My reason for shooting Rimfire Benchrest

Bill Wynne

Bill Wynne

Active member
As of late, I have been reading several threads that seem argumentative about tuning techniques and tuners. This is nothing new but the argumentative tone is so unnecessary. Why can't we just exchange ideas?

I shoot Rimfire benchrest with several of my best friends as a way to relax and escape for a while from the pressures and responsibilities that come with life. To me, it seems simpler and less noisy than centerfire Benchrest where you have to reload your ammo.

We have the best equipment that we can afford and we shoot the best ammo that we can find and afford. When I am in a match I shoot to win and I shoot the best that I can. I watch the wind play on the grass, four wind flags, and the back of my neck. I always clean my rifle with the same procedure and my tuner is set as I think is best. If I win, I take pride in it but if someone else wins, I am very happy for them.

I look at it this way: On any given day and under any set of shooting conditions, I have only one competitor to beat, me.

I really don't care how someone else arrived at the setting on their tuner as long as they don't change mine. I won't be driving two hundred miles on a Sunday and shoot for six hours. I will drive seven miles on a Saturday morning and shoot three matches with some guys like me.

You see, My life is my family and my friends and my work. Rimfire Benchrest is a pastime or hobby at best. I don't play golf and fishing doesn't suit me.

Concho Bill
 
What a great post

This year our Club started shooting a "Old Farts" match on Thursday mornings for those of us that are retired. We shoot from the bench at 100 yards with 22 RF rifles.

As we are "Old Farts" we start the morning with coffee/breakfast at the local McDonald's then go to the Range for our matches. We alternate Thursdays shooting bullseye (mini-Palma) and steel silhouette targets (1/5th scale from 100 to175 yards) to alleviate the chance of boredom of the same match each week. This match has been growing each week and we are up to 12-15 shooters now.

I think we have rediscovered why we started to shoot in the beginning -friendship and good natured fun. It is shoot-what-you-bring and the equipment has slowly resolved to the CMP Kimber rifles with 24 to 36 power scopes with a variety of ammo. The RF's are quite and the conversation is great.

It is fun again to shoot with friends and just shoot to enjoy shooting.

George
www.bentongunclub.org
 
Thanks Bill.......... great post.....
your fortunate to live close by to some great guys, joe
 
Great Post Bill....

Sometimes people, myself included, overlook the fact that this BR shooting is just a game.. No one is going to lose their car, home or wife if they don't win the match. Granted, some people shoot the best equipment that is available, but I shoot my rifles, set up my way, with the ammo I can afford, and if I win fine, if I lose so be it..

And every once in a while, when you beat a "big gun" , that is just icing on the cake..

Good Shooting

Dave
 
Amen! I too have found the joy in friendship, exchange of ideas, ammo chasing, evening dinners before retiring to the motel, thanking the match director and yes once in a while winning a card. What a terrific group of folks we have amongst us. Thanks to all who enjoy the sport, enjoy each other and who bring joy to the rest of us. Yours is the most uplifting post in a long time Bill. Thanks! bob
 
Now Bill, what are you trying to do with all of this sweetness and light stuff? It is much more entertaining to read the vitriolic posts. There may even be some money making potential. We could get the players nose to nose, on video and stage heated arguments. After all, Orange County Choppers has done pretty well with that sort of melodrama. ;)

Seriously....good post.
Boyd
 
Me and my old fart buddy shoot aspirins at 100yds, he shoots a Martini and I shoot a factory 40X. After a while it gets pretty easy, we may go with baby aspirin. Thanks, Douglas
 
i guess i should ask are you talking about shooting in matchs?
i really just enjoy going to the range by myself or with another person
who wants to shoot instead of just talking about it.
to me it's relaxing like when you're just sitting on the bank of
a pond fishing for bluegills and just waiting for the bobber to move.
i love guns they are one of my favorite things, so when i go to a match
it doesn't matter if i win or lose, i never do anyway, it's just nice shooting
with people who enjoy guns as much as yourself. i've met alot of good people
the last couple of years, i hope to meet many more. thanks for listening.
 
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I want to thank every one for your positive replies. We shoot 50/50 and fun-fire. We have an unofficial 50/50 match on every other Tuesday and some of us are shooting 22 Silhouettes once a month.

We rimfire shooters have taken it on ourselves to maintain the rifle range at our club. We enjoy doing these things together.

Check our club out at http://www.sanangelogunclub.org

Concho Bill
 
Bill, having been to a few of your 50/50 matches, I have to say that your post re-enforced my thought of your personality. Always easy going and helpful, as are the other folks that attend your matches.

If any of you folks ever get the chance, be sure to drop in on Bill for one of their matches. You'll have a great time! :)

Jim Ballard
Odessa, TX
 
Mr. Wynne:

Your statement starting this thread reflects my sentiments perfectly.

Many threads of late contain little or no informational or educational value because they are poluted with posts made by folks desperately seeking attention. These posts contain no value, and no basis in experience or fact, and amount to little more than childish personal attacks on others.

I shoot informal benchrest every week. I have been a member here since 2003. I post very little, and try to read everything. Over several decades I have accumulated about 45 target rifles of factory and custom construction. This forum is, as a result, very important to me.

Many folks here have a lot of very valuable information to share. Others simply fail at trying to appear to be experts.

The best information some of these folks could provide everyone else is when school gets out.
 
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Mike,

You are a winner before you start. I would love to shoot with you. I bet we would have fun together.

Thanks for responding.

Concho Bill
 
I have had the pleasure of shooting at San Angelo with Bill and the other people that shoot there. Just for the record, west TX people are very friendly and helpful.
Keep up the good work Bill
Jim
 
It's just a matter of where your interest lies. If you just like to hang out with the guys and shoot your gun then this is just what you are interested in. However if it's the gun itself, the ammo, ballistics, and all the technical stuff that goes along with this then that's what you will get the most pleasure from. Those of us that like the technical stuff probably are also the ones who like to argue and fight and call each other names, over this stuff in the forum.
 
Thanks Bill, as a new guy to this sport I appreciate the info I read here, but I am not new to competing and I agree with Bill 100%. The nastinest is not needed, and I applaud him for saying so. If I wanted to fight all the time I'd attend a family reunion.:D
 
pacecil said:
It's just a matter of where your interest lies. If you just like to hang out with the guys and shoot your gun then this is just what you are interested in. However if it's the gun itself, the ammo, ballistics, and all the technical stuff that goes along with this then that's what you will get the most pleasure from. Those of us that like the technical stuff probably are also the ones who like to argue and fight and call each other names, over this stuff in the forum.
Click to expand...

I like to drink mushroom tea and take folks along on a Mississippi boat ride------------- I don't need no schooling! And you left off it is fun to argue!! (some get carried away- indexing does not work). Rimfire is really just plum fun for me. joe
 
pacecil
I enjoy shooting, but I enjoy winning even better. To win, you must have a gun that is set up to get the most from it and that is where the "technican stuff" becomes very important. To prove that what you say is correct, you need to shoot and win to get the respect. I have almost quit posting because someone that doesen't shoot competively wants to tell every one what they are doing wrong and subject that shooter to a "cross examition". I have little respect for a "keyboard shooter".
Jim
 
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