Have been on this forum for only a short time, and have been back to shooting only a short time after a long time (>30 yrs) and wanted to share my impression of the importance of the sport and this site.
I have not participated in match, or even a shoot for that matter, but did observe the Denton Match last weekend. Many of the names I have come across in my reading were at that match or post on a regular basis on this forum. The offers to help me get started in bench rest, or to help me improve my own shooting by the guys in Denton was pretty great. I see those same qualities in many who post here.
There seems to be a lot of discussion about a new class - Varmint for Score, that brings many different views to the table. And while I understand that there is short range (point blank I think is one way you refer to it) which is 100/200 and 300 yd score and agg (group), then there is long range 600-1000yd, plus the F-Class with it's 2 separate class, well it is sort of over my head.
At first I felt like there was not a place for me, a guy with a .223 varmint gun, but after more reading and the visit with the guys in Denton I can see that even if I do not go down the 6PPC path, there is a lot to be learned from spending time on this site and with a group of bench rest shooters.
My initial reason for purchase of my rifle was to see how well I could shoot it, and I continue to do that. But now I want to get more from myself and the rifle to see the difference a hand load has over a factory load.
So, all this rambling is a way to say Thanks to all of you from all of us who really don't know what bench rest is all about and to say consider those who either do not want to/or can not really stretch the $ to get into bench rest completely. So we shoot a factory rifle, and maybe hope to improve it with a better barrel or tune it up so that one day we will feel like we are ready to jump in we will have a better foundation.
It seems like interest in shooting sports has picked up so maybe now is a good time to open new doors to get some of us in. Not asking to change anything, just let others know (like the guys in Denton did for me) that it is OK to bring that factory varmint gun in and sit next to the guy shooting the PPC and let the learning begin.
Thanks,
I have not participated in match, or even a shoot for that matter, but did observe the Denton Match last weekend. Many of the names I have come across in my reading were at that match or post on a regular basis on this forum. The offers to help me get started in bench rest, or to help me improve my own shooting by the guys in Denton was pretty great. I see those same qualities in many who post here.
There seems to be a lot of discussion about a new class - Varmint for Score, that brings many different views to the table. And while I understand that there is short range (point blank I think is one way you refer to it) which is 100/200 and 300 yd score and agg (group), then there is long range 600-1000yd, plus the F-Class with it's 2 separate class, well it is sort of over my head.
At first I felt like there was not a place for me, a guy with a .223 varmint gun, but after more reading and the visit with the guys in Denton I can see that even if I do not go down the 6PPC path, there is a lot to be learned from spending time on this site and with a group of bench rest shooters.
My initial reason for purchase of my rifle was to see how well I could shoot it, and I continue to do that. But now I want to get more from myself and the rifle to see the difference a hand load has over a factory load.
So, all this rambling is a way to say Thanks to all of you from all of us who really don't know what bench rest is all about and to say consider those who either do not want to/or can not really stretch the $ to get into bench rest completely. So we shoot a factory rifle, and maybe hope to improve it with a better barrel or tune it up so that one day we will feel like we are ready to jump in we will have a better foundation.
It seems like interest in shooting sports has picked up so maybe now is a good time to open new doors to get some of us in. Not asking to change anything, just let others know (like the guys in Denton did for me) that it is OK to bring that factory varmint gun in and sit next to the guy shooting the PPC and let the learning begin.
Thanks,
