River Bend's 2024 CF BR "Open" Matches - Schedule & Results

Hunter

Screamer Dreamin'
Unless nasty weather, high water, the virus, or some other calamity interferes, we're shooting centerfire benchrest "open” matches on the second Sat of each month (as shown below) at River Bend -- starting Jan 13th.

Info for those who haven't shot one of these matches at River Bend:

1. Open matches are non-registered; thus, you don’t have to be a member of any club or organization to shoot.

2. Not much walking is required. Paved parking is close to the firing line (if moving your stuff is difficult someone will help); the covered and paved reloading area (with tables and seats) is between the parking area and the firing line; and the target crew will place and retrieve your targets. If it's cold or hot, the enclosed office area has a couple of heaters and an air conditioner to offer a bit of relief from the weather. Lunch is oftentimes included in the entry fee. If you'd like to bring your camper (or tent) and come a day or two early and/or stay a day later, and shoot and/or spend the night (on site), I suspect Jim Andress (the match director) can arrange for you to do so; just check with him ahead of time.

3. We will shoot ten, 5-shot targets (with unlimited sighters), with ample time to reload between targets. Five of those targets will be at 100 yards, then five at 200 yards; the overall winner will be based on the combined 100 and 200 yard aggregates. At most (maybe all) matches the top shooter(s) take home money -- so don't risk leaving money on the table by not being there. Custom, factory, and modified rifles are welcome (subject to the following two paragraphs).

Per Jim Andress, "RBGC monthly matches are open to the public. Matches typically begin at 9:00AM, so arrive early. Cost for non-registered matches is typically $20. Unlimited guns such as railguns, with no restrictions on weight, size, or configuration are not allowed, and front and rear rests must be separate. 'Heavy Bench' class rifles up to 24 pounds are allowed. Calibers up to .338 are allowed, but remember, no brakes of any kind. No 'super guns' (anything designed to deliver a jacketed bullet weighing over 300 grains with a muzzle velocity of 2900 FPS or greater). Ejections cannot reach adjacent benches. Subject to the foregoing, typical LV, HV, and Sporter rifles (as known in the benchrest community) and typical hunting-type rifles are allowed -- and typically represent all the guns at the matches. To be fair, purpose-built Benchrest rifles compete in the custom class, all others in the factory class."

For more information, see: https://rbgc.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=265856&module_id=471033. (Be aware that the 18-pound weight limit mentioned in the second paragraph in the last section in that link does not match the "Heavy Bench" sentence in the preceding paragraph above -- feel free to ask if something needs clarification.)

Also, you may enjoy watching the video at https://benchrest.com/forum/threads/river-bend-benchrest-match-video.73843/.

For directions, see: https://www.google.com/maps/dir///@34.0197376,-84.3317248,13z (put River Bend Gun Club Road, Dawsonville, GA in the “Destination” box).

Schedule:
Jan - Group
Feb - Score
Mar - Group
Apr - Score
May - Group
Jun - Score
Jul - Group
Aug - Score
Sep - Group
Oct - Score
Nov - Group
Dec - Score
 
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Jan Report -- Due to the cook's refusal to prepare lunch for us and the weather forecast (cold (30s/low 40s) and windy), the Jan match has been cancelled. Rats.
 
Feb Report - We had five shooters today. The weather was nice; about 53° when we started and 64° when we finished, cloudy, not much wind, and a very brief shower.

Partial results -- 100 yard aggs:
1. Bill Von Minden - 250-17x (6mm)
2. Scott Dittman - 250-14x (6mm)
3. Jim Andress - 250-13x (6mm)

Partial results -- 200 yard aggs:
1. Jim Andress - 249-6x (6mm)
2. Scott Dittman - 247-6x (6mm)
3. Zane Athey - 247-5x

Partial results -- Grand Aggs:
1. Jim Andress - 499-19x (6mm)
2. Scott Dittman - 497 -20x (6mm)
3. Bill Von Minden - 496-25x (6mm)

Thanks to: Jim Andress for running the match, scoring, and running the computer; Jim and Bobby Reiber for providing lunch (BBQ, buns and condiments); all those who helped move the target frames; and all the shooters for being there -- also thanks to RBGC for providing this venue for us to shoot. It was a nice day.

Next month we're shooting groups at 100 and 200 yards; factory and modified rifles are welcome (subject to the parenthetical phrase at the end of paragraph # 3 in post # 1 above).
 
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Mar Report - We had seven shooters today, including long-absent Steve Hill (from SC) and Michael Scott (shooting only his second BR match, and first at River Bend), and one factory-class shooter. Steve and Michael, thanks for shooting with us and come again every chance you get. The weather was nice; about 55° when we started and 59° when we finished; cloudy, some mist, and not much wind.

Partial results -- 100 yard aggs:
1. Jim Andress - .2110
2. Scott Dittman - .2414
3. Roger Avery - .2588
Jim had the smallest group - .089

Partial results -- 200 yard aggs:
1. Jim Andress - .2814
2. Roger Avery - .3106
3. Steve Hill - .3296
Jim had the smallest group - .302

Partial results -- Grand Aggs:
1. Jim Andress - .2462
2. Roger Avery - .2847
3. Scott Dittman - .3147

Jim's on a record-breaking roll -- he's won four consecutive group matches. I've been shooting club matches at River Bend since June 2010 and no one has won four consecutive group matches in that period of time. CONGRATULATIONS, JIM ANDRESS.

Thanks to: Jim Andress for running the match and scoring; Jim and Bobby Reiber for providing lunch (BBQ, buns, chips, and condiments); all those who helped move target frames; and all the shooters for being there -- also thanks to RBGC for providing this venue for us to shoot. It was a nice day.

Next month we're shooting score at 100 and 200 yards; factory and modified rifles are welcome (subject to the parenthetical phrase at the end of paragraph # 3 in post # 1 above).
 
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Apr Report - We had eight shooters today, including long-absent Jack Perry, and two shooters who returned from having recently shot with us for the first time: James Garrett and Michael Scott. The weather was nice; about 52° when we started and 73° when we finished — although a bit breezy.

Partial results -- 100 yard aggs:
1. Scott Dittman - 250-21x
2. Greg Ellis - 250-16x
3. Roger Avery - 249-14x (6mm)

Partial results -- 200 yard aggs:
1. Scott Dittman - 247-4x
2. Greg Ellis - 244-4x
3. James Garrett - 239-3x (6mm)

Partial results -- Grand Aggs:
1. Scott Dittman 497-25x
2. Greg Ellis - 494-20x
3. James Garrett - 487-19x (6mm)

Thanks to: Jim Andress for running the match; Scott Dittman for running the computer; Jim for providing lunch (BBQ, buns, chips, and condiments) — and Dee for sweets; all those who helped move the target frames; and all the shooters for being there -- also thanks to RBGC for providing this venue for us to shoot. It was a nice day.

Next month we're shooting groups at 100 and 200 yards; factory and modified rifles are welcome (subject to the parenthetical phrase at the end of paragraph # 3 in post # 1 above).
 
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