Apollo
There are three "common disciplines" or divisions in Benchrest.
In no particular order;
----100-200yd Group, or "short-range benchrest for group" wherein the stated goal is to make the smallest group of five shots........and then to do this 4 more times for a total aggregate score. The group can form anywhere in the target area with no penalty. The most common chambering is the 6PPC, a very stubby 6MM round.
----100-200yd Score, or "short-range benchrest for score" most often called Hunter Bench Rest or HBR for short. Here the goal is to shoot at five different targets with the score being assigned for closest to center. Again, 5 groups of 5 shots for an aggregate or "agg". A subdivision of this sport which has gained popularity of late is "Varmint for Score". These are generally ruled by 30 caliber rifles, shortened .308's for true HBR and blown out PPC/BR cases like the 30BR for Varmint for Score.
----600-1000yd Benchrest, or "long-range benchrest"...........here the same targets are often scored for both Group and Score, or for EITHER Group or Score.......The rifles vary across the spectrum from .22's to .338's but are tailored for long-range wind-bucking as much as for intrinsic accuracy. A Long Range Bench Rest rifle will never be competitive in Short Range Bench Rest and vise-versa. There is very little crossover between the disciplines.
Go to the top of the page and clik on "Benchrest Central Home" to go to the homepage where you can click on the various Organization logos to see the real rules.
To do exactly what you want to do, I'd buy or have built a 6BR with one extra barrel. Spec'd properly this rig could actually be competitive at 100-200 and at 600 with only a simple barrel change. This is as close to a crossover rig as you can get IMO.............. Another rig would be a "30X47" set up similarly, this rig could compete in 100-200yd Group, Score and Varmint for Score and yet make a real showing @ 600yds............no one's ever done this to the best of my knowledge but it COULD be very effective. You would have to endure some recoil with this setup
(It would recoil about like a .243 hunting rifle shooting 100gr loads.......this seems negligible, until you do it all day.)
If you're limited to just one barrel you could get a "tight-twist" 6BR, in other words have it barreled with an 8" twist, and the rifle could compete at a 100-200 group match, a 100-200 Varmint for Score Match or a 600yd Match where it could shine.
hth
al
