Short range benchrest in south Florida?

[Cbrown3020]

Just wonder if anyone knows of anywhere in South Florida where they hold matches either center fire or rimfire?

Thank you

Kevin

 

[D Coots]

Manatee@Bradenten

 

[quest450]

Manatee@Bradenten

not SR, 600yd benchrest...... for now
I live in SWFL and I'm not aware of any SR matches
Look into SWFSA for rimfire match

 

[quest450]

Southwest Florida Sportsman's Association Calendar

 

[D Coots]

not SR, 600yd benchrest...... for now
I live in SWFL and I'm not aware of any SR matches
Look into SWFSA for rimfire match

Right...I'm living in the past....

 

[CaptainMal]

Sadly there used to be some serious 100/200 yard benchers shoots at Manatee. Long gone and doubt they would come back anytime soon.

Some local shooters that did that now use rather exotic air rifles to compete 50 yards. Fellow shooters Steve Kraus and Chip Willing still do that today and successfully. I do not know where but think it is around the Bradenton/Sarasota area.

 

[Pete Wass]

I think Short Range Benchrest is too difficult for most people. Years ago, Lakeland had IBS Score matches. I shot in the last one, two of us. There are club shoots around but they use a shortened program. The shooters seem to have Benchrest rifles but apparently aren't willing to either sanction them or run them like sanctioned matches. Group matches the same. I have never been able to understand why. They seem to be willing to run other types of sanctioned matches but not SRBR.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Im not sure why the matches at Manatee stopped. Could have been lack of voluntees to run them. Moving backers do add a lot of work to put on a match.

 

[bichettereds]

Moving backers do add a lot of work to put on a match.

^this

 

[D Coots]

Sadly there used to be some serious 100/200 yard benchers shoots at Manatee. Long gone and doubt they would come back anytime soon.

Some local shooters that did that now use rather exotic air rifles to compete 50 yards. Fellow shooters Steve Kraus and Chip Willing still do that today and successfully. I do not know where but think it is around the Bradenton/Sarasota area.

East of Bradenton past the drag strip.

Im not sure why the matches at Manatee stopped. Could have been lack of voluntees to run them. Moving backers do add a lot of work to put on a match.

I was told issues between the short range organizers and the club. I went down there and shot a few times.

 

[Pete Wass]

I used to shoot IR 50/50 matches at Manatee. When that ended whomever was running the range was unhappy with the numbers of folks participating plus the lad running the matches got interested in 600 yards that had begun to bloom there. I remember CF group matches having been shot there, The Winds of Manatee" I sort of remember.

I have been a Snowbird 15 0r 16 years. I traveled and shot for the first 10 or so years but things slowly changed to the point where it wasn't either enjoyable of fun any longer so I quit bring shooting equipment with me each year.

 

[CaptainMal]

If I remember right, Gene Pitts, the "late" manager of Manatee, wanted more money from the 100/200 yard range. Think he increased the range rental fee for those major tournaments. Add to the fact the range just did not have lots of members using it for practice. There were other ranges on site for general shooting use and this one was a bit specific.

With all the benches and covered firing line there, it was better utilized with that short backstop removed and the 600 yard one built up higher for use, like it is now. The usage of the 600 yard line, or mis-usage sometimes, made the existence of those covered benches more attractive to the general interest shooters.

I used to write newsletter coverage of the short-range events with pictures. To me they were really enjoyable to watch and peaked interest in participation at the longer range venues that evolved.

 

[Dgd6mm]

The Winds of Manatee match was definitely interesting to watch. Top shooters going at it.

 

[Chaotik]

On the east coast of South Florida there is the Palm Beach Rifle Club which holds 200 yard benchrest style matches (currently once a month) at Palm Beach County Shooting Sports Park. @jhgaul is the match director.

 

[Chaotik]

Also, at Malabar on the east coast I believe that there are some short range matches. I have never participated in them but you can check out the website. As far as I know there is no IBS style centerfire short range matches.

https://pmrpc.com/matches.html

 

[D Coots]

The Winds of Manatee match was definitely interesting to watch. Top shooters going at it.

If I recall correctly Larry Costa spearheaded it. Pretty sure he bankrolled it and had help with building moving backers ect.

I think.

Later

Dave

 

[Dgd6mm]

Also, at Malabar on the east coast I believe that there are some short range matches. I have never participated in them but you can check out the website. As far as I know there is no IBS style centerfire short range matches.

https://pmrpc.com/matches.html

They shoot ARA matches at Malabar. 22rf. 50 yards.

 

[Chaotik]

They shoot ARA matches at Malabar. 22rf. 50 yards.

They also have small bore 100 yard matches listed on their calendar.

 

[Dgd6mm]

They also have small bore 100 yard matches listed on their calendar.

I used to shoot f class there when I lived down in Palm Beach County and I have shot on the short bench range. I knew they listed some other shoots I just wasn't aware of what they were.