Freedom Benchrest allow 40lb metal Rear Rest?
- Thread starter Canuckienns
- Start date
Just for fun I'm gonna let you in on a scenario that happened this weekend during the tactical class Hawks Ridge matches. Bob Steelman shot a pending world record 1.919 50 in match 7 2nd relay shot off a front rest with rear sandbag. Then during match 8 2nd relay his grandson Thomas Steelman shot a pending 1.974 43 of a tac mdt bipod. Just some food for thought. The world record is being closed in on by the tac class rapidly because of the ability to get shots off from a magazine at great speed and in consistent wind conditions. Congrats to both for some awesome reloading and shooting done with the new 6GT cartridge!
A mechanical rear rest by itself is not gonna take a mid pack shooter to the top of the page. I’ve been playing with one and shoot the same off a Protector bag OR the old HG rest that simply contains a 2” front bag.
I’ve spent untold monies making my LG’s weigh under 17#. That’s been the weight from the get go, everyone in LR BR has adhered to it. IF by some freak chance a F class guy wants to shoot for groups with a 22# gun, they can do it… in HG. Get their feet wet, if they like it, spin up a tapered barrel and shoot both classes the next time.
Right now the Tac IS sort of the unlimited class that a lot of us want to see. Experimenting with very few rules to allow pushing the envelope. Some ranges are sorting out the guys with bipods and keeping track of the “true tac” sub category within the class. To me, this is best case scenario for now anyway. As to the weight limit in Tac… some PRS guys are shooting rifles way over 22#. The less rules, the more inclusive to a point. In my opinion, you can’t have say 5 different classes. You’d never get done shooting in one day so the sub classes that some are recognizing is great.
My opinion here and why I shoot BR. Benchrest is the pinnacle of rifle accuracy. There’s a lot of factors that contribute to the inaccuracy of a rifle system and through Benchrest techniques and practices we try to minimize those factors. This isn’t offhand, sling or any other discipline where any wobble is desirable. We’re out here trying to shoot the smallest groups possible. Someone is always going to shoot the smallest, maybe on a given day it’s you and the next maybe it isn’t. My advice is to compete against yourself and try to do better each time out because if you’re comparing yourself to only the winner every time, more often than not you’re going to be miserably disappointed.
To be at the top of this game takes good equipment but what so many fail to ever realize is the time commitment it takes to get to the top let alone stay there. It’s too easy to blame lack of ability and commitment on money.
I’ve spent untold monies making my LG’s weigh under 17#. That’s been the weight from the get go, everyone in LR BR has adhered to it. IF by some freak chance a F class guy wants to shoot for groups with a 22# gun, they can do it… in HG. Get their feet wet, if they like it, spin up a tapered barrel and shoot both classes the next time.
Right now the Tac IS sort of the unlimited class that a lot of us want to see. Experimenting with very few rules to allow pushing the envelope. Some ranges are sorting out the guys with bipods and keeping track of the “true tac” sub category within the class. To me, this is best case scenario for now anyway. As to the weight limit in Tac… some PRS guys are shooting rifles way over 22#. The less rules, the more inclusive to a point. In my opinion, you can’t have say 5 different classes. You’d never get done shooting in one day so the sub classes that some are recognizing is great.
My opinion here and why I shoot BR. Benchrest is the pinnacle of rifle accuracy. There’s a lot of factors that contribute to the inaccuracy of a rifle system and through Benchrest techniques and practices we try to minimize those factors. This isn’t offhand, sling or any other discipline where any wobble is desirable. We’re out here trying to shoot the smallest groups possible. Someone is always going to shoot the smallest, maybe on a given day it’s you and the next maybe it isn’t. My advice is to compete against yourself and try to do better each time out because if you’re comparing yourself to only the winner every time, more often than not you’re going to be miserably disappointed.
To be at the top of this game takes good equipment but what so many fail to ever realize is the time commitment it takes to get to the top let alone stay there. It’s too easy to blame lack of ability and commitment on money.
Tom E
Gold $$ Contributor
This!
shoot4fun
Gold $$ Contributor
Scott,
It was my understanding that Bob shot under TAC rules and Thomas in what they called TRU TAC. Both are great accomplishments and I am more than elated to see one of my fellow "OG's" have the success he deserves. Is TRU TAC an actual division in the latest Freedom rulebook? If so then having both is really ideal. As a point of even greater interest to me is the fact they were shot with 6GT. I've got two of them (one for TAC) ready to pick up from my gunsmith. BTW, same great gunsmith, shooter and friend @Danley at Danley Precision. (shameless plug)
shoot4fun
Gold $$ Contributor
There is no such division of the class at this time at Hawks Ridge. I have heard some freedom matches where the director is separating the class that way but not at Hawks Ridge.
shoot4fun
Gold $$ Contributor
Hmmm. It was posted with that division on FB I believe. I didn't make it up.
I’ve had some close calls this year in tac but there’s always that one shot that doesn’t want to be friends with the group. Maybe one day it will all come together. Fingers crossed. This one the 4 were in .990
shoot4fun
Gold $$ Contributor
The rules require sand for both front and rear bag.
Sand Bags are required for the Front or Rear Rest System and must fully support the front, sides and rear of the rifle while in the Rest system. Size and thickness of the sand bags are not limited. Any sandbags contained within their rest system may be made from leather, rubber or synthetic fabric.
thanks, just to clarify a bit more and a quick question... "Sand Bags are required for the Front or Rear Rest System and must fully support the front, sides and rear of the rifle while in the Rest system. Size and thickness of the sand bags are not limited."
So, the sand bags must support the rear of rifle while in the rest system...but the sand bags do not need to "contact" the rest/bag rider mounted to the buttstock. IF this is correct I am thinking to use very thin bags under and along the sides in a rail system with roller bearings...or maybe attach roller bearings to the bag rider and have those roll back and forth across and along teflon rails over a very thin layer of sand...might not be pretty but should be pretty slick. Being able to adjust for windage without creating a pinch point is probably the most important aspect to consider. Might be easier to just to use a mini coaxial set up like our front rest. Fun project!
So, the sand bags must support the rear of rifle while in the rest system...but the sand bags do not need to "contact" the rest/bag rider mounted to the buttstock. IF this is correct I am thinking to use very thin bags under and along the sides in a rail system with roller bearings...or maybe attach roller bearings to the bag rider and have those roll back and forth across and along teflon rails over a very thin layer of sand...might not be pretty but should be pretty slick. Being able to adjust for windage without creating a pinch point is probably the most important aspect to consider. Might be easier to just to use a mini coaxial set up like our front rest. Fun project!
Canuckienns
Silver $$ Contributor
No sand in what i have been describing. Better yet, I will take photos next weekend at the club "freedom" shoot.
club match is not a Freedom shoot David.......anything goes !!
If and when you shoot in FB match the only thing holding you up is the will to try things within the rules until then your advise is welcome but has no merit As said here innovation within the rules is the basic thought behind FB and not to mention the rules are up for change if needed by members of FB.
Canuckienns
Silver $$ Contributor
There will be a change and if you saw what was being used you would think otherwise. All my life I restored classic muscle cars and sports cars and built and rebuilt engines. I dont want to slap a bunch of 25 to 40 pound plates with channel iron wrapped in tape and sluck them to a match.
please let us know the secret Dave, obviously you know something
Read the freedom rules you have you have to a sandbag in front and rear and the rest cannot one piece but that is in sanction match, this is a club match or a fun match.
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