Hey guys Im new to the site out of Los Angeles, Ca. Yes there are rimfire shooters out here lol. My question for the group for those of you that are serious about your benchrest competitive shooting, how many rounds do you typically shoot during your practice days? How often do you all practice?
Match shooting
- Thread starter Doc22
- Start date
dusterdave173
Silver $$ Contributor
Hello Doc Welcome!
A friend and I have started 22LR 50 yd indoor bench rest contests--we shoot factory Rifle with a couple CZs
At our events we shoot two cards with 25 bulls each--we are allowed unlimited sighters during the 20 minute per card time--we usually warm up with maybe 10 sighters per card - then go at it--
We have discovered that when we practice it has been very helpful to simulate an actual match--using a timer and all--we warm up until we feel we are settled then we shoot a full practice match.
For sure we do a lot of regular trigger time and bench craft honing--using cheaper ammo for those drills--we CONSERVE our precious match quality ammo as much as possible.
Hope that helps----much good info on here We are in the South , are very close to a range--oh and we are retired-so we try and practice 2-3 days per week--more if we have the time and weather is good. It also pays to practice at the same range you will compete at if possible--just the difference in the bench can throw you
David
A friend and I have started 22LR 50 yd indoor bench rest contests--we shoot factory Rifle with a couple CZs
At our events we shoot two cards with 25 bulls each--we are allowed unlimited sighters during the 20 minute per card time--we usually warm up with maybe 10 sighters per card - then go at it--
We have discovered that when we practice it has been very helpful to simulate an actual match--using a timer and all--we warm up until we feel we are settled then we shoot a full practice match.
For sure we do a lot of regular trigger time and bench craft honing--using cheaper ammo for those drills--we CONSERVE our precious match quality ammo as much as possible.
Hope that helps----much good info on here We are in the South , are very close to a range--oh and we are retired-so we try and practice 2-3 days per week--more if we have the time and weather is good. It also pays to practice at the same range you will compete at if possible--just the difference in the bench can throw you
David
Last edited:
Hi-NV Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
Like shooting in a match, the conditions will dictate how much ammo you will end up shooting. I allocate a box (50) for each target I will shoot in a match. so, a 6 card match 300 rounds minimum.
remember 25 bulls plus sighters challenging conditions more sighters more ammo shot. plus, if you have a rifle that won't wait and needs a couple shoot to get back shooting more ammo will be needed.
Lee
I like the idea of practicing simulating an actual match. I am still at the stage where I just enjoy shooting , So putting a couple hundred rounds down range to me is still fun. I think this is a wonderful idea, Our range doesn't shoot ARA we shoot for 4 targets and 2 sighters so yeah i think i will do that next time..
Back to the original question when you guys do your "craft honing" and trigger time using the cheaper ammo. How many rounds do you typically go through a couple of boxes?
I bring this question up because I also play golf, its not unheard of to hit 500 range balls in a day, then go practice putting. Im wondering if that sort of dedication and commitment is required, or realistic in this sport.
So lee each one of your practice sessions is 6 cards? how often do you get out to practice?
Hi-NV Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
Sometimes I shoot as much as 6 or more. my shooting is far less than say a year ago and definitely not even 25% of what I was shooting before 5 years ago. finding ammo is main problem. I try and shoot every Sunday but haven't shot since the beginning of the month and that was at match.
I try and make each range session more of quality than quantity.
if anything, never just shoot or practice in the best conditions. doing so will only cheat yourself in learning. come match time, it won't always be the best conditions.
Lee
dusterdave173
Silver $$ Contributor
You practice golf at the driving range with a bucket of low quality balls--the idea is to hone your fundamentals--I feel the same with bench time--so yes..we do practice quite a lot with second tier ammo--wind will blow a cheap bullet same as an $$$$ one.
We shoot an indoor match once a month 50 yd only but I find that any and all practice helps me very much --to gain comfort and repeatability with my set up.
I found that when you first enter this world--you practice like a mad man to "catch up" to the pack--once you have done that and have learned the ropes--then serious measured, paced practice rate can slow down. At that point you are pretty equal with the field and it becomes the almighty search for that magic lot of ammo which at that point in any shooters hands can win. You can never replace the years or decades of experience that others have on you but you can eat into the biggest part of it--as they are humans too and have "bad days", make a poor decision on game day, get distracted for an instant, etc At that point it is like the last lap at Daytona--you just want to be in position to go for the win. Your mastery of fundamentals and all the nuances of the game are in your pocket--the win comes down to that magic ammo, is it Your day ?, and a big dose of Luck .
At first --practice all you possibly can--make every mistake you can over and over to put them behind you and gain confidence in your set up. It is an individual sport--not a team sport.
You will win or finish less by a fractional judgement call by the score team--sometimes they smile on your card --others you may insist they are blind. So....the best advice is to Have Fun every step of the way. Practice all you can afford or have time for but..Only if you are having fun.
We shoot an indoor match once a month 50 yd only but I find that any and all practice helps me very much --to gain comfort and repeatability with my set up.
