be prepared to throw out the $39- $175 Gander Mountain/ Midway/Cabellas rifle rest stuff and start over.
I have a Hart rest (very similar to the Sinclair), two seperate adjustible Sinclair tops, and two Protektor leather rear bags and a flat sand bag to boost the Protektor bags when necessary. I also use home made wind flags. With this combo I can shoot any of my rifles acuurately.
While I choose not to engage in organized benchrest shooting (yes, my official disclaimer. LOL), I am capable of shooting bughole groups with this equipment and would not feel terribly handicapped competing against these guys. A notch up would be to buy even more specialized and pricey quality stuff like that which our buddy Butch L. here at Shadetree Engineering offers, or Farley, or etc. The elite stuff will allow you to maintain your hold on the rifle without having to reach forward and adjust knobs as I do with the Sinclair tops. But, the discussion of equpment is just one part of the whole equation.
While you're researching and learning, I think ultimately the best thing for you to do would be for you to make a visit to one of these benchrest competitions and watch and see what the big boys use and do.
Randall
PS Well guys. I hope this advice is fair and that I didn't step out of bounds? Perhaps you have can help him with additionl advice.