I found that when you first enter this world--you practice like a mad man to "catch up" to the pack--once you have done that and have learned the ropes--then serious measured, paced practice rate can slow down. At that point you are pretty equal with the field and it becomes the almighty search for that magic lot of ammo which at that point in any shooters hands can win. You can never replace the years or decades of experience that others have on you but you can eat into the biggest part of it--as they are humans too and have "bad days", make a poor decision on game day, get distracted for an instant, etc At that point it is like the last lap at Daytona--you just want to be in position to go for the win. Your mastery of fundamentals and all the nuances of the game are in your pocket--the win comes down to that magic ammo, is it Your day ?, and a big dose of Luck .
At first --practice all you possibly can--make every mistake you can over and over to put them behind you and gain confidence in your set up. It is an individual sport--not a team sport.
You will win or finish less by a fractional judgement call by the score team--sometimes they smile on your card --others you may insist they are blind. So....the best advice is to Have Fun every step of the way. Practice all you can afford or have time for but..Only if you are having fun.
Anytime your shooting, use flags. Ammo is to expensive and hard to get to be shooting without the additional practice of conditions shooting.
Todd
Todd
So you are saying 5 years ago you might shoot 25 cards in one practice session that is insane.
Ammo is a big concern, Fortunately my range has an FFL so we can get ammo through them but even still. $1500 for a case of black box aint cheap.
Right now I am working on reading wind and a consistent repeatable setup. I ask allot of questions because i want to learn the right way to do this and not develop allot of bad habits.
I also shoot some of the cheap stuff out of the Annie just to get used to my rifle and setup, Ive only been in this hobby a few months, so I am still learning how everything works, And how changing one thing impacts another thing,
I was just reading that changing your foot position while shooting can impact groups, Not going to use tenex to figure that one out.
Finally and I am sure many of you all may disagree. I am noticing that at 50 yds, most ammo will shoot good groups, not great but good repeatable groups, For me I hae found that it is when you stretch out to 100yds that you can seperate the good ammo from the cheap stuff.
Ammo is a big concern, Fortunately my range has an FFL so we can get ammo through them but even still. $1500 for a case of black box aint cheap.
Right now I am working on reading wind and a consistent repeatable setup. I ask allot of questions because i want to learn the right way to do this and not develop allot of bad habits.
I got into this discussion the other day at the range with a couple of regulars. My argument is this,At this point I just enjoy shooting so its still fun, So all of my shooting isnt done with competition in mind. I have 2 guns a ruger 10/22 and a Annie 54. I shoot the cheap stuff in my Ruger and can just sit on the bench for hours having fun.
I also shoot some of the cheap stuff out of the Annie just to get used to my rifle and setup, Ive only been in this hobby a few months, so I am still learning how everything works, And how changing one thing impacts another thing,
I was just reading that changing your foot position while shooting can impact groups, Not going to use tenex to figure that one out.
Finally and I am sure many of you all may disagree. I am noticing that at 50 yds, most ammo will shoot good groups, not great but good repeatable groups, For me I hae found that it is when you stretch out to 100yds that you can seperate the good ammo from the cheap stuff.
Im sure if I ask 100 shooters I will get 125 different responses. What flags do you recommend, I was just on another forum where they said they had a "spinner"flag set to 3mph?
I like dual vane type flags. There is several places to get them but if I was going to give advice to someone's first set of flags I would say Mike Ezell's flags. They are high quality and easy to read. Rain does not effect their operation like the dual vane.
Todd
Todd
doclu60
Silver $$ Contributor
Excellent post. I have a set of Ezell's. They are good, but they only come out of the truck when it's raining or threating to rain. The fiberglass non-porous vane material is great in wet conditions. Coreplast material is the over whelming choice for dual vane flags, but totally sucks when it's raining! I also carry a set of Coreplast dual vanes, and they are my go-to flags for dry conditions. Mine are faster on the switch when dry, than my Ezell's when dry and show angle better. Both running sail tails.
To answer the OP's question, I do not practice. I do go to the range to test and tune, but not to just "shoot cards" thinking I am going to get better.
Scott
Hi-NV Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
No not 25 cards. just more time shooting. I have started shooting RFBR in 2017 I have only shot less than 50 ARA sanctioned targets. I did a lot of groups shooting because there was no UL class before 2017 at the club I am a member. it wasn't unusual for me to spend 6-8 hours at the range. I averaged easily 1-1-1/2 bricks of CX this is when you could but test lots and as much as you wanted.
then biggest expenditure of ammo was when tuning a rifle. for me it is not a single session or even a couple range sessions. I will shoot it over a period of at least 6-8 months. I start in the winter and the rifle needs to be able to shoot the same in the summer so from 40-100+ degrees. if it can do that I am done. and this not touching the tuner.
Lee
Hi-NV Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
I shoot an Anschutz match 54 as my main ARA UL rifle. barrel has at least 80-100K rounds through it. I sold all my custom Falcons.
Lee
interesting, can you explain your rationale for not going to "practice" As a teacher I know the more you do something the better you get.
see I am in the same boat, I can easily see spending a couple hours shooting. that also comes into play because, I look up and afters starting at 900 it gets to noon very easily. Ammo is the biggest limiting factor for me, At $15 a box it gets expensive after a while. My rifle is shooting great groups Im scared to touch my tuner any more. Do you notice a tune difference for 50 yards and 100 yards?
Hey Lee I have an Anshcutz as well, I read on one of these internet forums(so it must be true) Thatquite a few people feel the Annie 54 isnt "competitive" with some of the newer rifles. Not sure how they got to that line of reasoning.
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